Gil Brandt's comments on Ted Thompson

[Scott Campbell]

I don't think thats an accurate assessment at all. One would have a very difficult time ranking Rodgers as a blue chipper. Jennings is without a doubt a blue chipper. Best player on the team by far.

Why would one have a difficult time ranking Rodgers as a Blue Chipper? All he did was throw for over 4,000 yards with 32 total touchdowns and 13 INTs...

People constantly underestimate how good a season he had. Wins and losses are a team effort. The team had a bad season. The defense in particular had a terrible season as evidenced by the decision to fire just about all of the coaches and change the scheme. Stats are the best way to judge an individual player's performance, and Rodgers' are right up there with just about anyone's....

I would call Jennings the team's best player by far. I would say Rodgers is the team's best player, but it's close. Yes, I know I'm in the minority.

Rodgers > Jennings. At least for last year anyway.

[BF4MVP]

[quote="Bretsky"]

I would call Jennings the team's best player by far. I would say Rodgers is the team's best player, but it's close. Yes, I know I'm in the minority.

I'm confused; so which one is the best player again

LOL my bad. I WOULDN'T say Jennings is the best player on the team.

I WOULD say it's Rodgers.

[BF4MVP]

I don't think thats an accurate assessment at all. One would have a very difficult time ranking Rodgers as a blue chipper. Jennings is without a doubt a blue chipper. Best player on the team by far.

Why would one have a difficult time ranking Rodgers as a Blue Chipper? All he did was throw for over 4,000 yards with 32 total touchdowns and 13 INTs...

People constantly underestimate how good a season he had. Wins and losses are a team effort. The team had a bad season. The defense in particular had a terrible season as evidenced by the decision to fire just about all of the coaches and change the scheme. Stats are the best way to judge an individual player's performance, and Rodgers' are right up there with just about anyone's....

I would call Jennings the team's best player by far. I would say Rodgers is the team's best player, but it's close. Yes, I know I'm in the minority.

Rodgers > Jennings. At least for last year anyway.

Agreed

[Scott Campbell]

THAT is the only leg TT has to stand on right now.. thats it.

That's it - huh?

I think he can also stand on his Executive of the Year win. They didn't give him that for inheriting Favre. He can also stand on his contract extension. And he can also stand on the shoulders of dynasty building personnel guys like Gil Brandt, who apparently thinks that Ted is on par with Bill B. and Peyton Manning as being the best in the business. It's tremendous praise, and obviously its struck a nerve with you.

[Pacopete4]

THAT is the only leg TT has to stand on right now.. thats it.

That's it - huh?

I think he can also stand on his Executive of the Year win. They didn't give him that for inheriting Favre. He can also stand on his contract extension. And he can also stand on the shoulders of dynasty building personnel guys like Gil Brandt, who apparently thinks that Ted is on par with Bill B. and Peyton Manning as being the best in the business. It's tremendous praise, and obviously its struck a nerve with you.

naw no nerve.. like I have stated.. I'll be the happiest guy if he just does his fucking job and starts winning more. Til that happens, ur damn right I'm not gonna be happy about Packer football and I'm not sure why any fan would be..

[Bossman641]

THAT is the only leg TT has to stand on right now.. thats it.

That's it - huh?

I think he can also stand on his Executive of the Year win. They didn't give him that for inheriting Favre. He can also stand on his contract extension. And he can also stand on the shoulders of dynasty building personnel guys like Gil Brandt, who apparently thinks that Ted is on par with Bill B. and Peyton Manning as being the best in the business. It's tremendous praise, and obviously its struck a nerve with you.

He also inspired a series of "Ted is Trapped in the Closet" writings that were works of art.

[channtheman]

Re: Gil Brandt's comments on Ted Thompson

TT hasn't led the Packers to the Super Bowl and won it every year, time to go. Never mind the foundation that he is laying down for the Packers to be a very good team in the long run.

In which year will you say ok, thats enough.. he may be laying a foundation but he hasnt actually won. Please tell me after which year is it ok to hold TT to the standards of the other 31 NFL GM's?

TT can hardly be held totally responsible for the 4-12 season. Sherman as well as Favre's inability to throw the ball to our receivers that year was a huge problem. We showed a lot of improvement in the 8-8 year and made the Championship game the next. We had a lot of transitions this last year and a lot of big injuries to key players. Also, we were 2 missed field goals and 2 blown ref calls from being 10-6.

I give TT 2 years IF this year sucks. I doubt it will be though. I think we make the playoffs this year and the TT haters will have to eat their words. You can't go firing a guy after a few seasons even though he has shown improvement each year.

[rbaloha1]

TT has positioned the team for making a legitimate super bowl run in 2 years.

This is a transition year but still expect a playoff team.

[Partial]

I don't think thats an accurate assessment at all. One would have a very difficult time ranking Rodgers as a blue chipper. Jennings is without a doubt a blue chipper. Best player on the team by far.

