[GBP4EVER]

If the Packers win the SB this year will this make TT the better GM then Wolf? If the Packers win it all TT will have done it in 3 years with mostly a team of young draft picks while it took Wolf 5 years with a team mostly filled up with veteran free agents. I think if the Packers win it all TT is easily on his way to being called the best GM in the history of the Packers.

[Ted Thompson's Doughnut]

Its difficult to gauge, because the philosophys are so much different. Wolf was a hole-filler. If he believed he had a hole somewhere, instead of letting a younger player learn on the job, he immediately filled it with a veteran free agent (case in point, Mark Ingram, Mark Clayton, Andre Rison, Anthony Morgan, Eugene Robinson, Keith Jackson, Bruce Wilkerson, Jim McMahon, Don Beebe, Roland Mitchell, and later guys like Raymont Harris, Darick Holmes, Wesley Walls, Hardy Nickerson and Joe Johnson).

TT, on the other hand, prefers to sink or swim with his younger, unproven guys. Really, the only Ron Wolf-esque moves that TT made was signing Koren Robinson last year, and Grady Jackson a few years ago. Even still, Koren was a guy that TT knew, and the Packers didn;t have a choice with Grady...they were desperately thin at DT (heck, Grady may have even been a Sherman move).

Both GMs have been effective, but in different ways. Those Super Bowl teams in the '90s were heavily veteran-laden without a lot of depth. The team now is extremely young, but with good depth. Two different styles, both effective.

[VoiceofReason]

Too early to tell. No, I don't think it makes TT better just by getting it done faster. Wolf had to completely revamp the entire roster. TT started with Favre- almost enough said right there. Not to mention Clifton, Tauscher, Wells, Driver, Kampman, KGB, Barnett, Popinga, Harris, etc.

Wolf inherited a 20 year loser, and had to change the entire atmosphere of the franchise. That's the biggest difference.

[Blue]

Its difficult to gauge, because the philosophys are so much different. Wolf was a hole-filler. If he believed he had a hole somewhere, instead of letting a younger player learn on the job, he immediately filled it with a veteran free agent (case in point, Mark Ingram, Mark Clayton, Andre Rison, Anthony Morgan, Eugene Robinson, Keith Jackson, Bruce Wilkerson, Jim McMahon, Don Beebe, Roland Mitchell, and later guys like Raymont Harris, Darick Holmes, Wesley Walls, Hardy Nickerson and Joe Johnson).

Lest we forget: Wolf's Tootie Robbins and Sanjay Beach

And TT's Taco Wallace

[marklawrence]

Wolf had to trade for and develop a wild-eyed riverboat gambler QB. Wolf worked for a brand new president feeling his way.

TT inherited a HOF QB who just needed to lose a mild case of happy feet.

The point about Wolf turning around a franchise with a 20 year tradition of losing is also excellent.

I think TT had a far easier job. I'm deeply impressed with what he has accomplished, this is not meant as criticism, but I think he started out with a much stronger base than Wolf did. On that level, I think one would have to say that Wolf's 5 years and TT's 3 years are comparable.

[cheesner]

If the Packers win the SB this year will this make TT the better GM then Wolf? If the Packers win it all TT will have done it in 3 years with mostly a team of young draft picks while it took Wolf 5 years with a team mostly filled up with veteran free agents. I think if the Packers win it all TT is easily on his way to being called the best GM in the history of the Packers.

At this point in their careers, TT appears to be better. But he has a long way to go before he can said to be a better GM than Wolf.

When Wolf took over, he had 20+ years of experience as a GM. TT is still a young guy by comparison, with only 5-6 years in a role slightly under GM responsibilities. I think it can be said that Thompson is the better drafter and evaluator of college talent.

Interesting parallels if Grant turns out to be a Pro-bowl/hall of famer. Then, both Wolf and TT would have a great trade on their resume.

[VoiceofReason]

At this point in their careers, TT appears to be better. But he has a long way to go before he can said to be a better GM than Wolf.

When Wolf took over, he had 20+ years of experience as a GM. TT is still a young guy by comparison, with only 5-6 years in a role slightly under GM responsibilities. I think it can be said that Thompson is the better drafter and evaluator of college talent.

Interesting parallels if Grant turns out to be a Pro-bowl/hall of famer. Then, both Wolf and TT would have a great trade on their resume.

Yes, excpet Wolf had more than one great trade. Ahman Green, Eugene Robinson, Keith Jackson didn't turn out too bad.

[heavyD & da Pack]

Different senarios for each: Mr. Wolf did not have much talent and had to really shake up the team and its mentality. He did so with Favre & White and added a lot of FA and trades along with solid drafts. Mr. Thompson had a HOF QB and an aging team without depth and teams that made the playoffs, but had little chance of going to the SB. He made critical decisions, did not resign some veterans and cut others, added a couple key FAs, made small trades along with solid drafts.

Interesting is that neither Mr. Wolf nor Mr. Thompson has had great success in the first round of the draft. This may change if Rodgers and Harrell pan out and if Hawk explodes in the future. Both were great talent evaluators and this is no accident and cannot be overlooked or undervalued. Many GM in the NFL are not successful b/c (IMO) they cannot evaluate talent and that person is supposed to make the final decisions. Both GM have made their names in GB, but Mr. Wolf had a lot of experience before coming here, but Mr. Thompson did not. Both were critized by the fans in the beginning, but both proved to be winners. Mr. Wolf will always be tied to HC Holmgren and only slightly to HC Sherman. Mr. Wolf did not have the great success after HC Holmgren. Mr. Thompson currently is solely tied to HC McCarthy and time will be the bearing of who is better. After Bret Favre and HC McCarthy, Mr. Thompson will be evaluated again. And Bret was Mr. Wolf's doing and never, ever underestimate the value of having a solid QB, while GB has an all-pro first ballot HOF who had some so-so years (to be nice) but has re-invented himself with HC McCarthy.

[philh64]

Wolf inherited a 20 year loser, and had to change the entire atmosphere of the franchise. That's the biggest difference.

That's the big one, right there. TT could someday be named best GM of the Packers history, but not quite yet. Not even if they win the Superbowl this year. He's definitely on the right path, though.

[ray]

Wasn't Wolf's first GM job with the new Tampa Bay Bucs. He spent time in Oakland before that as an assistant and improved after, but was always a gambler himself. He always made a lot of moves, some good some bad.

I wonder Favre's future had he stayed in Atlanta.

c.

Wolf inherited a 20 year loser, and had to change the entire atmosphere of the franchise. That's the biggest difference.

Holmgren is the one who actually changed the thinking of the players from what I saw. Of course they did work well together.