My onlyreal beef with Thompson

[El Duderino]

Ayt made a post that i think DB and others would agree with,but while i think he is right about alot of Packer fans,i also think it misses what is bothering some of us.Ayt said

People are just looking for reasons to shred Thompson just as they have found numerous chances to shred Rodgers. I've said it since TT took over and Rodgers was drafted, in the eyes of about 75% of Packer fans, those guys were garbage before they ever did anything in the organization. You don't take over a franchise that was one of the most dominant for 15 years that finally collapsed due to age and poor drafting and rebuild it without getting blasted by fans and the media. You aren't going to be accepted with open arms when you step in as a rookie QB behind the guy who has been the face of the franchise for however long and who has been perhaps the most recognizable NFL player during his career in GB.

I can only speak for myself,but i only have one major beef with Thompson and that's keeping Favre around if he had no intention of trying to compete for the playoffs.That's it.

If Ted wanted to full bore rebuild,then so be it,there was justification for doing so.Maybe keep Brett around the first year after Rodgers was drafted so the kid wasn't thrown to the wolves right away,but then show some sack and tell Favre it's the end of the line in Green Bay.Don't expect Favre to make that choice for you,it's your job to do.Tell Brett if he still wants to play,the organization would do everything in it's power get him on a team that wants him and feels it can win so long as it's not in the NFC North.

Be strong and willing to accept the backlash that surely would have come from some fans and move on with your plan.That's part of what comes with being in charge,if you can't handle some heat,you don't belong being a GM will full powers.

Instead Thompson either shrunk in fear of the backlash by pushing out Favre so he could rebuild with a young QB or he honestly wanted Brett back the last two years,which doesn't make alot of sense in a full out rebuilding mode that also has a 1st round pick quarterback on the roster.

Seems pretty basic to me.If Thompson truely wanted Brett back yet again,get him a few more weapons to go along with what looks to be a good defense and see if you can make the playoffs.If that wasn't going to be the case and Ted wanted to full rebuild and sit on plenty of cap space,be a man and tell Brett it's time to move on and start seeing if Rodgers can play sooner than later.We need to find out about this kid and i'd rather start finding out on a team that isn't trying hard to win now.

[deep throat]

El DUDE,

I think it's funny how a few Teddy A$$ kissers can break people down from what's going on-same kind of happened with the shermanator- Ayt, DB, Xtitan, and a couple others have a few of you back tracking (they are young kids in their mid 20's with little frame of reference)-stick with your convictions for christ sake.

[ReasonablySober]

I actually agree with Dude.

I would have liked Thompson to trade or cut Brett seeing as his vision is building to win down the road.

My contention is that he simply can't. It would be like Steinbrenner dealing Jeter. The local press and the fan base would absolutely murder him.

[El Duderino]

I think it's funny how a few Teddy A$$ kissers can break people down from what's going on-same kind of happened with the shermanator- Ayt, DB, Xtitan, and a couple others have a few of you back tracking (they are young kids in their mid 20's with little frame of reference)-stick with your convictions for christ sake

Noy backtracking at all,i could have accepted Thompson moving on from Favre if he wasn't intending to give Brett weapons to work with.While it wouldn't have been what i'd have done,it's certainly seems better than half assing it like we are now.I see two paths that at least made some degree of sense

1.Full out rebuild,that means your first round pick QB has to play.On top of that,it gives Favre the option to find another team to play on if he wished,he deserved that.

2.Keep Brett and give him some weapons

Thompson did neither and i'm bothered by it

My contention is that he simply can't. It would be like Steinbrenner dealing Jeter. The local press and the fan base would absolutely murder him.

Tough crap,then don't take a GM job.If Thompson doesn't have the backbone to make very tough choices that can come with alot of backlash,he doesn't belong running a football team.He should stay a scout and leave the head man position for someone who is willing to stand by his convictions,even very unpopular ones.

[InsideOut]

Dude I think you are making it out to be much simpler than it is. Could you fire your mother or father? Yes, you are company boss and it might be the best thing for the company but could you do it? And what would happen if you did. The rest of the people in the company would think you were dirt. How do you think your company would run when most of your employee hate your guts and think you are scum?

Another point I think you are missing is this. The NFL is all about entertainment. A big part of TT's job is to make sure we're entertained. Usually this comes by winning. This is not the entire story in TT's case. He has Favre to deal with. I feel (can't prove) the vast majority of Packer fans care more about Favre breaking records than they care about a few more wins or losses down the road (rebuilding faster).. Could we maybe rebuild faster if Favre was gone...sure. But most Packer fans don't care about that. They want Favre to get the records. The Packers are owned by the fans so TT works for the fans. If the fans (his boss) are entertained by Favre and want Favre (even at the expense of future wins and losses) to get the records, then who is he to say no? He works for us; we in a round about way are his boss. I honestly feel if TT cut Favre when he was on the brink of setting all the records the fans would revolt. My guess is he would be shot at within the week (no joke). So my guess is TT would love for Favre to retire. However, he knows the fans want Favre. So he comes up with this plan. The Packers are rebuilding and aren't going to win for a few years whether Favre plays or not. So TT starts his rebuilding plan and at the same time entertains the fans by giving them what they want...Favre setting records. Everyone wins except Rodgers who gets his chance 2 years later. Now if Favre wants to play again next year I feel TT can force him out and get away with it. Favre will have all the records and the fans won't feel cheated out of seeing history.

[Ayt]

I would have definitely brought up the idea of trading Favre two years ago if I were the GM there. Its been rather pointless to have an aging QB on the team during the last two seasons.

