RIP Ted Thompson

[homer]

[nodakfan17]

May he rest in peace. Ted built a Super Bowl champion through the draft and I will always be grateful for his contributions to this team and town.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Well, his mark is still all over this team, too.

[CheezWizHed]

Drafting Rodgers was his greatest move as GM and set us up for success for a long time. I wonder how the team might honor him this week and/or in the future. Packer HOF should be a lock.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

He's already in the Packers HOF. He was rushed in, most likely for this reason.

[CheezWizHed]

right... I forgot about that.

[PeaveyFury]

Well, his mark is still all over this team, too.

 

Such a great point.

 

There have long been rumors about Ted's declining health, and suggestions that there were issues near the end of his time as GM, so this isn't stunning though still quite sad.

 

There's still a large segment of the fan base that views him negatively due to the Favre-to-Rodgers 'force-out' despite being clearly vindicated there at this point, plus all of the brutal cap cuts that he had to make in '05 to clean up Mike Sherman's terrible cap situation from his time as GM, leading to the 4-12 season.

 

You can debate and criticize his view on team building, free agency and the like, but the reality is that he transitioned us from one HOF QB to another, which historically rarely happens, and built a perennial contender and XLV championship. He should be viewed as not much less significant than Ron Wolf, but I think the fans don't see it that way.

[pacopete4]

Sad stuff. Nothing would be a better send-off than the Packers rallying for two more wins solidifying TT even further of a draft guru than he already is.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Thompson obviously drafted Rodgers, but he also drafted Bhaktiari and Adams, and his final class included Aaron Jones and Williams, as well signing Tonyan undrafted.

 

He was such a great evaluator of talent that it may have been his biggest flaw - he overestimated his prowess there and thought he didn't need much else. And still won a Super Bowl basically doing that.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Thompson obviously drafted Rodgers, but he also drafted Bhaktiari and Adams, and his final class included Aaron Jones and Williams, as well signing Tonyan undrafted.

 

He was such a great evaluator of talent that it may have been his biggest flaw - he overestimated his prowess there and thought he didn't need much else. And still won a Super Bowl basically doing that.

 

 

I think that's a fair criticism. He was a great drafter, and didn't like to add via FA. He added the occasional piece here or there, it seemed when absolutely necessary, and the critics of the criticism will point out that "free agency doesn't usually work out in the NFL", but I think it's fair to point out that it sure felt like Thompson had a pretty narrow minded view of team building mechanics at times during his stay in GB.

 

That being said, while I didn't necessarily agree with Thompson the GM, I did feel for the guy when it seemed like he was in declining health, and am sad to hear the news. 68 is still too young. RIP Ted.

[homer]

He was elite drafting offense for the most part.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

His hits on both first rounders on the defense in 09 directly got a Super Bowl, too. He was simply a great evaluator of talent.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Drafting Rodgers was his greatest move as GM and set us up for success for a long time. I wonder how the team might honor him this week and/or in the future. Packer HOF should be a lock.

 

I would possibly disagree to say that Charles Woodson was his best move, ironically not a draft pick either. Rodgers was certainly a home run, but he was also in the debate for being 1st overall. The longer he fell, someone was going to snag him. A lot of people thought he was good, it was just a perfect storm for GB of not many teams needing QBs and being down on Rodgers at the last minute.

 

I remember at the time, someone calling that if SF didn't pick him, he would fall to GB.

 

Woodson was very much seen as cantankerous and over-the-hill, but the Packers gave him a lot of money and he was absolutely insane for them. I've still never seen a defensive player, in the secondary no less, with such an ability to change a game. He was just a turnover machine.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Thompson rarely delved significantly in free agency, but Woodson, Pickett, and Peppers were fantastic signs. Agreed that he hit much more on offense via the draft than defense - although some of that stigma lies with some early round defensive draft picks never having the career they could have due to injury. Nick Collins, Justin Harrell among the most prominent. Plus, he did draft both Raji and Matthews in one year that set the defense up to be Super Bowl caliber just one year later. Towards the end of his tenure, Thompson just wasn't hitting on as many of the mid round selections in the draft - which led to thinning of talent across the roster when his 1st round picks weren't instant studs, particularly on offense. Many of them had decent careers, but just weren't perennial pro bowlers (Bulaga, Perry, Clinton-Dix). I think his last 1st round pick was Kenny Clark, too.

 

Thompson was great at finding mid round WRs who wouldn't command top WR money and pairing them with great QBs to prevent inevitable salary cap hell - and he also had a solid record of finding mid-late round OL that became solid NFL starters.

