The Turtle Speaks

[retailguy]

Either that or maybe he really just wants you to see what he sees and senses that you don't...

Either way, you and Wist say the same thing. If he KNOWS it to be true, who cares what anyone else thinks... unless maybe he's not so sure?

Wist a right. A small crack in the armor. I didn't take it that way, but clearly should have.

Remember - "we'll win some games".

[PackerBlues]

Anyone can see (If they are looking) that Thompson is doing what he feels is best for the Packers. That Thompson does have a plan, and that he is sticking to it. And, Yes, that Thompson is doing his best (without free agency?) to improve the Packers.


However, looking at where the team is now, thinking about where the team needs to be. And considering the time it may take this team to get to where it needs to be. I again have to think about not just Favre, but also, Clifton, Tauscher, Harris, and Woodson. At the pace that Thompson is building this team for a playoff run,by the time we get there, these guys are going to be close to the end of their respective careers. Some sooner than others. Considering how little has been done to fill other positions such as Safety, TE, FB and perhaps RB, how long would it take before we were to see an impact player filling the shoes of Favre, Clifton, Tauscher, Harris, and Woodson???


If you see my point, then you should also understand my dismay at Thompsons dislike of free agents. Yes we have seen him sign a guy now and then. But he also screwed the pooch pretty badly at times, passing up on guys that, given their experience, could have provided much needed help, maybe not guys that you would expect to keep long term, but guys that can step in right away, while you prep a rookie for the future. That would be opposed to what we have seen during regular season games. Throwing a couple of rookies on the field, have them battle it out, and wait to see which one is going to be your starter. Sure, it makes it easier to find out which guy you want to develop into your starter, but that is what the "off season" is for. The Regular season games should always be fielded by guys that you KNOW are capable of being starters. How much of a distraction do you think it is to the players, knowing that the guy playing left guard may not even be worthy of being a starter??

I dont think anyone expects Thompson to "break the bank" in free agency. I just think it would be nice to see a few more veteran players filling some of these positions that we need help in.

[woodbuck27]

Re: TE's

"We'll see how it goes"???????????????

Were you expecting the Gettysburg Address?

How about a "guarantee"? But, you know he did say


"We'll win SOME games".

Since 3 qualifies as "some" I guess he's correct without going too far out on the limb, huh?

No ! Winning three games would be a few.

Winning some games implies four or more wins for the Green Bay Packers under the excellent managing system incorporated by Ted Thompson.

DAMN !! We are hearing it from the man himself.

We are in for a tremendous season !!!

We are going to win. . . some games.

Haaahoooo !!

[woodbuck27]

Anyone can see (If they are looking) that Thompson is doing what he feels is best for the Packers. That Thompson does have a plan, and that he is sticking to it. And, Yes, that Thompson is doing his best (without free agency?) to improve the Packers.


However, looking at where the team is now, thinking about where the team needs to be. And considering the time it may take this team to get to where it needs to be. I again have to think about not just Favre, but also, Clifton, Tauscher, Harris, and Woodson. At the pace that Thompson is building this team for a playoff run,by the time we get there, these guys are going to be close to the end of their respective careers. Some sooner than others. Considering how little has been done to fill other positions such as Safety, TE, FB and perhaps RB, how long would it take before we were to see an impact player filling the shoes of Favre, Clifton, Tauscher, Harris, and Woodson???


If you see my point, then you should also understand my dismay at Thompsons dislike of free agents. Yes we have seen him sign a guy now and then. But he also screwed the pooch pretty badly at times, passing up on guys that, given their experience, could have provided much needed help, maybe not guys that you would expect to keep long term, but guys that can step in right away, while you prep a rookie for the future. That would be opposed to what we have seen during regular season games. Throwing a couple of rookies on the field, have them battle it out, and wait to see which one is going to be your starter. Sure, it makes it easier to find out which guy you want to develop into your starter, but that is what the "off season" is for. The Regular season games should always be fielded by guys that you KNOW are capable of being starters. How much of a distraction do you think it is to the players, knowing that the guy playing left guard may not even be worthy of being a starter??

I dont think anyone expects Thompson to "break the bank" in free agency. I just think it would be nice to see a few more veteran players filling some of these positions that we need help in.

That is it bang on !!

100%. . .perfectly expressed.

[wist43]

Either that or maybe he really just wants you to see what he sees and senses that you don't...

Not just me MJ, he's not getting much love from scouts and national writers either. Granted, a lot of that you can take with a grain of salt (national writers), but scouts usually try to remain unemotional and detached, and offer up an unbiased, unvarnished analysis.

If it were just one thing, you could say - even if this player doesn't work out (Rodgers), all we need is this one piece of the puzzle... but TT has chosen the path less travelled - of course that's going to draw heat.

