A Bloggers Reaction: Is Ted Thompson Closing Green Bay’s Window?

[woodbuck27]

Is Ted Thompson Closing Green Bay’s Window?

http://jerseyal.com/GBP/2013/03/21/is-ted-thompson-closing-green-bays-window/

BY: Jason Perone

An independent sports blogger writing about the Packers on AllGreenBayPackers.com

GO PACK GO !

[red]

i started a thread awhile back where i asked if our window was closing

IMO, its gettinf close, if it hasn't already shut

the time to win was the last few years when a-rods contract allowed us to compete. from now on, he's gonna take up about 20% of our cap, all by himself. and rightfully so, the best player in the league should be the highest paid, so no fault of his. on the other side of the ball we have another superstar that needs a big contract, another of the top players in the nfl. in a couple years those two could be taking up 40 million or so by themselves.

we lost 3 team leaders already this offseason. we're gonna start hemorrhaging talent because we just can't afford to keep them all (jennings)

soon we're gonna be stuck with two superstars, and a bunch of first, second and third year guys not hitting their prime. in order for that to keep working, TT needs to keep drafting at a very high level

just a question. qb's are usually the highest paid guys because they are the most important. how many teams win the superbowl with very highly paid qb's? brady hasn't won in awhile, have others? peyton won a few years back, was he racking in the money then?

i really don't know, it's an honest question

[3irty1]

If our window was ever open then its still open. I feel like the team is finally starting to crawl back from having its depth tested to the max each of the last 3 years. It is not easy to make this football team right now. Only a few positions of real need and its not even draft time. The losses in personel we took this year will prove to be deadwood.

[wist43]

i started a thread awhile back where i asked if our window was closing

IMO, its gettinf close, if it hasn't already shut

the time to win was the last few years when a-rods contract allowed us to compete. from now on, he's gonna take up about 20% of our cap, all by himself. and rightfully so, the best player in the league should be the highest paid, so no fault of his. on the other side of the ball we have another superstar that needs a big contract, another of the top players in the nfl. in a couple years those two could be taking up 40 million or so by themselves.

we lost 3 team leaders already this offseason. we're gonna start hemorrhaging talent because we just can't afford to keep them all (jennings)

soon we're gonna be stuck with two superstars, and a bunch of first, second and third year guys not hitting their prime. in order for that to keep working, TT needs to keep drafting at a very high level

just a question. qb's are usually the highest paid guys because they are the most important. how many teams win the superbowl with very highly paid qb's? brady hasn't won in awhile, have others? peyton won a few years back, was he racking in the money then?

i really don't know, it's an honest question

I agree with your logic... I remember seeing an interview with Brian Billick some years ago in which he explained Baltimore's strategy in building their team that won the 2000 SB, or was it 1999??

He said they wanted to concentrate on the defense, the OL, and the running game b/c they could more affordably build a contender by focusing on those areas. He said they thought a QB centered team would be more difficult b/c 1) they are hard to find, and 2) they cost a ton of dough when you do find "the guy".

They won a SB with Trent Dilfer at QB.

As for our Packers, I wouldn't say our window is closed with Rodgers, but it is certainly closing and won't get any easier for TT. We're not going to be a player in FA - ever; so it has to come down to hitting home runs on a lot of draft picks - that's tough to do.

We're certainly not the favorites to come out of the NFC next year, that's for sure. Like Ron Wolf said, "... a fart in the wind".

[3irty1]

I agree with your logic... I remember seeing an interview with Brian Billick some years ago in which he explained Baltimore's strategy in building their team that won the 2000 SB, or was it 1999??

He said they wanted to concentrate on the defense, the OL, and the running game b/c they could more affordably build a contender by focusing on those areas. He said they thought a QB centered team would be more difficult b/c 1) they are hard to find, and 2) they cost a ton of dough when you do find "the guy".

They won a SB with Trent Dilfer at QB.

As for our Packers, I wouldn't say our window is closed with Rodgers, but it is certainly closing and won't get any easier for TT. We're not going to be a player in FA - ever; so it has to come down to hitting home runs on a lot of draft picks - that's tough to do.

We're certainly not the favorites to come out of the NFC next year, that's for sure. Like Ron Wolf said, "... a fart in the wind".

The patriots have arguably been a team that has stayed competetive with that mindset despite having an elite QB. They've whiffed on a ton of draft picks especially on D but have managed to stay in the hunt with unreal play from Brady and some key cogs on D.

[denverYooper]

The patriots have arguably been a team that has stayed competetive with that mindset despite having an elite QB. They've whiffed on a ton of draft picks especially on D but have managed to stay in the hunt with unreal play from Brady and some key cogs on D.

