I think you’re a bit over the top on this one. You’re beginning to sound like some of the PackerNews Forum “fans” (Kbro, et. al). I can understand how disappointed you are that they didn’t draft for the “Need” like they did last year. I believe, however, that Ted Thompson, regardless of what other folks are saying, is attempting to do his best to make the Packers better and more competitive. If you think about the places where Detroit and Minnesota drafted, it’s no wonder that they did so much better.
When Ron Wolf became the GM of the Packers, he really showed me what I didn’t know about the draft. He wheeled and dealed and had four third round picks in 1995. I thought he was nuts for not packaging some of them and getting a second round pick. He kept them and got Darius Holland (a boom or bust pick), William Henderson, Antonio Freeman, and Brian Williams. This core of players put the Packers over the top and into the Superbowl. When asked why he didn’t package the picks for a 2nd round pick, Wolf stated that the quality of the players didn’t drop off much between 2nd and 3rd round.
I’ll state categorically that Ted Thompson is no Ron Wolf. But, much like Wolf, Thompson spends significant time and energy preparing for and dealing with the draft. For us novices who don’t have the resources that Thompson does to support him.. to really second guess him is pretty foolish from my point of view. When Thompson drafted Terrance Murphy in the 2nd round, that was a good pick. When Thompson drafted Nick Collins in the 2nd round, that was a reasonable pick. When Thompson drafted Greg Jennings in the 2nd round, that was a good pick. All of those guys weren’t even on my radar.
What tends to frustrate people is that Thompson holds his cards close to the chest. Here’s a question: Why tell people what you are planning to do? Why tell people what went down with Moss? Why disclose what you’re thinking? Why give your opponents a view into what you’re thinking? It may come back to bite you if your opponent can guess what you are thinking. It reminds me of what the Google founders once stated: “We believe that secret stuff should be kept secret. That means that we don’t talk about it.”
Wolf was far better at stroking the media than Thompson. I do think that Thompson is extremely astute and it’s an insult to him to think that he doesn’t understand what’s going on. While I believe that, I also believe that Thompson is too insular in that he doesn’t have his finger on the pulse of the Packer Fan audience like Wolf did. Wolf was able to draft keeping their feelings in mind. Thompson doesn’t and it will probably cost him his job eventually unless he changes.
Mis-steps of Thompson include the following: * Giving a contract extension to Sherman (that might have been mandated in order to not cut him off at the knees). * Picking up Koren Robinson. * Not Picking up Randy Moss. * Not getting replacement Offensive Guards quick enough.
Good Moves of Thompson include the following: * Not re-signing Rivera and Wahle. At the time, he was heavily criticized, but time has proven him right. * Hiring McCarthy… Although the jury is still out, he seems like a reasonably coach. Certainly, he did more than the Vikings or Lions Head Coach. * The 2006 Draft. It didn’t take too long to determine that this group of guys played pretty well. And… they will be getting better. * Acquiring a much better core of players. * Getting rid of players who have grown old. In general Football is a young man’s game. Several folks have stated that it’s better to get rid of someone a year too early rather than a year too late. You certainly don’t want to have a long contract on an older player. The fall on these players can be very fast.
By Steve Booth