You can disagree about the Packers cap situation in 2004/2005, but you can't say they were allowed to walk. Both Rivera and Wahle received offers that the Packers weren't close to matching and the Rivera money was stupid.

Sharper was much closer, but I never shared the glowing assessment of his play that the writer has.

Thompson has said under their cap situation they could have signed one of them. So this argument comes down to cap flexibility or Wahle.

The Packers were more than an Offensive Line away from competing. The North wasn't a powerhouse and winning three division titles didn't mean they were competing for a Super Bowl. They were being beaten regularly and clearly in the playoffs.

This was not a team on the cusp of greatness, it was in decline.

It has seemed obvious that Thompson wanted to tear the Packers down and rebuild with his own coaches and players since the end of 2005. That might be good for some teams, but the Packers had just won three consecutive division titles before Thompson walked in the door. In 2005 he let three very important players walk away (LG Mike Wahle, RG Marco Rivera, and FS Darren Sharper), then the Packers best player from 2004 is lost for the season (WR Javon Walker), then RB Ahman Green is injured for most of the season, and all the free agents Thompson signed were busts.