Why would one have a difficult time ranking Rodgers as a Blue Chipper? All he did was throw for over 4,000 yards with 32 total touchdowns and 13 INTs...

And? He has a stunning supporting cast. Do you think he's a top 4-5 player at his position in the league? Let's hold the phone before we rank in with PMans and TBrades. He's not even close.

People constantly underestimate how good a season he had. Wins and losses are a team effort. The team had a bad season. The defense in particular had a terrible season as evidenced by the decision to fire just about all of the coaches and change the scheme. Stats are the best way to judge an individual player's performance, and Rodgers' are right up there with just about anyone's....

I wouldn't call Jennings "the team's best player by far." I would say Rodgers is the team's best player, but it's close. Yes, I know I'm in the minority.

You're entitled to your opinion, but I don't agree with it. There are plenty of quarterbacks you could have plugged in and had similar success. A big reason for this success was Jennings. How many receivers could you plug in and get the kind of success Jennings had? Not many.

[th87]

That said...Thompson hasn't proven he can make the kind of acquisitions to put a team over the top, like a Ron Wolf could. I'm not sure he would be my #1 choice as a GM right now...but he'd certainly have a strong argument to be in the top 5.

I don't think that's Thompson's aim yet. He's rebuilding in phases:

Phase 1: Replace the aging vets with younger talent.
Phase 2: Build quality depth, such that every position is solid.
Phase 3: Bring in difference makers to put the team over the top.

We're right around the end of Phase 1 and starting Phase 2. Tauscher is being replaced, and Clifton's getting there. There are picks invested for Harris' replacement. We also have Driver's replacements in the wings. It seems like TT's approach is to start grooming the young guys before the old guy needs to be replaced. Therefore, by the time the old timers are done, someone young (and also experienced) is ready to take their place.

This is also why TT doesn't rely on free agency as much. It upsets the "growth and replacement" process. Free agents are older and more expensive, so the whole grooming process gets put on hold to accommodate someone who likely will not grow, and will likely need to be replaced in a few years anyway.

So Phase 1 of the plan is to see if these young guys pan out. If they do not, then bring in even younger guys to see if they will. If these younger guys pan out, they become the starter, and the previous incumbent younger guy becomes quality depth. For example, Poppinga was brought in to replace the last guy, ended up becoming solid, but not spectacular. Therefore, he now makes way for Matthews, who will hopefully become the starter, which would make Poppinga quality depth.

In this way, quality depth is produced at each position, and each position boasts a solid (at least) starter.

Finally, once this is accomplished, the team goes into "win now" mode. If there are pieces that would put the team over the top (on paper), they will be pursued.

This seems like Thompson's plan. I'd give him 3 more years (at least) to execute it. Why that long? Because he's executed Phase I almost perfectly. Phase II awaits. And by about next year, or 2011, we'll solidly be in Phase III.

And not only that, it will be sustainable, given that this process will continue to repeat itself. This is pretty much how the Steelers stay relevant every year. The Patriots have adopted this philosophy as well, and will continue their success for years to come.

I believe our patience will be rewarded.

[falco]

I don't think anybody's opinions in here are without merit. Even Paco has some good points.

[Merlin]

It seems to me that he's been working on building a base for long-term success. At least, that's what I feel like the plan is.

We'll see how this plays out in the next 2 years or so. I think they've got most of the pieces, now they have to make them go.

WHAT???? The "long term success"? When he was hired 4 years ago it was "building for the future". He is now in his 5th season and now you are saying "long term success" instead of "building for the future"? Is that because it IS the future and the success isn't there? Now we have to believe that he is setting us up for the "long term"? You are joking right?

Just like the blind followers of Al Gore, if you have been proven wrong on "Global Warming", just change the name to "Climate Change", then no matter what happens your ass is covered.

Pulease.....This is the "long term" and he is NOT successful. This season is it, and no a 9-7 record isn't good enough, especially when you have an 8-8, 4-12, and 6-10 records already on your mantle. Thompson has a built in automatic excuse this season by switching to the 3-4 defense. No excuses, this is the NFL and 5 years is longer then the average NFL career lasts. THIS IS THE LONG TERM....

[RashanGary]

This is the time of year that the TT haters dig their irrelevance graves


Paco, merlin and packnut already have 4' dug.

[Merlin]

You need a reality check, all of the facts are out there and Thompson isn't winning us football games. Has nothing to do with "hate", it has to do with the facts. Bottom Line: Thompson isn't helping this team win football games. That is the reason the Packers play the game right? The reason you are a fan right?

Also, Bottom Line: Justin Harrell is a bust.
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Remember folks, whatever you do, DO NOT have our own opinion, you will be tagged a "hater". Which of course is a convenient excuse for those that refuse to look at the facts.

[RashanGary]

Those who cannot see deeper than the surface are digging their irrelevancy graves


Us, who have vision, we will have the last laugh. hahaha