"TED THOMPSONS FORMULA FOR SUCCESS SIZZLES ""

[Bretsky]

I know the article will get shredded; it's a good read with some good points

http://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/mcginn/2017/01/28/mcginn-ted-thompsons-formula-success-fizzles/97136720/

[Bretsky]

“Hats off to the coaching staff,” one general manager said last week. “For keeping it together playing with that crap for the last seven or eight weeks.”

[RashanGary]

Time will tell. McGinn was talking shit like this before the Packers won the SB. Then before the season starts he says they look like SB contenders. Then when the season ends he cherry picks tidbits to write a piece like this. He doesn't know what he's talking about. He just writes whichever way the wind is blowing.

The hoody didn't win a sb for 10-12 years whatever it was between 2003 or 2004, whenever it was till 2014. Just like the pAts, the Packers are in it every year. We're gonna win another.

[mmmdk]

Just like the pAts, the Packers are in it every year. We're gonna win another.

I hope you are right but the Pats actually get back in it [SB] Packers don't. I do agree that Packers will win a SB again I'm just not sure when and if with AR.

PS - Stubby actually took a crap and when he got back whilst pulling up his pants; AR & co. had won him a SB ring.

[Bretsky]

Time will tell. McGinn was talking shit like this before the Packers won the SB. Then before the season starts he says they look like SB contenders. Then when the season ends he cherry picks tidbits to write a piece like this. He doesn't know what he's talking about. He just writes whichever way the wind is blowing.

The hoody didn't win a sb for 10-12 years whatever it was between 2003 or 2004, whenever it was till 2014. Just like the pAts, the Packers are in it every year. We're gonna win another.

McGinn always gets slammed because he writes for JS
All the Packer reporters feel like the above; they get interviewed weekly on ESPN 1070 on early morning shows and their views reflect the same.

[vince]

What a hack. Stirring up the anger of the uncritically thinking Ted Bashers.
This article is intellectually dishonest and devoid of journalistic integrity from start to finish.

How could Thompson, after watching the defense get ripped apart by the Falcons, even look McCarthy, his coaches and his players in the eye?

That defense is right. Think it was the 32nd ranked pass defense that was the problem Bob?

Green Bay Packers under general manager Ted Thompson would rather sit on their hands than procure players … at least veteran players.

Good one Bob. Ted’s preference is clearly to do nothing to win Super Bowls. Perhaps he actually felt the team had a strong core veteran group going into the season and a promising mix of 2nd/3rd year players developing nicely into starting-caliber and productive pros, and a talented group of rookies to develop at the bottom of the roster.

But anyway Bob, what veteran players are you suggesting that Ted should have procured rather than doing what he prefers to do – “watching the defense get ripped apart”?

Oh, OK, here’s your list. Got it Bob. Quality veteran defensive secondary help indeed – just what the doctor ordered. Piece of cake eh Bob?

Running back Matt Forte
Tight end Vernon Davis
Running back LeGarrette Blount
Pass rusher Dwight Freeney
Wide receiver Taylor Gabriel
Linebacker Jamie Collins
Those are just a few of many possibilities, and don’t tell me it’s second-guessing.

The Packers had six cornerbacks on the 53-man roster at the end of the season. Only two, LaDarius Gunter and Josh Hawkins, have a long history at the position.

A lot of injuries happened Bob. But you've been saying the same thing all year I'm sure right Bob? Wait, let's see what you did think of the crew at the beginning of the season Bob - before your ridiculous hindsight-based hackjob?

McGinn’s Annual Preseason Cornerback Assessments

SAM SHIELDS, CB
Played his best football a year ago and enjoyed an injury-free, productive summer as the team’s shut-down corner. Early in camp Shields said there was nothing to prevent him from playing on a par with Patrick Peterson, Richard Sherman and the other premier corners.

“Injury-free” “shutdown corner”….hmmm

DAMARIOUS RANDALL, CB
He can run, jump, press and play off. He can tackle and blitz, too. Now into his second season after making the move from safety at Arizona State, Randall has the makings of being a reliable if not a big-play corner. He exudes confidence, an absolute necessity at the position.

Run, Jump, Press, Play-off, Tackle, Blitz – He can do it all…Big-play corner potential….hmmm

QUINTEN ROLLINS, CB
He ended last season as one of the club’s top three corners and enters this one the same way. Aggressive to the ball on short to intermediate routes. Came close to a bunch of interceptions in camp. With additional seasoning, those breakups might become picks. Physical in run support.

“Aggressive”, “Physical”, Ball-Hawk….hmmm

LaDARIUS GUNTER, CB
He went to camp as the No. 4 corner and ended camp as the No. 4 corner. Gunter is a resourceful, physical player with quickness and long arms. He must be skilled because his speed is below average. Gunter’s playing time might hinge on his ability to contribute on special teams.

