Posted August 17, 2006
Wolf visits camp, doesn't see a contender
He has confidence in Thompson, though
By Rob Demovsky
rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com
It took Ron Wolf all of two training camp practices to come to the conclusion that the Green Bay Packers aren't a Super Bowl contender.
At a time of year when every team harbors championship hopes, the Packers' retired general manager spoke frankly about the 2006 team after watching practice on Tuesday night and again Wednesday afternoon.
Wolf  who was in town to visit his son, Eliot, a Packers scout, and to spend time with Packers GM Ted Thompson  said he didn't know how far away the Packers are from contending, but didn't see it happening this year.
"It's obviously not in the offing, I don't think," Wolf said Wednesday. "It wouldn't be this year."
A year ago, when the Packers were on their way to a 4-12 season, Wolf said a slew of injuries left them with "NFL-Europe caliber" players, especially at the offensive skill positions other than quarterback.
Wolf believed a year ago that quarterback Brett Favre was still an elite player, but didn't have enough playmakers around him. He said Wednesday he saw nothing this week to change his mind about Favre, but claimed he wasn't qualified to assess the rest of the talent on the roster.
However, he said he believes Thompson, who is in his second season as GM, has the right plan to turn the Packers around.
"It's just a matter of getting it implemented, which I'm sure he'll do," said Wolf, who hired Thompson as a Packers scout in 1992.
"I mean, he's got a track record. He put that team (the Seattle Seahawks) that played in the Super Bowl together. He knows what he's got to do. He's just got to get it done."
"He's got a ways to go, and I'm sure he'll do it."
Wolf said " Thompson didn't ask him for advice."
"If he did, I probably wouldn't come up here," Wolf said.
Wolf, who lives in Annapolis, Md., said he watched Saturday's 17-3 loss at San Diego in the preseason opener and didn't think it was as bad as it may have appeared.
"After you sit down and look at it, you see what you have to do to correct it," Wolf said.
"Remember, you have to start some place. Imagine if that was the first game of the year."
Wolf also said he was impressed with the way first-year coach Mike McCarthy ran practice.
"It's a pretty good tempo," Wolf said.
"I like a tempo like that."
GO PACKERS ! HOLD FAITH !!
Wolf visits camp, doesn't see a contender
He has confidence in Thompson, though
By Rob Demovsky
rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com
It took Ron Wolf all of two training camp practices to come to the conclusion that the Green Bay Packers aren't a Super Bowl contender.
At a time of year when every team harbors championship hopes, the Packers' retired general manager spoke frankly about the 2006 team after watching practice on Tuesday night and again Wednesday afternoon.
Wolf  who was in town to visit his son, Eliot, a Packers scout, and to spend time with Packers GM Ted Thompson  said he didn't know how far away the Packers are from contending, but didn't see it happening this year.
"It's obviously not in the offing, I don't think," Wolf said Wednesday. "It wouldn't be this year."
A year ago, when the Packers were on their way to a 4-12 season, Wolf said a slew of injuries left them with "NFL-Europe caliber" players, especially at the offensive skill positions other than quarterback.
Wolf believed a year ago that quarterback Brett Favre was still an elite player, but didn't have enough playmakers around him. He said Wednesday he saw nothing this week to change his mind about Favre, but claimed he wasn't qualified to assess the rest of the talent on the roster.
However, he said he believes Thompson, who is in his second season as GM, has the right plan to turn the Packers around.
"It's just a matter of getting it implemented, which I'm sure he'll do," said Wolf, who hired Thompson as a Packers scout in 1992.
"I mean, he's got a track record. He put that team (the Seattle Seahawks) that played in the Super Bowl together. He knows what he's got to do. He's just got to get it done."
"He's got a ways to go, and I'm sure he'll do it."
Wolf said " Thompson didn't ask him for advice."
"If he did, I probably wouldn't come up here," Wolf said.
Wolf, who lives in Annapolis, Md., said he watched Saturday's 17-3 loss at San Diego in the preseason opener and didn't think it was as bad as it may have appeared.
"After you sit down and look at it, you see what you have to do to correct it," Wolf said.
"Remember, you have to start some place. Imagine if that was the first game of the year."
Wolf also said he was impressed with the way first-year coach Mike McCarthy ran practice.
"It's a pretty good tempo," Wolf said.
"I like a tempo like that."
GO PACKERS ! HOLD FAITH !!




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