Zero2Cool
16 years ago

[img_r]http://cmsimg.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20081017&Category=PKR07&ArtNo=310170055&Ref=AR&Profile=1058&MaxW=318&Border=0[/img_r]How good would the Green Bay Packers be with Randy Moss, Tony Gonzalez and Michael Turner on their roster?
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Packers General Manager Ted Thompson had opportunities to trade for those star players over the past 18 months, but ultimately determined the price was too high.

Gonzalez, a Pro Bowl tight end with the Kansas City Chiefs, was being shopped around earlier this week before the NFL trade deadline. In the end, the Chiefs' demand for a second-round draft choice slammed the door on a possible deal.

Chiefs General Manager Carl Peterson said no team came close to meeting his asking price. The most the Packers reportedly were willing to give up for Gonzalez was a third-round pick.

It's good to covet draft picks like Thompson does. In light of the three-year reign of error by previous GM Mike Sherman, who tossed away draft choices like used chewing gum, the Packers needed someone in charge of the football operation that didn't forget the big-picture view of the roster.

But the knock against Thompson is he sometimes clings to draft picks too tightly.

Former Packers GM Ron Wolf wasn't afraid to peddle high picks if he thought the timing was right. He gave up a first-rounder in 1992 for an unknown quarterback named Brett Favre. Three years later, he traded a second-rounder for Pro Bowl tight end Keith Jackson. Both moves contributed to the Packers' Super Bowl XXXI title.

"The bottom line was, if you really wanted a guy, go get the guy," Wolf told me last year in a discussion on his trade philosophy. "So what if you gave too much? You would try to make that up some other way. The key was, make sure you got the guy you wanted to get."

Is Thompson's unwillingness to gamble high draft picks on star players holding the Packers back?

In the case of Gonzalez, the answer is a resounding no. The tight end is near the top of his game, but at 32, is going to hit the wall fairly soon. If Gonzalez were the only piece that separates the Packers from completing their Super Bowl puzzle, he would have been worth a second-rounder. That no doubt was part of Wolf's thinking when he acquired Jackson, who was 29 at the time.

Although Gonzalez would have given the Packers' offense a short-term boost, the team remains some distance from fielding a championship-caliber defense, partly due to injuries. That second-rounder can be better used in next year's draft to either bolster the defense or shore up other needs.

Thompson faced a similar decision in the spring of 2007 when he needed a running back to replace the departed Ahman Green. Despite Turner's backup status, the Chargers reportedly were asking for a first-round draft choice.

There is no indication the Packers seriously considered acquiring Turner for such a steep price. Although Turner ranks second in the NFL in rushing with Atlanta this season, the Packers found their go-to back, Ryan Grant, for the clearance-rack price of a sixth-round pick and used their first-rounder on defensive tackle Justin Harrell.

Forget for a moment that Harrell has been largely unavailable and ineffective. The Packers have a desperate need at that position, and if Harrell comes off the injury list and plays to his potential, Thompson will look like a genius for passing on Turner.

Thompson doesn't come off looking nearly as good for his failure to acquire Moss last year. For the ridiculously low price of a fourth-round pick, Moss could have been a Packer. He went to New England instead and had a monster season with 98 catches, 1,493 yards and 23 touchdowns.

I'm convinced the Packers would have made it to the Super Bowl with Moss on the roster last season. Raiders owner Al Davis revealed recently that Thompson had doubts about Moss' ability to run, which helps explain why the Packers GM was reluctant to pull the trigger on that deal.

You win some and you lose some. That's life in the NFL.



Pretty good article, but from what Ted has said about Moss, he thought Moss was a Packer and the Patriots came in and gave the Raiders a better pick and did not give the Packers a chance to match it.
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yooperfan
16 years ago
My belief is that Ted has reached his peak with the Packers with his philosophy.
The time has come IMHO to get after some trades and free agents and stop hoarding draft picks.
I think this team is on the cusp of greatness but more draft picks are not giong to get us over the top.
Zero2Cool
16 years ago

My belief is that Ted has reached his peak with the Packers with his philosophy.
The time has come IMHO to get after some trades and free agents and stop hoarding draft picks.
I think this team is on the cusp of greatness but more draft picks are not giong to get us over the top.