“#4” Corner, “Resourceful”, “Physical”, “Skilled”, “Likely Special Teamer”….hmmm

JOSH HAWKINS, CB
Flew off the edge and blocked a field-goal attempt in the practice at Lambeau Field. It was the first of a series of flash plays by the rookie free agent when the lights were on. He’s undersized (5-10½, 190) but has the confidence to press regardless of the opponent because of that 4.39 catch-up speed.

“Flew off the edge”, “Flash” Player, “Confident”, “Fast”…..hmmm No mention of green or raw, eh Bob?

It's clear you thought this was a deep position group before the season Bob. Now they're nothing but a bunch of soft basketball players and failed wide receivers that any GM worth anything should have known better than to keep on the roster together. That's honest Bob.

[vince]

On Sept. 7, a few days after the final roster reduction, the New England Patriots .. agreed on a trade in which Rowe went to New England for a conditional fourth-round pick in 2018 that could improve to a third based on performance/playing time clauses.

That trade shoulda been a no-brainer going into the season with what you described as a deep, talented and productive cornerback crew eh Bob? I missed your article at the beginning of the year criticizing Thompson for not making the no-brainer trade for the Philly castoff who struggled against both strength and speed Bob.

Eric Rowe can't play...He doesn't have the foot quickness to stay with NFL WRs
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) November 26, 2015

Oh, HERE are the no-brainer veteran CB’s you say he should have picked up off the street….

Antonio Cromartie, a four-time Pro Bowl player, was cut Oct. 4 by the Colts. At 32, Cromartie wasn’t playing well, but at least he had started the first four games.

Not playing well, Ole Cromartie - Tackle a guy? Hell no! That dude's big now!"

https://youtu.be/L8dtySlji1A?t=25s

Team Cancer, Anti-American, Racist, Prolific Womanizer and Child Neglector, Self-Admitted Substance Abuse Policy Violator

On Sunday, Colts cornerback Antonio Cromartie made the most unpatriotic decision of his career, in front of an international audience in London Cromartie took a knee during the U.S. national anthem and displayed a “black power” fist. As the anthem ended and “God Save The Queen,” the UK’s traditional patriotic song started, he regained his feet and stood for the duration of the song.

Before settling down with Terricka, an ex-model who co-starred in the 2009 E! reality show “Candy Girls,” Cromartie seduced, impregnated and dumped a string of women across the country, from his high school sweetheart in Tallahassee, Fla., to a corporate lawyer and former Miss Black North Carolina.

Several of the women have taken him to court over custody and financial disputes. A Houston woman who bore two of Cromartie’s daughters has demanded a bigger monthly payment.

And several baby mamas say Cromartie spends little time with his far-flung brood.

“These kids have to Google to find out about their dad,” one told The Post.

“They need to just let it go,” Cromartie told thisis50.com — a website affiliated with the rapper 50 Cent. “We’re just going to do it anyway. They just need to let it go. They need to go ahead and say, ‘Ya’ll go ahead, smoke it, do what you need to do.’ ”

Cromartie’s a no-brainer eh Bob, but here’s what you had to say about another guy with a checkered past who never actually played a real game for the Packers…

Bob McGinn ✔ @BobMcGinn
Rest assured 31 other NFL teams raised eyebrows and wondered about leadership/direction in Green Bay after the signing of TE Lyerla.
8:12 AM - 20 May 2014
Almost every franchise has been in the gutter before. Win at all costs defines NFL just like it defined #Packers Mon. So risky. Just say no.

And what did you say to Ted about signing another vet FA with some issues Bob?

Q.You signed Koren Robinson and linebacker Rory Johnson this spring. Some GMs say they would never add players with such well-documented problems with drugs and alcohol. Isn't character as important to you as it appears to be to some others?

What about you Bob? Does character matter, or does depend entirely on which side of the argument you need to be on to criticize Thompson like the hypocritical, dishonest hack of a journalist you demonstrate yourself to be with such regularity?

And here's the other no-brainer vet FA available off the street eh Bob?

Perrish Cox, 29, started nine of 11 games for the Titans before being released Nov. 29. He struggled against the Packers on Nov. 13. His résumé included 45 starts and a checkered off-the-field record.

4.6 as a youngster, now 30 and cut by the 30th ranked Titans pass defense in favor of practice squad corner Kalan Reed. AND a "checkered" past. Yup got it Bob.

Give defensive coordinator Dom Capers and Joe Whitt, the veteran cornerbacks coach, a week with both Cromartie and Cox in a fresh environment for a Super Bowl-contending team and there’s a reasonable chance Matt Ryan wouldn’t have thrown for 371 yards in the first three quarters.

