http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?p...ad7/TedThompson

Not Juicy ..Just a nice story...

I saw this reply from a Vikings fan, of all people:



Seems like a pretty balanced and reasonable perspective on the whole thing. The process sucked, but it was like pulling off a bandaid - it hurt, but it had to happen.

That was quite a read for sure. Kinda nice going into this weekend, with so much division in the air.

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I can't believe I just read a post from a Viking fan that actually contained logic. I'm floored to say the least, Sinatra.

This article was one of the best written about Thompson. He opened up a bit, in typical Thompson fashion.

I think people dislike Thompson because he is not a flashy, gotta get on T.V. and be a media whore type. I also think they don't like him because of his role in the Favre saga.

People compare him to Ron Wolf. I kinda understand that because Wolf won a Super Bowl and he says Wolf was his mentor, BUT I don't completely understand that because he replaced Mike Sherman, who was a horrible GM and left the Packers $11 million over the cap with key player heading into FA and was not a great drafter.

From everyone I know that is tied to Thompson all say the same thing, he is a guy that knows what he is doing and all in all is a guy that cares more than people know. They all say he loves the Packers and wants to win a Super Bowl more then anything not for himself, but the players and the Packers fans.

You cannot compare him to Wolf. Ron Wolf had charisma and I really beleive that it helped him as a GM in Green Bay. I know I have said it before but it helps sell the program. Agree Thompson is not flashy. Sure Wolf was his mentor but that is from a pure football POV.

I do beleive that Thomspon has the best interest in the Packers organization in mind at all times. But at the end of the day he will be judged by results as any GM should

Right, and Ron Wolf also saw the Packers facilities as woefully inadequate and had the DH Center built. He moved all home games to Lambeau. Blockbuster trade for Favre. FA signing of a generation in Reggie White.

I do think TT fancies himself as a RW type- especially involving football decisions. But the main difference is that RW was a visionary. Yes, he was conservative in general but the moves above were titanic. TT doesn't seem to have that level of vision, but who know?

VoiceofReason actually lived up to his name on that one.

Here is a list of the CURRENT 32 GM's/VP's of Football Op's of NFL teams:

NFC:

Packers: Ted Thompson

Bears: Jerry Angelo

Lions: Martin Mayhew

Vikings: Rick Speilman

Cowboys: Jerry Jones (owner)

Giants: Jerry Reese

Eagles: Tom Heckert (Andy Reid VP Football Op)

Redskins: Vinny Cerrato

Falcons: Thomas Dimitroff

Panthers: Marty Hurney

Saints: Mickey Loomis

Buccaneers: Mark Dominik

Cardinals: Rod graves

Rams: Billy Devaney (Ex. VP of Football: Kevin Demoff)

49ers: Scott McCloughan

Seahawks: Tim Ruskell


AFC

Bills: Russ Brandon

Dolphins: Jeff Ireland (VP Football Op's: Bill Parcells)

Patroits: Nick Caserio (Billl Belichick has all the control)

Jets: Mike Tannenbaum

Ravens: Ozzie Newsome

Bengals: Mike Brown (President)

Browns: George Kokinis (Eric Mangini has control)

Steelers: Kevin Colbert (Art J. Rooney II- President)

Texans: Rick Smith

Colts: Bill Polian

Jaguars: Paul Vance

Titans: Mike Reinfeldt (Jeff Fisher has control)

Broncos: Brian Xanders (Josh McDaniels has control)

Chiefs: Scott Pioli

Raiders: Al Davis (Owner)

Chargers: A.J. Smith





I would say that Thompson is in the top 10.

1. Rooney/Colbert (Steelers)

2. Polian (Colts)

3. Belichick/Caserio (Patroits)

4. Newsome (Ravens)

5. Reid/Heckert (Eagles)

6. Parcells/Ireland (Dolphins)

7. Reese (Giants)

8. Fisher/Reinfeldt

9. Thompson (Packers)

10. Dimitroff (Falcons)

next 5:

Graves (AZ), Pioli (KC), Loomis (NO), Smith (SD), Smith (Hou)

I would rate Dimitroff above Thompson.

Draft
Matt Ryan (franchise type QB)
Addressed LT with Sam Baker
Cutis Lofton made an impact at LB

Trades
Gonzalez was a great pickup

FA's
Michael Turner

He used all his resources to build a playoff team in one year

I don't have a big problem with TT, I think he's fine. Yet, I can't help but think the standard should be higher than having the 10th or 12th best GM. Any more than we want to settle for having the 10th or 12th best team.

