""TED THOMPSON SIGNED WHO ""

[Merlin]

Personally, I think keeping the media out of the Packers organization is the way to go. The only time Thompson should have opened his mouth and been truthful was during the whole Favre debacle. The media fed into that and split Packer fans right down the middle by speculating. Thompson is right for not speaking to the press much otherwise. The media is much to blame for anything Favre related, they take a little nugget and blow it out of proportion and for Favre, it's never-ending. I sure don't want our GM subject to that kind of media exposure (and biased reporting) or do I want him to be a Jerry Jones or Al Davis type.

It's Thompson's job to win football games, it isn't a popularity contest. Even though I despise some of his philosophies, that doesn't mean I want him to bow down and do what I want or what anyone else wants either. He has to be in charge and he has to have the courage of his convictions. Win, lose, or draw, Thompson shows zero emotion and to me, that's the way he should be. He doesn't take credit where it's due and he doesn't take blame where it's due, he continues to do what he believes is right and that is the biggest reason I have any respect for him. I know my ideas aren't always popular, right, or even in the ballpark, but at I do have he courage of my convictions and I respect anyone who does.

So the media can kiss my lily white ass as far as I am concerned.

[vince]

The GM, or "sources" close to the GM can help to correct perception about the players involved. Why was Meredith not ready for the roster? In retrospect, could he have helped more than Colledge and let Lang work at RT? Left to their own devices, people are convinced that putting Meredith on the PS was a mistake. Same with letting Moll go for a safety to play special teams. There is a reason we are getting Jamon Meredith updates almost as frequently as Favre updates.

In a universe or evolutionary period where Thompson could actually work with an objective press, you'd be right here, but unfortunately that doesn't exist today - at least with much of the press corps that covers the Packers. In this universe at this time, a number of members of the media will take whatever Thompson says and does and put a negative spin on it to undermine his position. The more he says, the more fodder they have for undermining him. Nothing Ted Thompson or 'sources close to Thompson" say or do will change that, so the best thing Ted can do, so long as that continues, is say as little as possible - and keep winning - so as to further undermine the credibility of the members of the press who are set on using him as a lightning rod to sell newspapers and web traffic.

[Scott Campbell]

Personally, I think keeping the media out of the Packers organization is the way to go. The only time Thompson should have opened his mouth and been truthful was during the whole Favre debacle. The media fed into that and split Packer fans right down the middle by speculating. Thompson is right for not speaking to the press much otherwise. The media is much to blame for anything Favre related, they take a little nugget and blow it out of proportion and for Favre, it's never-ending. I sure don't want our GM subject to that kind of media exposure (and biased reporting) or do I want him to be a Jerry Jones or Al Davis type.

It's Thompson's job to win football games, it isn't a popularity contest. Even though I despise some of his philosophies, that doesn't mean I want him to bow down and do what I want or what anyone else wants either. He has to be in charge and he has to have the courage of his convictions. Win, lose, or draw, Thompson shows zero emotion and to me, that's the way he should be. He doesn't take credit where it's due and he doesn't take blame where it's due, he continues to do what he believes is right and that is the biggest reason I have any respect for him. I know my ideas aren't always popular, right, or even in the ballpark, but at I do have he courage of my convictions and I respect anyone who does.

So the media can kiss my lily white ass as far as I am concerned.

Good post Merlin.

[Bretsky]

Always liked Bill Michaels, but perhaps we should invite him in here for a media mea culpa
yes, this might be the first thread I've ever bumped. and it's NOT to throw anything in anybody's face

Yes, I am very bored and have too much time tonight

[Lurker64]

It's amazing that when I go back and read old threads that people bumped, my takes always seem surprisingly reasonable. Does nobody ever bump the threads where I sound like an idiot, or is something wrong with me?

[MJZiggy]

It's amazing that when I go back and read old threads that people bumped, my takes always seem surprisingly reasonable. Does nobody ever bump the threads where I sound like an idiot, or is something wrong with me?

