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

[Cheesehead Craig]

The thread title says "Is Ted Thompson Closing Green Bay's Window?"

Didn't he create the window in the first place?

[Joemailman]

The thread title says "Is Ted Thompson Closing Green Bay's Window?"

Didn't he create the window in the first place?

The window was closing fast when he took over. He managed to pry it open. The window rattles a bit in a bad storm leading some to believe that it's about to be slammed shut.

[Smeefers]

On Feb. 2,2014 two teams will compete for Super Bowl XLVIII. None of them will be the Green Bay Packers.

Fearless prediction. I will predict that no team will compete for Super Bowl XLVIII. 30 our of 32 ain't bad.

[pbmax]

Made every year, predicting Green Bay to finish out of the Super Bowl would have earned you a

-1*(1.0 - (5/47)) = 89.4% win rate.

[George Cumby]

Made every year, predicting Green Bay to finish out of the Super Bowl would have earned you a

-1*(1.0 - (5/47)) = 89.4% win rate.

What are these facts and logic things which you speak of?

[Bretsky]

Ah yes. The old "Ted Thompson isn't doing enough in free agency to give the Packers a shot at the Super Bowl" argument. In 2009, the Packers were lit up by Warner in the playoffs after being lit up by Favre (twice) and Roethlisberger in the regular season. Surely Ted Thompson needed to sign some key free agents in the offseason to shore up the defense so the Packers would have a shot at the Super bowl. And that's what he did, right? Ummm.....no.

So how did the Packers improve a defense that helped carry them to the Super Bowl in 2010?

Tramon Williams, a former street free agent, stepped up his game and was one of the NFL's top cornerbacks.
Sam Shields, an undrafted free agent, ably replaced Al Harris at CB.
Charlie Peprah, a career backup, ably started 11 games at SS when Morgan Burnett went down.
Desmond Bishop, a career backup and former 6th round pick, replaced an injured Nick Barnett and became one of the teams best players.
Eric Walden was signed off the street and had 2 sacks of Jay Cutler in the playoff clinching win over Chicago.
Howard Green was signed off the street when injuries decimated the d-line and became a force in the middle.

This is what Ted Thompson does. And there are still people who will say the Packers will have no chance at the Super Bowl because he hasn't signed any big free agents. Because that's what they do. Again. And Again. And Again. Oh well.

One could also point out that the two times TT really opened up his wallet to free agents (Woodson and Pickett) had a lot to do wth our Super Bowl push

[woodbuck27]

Fearless prediction. I will predict that no team will compete for Super Bowl XLVIII. 30 our of 32 ain't bad.

I might like the way you bet if I was living in the same dimension.

Here on earth your way cannot ever be right.

[MJZiggy]

One could also point out that the two times TT really opened up his wallet to free agents (Woodson and Pickett) had a lot to do wth our Super Bowl push

Isn't that because there were a Woodson and a Pickett available at the time? Neither was at the end of his career (Woodson arguably closer) and neither of them cost the world. Remember no one else even wanted Woodson at the time. He came to us because we were the only ones who came calling. Probably because it was the right move at the right time.

[Joemailman]

One could also point out that the two times TT really opened up his wallet to free agents (Woodson and Pickett) had a lot to do wth our Super Bowl push

Sure I'm not suggesting TT should never sign a free agent. But the notion that the Packers can't significantly improve without signing a significant free agent has been proven false. The Packers prefer to almost exclusively develop their own players from within, and I'll take that track record over the teams that like to make a big splash in free agency. And I'll bet if the Packers are fortunate to win another Super Bowl this year, a couple of years down the road, people here will be complaining about TT not doing enough in free agency.

[Rutnstrut]

Isn't that because there were a Woodson and a Pickett available at the time? Neither was at the end of his career (Woodson arguably closer) and neither of them cost the world. Remember no one else even wanted Woodson at the time. He came to us because we were the only ones who came calling. Probably because it was the right move at the right time.

You don't KNOW for a fact any free agent is or isn't going to pay off, your argument here is hindsight which is always perfect. Free agency is like the lottery, if you play it you may win big. If you are worried about saving a few bucks that you would spend on a ticket, and don't play you will never win. Not saying the Packers won't be a winner, just not as likely because they only choose to get there one way, Ted's way.

[sharpe1027]

The lottery is a terrible place to invest your money.

[Patler]

Not saying the Packers won't be a winner, just not as likely because they only choose to get there one way, Ted's way.

Would any business hire a top executive, and expect him to run things anyway but his way?

[woodbuck27]

http://lombardiave.com/2013/03/26/ted-thompson-a-lesson-in-economics/?utm_source=FanSided&utm_medium=Network&utm_campaign=Hot%2BTopics

Ted Thompson: A Lesson in Economics

Mar 26th, 2013 at 10:00 am

by Darryl Krejci