The sooner TT is gone and we have a GM who uses all of he tools (like Wolf) at his disposal to better the team the better. I used to think he was outstanding. Now, not so much. His refusal to use FA to help the GBP get over the top will be his downfall....and our Oline

To play devil's advocate:

Draft:
Aaron Rodgers
Nick Collins
Greg Jennings
Clay Matthews Jr,
Tramon Williams (Rookie FA)

Trades:
Ryan Grant

FA's:
Charles Woodson
Ryan Pickett
Brandon Chillar

That's not bad either ATL.

5 years vs. 2 it better have more talent. Its all about results on the field. Dimitroff in one year helped that team around. Oh I forgot the pick of Mike Smith as coach Its almost laughable that you compare the trade of Grant for Turner. Bottom line is results

I can't even picture this! This article gave me a whole different picture of TT.

It was a nice article...a nice read. I don't have any problem with how Ted handled the Favre fiasco. Brett retired, reiterated that he was retired, cried in front of the nation because he was retired and so the Packers moved on. Then he wants to come back and push Aaron back out of the picture??? That was classless and was all on Brett, imo. TT had a very difficult, no-win situation on his hands. If he'd let Brett come back and we lost Rodgers, half of Packer Nation would hate him for that too.

The problem I have with Ted, and I know I'm going to sound like a broken record, is with his lack of willingness to address areas of the team through FA. He gives AR a HUGE extension and puts a very weak OL out there to 'protect' the franchise. It's funny to me the article says he's always thinking 5 years ahead. Where was he the last five years in addressing the OT position??? And please don't say he did draft OT's to address it...he addressed it too late in the drafts (4th-7th rounds). If you want a stud OT, you're going to have to take him early. Aaron is gonna get killed with this line in front of him. I'm hoping the line is jelling and that last week was a portent of things to come. I just can't see winning a Superbowl with this OL. I hope I'm wrong. Also hope Ted has figured out that we desperately need OT's added to this team this off-season even that means using...'Gasp!!!'...Free Agency!

It is a fair critique no doubt. I like TT and feel he is damn good. He just misjudged the O-line and could have addressed that the last 2 years in FA.
However one of the best free agent signings in the past 10 years has got to be Woodson. He is the best corner in the NFL bar none.

Great read. Non-surprising replies.

I don't believe that Mr. Thompson see himself as a RW type; he is his own person and seems perfectly comfortable with that and does not attempt to be someone else. If he tried, he would be very pressed and awkward attempting it. I don't see Mr. Thompson pushing himself out in the public.

One more very big thing about Ron Wolf; we only see the GB GM tenure and seem to dismiss his other teams. Sure we can see their records and dig up what his role was and what moves he made, but we don't know what type of person or what public role he had. Now, I am not saying that Mr. Wolf was withdrawn prior to GB, but I am stating that Mr. Wolf was much more seasoned when he came to GB. This is Mr. Thompson's first time running the show. He had input and was considered very valuable to both GB and Seattle prior to becoming GM. Seattle wanted to hire him, but they had not fired their GM when GB called and GB hired him quickly.

While he has more to learn, this area of NFL is quite different than back in 1990s. Plan B FA and forced FA (Reggie White) were part of the landscape. GB needed someone to bring up the team and make a statement. Reggie White was that person. Right now, GB does not need this. Yes, Mr. Thompson needs to expand his horizons; he did trade up in the latest draft and maybe now, he will trying upper FA??

No kidding. That's just incredible! Who does that in today's world? Regardless of what kind of a GM the man is, I now have a whole new concept of what kind of a man the GM is. I'm really glad to have learned that about him.

The problem is, if you get rid of the 10th GM in the hopes of getting something better, you probably run the risk of the even higher probability that you're next man will be the 15th or 20th best GM. Plus, Thompson is young and there's always a good chance that he's only going to get better - which is along the line of something HeavyD said.

I thought it was a great read. It went a long way toward humanizing the man. I agree with Thirteen Below.

Dup post

who would you have picked up in FA if you where GM? FA is almost a joke now days. Different that in the past. Players asking for 100 Million.... If you are not willing to over pay then you will not get a top FA.

Ted does use free agency when he sees guys that he likes. Woodson, Chiller, and Pickett come to mind. If you don't like Ted that is fine, but if you say he should have done more in FA then I will ask you to tell me who he should have gotten.

Well, we don't know that Ted is the 10th best...He could be the best GM ever in the history of the NFL. If Green Bay wins 3 super bowls in the next 5 years....Ted Thompson will not be judged accurately as a GM until he leaves Green Bay.