[homer]

 

Thompson was great at finding mid round WRs who wouldn't command top WR money and pairing them with great QBs to prevent inevitable salary cap hell - and he also had a solid record of finding mid-late round OL that became solid NFL starters.

 

Jennings

Nelson

Adams

Cobb

Jones

 

That's a pretty ridiculous string of hits on non-first round receivers.

[OldHeidelberg]

I was a big fan of his draft and develop strategy for a few years but the flaw in it was that you had to carry all those guys on the roster to develop them and when you got hit by injuries they weren't ready. I think we have 6 starters now we added a FA's the last 2 offseason and all are playing league average or better, that is a much better way to balance the roster.

 

Very sad news. RIP Ted.

[HiAndTight]

Well, his mark is still all over this team, too.

 

Such a great point.

 

There have long been rumors about Ted's declining health, and suggestions that there were issues near the end of his time as GM, so this isn't stunning though still quite sad.

 

There's still a large segment of the fan base that views him negatively due to the Favre-to-Rodgers 'force-out' despite being clearly vindicated there at this point, plus all of the brutal cap cuts that he had to make in '05 to clean up Mike Sherman's terrible cap situation from his time as GM, leading to the 4-12 season.

 

You can debate and criticize his view on team building, free agency and the like, but the reality is that he transitioned us from one HOF QB to another, which historically rarely happens, and built a perennial contender and XLV championship. He should be viewed as not much less significant than Ron Wolf, but I think the fans don't see it that way.

 

 

Wolf made some splashier moves and then TT's final few drafts weren't that great. So that hurt his legacy a bit. I think if you compared them...Thompson was pretty incredible at finding high-end starters in the middle rounds...and his first-round picks weren't so bad either.

 

Wolf was a little better taking fliers on guys, but his first-round picks were bad.

 

TT could be a bit frustrating, but he picked Bahk, Linsley, Jones in the mid-rounds just among the key guys still playing.

 

He did bring in C-Wood, Pickett and had an incredible run in the draft the first half of his tenure, so you have to appreciate what he did for the team.

[CheeseheadInQC]

Between 2006 and 2014, the Packers drafted 14 offensive linemen in the first five rounds. 13 spent at least six seasons in the league, and if Sherrod hadn't gotten hurt, it likely would have been 14/14. And a lot of those guys were fourth and fifth rounders as well. The man was a heck of a talent evaluator.

[CheezWizHed]

Drafting Rodgers was his greatest move as GM and set us up for success for a long time. I wonder how the team might honor him this week and/or in the future. Packer HOF should be a lock.

 

I would possibly disagree to say that Charles Woodson was his best move, ironically not a draft pick either. Rodgers was certainly a home run, but he was also in the debate for being 1st overall. The longer he fell, someone was going to snag him. A lot of people thought he was good, it was just a perfect storm for GB of not many teams needing QBs and being down on Rodgers at the last minute.

 

I remember at the time, someone calling that if SF didn't pick him, he would fall to GB.

 

Woodson was very much seen as cantankerous and over-the-hill, but the Packers gave him a lot of money and he was absolutely insane for them. I've still never seen a defensive player, in the secondary no less, with such an ability to change a game. He was just a turnover machine.

 

Woodson was huge obviously, but this is a QB led league and Rodger's impact has been for much longer.

[HiAndTight]

Drafting Rodgers was his greatest move as GM and set us up for success for a long time. I wonder how the team might honor him this week and/or in the future. Packer HOF should be a lock.

 

I would possibly disagree to say that Charles Woodson was his best move, ironically not a draft pick either. Rodgers was certainly a home run, but he was also in the debate for being 1st overall. The longer he fell, someone was going to snag him. A lot of people thought he was good, it was just a perfect storm for GB of not many teams needing QBs and being down on Rodgers at the last minute.

 

I remember at the time, someone calling that if SF didn't pick him, he would fall to GB.

 

Woodson was very much seen as cantankerous and over-the-hill, but the Packers gave him a lot of money and he was absolutely insane for them. I've still never seen a defensive player, in the secondary no less, with such an ability to change a game. He was just a turnover machine.

 

 

Woodson was a FA signing for big money and we were the only team that thought he could still play CB. Tampa wanted him to be a safety. So I see your argument, but I think the opinion of Rodgers as a prospect has been a bit exaggerated.