Wahle, Walker, the mighty-midget OL, Rodgers, the '05 OL debacle, his cavalier attitude toward addressing needs, his complete disdain for FA, his extending Sherman only to fire him, the questionable hiring of McCarthy, 587 draft picks/yr...

And of course, all of this taking place while "not rebuilding"...

To me, the biggest reason that TT is under the microscope is Rodgers... if Rodgers can't play, that alone will set the franchise back at least 2-3 years while they flail around trying to find a QB. That would put you into years 6-7 of the TT regime (best case scenario) - still, with no realistic shot at even talking about a SB.

There are a number of other reasons that rank as 1A (already existing holes - WR, RB, TE, CB, ST's), 1B (expected holes - CB, OT, WR), etc... but, not having a QB, pretty much means the Packers have no shot - and that's what I see.

[woodbuck27]

Either that or maybe he really just wants you to see what he sees and senses that you don't...

Not just me MJ, he's not getting much love from scouts and national writers either. Granted, a lot of that you can take with a grain of salt (national writers), but scouts usually try to remain unemotional and detached, and offer up an unbiased, unvarnished analysis.

If it were just one thing, you could say - even if this player doesn't work out (Rodgers), all we need is this one piece of the puzzle... but TT has chosen the path less travelled - of course that's going to draw heat.

Wahle, Walker, the mighty-midget OL, Rodgers, the '05 OL debacle, his cavalier attitude toward addressing needs, his complete disdain for FA, his extending Sherman only to fire him, the questionable hiring of McCarthy, 587 draft picks/yr...

And of course, all of this taking place while "not rebuilding"...

To me, the biggest reason that TT is under the microscope is Rodgers... if Rodgers can't play, that alone will set the franchise back at least 2-3 years while they flail around trying to find a QB. That would put you into years 6-7 of the TT regime (best case scenario) - still, with no realistic shot at even talking about a SB.

There are a number of other reasons that rank as 1A (already existing holes - WR, RB, TE, CB, ST's), 1B (expected holes - CB, OT, WR), etc... but, not having a QB, pretty much means the Packers have no shot - and that's what I see.

Yup !

I can't decide whether TT has too much imagination or not enough.

[Bretsky]

Anyone can see (If they are looking) that Thompson is doing what he feels is best for the Packers. That Thompson does have a plan, and that he is sticking to it. And, Yes, that Thompson is doing his best (without free agency?) to improve the Packers.


However, looking at where the team is now, thinking about where the team needs to be. And considering the time it may take this team to get to where it needs to be. I again have to think about not just Favre, but also, Clifton, Tauscher, Harris, and Woodson. At the pace that Thompson is building this team for a playoff run,by the time we get there, these guys are going to be close to the end of their respective careers. Some sooner than others. Considering how little has been done to fill other positions such as Safety, TE, FB and perhaps RB, how long would it take before we were to see an impact player filling the shoes of Favre, Clifton, Tauscher, Harris, and Woodson???


If you see my point, then you should also understand my dismay at Thompsons dislike of free agents. Yes we have seen him sign a guy now and then. But he also screwed the pooch pretty badly at times, passing up on guys that, given their experience, could have provided much needed help, maybe not guys that you would expect to keep long term, but guys that can step in right away, while you prep a rookie for the future. That would be opposed to what we have seen during regular season games. Throwing a couple of rookies on the field, have them battle it out, and wait to see which one is going to be your starter. Sure, it makes it easier to find out which guy you want to develop into your starter, but that is what the "off season" is for. The Regular season games should always be fielded by guys that you KNOW are capable of being starters. How much of a distraction do you think it is to the players, knowing that the guy playing left guard may not even be worthy of being a starter??

I dont think anyone expects Thompson to "break the bank" in free agency. I just think it would be nice to see a few more veteran players filling some of these positions that we need help in.

[PackerBlues]

Am I stuck with this Dam Signature for the entire season ???

Some have Turtle Confidence.

I would be labled as a Turtle Troll; I troll around daily shaking my head with my lack of patience

--

Ya know Bretsky..... when you first took up that signature, with the idea that you would keep it until Thompson signed two (?) free agents, I thought to myself, "hey, Thompson signed two of em last year, and with all of our needs, two shouldn't be that much to ask this year."

Even though you and I both knew that Thompson isnt into free agents, I was just wondering, are you as suprised as I am, that you are still havin to use that signature? I mean honestly, two free agents is not that much to ask, is it? With the needs that this team has?

[Bretsky]

Am I stuck with this Dam Signature for the entire season ???

Some have Turtle Confidence.

I would be labled as a Turtle Troll; I troll around daily shaking my head with my lack of patience

--

Ya know Bretsky..... when you first took up that signature, with the idea that you would keep it until Thompson signed two (?) free agents, I thought to myself, "hey, Thompson signed two of em last year, and with all of our needs, two shouldn't be that much to ask this year."

