Q&A w/TT---McGinn kicks him in the balls over & over

[HarveyWallbangers]

McGinn had a chat today, and there were a few interesting questions and answers to me.

Q: Dick Glad of Roslyn, SD - In your recent interview with Ted Thompson you asked him some tough questions such as the ones about Randy Moss. He avoided answering questions he didn't want to answer. Could you imagine asking those same tough questions to guys like Mike Ditka or Bill Parcells and observing their reactions if they didn't want to answer? They would have exploded. Mr. Thompson seems very resolute about not answering certain questions, but never loses his composure. You could defame his mother and he would just say "Well, everybody is entitled to their opinion." What are your impressions of Mr. Thompson?

A: Bob McGinn - Dick - Thick skinned. Single minded. Stoic. Quiet. At peace with himself and his team. He is doing things his way. If it doesn't work, he will be asked to leave. He knows that. Everyone knows that. And that's the way it goes.

Q: Mark O'Keefe of Washington, D.C. - It's clear Bubba Franks is in rapid decline but what is not clear, at least to me, is what made this Pro Bowler go downhill so fast at such a young age (he's only 29). Did he get Antonio Freeman syndrome (symptoms: sudden loss of speed and desire) after signing the fat contract?

A: Bob McGinn - Mark - Daniel looks better this summer. I would not write him off yet. Hold those obituaries.

Q: Brian of Madison - Who is going to score touchdowns for this team? They have no running back and one receiver.

A: Bob McGinn - Brian - Maybe they don't need to score 400 points to make the playoffs if Thompson's hopes for the D materialize.

Q: Gullible Packer Fan of Texas - Bob- The recent Q&A you did with Ted Thompson was really good. Thompson seems like a smart guy, but when he first got here, he put together a complete shambles of an offensive line and then proceeded to tell everyone it would be fine. It was a joke. This season he seems to be doing the same routine only this time with the running backs. He says we will be fine. Does he truly believe this stuff when he says it? This backfield, at least on paper, doesn't seem to be NFL caliber in any way shape or form. How can Thompson not see what is blatantly obvious? Why even have a backfield at all if this is the best we can do. We are ranked number 32 in running backs and the only reason we are 32nd, is that's all the teams there are. For a smart guy, I don't get how he misses this. A running attack is crucial. I don't see one in Green Bay.

A: Bob McGinn - GBF - I guess I'd really like to see more than 3 1 /2 days of Jackson, Pope and White, and more than two practices from Morency, before I say they don't have a back. I know, I know, everyone has a "take" and wants instant "feedback" and is willing to make snap judgments. I guess I'm not cut out like that. You know, what one player looks like July 31 isn't necessarily what he will look like Aug. 10 or Aug. 20 or Oct. 1 or Dec. 15. You ask these questions expecting definitive answers and it's the fourth day of camp. Sorry to disappoint but it's beyond my ability to provide much of anything of real value at this point. That's just the way it is. There's not even any tackling going on yet. That still is a part of football, right? This is practice, people, and the No. 1 objective out there is not getting people hurt. Answers will begin coming come Saturday during the intrasquad scrimmage. Until then, thanks to all for participating///Bob

[PackerBlues]

Ahman Green said time and time again, that he wanted to stay in GB. Ted just couldnt figure out a way to make that happen.

Ahman Green got a ridiculous deal from Houston...just as Rivera got a ridiculous deal from Dallas a few years back. Most NFL observers I've seen comment on the deal Ahman got have felt it was too costly when you consider Green's likely future performance over 3-4 years. He's not the back he was in 2003-2004.

It would have been foolish for Thompson to match the Houston deal. It would have been foolish for Green to not take the Houston deal. There is no hypocrisy from either side. Thompson doesn't like to overpay, and Green isn't going to turn down huge coin when this is his last chance to sign a big money deal.

No FA RBs were really worth much. Henry? McGahee? Lewis? If these guys were worth something significant, their former teams would be holding on to them. Instead, they are oft-injured and/or over-the-hill.

