@kworst posted:Every general manager will be criticized... today is not that day
Was this necessary?
It was pretty obvious that something was physically wrong with him the last 2-3 years with the Packers. Let's hope the team rallies around him.
The fact that MFL is winning this year with (mostly) the talent that Ted Thompson drafted as further enhanced his professional legacy, in my opinion (at the expense of MMs).
Rodgers, Adams, Jones, Bakh, Linsley, J. Williams, and K. Clark, among others are all TT's guys. Even Tonyan was signed while TT was the GM. He was one of the last street free agents TT signed as GM and is great example of his real legacy. Rodgers is front and center, but the title team was driven in large part by getting Sam Shields and Tramon Williams as UDFA or street free agents.
Alexander, Savage, Gary, Jenkins, and the Smith brothers are the main major-contributors added to the team by Gutey, but the best offense in the league is almost all TT's guys (Jenkins is the exception).
In the end, the lack of additional championships was more on MM than TT by a longshot.
Let's balance the bust draft pick thread with a thread on Pro-Bowl guys drafted or signed by TT.
Draft picks:
Aaron Rodgers, Nick Collins, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Josh Sitton, Jermichael Finley, Clay Matthews 3, BJ Raji, Micah Hyde, Casey Hayward, David Bakhtiari, TJ Lang, Eddie Lacy, Mike Daniels, Davante Adams, Kenny Clark, Corey Linsley, Clinton-Dix, Aaron Jones.
He also drafted Bryan Bulaga and Mason Crosby, who were/are clearly Pro-Bowl caliber players.
That's a lot of Pro Bowlers for a guy whose highest picks were #5 (AJ Hawk) and #9 overall (Raji).
I was as frustrated as anyone over the lack of activity in free agency sometimes, but signing Charles Woodson was considered a risk at the time and turned out to be one of the top 10 FA signings of all-time. It also turned Woodson's career from that of a borderline HOFer to a first-ballot, no-doubt-about it one. Ryan Pickett and Julius Peppers weren't too shabby either. He also signed two undrafted guys for nothing that turned into Pro Bowl CBs (Tramon Williams and Sam Shields).
His biggest weakness, in retrospect, was staying so loyal to MM and Dom Capers. How many Super Bowls would the Packers have if they'd have had an innovative offensive coach instead of an organized, game-manager type like MM?
Thanks Ted. I hope he was personally happy. He always seemed like such a lonely guy. No family at all, that we know of.
“@WesHod: You want to know the measure of a man? How many people out there could have weathered the vitriol Ted Thompson did, especially in '08, and not be hardened by it.
He drafted perhaps the greatest player to ever play football and never once said, 'See, I told you so.' #Packers”
I propose we all lift a glass of Bud Light on ice tonight at 7PM LFT in his honor.
@PackerHawk posted:I propose we all lift a glass of Bud Light on ice tonight at 7PM LFT in his honor.
This is one time I can actually do that.
I checked the fridge and the closest I have is a Stella Artois. 
A list of busts might be countered with a few street FA's who made a couple plays over the years. RIP Ted, you occupy a special place in GB and our hearts.
As recently as 2 weeks ago I was still hearing from clueless Packer fans that TT was a bad GM. Anyone who thinks the guy who brought in a "washed up" Charles Woodson as a free agent and the guy who drafted the guys listed below, is a bad GM the only bad thing about this conversation is your understanding of how football works.
Aaron Rodgers, Nick Collins, Brady Poppinga, AJ Hawk, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, Jermichael Finley, Josh Sitton, BJ Raji, Clay Matthews, TJ Lang, Brian Bulaga, Randall Cobb, Casey Heyward, Mike Daniels, Eddie Lacy, David Bahktiari, Corey Linsley, JC Tretter, Micah Hyde, Davante Adams, Kenny Clark, and Aaron Jones.
One top 5 all-time free agent signing and one top 5 QB. Oh, might I add that he was in charge of drafting:
Shaun Alexander, Steve Hutchinson, Marcus Trufant and Ken Hamlin as well?
RIP TT.
#Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy & GM Brian Gutekunst discuss Ted Thompson’s legacy 🎥 https://t.co/JWhEQ0Cn4p
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 21, 2021
@R MaN posted:Was this necessary?
Even I have to say it was not
No GM is perfect. No man is perfect. Ted Thompson was, during his time, one of the best to ever do it.
#FYK
@PackerHawk posted:I checked the fridge and the closest I have is a Stella Artois.
Pooftah!
No idea how it got in there. I know I didn't buy it! Probably left over from a poker game over a year ago.