Even though you and I both knew that Thompson isnt into free agents, I was just wondering, are you as suprised as I am, that you are still havin to use that signature? I mean honestly, two free agents is not that much to ask, is it? With the needs that this team has?

Honestly, I'm frickin AMAZED that the Turtle has only signed one free agent. Last year we signed Manuel, Woodson, Pickett, and Ben Taylor. Four free agents.

This year we went into free agency with a load of money and we still have a load of money.

I never honestly fathomed that I'd still have this dam signature nearly five frickin months after the start of free agency.

Even the most loyal of the Turtleites are at least a bit surprised Ted has not signed a mere two free agents.

I put up this dam signature as a joke figuring it would not be there for over a month.

Fans should light up the Turtle if this team does not show marked improvement in the win loss record after he choosed to hibernate throughout the free agency period.

[Scott Campbell]

Am I stuck with this Dam Signature for the entire season ???

Some have Turtle Confidence.

I would be labled as a Turtle Troll; I troll around daily shaking my head with my lack of patience

--

Ya know Bretsky..... when you first took up that signature, with the idea that you would keep it until Thompson signed two (?) free agents, I thought to myself, "hey, Thompson signed two of em last year, and with all of our needs, two shouldn't be that much to ask this year."

Even though you and I both knew that Thompson isnt into free agents, I was just wondering, are you as suprised as I am, that you are still havin to use that signature? I mean honestly, two free agents is not that much to ask, is it? With the needs that this team has?

Honestly, I'm frickin AMAZED that the Turtle has only signed one free agent. Last year we signed Manuel, Woodson, Pickett, and Ben Taylor. Four free agents.

This year we went into free agency with a load of money and we still have a load of money.

I never honestly fathomed that I'd still have this dam signature nearly five frickin months after the start of free agency.

Even the most loyal of the Turtleites are at least a bit surprised Ted has not signed a mere two free agents.

I put up this dam signature as a joke figuring it would not be there for over a month.

Fans should light up the Turtle if this team does not show marked improvement in the win loss record after he choosed to hibernate throughout the free agency period.

I'm surprised too. I'm not as critical of Ted because of the amount of cap money out there and the mediocre free agent pool. But I didn't see it being this bad.

[retailguy]

I'm surprised too. I'm not as critical of Ted because of the amount of cap money out there and the mediocre free agent pool. But I didn't see it being this bad.

Well, never thought I'd agree with you, but I do. The more I reflect on this, the more I question if Thompson truly thinks we're going to win now.

I thought there were 7 major holes on this team at the beginning of free agency. Maybe Thompson thinks there were more? Or, that was just too many to fill? ?? Don't really know, just guessing. Some people can be read if you pay attention. Ted is bit difficult.

I don't know, but his inaction could only mean 3 things to me:

1. He thinks we're a couple seasons away at best, why waste the money.
2. The players were truly overpaid, and he just couldn't do it.
or
3. He really believes this team will win a bunch of games.

#3 scares the crap out of me, if this team isn't competitive, number 2 shows he needs some educating as a GM to go along with his superior talent skills and #1 makes sense.

I can't see any other options here. I'm sure someone will come up with another to remind me that I'm not Miss Cleo.... :P

[MJZiggy]

What if, as a talent evaluator and the guy responsible, he simply didn't think that the guys that were out there could really and truly help this team as compared to the contracts they were asking for? If I think the return for my investment is not what I'm hoping for, I don't invest either...

[retailguy]

What if, as a talent evaluator and the guy responsible, he simply didn't think that the guys that were out there could really and truly help this team as compared to the contracts they were asking for? If I think the return for my investment is not what I'm hoping for, I don't invest either...

Wouldn't that be #2, just phrased a bit differently?

Expounding on that, even if you have to overpay, you do it, or, you make a conscious decision not to win, right? If that's what it takes?

I understand the value angle. The problem is HE IS NOT TELLING US THAT, is he?

[MJZiggy]

No, it would indicate that he saw less talent than the fans did and didn't think the guys could really help. He did call this "a very weak FA class." He gave Woodson and Pickett contracts because he believed in their abilities. Maybe he didn't believe in the abilities of this years' guys.

[retailguy]

No, it would indicate that he saw less talent than the fans did and didn't think the guys could really help. He did call this "a very weak FA class." He gave Woodson and Pickett contracts because he believed in their abilities. Maybe he didn't believe in the abilities of this years' guys.

You are missing my point. I agree with this. I think I discussed it in #2.

But see my point - He isn't saying this. Maybe he thinks he can't? Don't really know.

But, if he identified the same holes that we did, (unknown), then if you elect to pass, you elect the consequences of passing, right? We just don't know yet, if there will be any. I think there will, you think there won't be. We'll just have to see.