Greg Bedard assigns homework

[Lurker64]

From his most recent chat:

edited

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So if anybody wants to submit their assignments electronically, feel free. I will note that backhanded complements such as "TT hasn't totally screwed up all his draft picks, because Jennings is pretty good" won't be appreciated. If you have something nice and something not so nice to say about Thompson, just say the nice thing. There are plenty of other threads to say the not-nice thing in (and a lot of people are far from shy about doing so.)

For extra credit, in case you found the first question too easy:

Say something nice about the way Brett Favre has handled the recent retirement/unretirement drama.

Come on, you can do it! (Again, no backhanded complements aimed at either Favre or Ted.)

[RashanGary]

I'm not known as a Favre lover so I'll say something nice about him.


I think Favre thought he was entitled to make a decision whenever he felt like it so he wasn't purposely screwing anyone around but just doing what he felt like doing. He thought it was fine and everyone would just be doing backflips at the thought of having him back.

[mraynrand]

Ted Thompson doesn't beat his wife anymore.

[LEWCWA]

I like your premise---GOOD LUCK :P

[LEWCWA]

I'm not known as a Favre lover so I'll say something nice about him.


I think Favre thought he was entitled to make a decision whenever he felt like it so he wasn't purposely screwing anyone around but just doing what he felt like doing. He thought it was fine and everyone would just be doing backflips at the thought of having him back.

piss poor effort---D-

[LEWCWA]

Ted Thompson doesn't beat his wife anymore.

Same---D-

[RashanGary]

I'm not known as a Favre lover so I'll say something nice about him.


I think Favre thought he was entitled to make a decision whenever he felt like it so he wasn't purposely screwing anyone around but just doing what he felt like doing. He thought it was fine and everyone would just be doing backflips at the thought of having him back.

piss poor effort---D-

What was wrong with mine?

[LEWCWA]

I'm not known as a Favre lover so I'll say something nice about him.


I think Favre thought he was entitled to make a decision whenever he felt like it so he wasn't purposely screwing anyone around but just doing what he felt like doing. He thought it was fine and everyone would just be doing backflips at the thought of having him back.

piss poor effort---D-

What was wrong with mine?

I think you know---part of the instructions-no backhanded compliments. Nice try though

[LEWCWA]

My take on Thompson--I think he has done a great job building this team. I don't or didn't agree with some of the things he has done, but all in all this team is in great shape!

[mraynrand]

Ted Thompson doesn't beat his wife anymore.

Same---D-

OK, it was just a joke. I couldn't pass it up. I like Ted Thompson. I like the idea of stockpiling picks because NO MATTER WHERE you pick, the success rate (finding an effective starter) is about the same - somewhere around 30%. So the more picks the better. Rodgers hasn't started yet. If he's playing well by the end of next year, and plays well for some years to come and/or some other QB TT brings in does the same instead of Rodgers, he will have proven himself a very good GM. Of course to be great, he has to win it all. The jury is still out.

[mraynrand]

Ted Thompson has built solid depth across the roster. That shows up in a team that is playing hard into December and it shows up in spades on special teams. McCarthy looks to be a very good pick as coach. Very good GM job so far.

[RashanGary]

I guess I can't give Favre a compliment in regard to how he handled his retirement then. I understand his stance because he fell into the trap that he was better than everyone and was entitled to do whatever he pleased. IT's arrogant and sort of disgusting on the outside, but deep down I think anyone would feel that way if they got Brett Favre idol treatment daily. It's human. My compliment was that as bad as it looked, he is just a person that is no worse or better than any of us, just shaped by different experiences. I'm glad it wasn't tolerated, but I don't hate him for it at all.

I think it's a sincere and honest compliment that explains the bad behavior in a postive, understandable light.

[mraynrand]

he is just a person that is no worse or better than any of us

[RashanGary]

That guy looks evil. Who is that?

[Lurker64]

Here are my answers, no cheating off my sheet!

Ted:

I think Thompson has done an excellent, excellent job at scouting the guys at the bottom of the draft and on other team's rosters. Guys like Bigby, Grant, Tramon Williams, Ruvell Martin, and Donald Lee were all cuts or guys that were near the bottom of the depth chart on other teams that Thompson picked up that have a real chance to make a significant impact on the Packers going forward. Moreover, his sixth round in 2007 was one of the most impressive late rounds I've ever seen in all my years of paying attention to the NFL draft. The roster is overall much deeper, and that definitely shows in the improvements this squad has made in special teams since Ted took over. Thompson also appears to have quite the eye at drafing WRs, which are historically one of the trickiest positions to draft (Detroit Lions, anybody?) McCarthy was a good (and surprising) pick at head coach.

Brett:

I think that Favre wasn't malicious at all during this saga, I think simply the lines of communication were poor between the two sides and everybody said some things that they probably regret. I give Brett a tremendous amount of credit for not wanting Packer camp to be a zoo, and making the right decision once actual and good communication between Favre and McCarthy took place and both sides actually took steps to understand each other. Favre gets credit for realizing the potential damage he could have done to the 2008 Packers and being a team player in the end. I'm also impressed with how he hasn't said anything negative about the Packers or Packers management since leaving, which is telling considering the numerous opportunities he had to do so, and the fact that Favre likely didn't get what he wanted out of this. In the end, he's a good sport and a good team player.