""MATTHEWS WAS A MUST HAVE"" For TT

[Fritz]

I still think about how much Thompson gave up to get Matthews. It still seems like an awful lot, but if Thompson had the guy graded as a top 15 pick, and really wanted Matthews, then once he slipped to the mid-20's he must've gotten the blood pumping, wondering if he could get the player he wanted.

I suppose he figured that NE could ask for so much because if TT passed, the Patriots would probably be happy to pick the guy. The bottom line is that Teddy fell in love, and he paid the price. Time will tell if he's a Brett Favre or a BJ Sander.

[KYPack]

I guess we can be "kinda" sure about both Matthews & Raji. Ted traded up for Matthews and gave up a lot, so it's clear he really, really liked him. And he actually took Raji at 9 over a bunch of other quality prospects.

I'm really excited about this draft.

It may be just me, but every time I see 'Administrator' it feels like I'm driving next to a police car.

Don't forget to check the ash tray.

[mraynrand]

I still think about how much Thompson gave up to get Matthews. It still seems like an awful lot, but if Thompson had the guy graded as a top 15 pick, and really wanted Matthews, then once he slipped to the mid-20's he must've gotten the blood pumping, wondering if he could get the player he wanted.

I suppose he figured that NE could ask for so much because if TT passed, the Patriots would probably be happy to pick the guy. The bottom line is that Teddy fell in love, and he paid the price. Time will tell if he's a Brett Favre or a BJ Sander.

Seems closer to the move Shermy made to reach for Javon Walker. Thompson's strategy of accumulating 12 picks each year is unsustainable year after year because he seems to pick reasonably well and the Packers invest in coaching up their own picks, so they retain a lot of their picks. Every once in a while it seems as thought he can cluster a few picks on one guy - to get an impact player. But he can't do it every year, or he'll upset his own philosophy of building primarily and heavily through the draft. And when you package a number of picks on one guy, you really have to be right about that guy, or it will come back to bite you.

[Fritz]

Agreed.

[Partial]

Why would that matter? It's not like I wear pants while I drive anyway ...

True ballerz wear the driving sock?

[rbaloha1]

I still think about how much Thompson gave up to get Matthews. It still seems like an awful lot, but if Thompson had the guy graded as a top 15 pick, and really wanted Matthews, then once he slipped to the mid-20's he must've gotten the blood pumping, wondering if he could get the player he wanted.

I suppose he figured that NE could ask for so much because if TT passed, the Patriots would probably be happy to pick the guy. The bottom line is that Teddy fell in love, and he paid the price. Time will tell if he's a Brett Favre or a BJ Sander.

Seems closer to the move Shermy made to reach for Javon Walker. Thompson's strategy of accumulating 12 picks each year is unsustainable year after year because he seems to pick reasonably well and the Packers invest in coaching up their own picks, so they retain a lot of their picks. Every once in a while it seems as thought he can cluster a few picks on one guy - to get an impact player. But he can't do it every year, or he'll upset his own philosophy of building primarily and heavily through the draft. And when you package a number of picks on one guy, you really have to be right about that guy, or it will come back to bite you.

On the surface it appears to be a Sherman type move. The difference is the Packers have an outstanding young talented roster which requires fine tuning.

Sherman overestimated his roster and always felt he was a few players away from reaching a super bowl. Obviously he was wrong.

[Gunakor]

I still think about how much Thompson gave up to get Matthews. It still seems like an awful lot, but if Thompson had the guy graded as a top 15 pick, and really wanted Matthews, then once he slipped to the mid-20's he must've gotten the blood pumping, wondering if he could get the player he wanted.

I suppose he figured that NE could ask for so much because if TT passed, the Patriots would probably be happy to pick the guy. The bottom line is that Teddy fell in love, and he paid the price. Time will tell if he's a Brett Favre or a BJ Sander.

Seems closer to the move Shermy made to reach for Javon Walker. Thompson's strategy of accumulating 12 picks each year is unsustainable year after year because he seems to pick reasonably well and the Packers invest in coaching up their own picks, so they retain a lot of their picks. Every once in a while it seems as thought he can cluster a few picks on one guy - to get an impact player. But he can't do it every year, or he'll upset his own philosophy of building primarily and heavily through the draft. And when you package a number of picks on one guy, you really have to be right about that guy, or it will come back to bite you.

On the surface it appears to be a Sherman type move. The difference is the Packers have an outstanding young talented roster which requires fine tuning.

Sherman overestimated his roster and always felt he was a few players away from reaching a super bowl. Obviously he was wrong.

Well, not exactly. He might have been right. Those few players he brought in to put them over the top weren't always very good football players. Had he gotten better football players, who knows.

[hoosier]

It is far more likely that no one in charge of a draft is entirely BPA or need. They are concerned with value, hierarchy or tier of available talent, and matching the best available talent with need. Unless Crabtree blew every other prospect off the board, Raji is a sensible pick.

If Crabtree becomes the next Sterling Sharpe, then Raji's pick is under the microscope. But elite WRs and DTs have a high bust rate, so we'll probably get a good answer in a short amount of time.

I read a comparison of how 1st round WRs and 1st round DTs have fared over the last five years or so. If I remember correctly only 6 out of 16 WRs picked in round 1 turned out not to be busts. I don't remember the bust rate on DTs but it was significantly lower. Given that quality WRs are relatively easier to find than quality DTs (especially NTs), the choice between Raji and Crabtree seems to me like a no brainer. I will continue to say that even if Crabtree turns out to be Jerry Rice II and Raji disappoints--while it may be true that you can't really evaluate a draft until season 3, when it comes to evaluating draft day decisions there are situations when you can't be a results monger.

[mission]

Why would that matter? It's not like I wear pants while I drive anyway ...

True ballerz wear the driving sock?

LOL, I'm not sure! I like hangin out, yaknowatimean?

[Zool]

Why would that matter? It's not like I wear pants while I drive anyway ...

True ballerz wear the driving sock?

LOL, I'm not sure! I like hangin out, yaknowatimean?

Did you happen to be on the Lions coaching staff a couple years ago?

[mission]

Why would that matter? It's not like I wear pants while I drive anyway ...

True ballerz wear the driving sock?

LOL, I'm not sure! I like hangin out, yaknowatimean?

Did you happen to be on the Lions coaching staff a couple years ago?

Yeah, they had "coach tryouts" at the mall. Came down to me and one other dude, they flipped a coin and it came up heads. Ask Paco bout that.

[Zool]

Why would that matter? It's not like I wear pants while I drive anyway ...

True ballerz wear the driving sock?

LOL, I'm not sure! I like hangin out, yaknowatimean?

Did you happen to be on the Lions coaching staff a couple years ago?

Yeah, they had "coach tryouts" at the mall. Came down to me and one other dude, they flipped a coin and it came up heads. Ask Paco bout that.

Have you been back to Wendy's since "the incident"?