Spending most of a season writing about the Packers has led me to one major conclusion: I really, really miss Ron Wolf.
I wouldn’t go as far as blaming all the trials and tribulations of the past 12 months on Ted Thompson, but he certainly carries his fair share and has made me long for the days when we really didn’t even notice our GM. You know, like a good referee—they’re doing their job right if you don’t even know they’re there.
Maybe it was the seamless way Wolf did his job. Maybe it was the way Wolf picked up free agents, which Thompson seems loathe doing. Maybe it’s that I just spent all of baseball season marveling at how lucky the Brewers are to have GM Doug Melvin. Maybe I’m just searching for an answer not named Brett Favre. Maybe I’ve just got it out for Thompson.
Whatever the reason, I long for the days when I had confidence in the management of my team. I remember a time when I didn’t second guess decisions, didn’t wonder how far we could fall or what they were thinking.
From the mishandling of the Brett Favre/Aaron Rodgers debacle to the odd choices during the drafts, I’ve lost faith in Ted Thompson.
It started with the drafting of Justin Harrell at DT in the 2007 draft. DT was one of the few positions at which the Packers had serious, strong depth. At the time, the Packers were sorely in need of help at a number of other positions—offensive line, running back, wide receiver and tight end—to name a few.
There were a number of guys on the board that would have filled one of these voids—most notably TE Greg Olsen and WR Robert Meachem. There were possible trades from which we could have still drafted to one of these needs as well as receive additional picks. Yet, we chose Harrell, who was arguably not even the best DT left on the board.
Harrell has a long and storied injury history dating back to high school and continued those ways with a torn bicep pretty much as soon as he entered the pros. He spent all of the 2008 preseason and the first nine weeks of the season on the injured list.
For a time, it seemed that Thompson was looking to make the defense the backbone of the post-Brett Favre era. But he failed to build a unit that could carry the team.
Thompson is known as a guy who wants to draft his talent, not sign it in free agency. And while I can understand that philosophy to a point, I think Thompson takes it too far.
He reminds me of former Brewers manager Ned Yost in his apparent stubbornness and refusal to change course. His ego and pride seem to be of the utmost importance and he seems to care more about what his legacy will be than the team he fields at times.
Having a guiding philosophy is one thing. Refusing to stray from it is another. It feels as though Thompson has issued tenets and refuses to break from there, no matter the situation. Losing out on guys like Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth, Michael Turner, and Tony Gonzalez, just to name a few, purely because they were free agents, just doesn’t make any sense.
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about 1 month ago
I agree almost completely except on Grant he's been injured along with the O-Line don't write him off just yet
and Rodgers does have all the weapons he needs to suceed
about 1 month ago
The issue with blaming injuries is that every team deals with them. Injuries are a part of the game and we should be able to still field a competitive team without them. However, Thompson hasn't valued experience in our depth and when guys get injured, we are sadly thin and young.
As for Grant - I'm not talking about the weeks he missed due to injury. Since he's been back from injury, his numbers are still down. He even got benched yesterday in favor of Jackson. Grant favors running up the gut and continues to gain minimal yardage. Jackson, on the other hand, is finding holes and gaining a lot after initial contact.
from about 1 month ago
Actually, Grant was injured yesterday and instead of aggravating the injury, the put Brandon Jackson in.
I still believe Grant can be a good back, as long as the offensive line does its damn job. As for Aaron Rodgers, even with the team not really built around him like McCarthy and Thompson claimed it was when the whole Favre thing started, he is still playing pretty good.
about 1 month ago
During the telecast yesterday they said Grant was available - not injured, they were just choosing to go with Jackson instead.
about 1 month ago
After four years, Thompson hasn't drafted a player that made the pro bowl. Kind of a drought in impact talent. This year could be the first Collins or Jennings (maybe).
about 1 month ago
If the Packers miss the playoffs, they will have made it 1 out of 4 years in the Ted Thompson era. And he took over a team that won the NFC North for four years in a row.
about 1 month ago
I never understood the Harrell pick. He was injured his Senior year, there were better DEs available and there were much better uses for a first round pick.
about 1 month ago
The guys in the booth were obviously misinformed as Grant has a sprained thumb and will be wearing a brace to play. Grant was injured which is why Jackson got some PT. That isn't to say that Jackson won't continue to get more PT if he plays like he did.
about 1 month ago
This is some good shit man. Ted Thompson is comparable to the scum on Aaron Rodgers teeth man.
about 1 month ago
This was really good. I think Thompson has a ego as big as any player. He don't care about Rodgers big contract extension, because if Rodgers gets hurt or can't live up to the money TT's dumb ass will be out before the contract ends.
I look back at his resume and I can not figure out how he got this job. He has divided die hard Packer fans like I never thought possible.
about 1 month ago
I like it. Very good article. I disagree that Rodgers doesn't have all the tools he needs to succeed when Favre was able to put up phenominal numbers with that same group. But your breakdown of Ted Thompson ignnoring free agency and underperforming in the first round of the draft is right on.
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