So why did Thompson go through the motions with Green? Was it just for show, or did he believe that our running game needed more? Dont brush this off with the old arguments about the rest of the free agents not being worth the money. Not when the Packers sit on 15 million in cap room.

I'm not sure what happened with Moss, but I'm not going to lose sleep over it. Moss was a short term option anyway...he wanted a one year deal so he could hit free agency in 2008. We would not have signed him long term after 2007.

While I agree that Moss would have been a short term option, he would have provided much needed help in the red zone. It is done and over with, but how do we look back on it? It is another example of Ted saying that he went after a guy, but couldnt get the deal done. Again, was Thompson just going through the motions, or is he still looking for veteran help to add depth at WR?

Before I string Thompson up, I'm willing to let his draft picks grow in the system. Simply writing a GM off because he doesn't go out and sign a bunch of "name" free agents is foolish. Daniel Snyder does that every year...and hasn't won squat. Yeah, they can "help" short-term, but they typically aren't a long-term solution.

No need to string Thompson up, however, there is also no need to ignore his failures or shortcomings. Hold him accountable, and hope that he makes up for his mistakes, and provides this team what it needs to win. Daniel Snyder would be a great example for you to use, but he is almost Thompsons exact opposite. I would settle for something in the middle from a GM.

If you want to whine and moan about buying free agents, name an NFL champion that won after purchasing at least 1/3 of their starting lineup in free agency. You'll be looking for awhile...because nearly all champions typically develop well over 50% of their starting lineup from drafted talent.

Whine and moan..........that sounds an aweful lot like bitch and moan. WAM?

As far as your stats or figures for the amount of free agent players used on championship teams, .............I would be interested in seeing your source for that little tidbit of knowledge.

[Zool]

Ahh crap. I had hoped the "jerkstore" at the end would show the entire thing was a joke. I was trying to be way over the top with the whole post. I guess I was too convincing?

Oh yea, well I had sex with your wife.

She's a lot better than your sister isn't she?

[RashanGary]

McGinn is a pretty rational guy. His interview was a little brash, but if his job is to ask the questions that fans want to hear, he did his job and did it well. Sounds to me like he respects TT. It's nice to see that he wasn't out there thinking he knew all of the answers.

[woodbuck27]

McGinn is a pretty rational guy. His interview was a little brash, but if his job is to ask the questions that fans want to hear, he did his job and did it well. Sounds to me like he respects TT. It's nice to see that he wasn't out there thinking he knew all of the answers.

If he really likes TT then the interview questions would have been less harsh.

If he liked TT he would have run a practise interview before the real one. So that TT would have been able to come across as something even approaching competence.

By the way I responded to every question that TT faced earlier today (your earlier post JH) but my session alert went off so it went all for naught.

It was just the same ole same ole anyway. Enough heat to roast a bear.

I've not got a lot to go on that I see commendable in this GM of ours as yet.

He reminds me of swamp water.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I'm guessing that he neither likes nor dislikes Thompson. Just being the tough reporter and asking the tough questions. Tough questions are fine. This was the meat grinder. Then again, Thompson still didn't give him anything.

Thick skinned. Single minded. Stoic. Quiet. At peace with himself and his team. He is doing things his way. If it doesn't work, he will be asked to leave. He knows that. Everyone knows that. And that's the way it goes.

Doesn't sound like somebody he likes or dislikes to me.

[The Leaper]

So why did Thompson go through the motions with Green? Was it just for show, or did he believe that our running game needed more? Dont brush this off with the old arguments about the rest of the free agents not being worth the money. Not when the Packers sit on 15 million in cap room.

Thompson did not brush off Green. I believe he wanted to keep Green...but at a fair price. When Houston comes in and throws ridiculous money at a guy who had what some considered a "career-ending" caliber injury a couple years ago...and did not show the same All-Pro caliber play last season...what can you do?

While I agree that Moss would have been a short term option, he would have provided much needed help in the red zone. It is done and over with, but how do we look back on it? It is another example of Ted saying that he went after a guy, but couldnt get the deal done. Again, was Thompson just going through the motions, or is he still looking for veteran help to add depth at WR?

