KYPack
05-05-2006, 12:03 PM
Thompson says delaying Favre news was `miscalculation'
Associated Press GREEN BAY, Wis. - Packers general manager Ted Thompson said on the eve of new coach Mike McCarthy's first minicamp that it was a "miscalculation" when he waited a day before publicly confirming Brett Favre would return for his 15th season in Green Bay.
"I probably made a miscalculation about it," Thompson told about 50 journalists at the Wisconsin Associated Press Sports Editors meeting Thursday night. "He called me, he asked me about it. He said, 'I've waited this long, I can wait a little bit more.'"
The news that fans had been waiting for months to hear was first broken by unnamed sources, and the team didn't confirm Favre's choice until the following day, April 26. Thompson defended his decision not to make an immediate announcement after Favre gave him his decision. He said Favre was always a part of the team.
"Brett had never retired," he said. "He was on our team the whole spring. I felt it better it come from him, however he wanted to do it."
Thompson, who started working under former GM Ron Wolf in 1992, said his first season as general manager was tough on the entire organization as the team suffered injuries and setbacks in a 4-12 campaign - the worst in Favre's tenure in Green Bay.
"As an organization, we had a rough year," he said. "I had a rough year, I didn't do as well as I should've done."
But Thompson said the only thing the organization can do now is pick itself up beginning Friday, and he would like to stay as general manager for the long haul.
"I would like to do this job well enough that people would want me to stay on," he said. "I can't imagine a better place to work."
John Jones, who will take over for Bob Harlan as Packers president on May 31, described Thompson as consistent and prepared, as shown during last weekend's NFL draft.
"He has been very steady. He is so thorough and prepared," he said. "Last Saturday is the most recent example - from what we had to five picks on the first day."
Jones, who was a journalist for 13 years before joining the NFL, said the newest collective bargaining agreement helps keep the Packers profitable, and that the team will pay into the revenue sharing pool as one of the league's top 15 moneymaking teams.
Thompson said he's learned from the media, and that he believes the organization is getting closer to the "free flow of information" that is supposed to exist between the two.
But, he said he knows he's not immune to critics.
"I understood there would be criticism. I understand there would be people questioning what we do," he said. "It's a very competitive environment."
Thompson also cautioned that reporters occasionally jump the gun, especially on Favre's return.
"I got seven calls from our local guys, the very first question was, 'Is he just coming back for the one year or is it going to be two, or three or four?'" he said. "Sometimes you try to put the answer before there's a (question)."
Thompson said that he is excited about his first draft class, and that the New Orleans Saints were extremely close to picking linebacker A.J. Hawk before Reggie Bush fell to them with the No. 2 pick and the Packers took Hawk at No. 5.
How did he know?
"It's after the fact and there's no reason for people to lie anymore," Thompson said. "I heard it leading up to the draft that there was a huge debate in their room whether it should be Mario Williams or A.J. Hawk."
Favre was at Lambeau Field Thursday night, and Thompson said he believed the veteran signal caller would talk to the media on Friday.
"He wasn't dressed for this," Thompson deadpanned. "He was dressed for Brett."
The guy admitted he made a slight error and is becoming aware of the PR portion of his job. I think we are making positive progress and going forward. This is good stuff.
Associated Press GREEN BAY, Wis. - Packers general manager Ted Thompson said on the eve of new coach Mike McCarthy's first minicamp that it was a "miscalculation" when he waited a day before publicly confirming Brett Favre would return for his 15th season in Green Bay.
"I probably made a miscalculation about it," Thompson told about 50 journalists at the Wisconsin Associated Press Sports Editors meeting Thursday night. "He called me, he asked me about it. He said, 'I've waited this long, I can wait a little bit more.'"
The news that fans had been waiting for months to hear was first broken by unnamed sources, and the team didn't confirm Favre's choice until the following day, April 26. Thompson defended his decision not to make an immediate announcement after Favre gave him his decision. He said Favre was always a part of the team.
"Brett had never retired," he said. "He was on our team the whole spring. I felt it better it come from him, however he wanted to do it."
Thompson, who started working under former GM Ron Wolf in 1992, said his first season as general manager was tough on the entire organization as the team suffered injuries and setbacks in a 4-12 campaign - the worst in Favre's tenure in Green Bay.
"As an organization, we had a rough year," he said. "I had a rough year, I didn't do as well as I should've done."
But Thompson said the only thing the organization can do now is pick itself up beginning Friday, and he would like to stay as general manager for the long haul.
"I would like to do this job well enough that people would want me to stay on," he said. "I can't imagine a better place to work."
John Jones, who will take over for Bob Harlan as Packers president on May 31, described Thompson as consistent and prepared, as shown during last weekend's NFL draft.
"He has been very steady. He is so thorough and prepared," he said. "Last Saturday is the most recent example - from what we had to five picks on the first day."
Jones, who was a journalist for 13 years before joining the NFL, said the newest collective bargaining agreement helps keep the Packers profitable, and that the team will pay into the revenue sharing pool as one of the league's top 15 moneymaking teams.
Thompson said he's learned from the media, and that he believes the organization is getting closer to the "free flow of information" that is supposed to exist between the two.
But, he said he knows he's not immune to critics.
"I understood there would be criticism. I understand there would be people questioning what we do," he said. "It's a very competitive environment."
Thompson also cautioned that reporters occasionally jump the gun, especially on Favre's return.
"I got seven calls from our local guys, the very first question was, 'Is he just coming back for the one year or is it going to be two, or three or four?'" he said. "Sometimes you try to put the answer before there's a (question)."
Thompson said that he is excited about his first draft class, and that the New Orleans Saints were extremely close to picking linebacker A.J. Hawk before Reggie Bush fell to them with the No. 2 pick and the Packers took Hawk at No. 5.
How did he know?
"It's after the fact and there's no reason for people to lie anymore," Thompson said. "I heard it leading up to the draft that there was a huge debate in their room whether it should be Mario Williams or A.J. Hawk."
Favre was at Lambeau Field Thursday night, and Thompson said he believed the veteran signal caller would talk to the media on Friday.
"He wasn't dressed for this," Thompson deadpanned. "He was dressed for Brett."
The guy admitted he made a slight error and is becoming aware of the PR portion of his job. I think we are making positive progress and going forward. This is good stuff.