Honest question - how much responsibility does Thompson hold on player transactions in general? I would imagine the process of replacing a player begins with scouts looking for a suitable replacement player, coaches giving input on how the current player has performed, and their expectations on possible replacement players, and finally Thompson makes the call having discussed with Bell regarding negotations and contractual values. Is that about right?

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Yes, I'm using Thompson as a figurehead. I name him when I'm giving credit, so it's only fair I do the same when I'm criticizing. You're right, I'm talking about the entire player scouting/personnel department.

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Wasn't Frost this great "practice punter"?


It was a bad move, said so then, say so now. Ted (and co.) made a mistake. They were fooled.

The whole deal reminded me of a movie scene. Frost was hell on wheels as a punter, right up to the point that he had to actually do it when it counted. Kind of like this great lawyer/orator, to me:



[youtube]KrThclm01v8[/youtube]

I highly doubt Ted Thompson went to the coaching staff and said " I don't like your punter and I am going to replace him." Obviously, they were concerned with the lack of consistancy and when your talking about a punter your taking the information and recommendations from they guys down on the field.
Ted Thompson made the ultimate call so he is responsible for it but on the other hand he more than likely would have been going against the coaches and their imput to just say "no, we're keeping this guy."

When they whiddle down the roster those cuts will come from what the coaches perceive are the best ones to keep and who to let go. If we let go of a player in this process and he goes to another team and does well it will be the coaches who took the list to Thompson.

Thompson's job is to listen to the coaches about what type of players they need and to bring talent onto the field. Once they get there it's up to the coaches to access the players value and decide which guys belong on the roster.

Why do you think it's McCarthy who is the one up on the podium when these cuts are made and the decisions on who goes and who stays goes thru him? It's not Ted Thompson up there because he couldn't tell you specifically why one player was kept or let go over another.

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IMO, the reason the media is making a big deal out of it, is because a solid to excellent punting game is very vital in terms of field position.

And field position is one of the most important factors in any well fought game.

Truly under appreciated as a whole in the NFL by the fans.. the importance of a good punter upon the roster.

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Agreed.
In a game where the defenses are dominating and there is no scoring, improving your field position by getting a 1st down or two more than the other team, better punts and punt coverage make a difference.
If the team begins at the 20, moves up to the 32 on their second posession and out near the 40-45 on their third posession is most likely going to score.
Many coaches are very conservative inside their 20, somewhat conservtive between the 20 and 35 and will use all of their playbook once they get out to the 40 yard line.

A good punter will help his team by pinning the other team back toward their own goal line and thus taking away a large postion of their offense.

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