It could have been handled in a way that didn't make either party look bad, but it didn't happen for whatever reason.

[El Duderino]

Dude I think you are making it out to be much simpler than it is

Oh i don't think it would be simple at all,pushing Favre away would take some serious nads.With that said,Jerry Rice was shown the door as have other icons of pro sports teams.Fans get upset and throw a fit,but if a GM is convinced it's the right move,he has to have the nerve to be able to pull the trigger.Being in charge isn't always warm fuzzies.

BTW,I don't want to imply that Thompson for sure really didn't want Favre back last year and/or this year.I don't know the man nor do i have any contacts in the organization,that's why i said IF he didn't want Brett back.

Hell,maybe i'm all wrong and Thompson planned to get Favre some weapons,but his conservative nature made them fall through.Maybe Thompson thinks we can compete this year even with all the holes on offense and so much youth.I'm certainly no mind reader,just speculating.

They want Favre to get the records. The Packers are owned by the fans so TT works for the fans. If the fans (his boss) are entertained by Favre and want Favre (even at the expense of future wins and losses) to get the records, then who is he to say no?

I sure hope you're 100% wrong.If Thompson is basing important choices like who should be quarterback on the Packers more on chasing personal records than what's best for the franchise,he's the wrong man for the job.

This isn't like baseball and the home run record,football records aren't cherished nearly the same.Plus,it's only a matter of time before Manning owns the TD and many other passing records.

I honestly feel if TT cut Favre when he was on the brink of setting all the records the fans would revolt. My guess is he would be shot at within the week (no joke). So my guess is TT would love for Favre to retire. However, he knows the fans want Favre. So he comes up with this plan

Thompson is likely gonna lose his job if the Packers don't win relatively soon.If they don't win with Favre this year because Ted didn't put the pieces in place and then lose because they have Rodgers struggling as he learns how to play QB every game,he better hope Jones is very patient.Pro sports is generally not a patient business,win or take a hike.Not trying to win for three years with an aging QB and then turning it over to a QB who hasn't played a down is pretty much putting his job security in Aaron Rodgers right arm.

[eagle13]

I have a few other issues with TT (Franks, Walker, Moss) but none major. The one Dude brings up is my main problem also.

Its just amazing to me that anti Brett people cannote even agree with this. These TT spporters even Epi-Stotts defend TT not doing what even they and us would all do - move Brett.

As for public outcry or whatever - so what - have some guts.

Jerry Jones took it on when he fired the almost saint status head coach Tom Landry.

But what public outcry really? All the ARod supporters would have been happy and even many of us Farve supporters would have been OK with it - tho a bit disappointed - since it is logcial in the face of a rebuild and made me happy to have Brett have a chance go out a winner.

So there would have been some initial uproar but no major upset and mostly understanding. Especially if it were handled correctly. But TT cannot fathom or handle any intelligent or delicate communication.

TT has the power. Certainly when he first arrived. Just gutless chicken wimp - period.

Even still -since he's the Pack's GM I continue to put best hope on his strategy even as I disagree with some of it.

[xTitan]

Why the hell should Thompson take all the fire from the undereducated cheesehead nation?? Because teflon Brett should always remain clean, give me a damn break.

The way it should have been handled is quite easy....TT and Favre meet the first day Thompson was hired...TT tells Favre this team is on the downswing and needs a complete makeover, I am going to rebuild the defense and both lines first because that is how you win a championship...the ball is in your court Brett, there is a very good chance you will be retired before we are ready to compete for a championship....if you want to be traded I will oblige you, if you want to stay here the rest of your career thats fine too, but we expect you to be a leader and teach the younger players, including your eventual successor....is that so damn hard? Everyone has there cards on the table and if Favre wants to play somewhere else they have a joint press conference and explain it away.

[El Duderino]

Why the hell should Thompson take all the fire

He's the GM,not Favre,if Thompson last year or this year would have prefered moving on to Rodgers,it was his call to make it happen.One guy is the boss,the other is the employee.

TT and Favre meet the first day Thompson was hired...TT tells Favre this team is on the downswing and needs a complete makeover, I am going to rebuild the defense and both lines first because that is how you win a championship...the ball is in your court Brett, there is a very good chance you will be retired before we are ready to compete for a championship....if you want to be traded I will oblige you, if you want to stay here the rest of your career thats fine too, but we expect you to be a leader and teach the younger players, including your eventual successor....is that so damn hard?

Sure doesn't seem like Thompson had the talk you said should be so easy,yet you conveniently let him off the hook for not doing it.What a shocker.

If that was Ted's plan,i agree he should have laid the cards out on the table early on,but he chose not to.Ted had to know Brett's desire was to win ASAP,tell Favre it's going to be a slow build process and winning now isn't a high priority.Instead it looks like he chose to avoid that and now we have this awkward situation where we aren't really trying to win now and an aging QB is again taking the snaps instead of our first round pick QB.

If there ever was an ideal time for the team to see if Rodgers can play,it is now.With the roster as it's put together,the odds are against winning this season.Hell,Rodgers probably should have been playing last year if this is how Thompson planned to construct the team,it makes even less sense for Aaron not to be playing this year.

So yea i'll blame Thompson if we go 5-11 to 7-9 and another year goes by where Rodgers doesn't play,the team still not knowing what they have in him.Then if when he finally plays the next year and he ends up not being any good,that further delays becoming a contender.If your not going to push harder to win now with Brett,there is little reason to keep asking him back and further pushing back the time to A) find out if Rodgers can play and B) pushing back his development by getting reps in practice and on the field.[/quote]