Ted "the Snake" Thompson

[gex]

Ah, the Internet: Where you have to be totally for or against someone, and the first time you say something against someone, that means you're totally against someone.

It's sad that my only options are TT is a "total idiot" or a "total fucking idiot." It's like I had just posted yesterday in a Grant thread that I liked a lot of things about him. Well, let me flesh it out, even when some issues are contradictory:

What I like about Ted Thompson
•He's put on the pads himself. That goes very well with me. He knows what it's like to be in a lockerroom, to put in a full season, and to go out not on your own terms.
•He is a great talent evaluator. I mean, big-dollar guys, small-dollar guys, he really can pick good players. When the other teams were signing Free Agents in 2006, I thought we were spending high and late in getting Charles Woodson. Darn if all the other free agents aren't even in the league anymore. So many of our great players were unknowns. He even got us a really good "who?" head coach. I believe Ted Thompson is the reason for us being a legitimate long-term contender.
•He got us under the cap and keeps us under the cap. We spend prudently and don't get locked into backloaded deals. I assume he'll deal well as the cap changes in the coming years.
•He trades down, not up. One name, two initials: BJ Sander.
•He keeps a low profile and doesn't lead with the prevailing opinion. We cut Cletidus Hunt and ate a lot of lost salary. He was willing to go with Rogers (up until tonight) when Favre was healthy. He'll put his keister on the line for what he thinks is best for the Packers, and he's been right more than wrong.
•He likes to keep his team together. Priority is keeping who we've got and then adding. I think there's something to be said for chemistry, especially in the offensive line and defensive backfield.

What I don't like about Ted Thompson
•He starts low. I think he lowballed Ryan Grant far below what he should. I was taught a firm negotiating style that seeks the best for both parties (win-win), rather than just keeping everything on the table. Ultimately, the Grant deal gave him what he needed while preserving our interests and financial flexibility. If only that were tried two weeks (or three months) ago.
•He doesn't reconsider a decision quickly. It's the negative aspect of one of his positives. I get the feeling that TT and Mark Murphy (can't we get a president who has different initals than our head coach?) wanted Favre retired and made everything happen to ensure his retirement (like the fast press conference and MNF jersey ceremony). He has the responsibility to make the best teams in 2008 and beyond, but the how was worse than the what in this case. I wouldn't want to have to deal with Retired Brett, either.
•He's spontaneous with his extensions. We like that guys who perform well get good deals. I think it also quells lockerroom unrest to see guys get paid more. But if I were an agent, I wouldn't count on my players to stay mum and receive good deals, not in a league that pays week-to-week. Too many other teams have gone back on renegotiation promises for me to believe in the Extension Fairy who visits all good little players and leaves three extra years under their pillows.
•He's impossible to read. Ultimately, it's probably a good thing. But when we want to know about the state of the team, we're not going to get anything intentional or slipped from TT. It probably hurt his relationship with Brett that he never explained his motives in player aquisition. I don't think that will ever affect his sleep at night.
•He doesn't get many high-profile players I don't think it's because he doesn't try, but for whatever reason, he gets a lot of above-average guys, rather than excellent risks. Still, I'm not complaining with what he's gotten.

So, there. I am glad TT is our GM. I think he's excellent at making good teams and providing them with what they need to stay good. I didn't like how he handled Grant, but he redeemed himself well with a good deal that satisfied all parties' needs. I don't like how he handled Favre's retirement, but I don't think there was ever any responsibility to massage Brett's feelings.

Ultimately, the GM is not the Packers. He's an employee, just like a long snapper. He's a caretaker. He answers to the president, who answers to the shareholders. As long as he does more good than harm, he should be retained. However, there should be a distinction between the Office of the General Manager and the institution that is the Green Bay Packers.[/b]

[The Shadow]

Ultimately, the GM is not the Packers. He's an employee, just like a long snapper. He's a caretaker.


You hang around long enough, you read things you really can't believe.

[Partial]

The sidewinder appears to feeling the pressure from management or something. His change of attitude is shocking to say the least.

[The Shadow]

People certainly have forgotten the team Thompson inherited from the bungling Sherman.
We now have a team we can be proud of - and for that, we can thank Ted.
Players come & go - but a great GM is priceless.

[MJZiggy]

TT hasn't had a change in attitude Mark Murphy made a carefully crafted speech that spoke for a while and did little more than confused everyone and left itself open to interpretation 20 ways from Sunday.

[Freak Out]

People certainly have forgotten the team Thompson inherited from the bungling Sherman.
We now have a team we can be proud of - and for that, we can thank Ted.
Players come & go - but a great GM is priceless.