There's something to be said for an even keel.

[MadtownPacker]

It's amazing that when I go back and read old threads that people bumped, my takes always seem surprisingly reasonable. Does nobody ever bump the threads where I sound like an idiot, or is something wrong with me?

BUMP!

[Lurker64]

BUMP!

I think you have to wait for the thread to fall off the front page for it to count.

[MadtownPacker]

I think you have to wait for the thread to fall off the front page for it to count.

BUMP!!

[vince]

Nothing wrong with bumping threads. People being accountable for what they write is good policy.

That article is even funnier today. Reminds me of a recent quote to the media from Ted.

"Quite frankly, most people don't know what they're talking about."

Unfortunately, a lot of those guys are paid to offer their opinions.

[vince]

I'd say this article fits nicely here, and it corrects my slight misquote from above.

Good article for the most part, but one thing I take a bit of issue with is the article says that the criticism hasn't phased Thompson. It hasn't changed him, but I'm not sure I'd agree with the idea that it hasn't affected him.

We all remember when Thompson shut down, then got up and walked out in the middle of the ridiculous one-on-one interview by Greg Bedard. The ill-informed criticism gets to him. He's human. Thankfully, he stood strong in the face of it all and has come through with flying colors. Now, he handles the accolades with class and understated humility.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/14631594/packers-thompson-can-now-fire-back-but-will-take-a-pass

Packers' Thompson can now fire back but will take a pass
By Pete Prisco
CBSSports.com Senior Writer
Feb. 1, 2011

DALLAS -- It could have been his moment, his chance to fire back at the thousands of critics he's faced since jettisoning a certain Wrangler-wearing, cult-forming, iconic figure who was more revered in Wisconsin than even a good slice of homegrown cheese.

But as Ted Thompson basked in the moment, knowing the Green Bay Packers team he had built was on its way to the Super Bowl, he had none of that. For all those websites goading the public to fire Thompson, it was his chance to get even, his chance to say he was right and they were wrong.

The shots back never came.

That's not who Ted Thompson is as a man. It's certainly not who he is as the architect of a Packers team that is one victory away from being world champions.

"This is really gratifying to be able to get the Packers back to the Super Bowl," Thompson said.

It had to be in many more ways than he showed. Killing Thompson became a blood sport in Wisconsin when he traded Brett Favre in August 2008. The nastiness intensified when he balked at paying high-priced free agents, choosing to stay the course, his course, of building through the draft.

Yet Thompson never let any of it bother him -- or at least he didn't show it. Thompson doesn't show a lot of emotion anyway, if ever. When the Packers went up two scores on the Bears following B.J. Raji's interception in the NFC Championship Game, apparently sealing the game, Thompson did little more than just shake hands with those around him, others who seemed far more juiced than Thompson.

On to the next one. Ho-hum.

"The negatives or the positives don't really affect me," Thompson said. "Quite frankly, very few people know what they're talking about."

That's about as much of a shot as you'll get from Thompson. This former NFL linebacker -- about 50 pounds or so ago -- doesn't have the personality of a guy who used to tackle running backs for a living.

He's about as exciting as a stroll through a cheese factory.

To most NFL fans, he's simply the guy who ran Brett Favre out of town. They know the name, but few could pick him out of a lineup. Hint: He's tall, lean with a lot of grey hair. And you can usually find him in front of a tape machine or at a college workout somewhere. He doesn't like the spotlight. He might be the NFL's most private decision maker.

During media day Tuesday, a day when most general managers would bask in their success, Thompson stood behind a podium, away from the masses.

Asked about those who questioned him, he brushed it off.

"The NFL is a very interesting business," Thompson said. "It's very competitive, and there are a lot of difficult times you go through in my job. You just try to make honest decisions and then you look forward to the next thing because there's always a next thing."

That's truly who Ted Thompson is: A scout who has morphed into a heck of a general manager.

