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There have been a few "Ted Thompson always/never" myths floating around like soap bubbles over the years, and many have been popped. Ted Thompson always gets rid of guys he didn't personally draft. Ted Thompson never trades up. Ted Thompson hates signing free agents from other teams.
This year, we may be seeing the popping of another TT soap bubble: Ted Thompson only wants to have young teams.
I don't think the stats are out there yet as to the average or mean age of each team, but this year it does seem like a much more veteran team. Think about it: all five linemen returning, with Linsley in his second year and Bahktieri in his third being the youngsters. Rodgers is a second year guy, but Quarless seems like he's been around forever (maybe too long). Had Nelson not gotten hurt, you had two vets and a second year guy. Lacey is a veteran running back, Starks even moreso. Kuhn is like the Gandalf of the team.
Rodgers in in his thirties, and his backup actually has NFL experience, albeit limited.
Same on defense. Outside the rookie corners, this is a veteran group. Defensive line, linebackers, safeties - vets who can run the complex Capers defense (I think this is the kind of group Capers has dreamed of having - vets who know the system).
So here we are, after years of youngsters, with an actual veteran team (though I am surprised by how young the offensive linemen all are - even Sitton is not yet 30).
Thompson finally has the pieces he wants. He's cycled through several drafts, has the salary cap in a good place (by comparison, the Lions had to re-draw Golden Tate's contract just to get under the cap for this year, meaning they had to put off some of his salary into the future), and seems to have a good rotation of not-too-many-contracts coming up at once.
Wow. It's good to be a Packer fan, I think.
This year, we may be seeing the popping of another TT soap bubble: Ted Thompson only wants to have young teams.
I don't think the stats are out there yet as to the average or mean age of each team, but this year it does seem like a much more veteran team. Think about it: all five linemen returning, with Linsley in his second year and Bahktieri in his third being the youngsters. Rodgers is a second year guy, but Quarless seems like he's been around forever (maybe too long). Had Nelson not gotten hurt, you had two vets and a second year guy. Lacey is a veteran running back, Starks even moreso. Kuhn is like the Gandalf of the team.
Rodgers in in his thirties, and his backup actually has NFL experience, albeit limited.
Same on defense. Outside the rookie corners, this is a veteran group. Defensive line, linebackers, safeties - vets who can run the complex Capers defense (I think this is the kind of group Capers has dreamed of having - vets who know the system).
So here we are, after years of youngsters, with an actual veteran team (though I am surprised by how young the offensive linemen all are - even Sitton is not yet 30).
Thompson finally has the pieces he wants. He's cycled through several drafts, has the salary cap in a good place (by comparison, the Lions had to re-draw Golden Tate's contract just to get under the cap for this year, meaning they had to put off some of his salary into the future), and seems to have a good rotation of not-too-many-contracts coming up at once.
Wow. It's good to be a Packer fan, I think.
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