Lets not get carried away here. Great GM......not just yet but the future looks bright with TT and M3.

[gex]

People certainly have forgotten the team Thompson inherited from the bungling Sherman.
We now have a team we can be proud of - and for that, we can thank Ted.
Players come & go - but a great GM is priceless.

tt couldn't hold Ron Wolfs jock, NOW there was a great gm.

[arcilite]

People certainly have forgotten the team Thompson inherited from the bungling Sherman.
We now have a team we can be proud of - and for that, we can thank Ted.
Players come & go - but a great GM is priceless.

tt couldn't hold Ron Wolfs jock, NOW there was a great gm.

Ron wolf only won 1 superbowl.

So once TT wins one...can we start calling him great?

[BallHawk]

People certainly have forgotten the team Thompson inherited from the bungling Sherman.
We now have a team we can be proud of - and for that, we can thank Ted.
Players come & go - but a great GM is priceless.

tt couldn't hold Ron Wolfs jock, NOW there was a great gm.

Ted is on pace to become a better drafter than Wolf (Wolf was never a FANTASTIC drafter).

Ron Wolf was a great GM whose career was made by two players. TT strikes gold, maybe not 24 Karat gold like Wolf, but he strikes a lot of it.

[bobblehead]

People certainly have forgotten the team Thompson inherited from the bungling Sherman.
We now have a team we can be proud of - and for that, we can thank Ted.
Players come & go - but a great GM is priceless.

tt couldn't hold Ron Wolfs jock, NOW there was a great gm.

TT was involved in what wolf did. wolf recommended TT. Wolf had the benefit of being able to sign whoever he wanted in the early ages of FA, including the greatest DE to ever lineup.

Wolf was great, before its over I truly believe TT will be better, and I really hope I'm right.

[Carolina_Packer]

Ah, the Internet: Where you have to be totally for or against someone, and the first time you say something against someone, that means you're totally against someone.

It's sad that my only options are TT is a "total idiot" or a "total fucking idiot." It's like I had just posted yesterday in a Grant thread that I liked a lot of things about him. Well, let me flesh it out, even when some issues are contradictory:

What I like about Ted Thompson
•He's put on the pads himself. That goes very well with me. He knows what it's like to be in a lockerroom, to put in a full season, and to go out not on your own terms.
•He is a great talent evaluator. I mean, big-dollar guys, small-dollar guys, he really can pick good players. When the other teams were signing Free Agents in 2006, I thought we were spending high and late in getting Charles Woodson. Darn if all the other free agents aren't even in the league anymore. So many of our great players were unknowns. He even got us a really good "who?" head coach. I believe Ted Thompson is the reason for us being a legitimate long-term contender.
•He got us under the cap and keeps us under the cap. We spend prudently and don't get locked into backloaded deals. I assume he'll deal well as the cap changes in the coming years.
•He trades down, not up. One name, two initials: BJ Sander.
•He keeps a low profile and doesn't lead with the prevailing opinion. We cut Cletidus Hunt and ate a lot of lost salary. He was willing to go with Rogers (up until tonight) when Favre was healthy. He'll put his keister on the line for what he thinks is best for the Packers, and he's been right more than wrong.
•He likes to keep his team together. Priority is keeping who we've got and then adding. I think there's something to be said for chemistry, especially in the offensive line and defensive backfield.

What I don't like about Ted Thompson
•He starts low. I think he lowballed Ryan Grant far below what he should. I was taught a firm negotiating style that seeks the best for both parties (win-win), rather than just keeping everything on the table. Ultimately, the Grant deal gave him what he needed while preserving our interests and financial flexibility. If only that were tried two weeks (or three months) ago.
•He doesn't reconsider a decision quickly. It's the negative aspect of one of his positives. I get the feeling that TT and Mark Murphy (can't we get a president who has different initals than our head coach?) wanted Favre retired and made everything happen to ensure his retirement (like the fast press conference and MNF jersey ceremony). He has the responsibility to make the best teams in 2008 and beyond, but the how was worse than the what in this case. I wouldn't want to have to deal with Retired Brett, either.
•He's spontaneous with his extensions. We like that guys who perform well get good deals. I think it also quells lockerroom unrest to see guys get paid more. But if I were an agent, I wouldn't count on my players to stay mum and receive good deals, not in a league that pays week-to-week. Too many other teams have gone back on renegotiation promises for me to believe in the Extension Fairy who visits all good little players and leaves three extra years under their pillows.
•He's impossible to read. Ultimately, it's probably a good thing. But when we want to know about the state of the team, we're not going to get anything intentional or slipped from TT. It probably hurt his relationship with Brett that he never explained his motives in player aquisition. I don't think that will ever affect his sleep at night.
•He doesn't get many high-profile players I don't think it's because he doesn't try, but for whatever reason, he gets a lot of above-average guys, rather than excellent risks. Still, I'm not complaining with what he's gotten.

