"Sitting on" is a misnomer because it rolls over to next year if they don't use it. It's not use it or lose it. Thompson isn't going to get fired either way. He'll either hang 'em up or keep working. Who fires a GM that went to NFCC two years ago and lost in overtime on the road in divisional round last year? Not going to happen.

Injuries are not an excuse for the outcome - but there is no way you fire the GM when his team was this injured and had his track record. How would you attract any other talented candidate when you're that reactionary?