Does anybody know where I can get a Ted Thompson Jersey?

[Tarlam!]

Thompson wore #51 for the Houston Oilers:

http://www.classicnfl.freeservers.com/catalog_1.html

These are sweet. It would be cool for everyone to wear one of these to the Rats game next year.

and leave my Favre jersey at home? Sacrilege darling.

We might be 11-0 if we had TT shirts, Michele!

[GBRulz]

nope. You're not taking my #4 away from me !!! If it weren't for #4, TT wouldn't be 10-1...

hehe...I thought another can of worms needed to be opened :P

[MJZiggy]

Why? There are worms spilling everywhere as it is, but I don't think anyone's gonna argue with that statement...

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Thompson didn't drive Walker out of town. He was injured and he made a decision.

As usual some folks have a selective memory. Walker was unhappy long before TT arrived. He wanted a contract renogiation after the 04 season and 2 pro bowls. A certain GM didn't believe in redoing contracts. That GM held that position with a DB who we coulda used as well and wouldn't have drafted 2 FREAKING LOSERS.

By the time TT arrived, Walker was already on his last nerve. Not to mention how he felt that Brett broke the code among players.

Sorry Walker only went to one pro bowl as a Packer. Then he got hurt the first game of the '05 season. Mike Sherman made the deal to trade away McKenzie, and it was the right move. TT trading away the recovering Walker was the right move. Thompson was the GM when Walker switch agents to Drew Rosenhaus and demanded more money. It was the McKenzie situation that made Bob Harlan question his decision in making Sherman the General Manager and removing him from the position, not the Walker situation.

Ok. One pro bowl. What is important is that he had two good/great years.

Walker had been after a new contract since after the 04 season..before TT was hired. If you don't think he/agent was working the backchannels for redoing his contract then...well, you must have more faith in agents then me.

Mac: Well, you and i disagree on that. At that time, the team was gunning for it all and the minute Mac had problems/traded i knew we couldn't compete. I would rather have had Mac and spend on him then waste money on Joey Thomas and ahmad carroll..and the years wasted hoping one could actually play. I think that could have been 2 players on our roster today..well, HOPING..knowing full well Shermy could traded them or blown the pick.

Sherman had mortaged the future for the "window of opportunity" that Favre gave us..remember back then Favre never could say if he was coming back next year. Ahman was over the curve or at its apex, etc.

I agree about the Harlan stuff. Never meant to imply anything regarding that. Infact in other post i say just htat.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Thompson didn't drive Walker out of town. He was injured and he made a decision.

You are right...Thompson took a chance that he could wait one more year before making a decision on Walker and commiting to him long term. I understand that logic, although I personally felt that Walker was a good enough prospect that you didn't need more time to prove his ability as an elite WR.

When Walker got hurt, the fact that Green Bay refused to give him the security of a long term deal all but ended the relationship with the Packers...and Thompson was more or less forced to get rid of Walker.

You can say Walker was ridiculous for demanding money after his big year...but as we all witnessed just yesterday, life isn't a guarantee. Walker was looking to provide for his family with a major deal with a significant signing bonus...just in case. I can see Walker's side of the argument as well.

As usual some folks have a selective memory. Walker was unhappy long before TT arrived. He wanted a contract renogiation after the 04 season and 2 pro bowls. A certain GM didn't believe in redoing contracts. That GM held that position with a DB who we coulda used as well and wouldn't have drafted 2 FREAKING LOSERS.

I think you are wrong in this. I remember Walker getting impatient on his contract after Thompson came aboard as GM. I know he held out after the 2004 season when Thompson was the GM after being hired early in 2005. Perhaps Walker mentioned his contract before Thompson was hired?? I don't recall when Walker first made a stink on his contract.

Thompson had the chance to lock up Walker long term when he held out prior to the 2005 season, but refused to deal with Walker. If Walker hadn't got hurt, he may have been OK with staying in Green Bay after 2005 if they showed him a lot of money. The injury all but guaranteed he was out the door.

If you look on Wiki or google the issue, you'll find that after the 04 season he wanted to redo his contract. Sherman and the Pack said they didn't redo contracts till the final season..he had 2 more to go.

From Wiki:

Walker has been at odds with the organization since management refused to renegotiate his contract that had two years remaining on it after his Pro Bowl season in 2004, when he caught 89 passes for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns. "I just don't like the way the organization runs itself", Walker told ESPN.com. "They want players to come up there and play hard and work hard, but when it comes time to be compensated, it's like, 'We forgot what you've done.'"

From USA today
Walker had a breakout season in 2004, catching 89 passes for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns, leading to his request for a big payday. But Green Bay refused to redo Walker's deal, leading to friction with Brett Favre. Walker played, only to tear up his knee in the season opener.

From Lacrosse paper
No Packers fan will forget the way Walker, on the heels of a Pro Bowl season in 2004 in which he caught 89 passes for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns, decided he was underpaid, skipped all offseason team functions and threatened to hold out of training camp.

Now, TT came onboard early in January of 05, so there is an overlap. But, if you think that jwalk and his agent weren't broaching this till the pro bowl then we will have to agree to disagree.

I have no problems with TT trading walker or not gambling on an injured player. While I and other GMs may have kept him and given him a contract. I can't argue with the philosophy. And, for the most part Javon hasn't been able to be healthy to string a bunch of season's together.

Of course, he did play well last year..and if he was with us maybe the picks we use on WRs become other players that contribute.

But, like i said, trading him is a sound move, just like not signing an aging RB.