So, there. I am glad TT is our GM. I think he's excellent at making good teams and providing them with what they need to stay good. I didn't like how he handled Grant, but he redeemed himself well with a good deal that satisfied all parties' needs. I don't like how he handled Favre's retirement, but I don't think there was ever any responsibility to massage Brett's feelings.

Ultimately, the GM is not the Packers. He's an employee, just like a long snapper. He's a caretaker. He answers to the president, who answers to the shareholders. As long as he does more good than harm, he should be retained. However, there should be a distinction between the Office of the General Manager and the institution that is the Green Bay Packers.[/b]

Great points, all. I do think that TT tries to do things his way, but at least he isn't so stubborn and inflexible that he would disregard the big picture in favor of his own wishes. You know it's not just him making the decision. I'm sure others have input. Just because he wants something to go a certain way, doesn't mean he won't "cave" if he sees the writing on the wall. Besides, according to reports, he started the off-season wanting #4 back. Thank goodness he's not so pig-headedly stubborn that he would do anything to have his way. So, if he "caved", he could cave for a lot worse things than the chance to have Brett back. Besides, perhaps he's crazy like a fox in that he was willing to have a little drama/saga take place instead of rushing out to trade Favre, really testing Brett's resolve to come back and showing Rodgers confidence, but when Brett finally decided, saying, "well Aaron, what choice did I have?" When you win a Super Bowl and 3 MVP's and become the face of a franchise, you can call your shots a bit more too. That said, he could be traded soon. Please God, not to the Vikes (no offense Rastak).

[SkinBasket]

Re: Ted "the Snake" Thompson

Well.

It's almost like Ted's caved into the overwhelming power of the demands made by internet posters here. Grant's signed a contract. Brett's in town, signs indicate he'll be our QB this year.

A couple of days ago, the Green bay Packers were an embarrassment, a joke, a franchise on the brink of utter destruction. Ted Thompson was a snake. A liar. A fool. A fucking moron. Disgusting.

Just wondering where all the Chicken Littles have gone.

What signs? What info do you have, Skin?

I think the statements by the team that they are now reconsidering their long term plans, making changes, and reorienting the team point strongly to Brett spending the season in GB, and not as a back-up.

Just my take. I know it could all just be empty talk, but that's how I'm taking it right now.

For the record, I was happier when the team was on the brink of doom and a disgusting laughingstock of the league. Bringing Favre in and having an "open competition" for the QB position is very dangerous to the long term outlook of this team and maybe even the short term as well. The only way Favre playing this year ends well is a SB win. Anything else will be considered wasted time for everyone else on the team.

I was hoping that all the naysayers would have learned a lesson in patience by now, but I know that's actually too much to hope for.

[The Leaper]

People certainly have forgotten the team Thompson inherited from the bungling Sherman. We now have a team we can be proud of - and for that, we can thank Ted.
Players come & go - but a great GM is priceless.

People certainly have forgotten the team Favre inherited from the bungling era from 1970-1991.

We now have a team we can be proud of - and for that, we can thank Brett Favre.

Coaches and GMs come and go (and have during Favre's tenure) but a legendary QB is priceless.

[The Shadow]

People certainly have forgotten the team Thompson inherited from the bungling Sherman. We now have a team we can be proud of - and for that, we can thank Ted.
Players come & go - but a great GM is priceless.

People certainly have forgotten the team Favre inherited from the bungling era from 1970-1991.

We now have a team we can be proud of - and for that, we can thank Brett Favre.

Coaches and GMs come and go (and have during Favre's tenure) but a legendary QB is priceless.

Sometimes ys just gotta scratch your head.......

[Pugger]

I don't have much of a problem with TT and how he is handling/managing our Pack. TT can be impassive and hard to read but he has assembled an interesting group of fellas and this should be a fun season! I think a lot of folks find TT cold and robotic in front of the cameras and assume he is a dope. But I really don't give a rat's tail if he is not the greatest guy in press conferences. What's important is how the team performs on the field. He has turned the team around and we were just a few plays away from the Super Bowl in January even when the team didn't play its best game. Let's see how he does in the next couple of years before we throw him under the bus...