"Most people forget about Ted Thompson that he not only is a great general manager, he's an outstanding talent evaluator," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "He still gets out on the road the same number of weeks he always has. When he's looking at these players come draft time, you know he has a clear understanding about each and every player we are getting ready to draft.

"That's a great positive as a coach because you know he's picking the right kind of players and athletes -- someone you can fit into your program. That's what we're about. We're about drafting and developing players. It's worked. That's why we're here and we'll continue to do that."

It worked, but not without the criticism. Scan the Packers roster and you find a homegrown, young roster filled with potential stars. Of the starting 22 players for Sunday's game, 14 of them are 27 or younger. Of those 22, 18 are homegrown products with Thompson drafting 13 of them in the past five drafts.

There were many times when the fans pushed Thompson to do something aside from staying true to the draft. When Favre pushed Thompson to acquire Randy Moss in 2005, Thompson avoided it and ultimately led to the feud between the two. That move, as well as the drafting of Aaron Rodgers in 2005, are the two moves that led to the fraying of the relationship, leading to Favre being allowed to leave.

How sexy is it drafting a quarterback when a legend is still slinging it around pretty good?

Just this year, when starting running back Ryan Grant went down for the season, fans pushed Thompson to trade for Marshawn Lynch. He held true to his beliefs, obviously with the idea that unknown running back James Starks could be the answer at running back.

As the Packers struggled to run the football during the regular season, that strategy seemed to backfire. But Starks came alive in the playoffs and has been a big reason why the Packers won three consecutive road games to get to the Super Bowl.

"A lot of credit has to go to Ted Thompson and the personnel staff just the way that they're structured, their work ethic, the principles are in place," McCarthy said. "I don't know if there's another general manager that hits the road as much as Ted Thompson does. When you're in a personnel meeting prior to the draft and discussions are going around the table about a player you know when the final decision is made that Ted has probably had his eyes on him and definitely has done his due diligence. It's very impressive to watch now for five years and it's a big part of why we select the right people. We have to give our personnel department a lot of credit for our season."

One more thing: It might be time to shut down that Fire Ted Thompson site. After what Thompson has done, I'm not sure there is much of a market for that anymore.

[swede]

I sound like an idiot, or is something wrong with me?

+1

[RashanGary]

Some of my finer work, haha.

[Pugger]

Gun, while I understand your critique of the media, it is naive to think you can continue to operate that way and not be affected by the consequences. Fans want a rooting interest in the products they spend their disposable dollars on. Whether its NASCAR or football, people want to feel like they have a stake. The more reason you give them to believe, the more comfortable they will be spending on you. Or approving your bond measures to redevelop the area around Lambeau.

Courting the media is part of that deal. Its not perfect and they are not a completely representative sample of the people that read them. But the fact that they DO read them, imperfect though they are, should tell any member of the Packers how important it is. People actually pay money to READ about your football team. And to watch programming about your football team that doesn't even involve the actual game itself.

Now, it does not directly impact the field, the players or the coaches. But it does affect the business side of the equation.

Thompson can successfully construct a winning roster without deep public support for his approach. But the consequence for him is that support in the building will be lower than it would otherwise be. Mark Murphy is not tied to Thompson like Harlan would have been. They only share the Favre decision, and that one has passed without job loss.

It leaves him little room for error. Thus, when they miscalculate on the offensive line in 09, people are ready to call for his head immediately. It means that any incident on the field can become the sole prism through which success is judged. And that is a poor barometer.

Like the Steelers, Thompson must have frequent enough deep playoff runs to buy him credit to survive the poor years and bad decisions. Very few teams are as patient as the Steelers were with Cowher. The good news for Thompson is that the Packers might be on that short list.

I found it interesting re-reading your post where you mentioned the two teams with similar philosophies eventually played in SB 45.

[gbgary]

There's something to be said for an even keel.

i hate it when i encounter uneven keels.