You Heard It Here First

[Scott Campbell]

.......................making the biggest FA signing ever (White) - do I need to point out that TT would never, ever, have done that???

I'm not so sure. There hasn't been a free agent of White's stature in a long, long time because of the franchise and transition tags teams now use. I'm not certain Thompson would be so rigidly conservative if the free agent crop had blue chippers like White available.

[RashanGary]

RG, I'll say this; I agree that Sherman had merit in taking his shot. We almost got there.

WE did have a good young core who is now an old, retiring core. I'm just ready to start over. I've given up on plugging one hole, hoping one more doesn't spring.

We obviously have different views and like you said, you can't prove anything to anyone on these issues. They are subjective; pure plain and simple.

You and rand have been the best, most reasonable Sherm supporters here. I saw our team fall apart and I think I had a little chip on my shoulder *that still surfaces from time to time* about Sherman. Looking back, he took a shot and almost got there. We're starting over IMO...Big deal.......

You see it a little differently but it's nice to hear you give TT some credit; I take it a little personally sometimes when he gets knocked because I believe strongly in what he stands for.

[RashanGary]

I'm not so sure. There hasn't been a free agent of White's stature in a long, long time because of the franchise and transition tags teams now use. I'm not certain Thompson would be so rigidly conservative if the free agent crop had blue chippers like White available.

Wasn't TT the director of Pro Player personal at that time? NOt to argue because I think someone would outbid him in todays NFL. They were sort of passive at that time. I think his asking price might be crippling in todays NFL.

[Scott Campbell]

I think his asking price might be crippling in todays NFL.

I find it hard to believe you could ever pay a Reggie White too much. He was that good.

[RashanGary]

Ted has broken me; I've given up as well.

I thought if he hit free agency hard last year with a couple more players (like Witherspoon and Hope for those that will question me), he could use last years and this years draft and make two serious runs if Favre stays another two.

I'm at the point where I understand TT did not agree with that and my expectations and hopes have been modified.

That opening day against Chicago, the 4-12 year, I gave up. That team got so thoroughly dominated in every phase, I knew it wasn't 1 or 2 pieces away. From there, I was able to fully commit to building from the base up. I was pretty confident at that time that we were a dreadfull team and it never went away for me.

[RashanGary]

I doubt Thompson would have gotten him. I think Thompson could build a team like San Diego though.

[Scott Campbell]

I think it's possible that we may be moving into phase 2 of an overall strategy. Maybe ultra conservative Ted from years 1 & 2 doesn't try to trade for Randy Moss. But now that the roster hemorrhaging has slowed, he’s in a better position to make the “bold” move.

It's hard to say. He doesn't tip his hand.

[pbmax]

The Reggie White signing was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Besides Deion, players of that caliber do not make it to free agency. It will be impossible to test the theory that T2 wouldn't sign a Reggie White. Barring a return to the Front Office of Jerry Glanville and Ken Herock.

As for Favre, I think you (wist) have a point. But let me say that if T2 the college talent evaluator had made a few more picks for GM Wolf in round 1 and 2, then Wolf might not have needed to trade a #2 for Jackson, sign Rison or the others.

[Patler]

Wist, your post made me curious about something: You said that Thompson may be a better college talent evaluator than Wolf. Wolf saw Favre's value and it's said that the reason he went after him is because he saw the college film and knew what Atlanta had rotting on third sting. Wouldn't Thompson have been able to see that as well? I'm not saying he would have pulled the trigger, but I'm just thinking he might have known Favre was good enough to be worth a first round pick...

Have you all forgotten the story of how TT got hired by Wolf?

TT retired as a player and went into an investment business or something. He wanted to get into front office work and someone (Reinfeld?) recommended him to Wolf. Wolf brought him in and at his interview, Wolf gave TT three tapes and asked him to evealuate the QB on them. It was TT's first "scouting" effort, and Wolf said he evaluated Favre, the QB on the tape, the same as Wolf had. That was before Wolf made the trade for Favre. Wolf said he knew TT had the ability to see raw talent in players from his evaluation of Favre.

[pbmax]

Patler, I remember the story, but would Thompson have traded a first round pick (a 6-10 record) for the second round QB?

Same scouting report doesn't mean same price in each man's estimation.

Wist, your post made me curious about something: You said that Thompson may be a better college talent evaluator than Wolf. Wolf saw Favre's value and it's said that the reason he went after him is because he saw the college film and knew what Atlanta had rotting on third sting. Wouldn't Thompson have been able to see that as well? I'm not saying he would have pulled the trigger, but I'm just thinking he might have known Favre was good enough to be worth a first round pick...

Have you all forgotten the story of how TT got hired by Wolf?