Sure Bob. That’s why they can’t play for 2 of the other worst pass defenses in the league and are known me-first lockerroom cancers who can no longer cover or tackle to boot.

“But that’s their (the Packers’) philosophy, and it’s worked for them because they’ve had 25 fricking years of great quarterbacks. Of course it works. Try it without a special quarterback.”

OK. Everything would be identical if Ted wouldn’t have had the vision and gonads to draft Rodgers. If I didn’t know better I’d say that’s a very dumb argument, but you're not dumb Bob - just a journalistic hack who disregards truth for profit.

It should be remembered, too, that cash wasn’t always so plentiful in Green Bay. When Wolf, coach Mike Holmgren and Packers President Bob Harlan won their Super Bowl, Lambeau Field wasn’t the cash cow that it is today.

Those Packers persevered through Wolf’s pragmatic approach and ever-bold roster-building practices, Holmgren’s keen intelligence and cutting-edge offensive mind and Harlan’s courage to break from the Lombardi organizational structure and rare gifts in public relations.

When’s the last time cash flow limitations ever crossed the lips of a Packers executive? It’s an issue in some cities but not Green Bay.

Unlimited funds Bob. Right. Never mind the salary cap. Money is no issue whatsoever to deal with these days. Really Bob? You’re THAT blatantly dishonest in your unabashed bashing?

It wouldn’t have taken much to put the Packers over the top this season.
Hint: maintaining status quo isn’t the way to the Super Bowl.

Good one Bob. Stir up the knuckle-draggers. Ted just wants to maintain the status quo. Right. He hated signing Cook last year. He’d rather do nothing and keep everything the same. There’s an honest argument.

But who cares? It’s what pays the bills right Bob?

[vince]

McGinn always gets slammed because he writes for JS
All the Packer reporters feel like the above; they get interviewed weekly on ESPN 1070 on early morning shows and their views reflect the same.

McGinn gets slammed because he's a pot-stirring, dishonest hack with no integrity. He likes to say people don't "like" him because he's an unbiased journalist who doesn't automatically stump for the Packers. I don't hate him at all - but I have zero respect for him as an "unbiased" journalist.

[texaspackerbacker]

I used to hate McGinn for what he wrote a long time ago - seemingly always a "grass is greener somewhere else" kind of guy. This article, though, is mostly just a bunch of facts laid out that we can interpret for ourselves. The bottom line IMO in just about all these cases mentioned is that the guaranteed cost was very very low - the exception being Forte, but we didn't really need him anyway. Ted coulda just signed several of these guys, and if they turned out to be lemons or over the hill, cut 'em quick - but instead, he did what he almost always does - NOTHING.

I used to have a theory that when Ted came to Green Bay, his purpose and goal was to intentionally let the team wind down and deteriorate for whatever reason - maybe so the fan base would erode and the team would move out of such a small market. I figured he got foiled in that by accidentally drafting the greatest QB/player in the NFL, maybe ever. I know that's a little conspiratorial, but it's what occurred to me. If it wasn't that, then he was just plain incompetent. Anyway, the team has gone on and on and on with good - but not great - success. I can't help thinking that level of success would have been much higher if Ted - or somebody else - had just maximized things or at least made a few strategic moves to upgrade things. It wouldn't even need to be high priced free agents - just a better job of drafting and/or a few signings as needed like that article suggests.

[vince]

This article, though, is mostly just a bunch of facts laid out that we can interpret for ourselves.
...
I used to have a theory that when Ted came to Green Bay, his purpose and goal was to intentionally let the team wind down and deteriorate for whatever reason - maybe so the fan base would erode and the team would move out of such a small market. I figured he got foiled in that by accidentally drafting the greatest QB/player in the NFL, maybe ever. I know that's a little conspiratorial, but it's what occurred to me. If it wasn't that, then he was just plain incompetent. Anyway, the team has gone on and on and on with good - but not great - success. I can't help thinking that level of success would have been much higher if Ted - or somebody else - had just maximized things or at least made a few strategic moves to upgrade things. It wouldn't even need to be high priced free agents - just a better job of drafting and/or a few signings as needed like that article suggests.

Did you read the article Tex? Not facts and not truth.

To suggest that Thompson was negligent by not trading for Rowe at the end of camp when everyone - including McGinn - said the Packers cornerback crew was deep, talented and full of promise - is simply not an honest, factual argument.

To suggest that Thompson was negligent for not signing two over-the-hill, me-first, character problems - after criticizing Thompson as a "win at all costs" GM in the "gutter" for previously signing two talented players not over the hill - one of which was quickly removed from the team and the other successfully battled his alcoholism by all accounts during his time with the team - is not an honest, factual argument.

To suggest that Thompson is negligent for not signing vet FA's (which he does of course) because in part the Packers enjoy "unlimited" resources to do so is not an honest, factual argument.

