Ted Thompson might be the most reviled man in Wisconsin.
Barely a day goes by that this newspaper doesn't receive a letter, e-mail or fax demanding the firing of the Packers' general manager.
Pro football is a tough business, and when you're in charge of a 5-9 team, it's only a matter of time before the vultures begin to circle.
Still, it would have been hard to imagine Thompson's approval rating tumbling to George W. Bush levels in such short order. Exactly 11 months ago today, Thompson was at the pinnacle of success, with the Packers hosting the NFC championship game in just his third year at the helm. Times were good, life was a breeze and victories flowed freely.
The Packers' fortunes have taken a stock market-like nose dive since, and it didn't take long for critics to put Thompson squarely in the crosshairs.
Two seismic events this year contributed to Thompson's steep drop-off in popularity. Trading Brett Favre was guaranteed to incite an angry mob, but when that controversial move was followed by a historic decline in the victory column, the floodgates of dissent opened wide.
Thompson can do nothing right in the eyes of his critics, and every misstep is magnified.
One recent e-mailer wanted to know why no one in the local media has called for Thompson's ouster, considering the Packers have produced just one winning season during his watch.
The answer isn't that complicated. Thompson should keep his job, for the time being, because you don't fire the general manager one season after his team came within an overtime of a Super Bowl berth. Thompson was charged with cleaning up after Mike Sherman, and the Packers were making steady progress until this season. One step backward isn't enough reason to clean house.
It's necessary to take the emotion out of the issue, as well as the immediate frustration of a season gone awry, and look at the big picture. A team doesn't post a 13-3 regular-season record, as the Packers did last year, with smoke and mirrors. There had to be some substance there, and it went beyond the presence of Favre.
If Thompson gets no credit for the 2007 season, then why must he absorb all the blame for 2008? You can't have it both ways.
That doesn't mean Thompson receives a free pass for this year's disappointing record. He's made his share of mistakes.
His inability to infuse the defense with enough talent has resulted in a major breakdown this season, and his attempts to improve the offensive line have come up short. The question marks in the trenches are a major concern, and the Packers' future depends on how that pans out. Thompson's reluctance to make bold moves, such as trading for high-end talent, also has stifled the Packers' progress.
However, Thompson has upgraded the receiving corps, turned the secondary from a weakness to strength and put the long-term future of the quarterback position in good hands.
I'm less convinced now than a year ago that Thompson will guide the Packers to a Super Bowl title, but it's too soon to send him packing. Thompson's team remains a work in progress, and next season will provide a better gauge of which direction the franchise is headed.