This deal does raise questions...because of things said by Packer brass surrounding the draft. It seemed like they wanted to do the deal...and thought they had a deal...and then let it get away. I was openly critical of Thompson's handling of the situation...but I don't think it means we should run him out of town yet, because as I pointed out it was only a one year fling at best anyway. If he screwed up a chance to land a young impact player like that, I'd be far more upset.

No need to string Thompson up, however, there is also no need to ignore his failures or shortcomings. Hold him accountable, and hope that he makes up for his mistakes, and provides this team what it needs to win.

I agree...but hold him accountable for what? The team may improve and be a playoff contender in 2007. The fact of the matter is we do not know what the Packers will become this year. Until we do...until we see the same red zone struggles...until we see an anemic running game...we have nothing to hold Thompson accountable for. I suppose the TE position is the only failure that Thompson should really be taken to task for. Otherwise, there are young players in place that Thompson is hoping will continue to develop.

That is why I am so shocked that McGinn went after Thompson's throat. Sure, if the team struggles to a 2-4 start, then I could see jumping all over him. But at the start of training camp? It just makes no sense to me when you consider the youth and growth on the roster that we just can't project forward from last year so easily. The potential exists for this team to exceed expectations...which would make McGinn look like an idiot.

[Partial]

Ahh crap. I had hoped the "jerkstore" at the end would show the entire thing was a joke. I was trying to be way over the top with the whole post. I guess I was too convincing?

Oh yea, well I had sex with your wife.

She's a lot better than your sister isn't she?

[TheRaven]

I have no problem with the questions or the answers. The interviewer can choose to ask the questions he feels are important and the interviewee can choose how to best answer them.

The answer of TT I will disagree with is not looking to the past to analyze what he has done. I feel it is important in any walk of life to learn from your mistakes.

However, I do agree with a lot of things TT has done, which is to flesh out our drafts and to be cautious in the FA market.

[woodbuck27]

Re: Debate

This debate is like the energizer bunny! It ain't getting settled anytime soon. My advice to all is drop it and re-visit sometime in late October when there will be more "substance" to opinions.

Yup. This will be a telling season in regards to a real assessment of where we really are.

Maybe TT is hanging onto all that CAP $ because Favre will be back in 2008 and he'll need it to re-tool our team.

We have to be aware that soon there will be major concerns at CB soon as Woodson's and Harris's age presents imminent problems.

FA CB's of worth don't come on the cheap and draft picks have to develop even in our system.

Clifton and Tauscher are getting up there too.

The major players will all soon be gone. Add three years to the ages of those four and Donald Driver.

DAM ! Ted Thompson may be able to point to the roles those five plus Favre have played and stake himself to a two - three year extention.

Our GM. the silent partner.

GO PACKERS !!

[Carolina_Packer]

I'm sure TT has dealt with McGinn a few times, and knows his style, so while he might not have had the questions sent ahead of time, he probably knew he was going to get some gotcha type questions. I don't think TT is "owed" any respect, any more than McGinn is "owed" forthcoming answers. If TT chooses to protect information about transactions that never were, who really cares? You can read conspiratorial things into it, or just someone who minds their words, and seems to figure nothing good can come of talking about what might have been, in fact, some bad things might happen, so why do it? I, at least, give credit to TT for not being a defensive guy. He really seem to just deflect the implied criticism that was laced in McGinn's questions.

Is he too close to the vest with some information? Perhaps, but really, the only thing I care about is W and the L column, and whether the team is in good standing and continued heading towards better standing. EVERY team/franchise goes through a down period. The teams that are on top now will go through down periods at some point in time. It's cyclical.

What choice do we have but sit back and wait for TT's plan to play out. I'm sure he knows without any of us, or seemingly smug sports writers getting all over him that he is expected to produce W's for the franchise and build a strong, talented team. We all want to win now, and look good on paper. That's not always possible, but if these guys exceed expectations, will some of the nay sayers come back and give credit where credit is due, or will it just be everyone but TT to credit?