 

I THINK it was Mike Mayock who said he'd fall to the Packers at 24, but he also said both would go in that 15-20 range in a normal year. The scouting reports on him and Alex Smith are just comical at this point...given what we now know. Questions about Rodgers arm strength, his ability to throw the deep ball...which to be fair, Tedford didn't ask his guys to do much, and then knocks about his mechanics and his attitude.

The fact that Tedford has 5 or 6 highly drafted QB's like Dilfer, Akili Smith, Carr, Harrington and then Kyle Bollers who was an incredible talent. I think he ran in the 4.5 range, had a cannon for an arm and he was just showing he was a bust and was 3-4 years into his career when the Packers picked Rodgers.

 

When there are that many question marks about a QB and you take him despite having a HOF'er at the position and coming off a playoff season with your QB campaigning for more help on offense, it's pretty gutsy.

 

 

Woodson was kinda like the Reggie White signing...not in the build-up, but in the impact. To win a DPOY award, become the team leader he did and impact the game like you said, it was incredible. He threw his body around like nobody with his frame should...and he was a stud and he went from a very good player to an All-Time great in GB.

 

But QB's just so much more important, I think that move was the one that really cemented his legacy.

[HiAndTight]

Between 2006 and 2014, the Packers drafted 14 offensive linemen in the first five rounds. 13 spent at least six seasons in the league, and if Sherrod hadn't gotten hurt, it likely would have been 14/14. And a lot of those guys were fourth and fifth rounders as well. The man was a heck of a talent evaluator.

 

 

Sherrod's game was based on him being so athletic for his size. So that gruesome injury not only stole that from him, but he also didn't get a chance to work on his flaws..which was basically just average strength and run blocking.

 

Thompson was hurt by injuries more than most. Very possible Nick Collins would have been the 2nd HOF'er in that draft class and then Terrance Murphy might have had the most physical talent of any of the WR'ers he drafted.

 

Finley was just breaking out when he suffered his career-ending injury. Can't argue they're part of the game, but it was just a particularly bad run. Throw in Justin Harrell and a few others and I think it's safe to say, that really cost the Packers(though in Harrell's case, they knew he was an injury risk when they drafted him).

[PeaveyFury]

Wolf made some splashier moves and then TT's final few drafts weren't that great. So that hurt his legacy a bit..

 

I think the narrative regarding the 'last few drafts' is widely accepted, but I don't know if I agree. If the mark of a successful draft is getting '2-3 legitimate NFL players' as I believe Ron Wolf once put it, then 2015 is an admitted disaster. But 2016 brought Clark and Martinez, and contributors in Lowry and Fackrell. 2017 brought King, Williams, and Jones.

 

I think there's a lot of bad feelings about the '17 draft because of passing on Watt, letting Biegel go without really having a chance to contribute, and King's early injury problems, but there's three legit NFL players there, including a dynamic play-maker.

[Brewers Numbers]

I think a little of the criticism Ted gets should go to McCarthy and his coaching decisions.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I'm not understanding how the opinion of Rodgers as prospect has been exaggerated. He was very much in the conversation for going #1 overall. If the Packers really had some great insights, they likely would have traded up to get him. In fact, Rodgers was the favored #1 until pretty late in the game when a bunch of teams flipped on him.

 

They really just got lucky. I know Thompson did scout and loved Rodgers, but if you go back and look at the draft that year, it was definitely in the air that the guy who didn't go first would drop a lot, just because at the time, a bunch of teams had QBs or had their future QB.

 

Time has made people forget how the Woodson acquisition was viewed at the time. The consensus was that they overpaid an old vet to convince Favre to stick around. It was total nonsense of course. Thompson loved Woodson from before he was drafted. There was some story years ago of Thompson showing Woodson tape to scouts and basically saying "this is exactly how I want my CBs to play."

 

I think Rodgers as his "best move" is a fair argument, I just think Woodson was a far less obvious move. Favre was old, not playing particularly well, and a top 5 talent had dropped into his lap. Nobody really wanted Woodson to play CB anymore.

 

And if we really get down to it, Sam Shields is up there too. An undrafted CB who played that position for a single year in college. They don't win a Super Bowl without him, and he was probably one of the most underrated Packers of all time. The Shields, Starks, Tramon moves of his tenure are more impressive to me than hitting on 1st rounders, I guess, but that's totally subjective.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Rather timely article on this topic, was a fun read.

 

https://www.nfl.com/news/the-inside-story-behind-aaron-rodgers-freefall-at-the-2005-nfl-draft