McCarthy weighs in
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy on the passing of Ted Thompson: “There has never been a finer human being to walk the playing fields or have a presence in the scouting rooms.
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) January 21, 2021
“Slow down, my friend. What a life you led and an example you exemplified.
Full statement: pic.twitter.com/t0dQnMK7Jq
After "WTF?!?!" I have to admit, my second thought was "Dear God, isn't his father still alive?" I mean, we're just fans.
RIP to a fine man and great GM
Now, let's - WIN THIS ONE FOR TED!
bvan - is that John Blood autograph on your pic Johnny Blood McNally?
In honor of TT, I'm going to sit and observe everything without saying a word. But he has joined many Packer brethren and is already drafting one heck of a football team in Heaven.
Great man, lived Packer football, and drafted some mighty fine players. Huge part of a SB win, and his stamp remains on the current bunch of winners. Thanks, Ted.
Ted Thompson's final month as Packers GM, December 2017:
— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) January 21, 2021
Signed TE Robert Tonyan to practice squad.
Signed WR Davante Adams to contract extension.
Signed C Corey Linsley to contract extension.
I hoper the Packers have a TT sticker on their helmets or a TT patch on their jerseys this week and in the Super Bowl.
@Tdog posted:bvan - is that John Blood autograph on your pic Johnny Blood McNally?
Yes it is. Part of the GB Elk's Club celebration of the '63 original inductees into the HOF. For some reason McNally signed on the back and the other guys signed on their pictures. Thought I posted these 11 pics on X4.... ?
Attachments
Apologies if it was said elsewhere, but did Ted have anything to do with Ahman Green coming to GB?
Authority in Seattle was murky between Holmgren and Ted. Hope he did GB a favor and made that Green trade.
When all is said and done Ted will have made such a huge mark on GB history. Drafted arguably the top QB (Rodgers), WR (Adams also multiple of the top actually) , LT (Bakh), top 5 Edge rusher (CM3 in sacks), and top 3 FS (Collins) in team history. He made mistakes, but he filled in the most critical positions on the field with some of the best talent to ever wear G&G. It’s not like any of these picks were obvious either, he took chances on all of them. I’ve always loved following the draft, but the most fun was trying to figure out what was in Ted’s head and what direction he would go. Following the draft hasn’t quite been the same since Ted hasn’t been running it. Guy had balls of steel to make some of the moves he did, I was in absolute awe of him sticking to his guns with the Favre situation and not backing down. Just an all time bold, risky, and ultimately genius move. Hard year in general, but hard on the all time GBP family.
The Packers shouldn't have had all those great players. The reverse order of the draft was designed exactly to prevent winning teams from...continuing to win. One of the keys to creating parity.
Making very nearly all of those great picks at the back end of the order for most of his GB career should just erase any doubt that he was an immensely talented evaluator.
@DH13 posted:The Packers shouldn't have had all those great players. The reverse order of the draft was designed exactly to prevent winning teams from...continuing to win. One of the keys to creating parity.
Making very nearly all of those great picks at the back end of the order for most of his GB career should just erase any doubt that he was an immensely talented evaluator.
And plenty of FO personnel around the league that was mentored by him as well. I hope they win on Sunday for him. Would be a fitting sendoff.
.@AaronRodgers12 on the passing of Ted Thompson pic.twitter.com/AZROZunObC
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 21, 2021
@artis posted:Apologies if it was said elsewhere, but did Ted have anything to do with Ahman Green coming to GB?
No that was Mike Sherman, he traded for him when he came from Seattle. But Ted may have been part of the group that drafted him in Seattle.
Here is hoping for a Bud (Super Bowl) Light to Bud Lea and Ted Thompson. My sympathies go out to both families. Thanks to both for their contributions to the Packer organization, the fans, and the city of Green Bay.
Here is a Link for Bud Lea. I did not look to see if there was a thread for him - yet.
Win two for Thompson and Lea!
Did not realize he found Bobby as well. Amazing..
Yep. And he signed Robert Tonyan in his final month as GM.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) January 22, 2021
There literally are not enough characters for the late-tenure personnel moves he aced. https://t.co/bcGlIsLNFr
@Packwood posted:No that was Mike Sherman, he traded for him when he came from Seattle. But Ted may have been part of the group that drafted him in Seattle.
I think Ted was still in GB when Ahman Green was drafted.
If you don't want to cry...do NOT watch this
😢😢😢💚💛💚💛😢😢😢 https://t.co/4DHDhv9ghn
— Ama Deisel (@amar3455) January 22, 2021