To suggest that Thompson is negligent for not signing a bunch of vet FA's on the offense and defensive front when it couldn't be any more clear - as McGinn goes on to argue from the other side of his mouth - that it was the defensive cornerback depletion that proved to be their undoing in the NFC Championship game - is not just not an honest, factual argument but a foolish one to boot.

I'll leave your conspiracy theory and incompetence argument to drown themselves against the most successful decade of football in the NFC and the second most successful reign in the league. I know, take away Rodgers and the team would suck. Right.

[pbmax]

Are there any mentions of Free Agency failure in the article?

No?

Well, then not really worth reading. If you cherry pick all the best moves of the Super Bowl contenders each year, you would have a whale of a confusing and impossible to duplicate template.

[vince]

Are there any mentions of Free Agency failure in the article?

No?

Well, then not really worth reading. If you cherry pick all the best moves of the Super Bowl contenders each year, you would have a whale of a confusing and impossible to duplicate template.

The moves he did pick were all bad - except for Rowe who's limited at corner but - in retrospect - worth a 4th rounder and a roster spot over Hawkins I'd say.

Of course the Packers had a healthy and talented group from top to bottom at that time. I personally heard no peep from anyone at that time about needing to add a slow-footed big corner who may yet end up at safety.

[RashanGary]

Are there any mentions of Free Agency failure in the article?

No?

Well, then not really worth reading. If you cherry pick all the best moves of the Super Bowl contenders each year, you would have a whale of a confusing and impossible to duplicate template.

This is exactly it. If the Packers won, they have Julius peppers and just signed Jared cook for 2.5m. They would be proof that sb winners, while mostly built through the draft, also need free agents from time to time.

Just like hoodie and Brady's 10 year drought, the Packers are in it and will soon win it. Pay no attention to the troll who writes whichever way the emotional fan base wind blows.

[Maxie the Taxi]

You know, I don't want to argue about it because it's totally a subjective evaluation, but personally I don't look at the Green Bay Packers over the last decade and think "Success!"

"Success!" to me means appearing in a Super Bowl and winning it. As far as I'm concerned, the "Success!" rate of the Packers over the past 10 years is 10%. That's almost as bad as the Brewers or the Bucks.

Yeah, it's nice the Packers are in the playoffs every season. I enjoy the extra games watching my favorite team. But when they fail to get to the big game, it's a severe disappointment, amplified by the horrible way in which they almost invariably lose.

This year I take no satisfaction in the Packers' playoff performances. Yeah, I admired our team's "backs against the wall" effort, but after all is said and done, I'd feel better now if they had gone 4-12 because they'd have a chance to draft some first flight players and nothing would be off the table to turn things around. They'd be "all in" to fix what ails them...

And what ails them is not making it to the Super Bowl.

As things stand now the Powers That Be can sit around and pat themselves on the back over their "Success!ful" season. Now they can blame their failure on a run of bad injury luck and they can plan on doing the same old thing over again next season and we can expect the same result.

I know teams can't win the Super Bowl every year. I know that's an unrealistically high standard. I know the Packers have been the second best team over the last decade.

I don't care. I don't want to settle for 2nd best.

But that's just me and I won't change my mind. If that makes me a knuckle-dragger, so be it.

That's why I won't argue about it.

[vince]

As long as you can admit you have unrealistically high expectations and are OK taking no satisfaction from the journey then there's nothing to argue about Maxie! jk

I'm obviously a lot different. I take great joy in the ride, as well as in being intellectually realistic about what's happening and growing from the experiences and lessons gained by all the successes and failures along the way.

This might be a bit off topic Maxie but I think it's relevant for many - and I don't want to sound demeaning to anyone (which I acknowledge not being very good at) but I think it's important not to attach one's own or others' self-image to a football team.

A lot of people say or believe, "If you're happy with 2nd place then you're a loser!" - as if the success of a football team says something about their success and character as a person. So some people are offput by "homers" who are optimistic even during challenging times, because they feel they settle for average which makes them losers personally. At the same time, others are offput by "haters" who are seemingly always complaining - even in the face of winning, which takes away some of the positive enjoyment of the journey - which makes them losers personally.

In the end it's a sport man - a great one, and we can't control it - so we shouldn't let it control us. I guess that's what fans do though, and the bigger the game, the more control we seem to give it, and the more susceptible our egos become to it.

If I'm honest I'd say I enjoy a good argument, which makes me argumentative, but I enjoy the ride no matter what and always try to be what I think is realistic in analyzing circumstances. In my opinion, there are many successes and failures throughout every season, and they're all part of the great ride. And while I think it's unfair to criticize other people based on unrealistic expectations, I'll try my best not to project personal criticism and animosity along with my opinions - although I'm a flawed individual so keep your expectations low my friend.