There is as much misinformation as information disseminated from NFL general managers at pre-draft news conferences this time of year and figuring which is which can require a PHD in manure removal.
In the case of the Green Bay Packers' Ted Thompson, no information is usually the rule. The lips of the ever-secretive Thompson would have sunk nary a ship were he alive during World War II.
Thompson also isn't a liar, so when he said Friday that he is confident all of his injured cornerbacks will be ready at least by the end of training camp, he could be taken for his word.
If he was sending out signals to other teams that he isn't interested in drafting a corner when he really is, so be it. But he seemed sincere in expecting the likes of Al Harris, Will Blackmon and Pat Lee to be part of the 2010 team.
"I would anticipate all those guys being healthy and ready to go, whether it's at the start of training camp or the end of training camp or something like that," Thompson said six days before the draft kicks off. "I think we'll know more as we get closer."
If you're the Philadelphia Eagles or Baltimore Ravens or Arizona Cardinals, who pick in succession after the Packers at No. 23, maybe you interpret Thompson's words to mean he won't be looking for a corner right away.
Then again, maybe you take it to be a smoke screen because it's possible someone like Boise State's Kyle Wilson or Rutgers' Devin McCourty or Florida State's Patrick Robinson will be available when the 23rd pick comes around and Thompson just might jump on one of them.
The Packers ran out of corners late last season after Lee hurt his knee, Blackmon tore his ACL and Harris shredded ligaments in his knee and it makes sense that they'll be looking to add players. Whether they do, it is significant that Thompson is counting on the 35-year-old Harris to be ready at some point.
If Lee, a former second-round pick, can overcome the injury bug, the Packers could be in better shape this year than a year ago. Blackmon's best attribute is his return ability, but he also was seeing limited time as a corner.
As usual, Thompson gave no clue as to what direction he's leaning in the first round and wouldn't even commit to at some point taking an offensive tackle, which is a position of need.
Running on full
[ul]Thompson confirmed the Packers' interest in running back Brian Westbrook, but he wouldn't say if a deal would be completed before the draft.
"Brian's a really good player, has been for some time," Thompson said. "Other than that, like any other good player, it would be nice to have a good player. But nothing's imminent."[/ul]
Wait list
[ul]Thompson said a determination has not yet been made whether linebacker Jeremy Thompson will resume his football career.
Thompson has suffered repeated neck stingers and at the end of the season was still waiting for a specialist's opinion on whether it would be safe for him to play. There was a chance surgery would be part of the recovery process.[/ul]
Two's plenty
[ul]If he does not come out of this draft with a punter, Thompson said he would be OK having Tim Masthay and Chris Bryan competing for the job.
"Sure, that would be fine, yeah," he said. "No different than anything else, but we are working with our two now. We kind of like them."
Thompson called the punting game one of the areas that has been "vexing" him from time to time.[/ul]
Free trade agreement
[ul]The Seattle Seahawks could provide a convenient trading partner for the Packers.
Their general manager, John Schneider, worked under Thompson until taking the Seahawks job after last season. The Seahawks hold the sixth and 14th picks in the draft. Thompson would probably have to give up his first- and second-round picks to get to No. 14.
"Neither one of us has had a chance to talk much," Thompson said. "We've exchanged a few texts from time to time."[/ul]