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I was reading Kings article about who he picked for his awards and first teams, etc...

*Executive
Ted Thompson, G.B.
This has to go back to his faith in Aaron Rodgers in June 2008, when Brett Favre wanted to come back and Thompson said no. But recent drafts of Greg Jennings and Clay Matthews, and the free-agent signing of Charles Woodson hit its zenith this year.

Does he deserve his second Executive of the Year?

I think he does. He just had what is probably one of the best drafts in history, we are in the playoffs and possibly have more young talent than any other team in the league.

Newz wrote:I think he does. He just had what is probably one of the best drafts in history, we are in the playoffs and possibly have more young talent than any other team in the league.

I think that may be pushing it a little bit. I mean he didn't draft Nick Toon

I think he does. I mean, you can't argue with this draft class, and the decision to go with Aaron has paid off hugely. I guess the question becomes who would be better? I can't think of anyone...

MartyConlonOnTheRun wrote:

Newz wrote:I think he does. He just had what is probably one of the best drafts in history, we are in the playoffs and possibly have more young talent than any other team in the league.

I think that may be pushing it a little bit. I mean he didn't draft Nick Toon

Well whoever drafts Nick Toon will have the best draft ever. Packers should trade all of their picks for the number 1 in this years draft and then take Nick Toon. Guaranteed 25 Super Bowls... MINIMUM.

But seriously, how many drafts have GMs had that were better than what Thompson did this year? His draft was amazing.

King cites Rodgers over Favre, that was a year and a half ago. Jennings was 4 years ago. Matthews was a home run. I'll wait and see. The real season starts now.

MickeyDavis wrote:King cites Rodgers over Favre, that was a year and a half ago. Jennings was 4 years ago. Matthews was a home run. I'll wait and see. The real season starts now.

Don't they vote for the awards before the post season?

He brought in Dom Capers as his DC and hit a grandslam in the draft. Team did well on the field, obviously. If he's not the winner he's got to be damn close. I personally can't think of anyone who had a better offseason.

DrugBust wrote:He brought in Dom Capers as his DC and hit a grandslam in the draft. Team did well on the field, obviously. If he's not the winner he's got to be damn close. I personally can't think of anyone who had a better offseason.

What about Jerry Angelo?

...

......

I don't know when they vote for this award but in my book I'll wait to see how the playoffs go before deciding.

The reason I like TT is that he has set the Packers up for sustained success over a team that has a short window and then will have to rebuild. You can argue there are some holes, and there are, but given how young the good talent is and our financial situation, this won't be a flash in the pan team. We have our franchise QB for probably another decade.

Newz wrote:

MartyConlonOnTheRun wrote:

Newz wrote:I think he does. He just had what is probably one of the best drafts in history, we are in the playoffs and possibly have more young talent than any other team in the league.

I think that may be pushing it a little bit. I mean he didn't draft Nick Toon

But seriously, how many drafts have GMs had that were better than what Thompson did this year? His draft was amazing.

Are you being serious that it was one of the best drafts ever? Yes, Matthews= Stud, Raji=Pretty good pick, The rest have been good, but let's wait to see if these guys are starters in 2 years before we hail it as the greatest class ever.

So Matthews, Raji, Jones, Lang, Johnson will go down in history versus:

Rodgers, Collins, Poppinga

Franks, Clifton, Tauscher, KGB, Diggs

Brooks, Bennett, Detmer, Chmura

Heck, in 5 years you could be saying the Vikings had a better draft. They already have 2 starters and a top back-up. They also got a Pro Bowl quarterback for nothing

MartyConlonOnTheRun wrote:Heck, in 5 years you could be saying the Vikings had a better draft. They already have 2 starters and a top back-up. They also got a Pro Bowl quarterback for nothing

What does them getting a Pro Bowl QB have to do with the draft?

I think it's obvious the Packers had the best draft out of any team in the NFL this year and I rarely see a team get 5-6 guys who can be impact players from one draft... That is pretty amazing.

LUKE23 wrote:The reason I like TT is that he has set the Packers up for sustained success over a team that has a short window and then will have to rebuild. You can argue there are some holes, and there are, but given how young the good talent is and our financial situation, this won't be a flash in the pan team. We have our franchise QB for probably another decade.