And a generally shitty division.

[denverYooper]

Did you guys read the article?

[pbmax]

It's hard to take it seriously when they overstate the cap space by $7 million or so.

[wist43]

The patriots have arguably been a team that has stayed competetive with that mindset despite having an elite QB. They've whiffed on a ton of draft picks especially on D but have managed to stay in the hunt with unreal play from Brady and some key cogs on D.

They sign the occasional FA, and will trade picks for players when they think it helps them. Everyone thought Belichick was nuts when he traded a 2nd rounder to Miami for Welker.

TT would never do that. There are 3 basic areas of player procurement 1) draft 2) FA 3) trades. Belichick uses all 3; TT only uses the draft - trading fringe players for late rd picks doesn't count.

Several teams have passed us by in the NFC... so the reality is that we are a playoff team, but really not a true contender. If we're not a true contender, and TT will only procure players thru the draft, how many drafts will it take to fix all of our shortcomings and catch up to the teams that passed us??

[smuggler]

So long as we are getting in the playoffs, we are a threat to win the SB. If the defense were more competitive, we would stand a better chance. The window won't close while ARod is in town, similar to Brady in NE.

Hopefully, we don't do as the Pats and fall at the dance year-in-and year out. 2003 seems like an eternity ago.

[3irty1]

They sign the occasional FA, and will trade picks for players when they think it helps them. Everyone thought Belichick was nuts when he traded a 2nd rounder to Miami for Welker.

TT would never do that. There are 3 basic areas of player procurement 1) draft 2) FA 3) trades. Belichick uses all 3; TT only uses the draft - trading fringe players for late rd picks doesn't count.

Several teams have passed us by in the NFC... so the reality is that we are a playoff team, but really not a true contender. If we're not a true contender, and TT will only procure players thru the draft, how many drafts will it take to fix all of our shortcomings and catch up to the teams that passed us??

Lol New England is the pasture that other teams put their hall of famers out to. Who are the FA's they've signed that you really covet?

[Patler]

People want to point to NE, but what are they really doing other than staying in the hunt every year, just as the Packers seem to be doing? NE last won a SB when Brady was quite lowly paid (comparatively). Maybe it is too difficult to win championships after your QB takes up 15% of your salary cap.

[pbmax]

People want to point to NE, but what are they really doing other than staying in the hunt every year, just as the Packers seem to be doing? NE last won a SB when Brady was quite lowly paid (comparatively). Maybe it is too difficult to win championships after your QB takes up 15% of your salary cap.

That is my fear. I am hoping Rodgers goes low and guaranteed.

[Patler]

Maybe it is time to start looking at the QB a little bit more like they do other positions. Be willing to pay the QB well, but if he wants the moon and the stars, get what you can for him. This will require some advance planning by having an alternative on hand. I'm not saying that the best QBs shouldn't be the highest paid on the team, but should he make twice as much or more than your Pro Bowl players at other positions?

I have said for a few years that WR salaries were out of line, and I think there is some indication in this off season that teams are starting to rethink how much a WR should be paid, especially one going after his 3rd contract or more. Eventually they may have to realize that a QB, no matter how good he is, really can't be paid more than about 10-12% of the salary cap, or it cripples the ability of the team to have decent players at too many other positions.

[sharpe1027]

Maybe it is time to start looking at the QB a little bit more like they do other positions. Be willing to pay the QB well, but if he wants the moon and the stars, get what you can for him. This will require some advance planning by having an alternative on hand. I'm not saying that the best QBs shouldn't be the highest paid on the team, but should he make twice as much or more than your Pro Bowl players at other positions?

I have said for a few years that WR salaries were out of line, and I think there is some indication in this off season that teams are starting to rethink how much a WR should be paid, especially one going after his 3rd contract or more. Eventually they may have to realize that a QB, no matter how good he is, really can't be paid more than about 10-12% of the salary cap, or it cripples the ability of the team to have decent players at too many other positions.

You sometimes see QBs realize this after they struggle for a year or two. They then agree to restructure so that there is more money available to keep good players around them.

I also think this problem may surface once the revenue and salary cap starts slowing down over a few consecutive years. As long as the cap is growing quickly, teams can give QBs large contracts over many years. Early on, the contract seems out of proportion, but by the end of the contract it may actually be a good deal. This will change if the cap isn't growing fast.

There are, of course, considerations other than wins and losses. Keeping a star player (QB or otherwise) is good for the bottom line in terms of jersey sales, PR, etc.