"yooperfan" wrote:



I agree. Enough with this taking draft picks from everyone. We need to start getting some veteran leadership on this team. We will have some in years to come, but this team I feel can win NOW, but needs more veteran leadership.

I think Tony G would have been a solid leadership guy for the team.
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beast
16 years ago

I think Tony G would have been a solid leadership guy for the team.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



I would of love him as well, but it's not like we didn't go after him, we were tired for the highest offer team that Tony was willing to be traded to.

And the rumor is that the Chiefs GM raised the price with 10 minutes before the trade deadline which I think the NFL wants to have all of the paperwork into them before the deadline and 10 minutes isn't a lot of time to get paper work done and send in.


Also there is a rumor that the Chiefs GM or Owners really didn't want to trade him but tried half heartedly to look was out there just to make Tony happy. Not saying it's true but it's out there.
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millertime
16 years ago
This team would be crazy with those three, but hind sight is always 20-20. Ted Thompson did what was prudent and may have been the correct choice.

I do believe that this is a team that is prepared to win now and Ted Thompson might need to change his philosophy in the near future. TT's been great so far, which is why we have YOUNG quality depth at a lot of key positions. We are starting to lose some of the younger, quality guys that Ted Thompson brought in through the draft (like Abdul Hodge) because we are replacing them with more young depth through the draft.

Now is the time to makes some moves. We have the depth to recover if Ted Thompson misses on some free agents. I would love to see Ted Thompson ink a franchise guard (or two) this offseason and a stud DT (Albert Haynesworth anyone???)

The thing I like about Ted is that he's willing to trade picks if the right players are involved (eg. Moss, Gonzalez, Grant). He even traded up to grab Jeremy Thompson last draft. He's willing to shift his stance if it produces a better team. Hopefully, he'll do that next Spring.
Zero2Cool
16 years ago
Turner, we couldn't have got at all. I believe their GM AJ Smith said it was going to be two 1sts or nothing. They were willing to ride him that last year and get nothing in return for him.

Moss, Ted thought he had the deal done, but the Patriots came in and took it.

Tony G, Again, Ted thought the deal was done and then was pressured into raising his side of the deal.


I like Ted as a GM, but I think he's a poor salesman at times.
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beast
16 years ago

Moss, Ted thought he had the deal done, but the Patriots came in and took it.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



I'm not saying I remember everything or even close, but I don't remember anyone with any knowledge on the inside has said they thought it was a done deal like they did in Tony G case.

I'm not sure Ted Thompson thought it was a done deal.

Also I still blame Moss for this somewhat. Because Ted Thompson has shown he doesn't like guys that don't behave which is something I like, and Moss with out a doubt shown that he doesn't behave including quiting on the Raiders.

Then when Ted Thompson went to talk to Moss (who really wanted to get out of oakland) hung up on TT...

I'm sorry but that would make me want to trade for him less no matter how talented he was.


Tony G, Again, Ted thought the deal was done and then was pressured into raising his side of the deal.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



I have heard that the Packers thought this one was done.


I like Ted as a GM, but I think he's a poor salesman at times.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



The problem could be that Ted Thompson isn't even trying to be a salesman. I mean he hasn't tired to sale the fans on liking him but just did his job.
Ted Thompson doesn't seem like the sales type at all.

He's the more old school type.
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Zero2Cool
16 years ago
Ted Thompson was asked in an interview something like ...

Q: After day one of the draft, did you think Randy Moss was a Packer?
A: Yes.
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tromadz
16 years ago
Is this the "The NFL can be just like Madden!" thread with everyone pretending to know what's going on and being armchair GMs?

I love these!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WhiskeySam
16 years ago
Al Davis is now a reliable source? If it hadn't been for that highly entertaining trainwreck of a press conference a few weeks back, I'd have sworn he had died years ago and the Raiders were being run by a secret committee.
Nemo me impune lacessit
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