His past two drafts have been pretty damn good, getting Finley, Sitton, Jordy, and Flynn in 2008, and 2009 looking awesome with Matthews, Raji, Lang, Jones, Johnson, Wynn, and Underwood. Most of you know I like Wynn quite a bit as a developmental DE, and Underwood has the tools and may just need the coaching for a couple years.

Out of the 2008 draft we may still get something from Pat Lee, Thompson, or even Swain. Getting something from Lee specifically would be huge.

Not only has he picked some good players, he's picked some players that look like they can be Pro Bowl level in Finley and Matthews, and I think Sitton could even get to that level. Raji's had kind of a rough year with the ankle and with the depth up front, but even he could be a Pro Bowl level guy with his size and explosiveness. Going from a 3 technique tackle in college to a 3-4 DE or NT is a big adjustment for a rook, so I expect we'll see him really take off next year after another training camp.

Would a second Executive of the Year award finally silence the "fire TT" fans? Probably not, but it can't hurt. I think the Packers will have to at least get to a Super Bowl before those Favre fans finally realize TT is a pretty damn good GM.

Newz wrote:

MartyConlonOnTheRun wrote:Heck, in 5 years you could be saying the Vikings had a better draft. They already have 2 starters and a top back-up. They also got a Pro Bowl quarterback for nothing

What does them getting a Pro Bowl QB have to do with the draft?

I think it's obvious the Packers had the best draft out of any team in the NFL this year and I rarely see a team get 5-6 guys who can be impact players from one draft... That is pretty amazing.

Sorry should have separated it. Meant for that to be for them to get consideration for executive of the year.

Yeah, these guys contributed, but it is way to early to say it was the best draft in history. There has been plenty of drafts were a bunch of guys contribute one year and don't make the team the next. Looking back, we might only see 1 annual pro-bowler and 2 solid starters. Or we could have 3 annual pro-bowlers.

I judge a draft on more than 1 year.

ETA: I guess I don't really disagree with you that it has a huge impact on this year and not many drafts in history have that, but to say its the best draft in history is equivalent to saying Rodgers is the best quarterback in Packer history. Could happen, but after watching years of draft picks for the Bucks show flashes, I am kinda trained not to overreact.

The '74 Pittsburgh draft was the best ever and it's not even really close. When Thompson drafts four hall of famers in one year (or Nick Toon) he'll enter in the discussion.

That said, I love this class. I could see three pro bowlers in coming years and as many as six starters.

Who was all in 1974 for the Steelers? (Sure as hell sounds better than our draft this year. )

Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, and Mike Webster.

DrugBust wrote:Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, and Mike Webster.

Are you trying to say that Clay Matthews isn't >>>>> all those dudes on his own?

MartyConlonOnTheRun wrote:

Newz wrote:

MartyConlonOnTheRun wrote:Heck, in 5 years you could be saying the Vikings had a better draft. They already have 2 starters and a top back-up. They also got a Pro Bowl quarterback for nothing

What does them getting a Pro Bowl QB have to do with the draft?

I think it's obvious the Packers had the best draft out of any team in the NFL this year and I rarely see a team get 5-6 guys who can be impact players from one draft... That is pretty amazing.

Sorry should have separated it. Meant for that to be for them to get consideration for executive of the year.

Yeah, these guys contributed, but it is way to early to say it was the best draft in history. There has been plenty of drafts were a bunch of guys contribute one year and don't make the team the next. Looking back, we might only see 1 annual pro-bowler and 2 solid starters. Or we could have 3 annual pro-bowlers.

I judge a draft on more than 1 year.

ETA: I guess I don't really disagree with you that it has a huge impact on this year and not many drafts in history have that, but to say its the best draft in history is equivalent to saying Rodgers is the best quarterback in Packer history. Could happen, but after watching years of draft picks for the Bucks show flashes, I am kinda trained not to overreact.

But the award is judged on a yearly basis, so that should be the criteria here. In that case, he brought in a draft class that made a difference on a playoff team, he hired a DC that helped bring about one of the top Ds in the league, I guess it his hard to judge TT though, because a third component, Free Agents, isn't really a part of his game plan, he doesn't really make much of a splash in free agency. I still think that judging by his track record, he is worthy of the award, sometimes the best free agent is the one you don't sign...