TT retired as a player and went into an investment business or something. He wanted to get into front office work and someone (Reinfeld?) recommended him to Wolf. Wolf brought him in and at his interview, Wolf gave TT three tapes and asked him to evealuate the QB on them. It was TT's first "scouting" effort, and Wolf said he evaluated Favre, the QB on the tape, the same as Wolf had. That was before Wolf made the trade for Favre. Wolf said he knew TT had the ability to see raw talent in players from his evaluation of Favre.

[Bretsky]

Patler, I remember the story, but would Thompson have traded a first round pick (a 6-10 record) for the second round QB?

Same scouting report doesn't mean same price in each man's estimation.

Wist, your post made me curious about something: You said that Thompson may be a better college talent evaluator than Wolf. Wolf saw Favre's value and it's said that the reason he went after him is because he saw the college film and knew what Atlanta had rotting on third sting. Wouldn't Thompson have been able to see that as well? I'm not saying he would have pulled the trigger, but I'm just thinking he might have known Favre was good enough to be worth a first round pick...

Have you all forgotten the story of how TT got hired by Wolf?

TT retired as a player and went into an investment business or something. He wanted to get into front office work and someone (Reinfeld?) recommended him to Wolf. Wolf brought him in and at his interview, Wolf gave TT three tapes and asked him to evealuate the QB on them. It was TT's first "scouting" effort, and Wolf said he evaluated Favre, the QB on the tape, the same as Wolf had. That was before Wolf made the trade for Favre. Wolf said he knew TT had the ability to see raw talent in players from his evaluation of Favre.

He's have low balled Atlanta with a 3rd, and waited to up his offer until another competitor came in and beat his offer..........and Favre would have been traded to somebody else..

[HarveyWallbangers]

Actually, knowing how much Atlanta hated Favre, Wolf probably could have had him for a 2nd or 3rd round pick.

[Scott Campbell]

There weren't very many people or teams that had Favre pegged right.

[Patler]

Patler, I remember the story, but would Thompson have traded a first round pick (a 6-10 record) for the second round QB?

Same scouting report doesn't mean same price in each man's estimation.

Wist, your post made me curious about something: You said that Thompson may be a better college talent evaluator than Wolf. Wolf saw Favre's value and it's said that the reason he went after him is because he saw the college film and knew what Atlanta had rotting on third sting. Wouldn't Thompson have been able to see that as well? I'm not saying he would have pulled the trigger, but I'm just thinking he might have known Favre was good enough to be worth a first round pick...

Have you all forgotten the story of how TT got hired by Wolf?

TT retired as a player and went into an investment business or something. He wanted to get into front office work and someone (Reinfeld?) recommended him to Wolf. Wolf brought him in and at his interview, Wolf gave TT three tapes and asked him to evealuate the QB on them. It was TT's first "scouting" effort, and Wolf said he evaluated Favre, the QB on the tape, the same as Wolf had. That was before Wolf made the trade for Favre. Wolf said he knew TT had the ability to see raw talent in players from his evaluation of Favre.

I never said he would have made the trade. I was replying to MJZ's comment/question about Wolf seeing Favre's talent and suggesting that TT would have too. I just emphasized that he DID see it.

However, just because TT does not like paying huge contracts for FAs who have been around 5+ years doesn't mean he wouldn't trade a single draft pick in any round for a second year player he liked and thought was worth it. Now days, you don't see a lot of trades for young players anymore, other than bottom of the roster types. The Favre situation was a little different.

[run pMc]

A few comments/opinions:

(1) It's silly to really grade a draft until about 3 years have passed.
(2) Few rookies/draft picks make an impact their first year, so to expect this year's picks to make a big impact is asking a lot.
(3) the FA landscape has changed since the early Ron Wolf years.

The Reggie White signing was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Besides Deion, players of that caliber do not make it to free agency. It will be impossible to test the theory that T2 wouldn't sign a Reggie White.

This quote is dead on. In today's NFL, teams lock up their best players. That wasn't the case back then...remember the spending sprees SF and DAL had that put them into cap hell? FA is crazy now, but in a different way -- "average" players who make it to the market are getting superstar money. I don't blame TT for being careful, but I agree he could be more active on the FA market. I don't expect him to trade all his picks and use up the cap for retreads and risky players. A major reason Wolf quit was because of FA & the salary cap.
(4) This team is not Super Bowl ready. I do think it's headed in the right direction after seeing a decline during the Sherman years.
(5) I don't fault Sherman for taking a shot at the SB, but I don't fault TT for not doing the same -- GB is farther away now than they were 4-5 years ago.
(6) I think the team will improve this year, although their record may not show it. They finished 8-8 because CHI rested players and was looking past them to the playoffs, MIN essentially gave up by starting T-Jack and failing to run the ball, plus GB had DET, ARI, and a Joey Harrington-led Dolphins team on the schedule.
(7) I'm not expecting playoffs, but I think they can push for a spot. Either way, I'm not giving up on the team just because TT drafted some unknowns and couldn't land Moss.