zombieslayer
15 years ago
Charles Robinson article.

Full link here:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AoUCgVe2QXAjd0HodXuVkexDubYF?slug=cr-inconvenienttruths122309&prov=yhoo&type=lgns 

Thompson has bounced back in a big way
Dont look now, but Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson has found a way to quietly bounce back as former quarterback Brett Favre has been thriving in Minnesota. After a number of inconsistent NFL drafts, and the 07 nightmare pick of Justin Harrell(notes) that continued to dog the franchise, Thompsons 2009 draft has developed into one of the best hauls in the NFL.

The class has been a big part of Green Bays 5-1 surge since starting 4-4, particularly on defense, where both of Thompsons first-round picks have shown star potential. Nose tackle B.J. Raji(notes) struggled early with an ankle injury, but recently has flashed the strength, power and quickness necessary to be a top-tier lineman in the league. Consistency and stamina are still an issue, but he has improved significantly as the season has progressed. Meanwhile, outside linebacker Clay Matthews(notes) is already playing like a star, notching 10 sacks and 47 tackles and playing like a prototypical pass rusher in the 3-4 alignment.

Further down, fourth-round offensive lineman T.J. Lang(notes) has platooned at both guard and tackle, and should eventually settle into a starting role. Seventh-round linebacker Brad Jones(notes) has also shined after being pressed into the starting lineup by injuries, while defensive end Jarius Wynn(notes) and cornerback Brandon Underwood(notes) have both contributed in limited roles.

The developments with Raji and Matthews are particularly key, since both give Green Bay some young anchors in their continued transition to the 3-4. Hitting on two first-round picks in one draft isnt exactly easy, either. Take into consideration that Thompson, who has been in the position since 2005, made the fairly rare move (for him, anyway) of trading a bounty of valuable draft picks (a second and two thirds) to take Matthews 26th overall. And from a New England Patriots team that could badly use Matthews right about now.

While the rest of the season has yet to play out, that draft success could prove fairly vital to Thompsons survival. The 4-4 start was tough a tough pill for many Packers fans, especially with Favre flourishing with the Vikings. And some of Thompsons higher-profile draft misses Harrell, quarterback Brian Brohm(notes) and running back Brandon Jackson(notes) looked particularly damning. And while he has had some very solid middle- to late-round contributors during his run (tight end Jermichael Finley(notes), wideout James Jones(notes), defensive tackle Johnny Jolly(notes), etc.), youd have to go back to linebacker Nick Barnett(notes) in 2003 to find a first-round pick that has come close to the immediate impact of Matthews.



My thoughts - I was pretty critical of Ted Thompson until this year where I gave him an A draft. I know you're not supposed to grade right away but screw it, I'll grade anyways.

Well, the A held up. I don't think anyone who's not a crack addict would say that CM3 isn't a stud. If Raji stays healthy, he's going to play a huge role in our DL for years. TJ Lang is looking like an Offensive Lineman for the future and Brad Jones was a steal.
My man Donald Driver
UserPostedImage
(thanks to Pack93z for the pic)
2010 will be seen as the beginning of the new Packers dynasty. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷
PackFanWithTwins
15 years ago
There are only two things I have against Ted. Harrell and McCarthy.
The world needs ditch diggers too Danny!!!
Zero2Cool
15 years ago
Pack, he drafted Mason Crosby too.


I still think it's kind of funny that many blasted and still blast Ted for not making any big moves, then he does in the draft and he's blasted for it and questioned. It solidifies that no matter what he does, some pompous asses will always find something to whine about.
UserPostedImage
British
15 years ago
Not much to dislike in this year's draft.

And when Breno locks down the RT job in the offseason the 08 draft will start to look better too 🙂
UserPostedImage
buckeyepackfan
15 years ago
You hope that at least 1 rookie will start and contribute, you get 2, and you have to be estatic.

Not only are there 2 starters(CM3 and Jones), there is Raji who is in the rotation, and has started to show that he will be a force for a long time.

Throw in T.J. Lang and the others, you have to say that this year anyway, Ted Thompson probably has had not only his best draft, but probably one of THE BEST drafts of any team in 2009.

Ted that doesn't mean you can let some of the UFA's go, The Pack needs those guys experience, how about we not be the youngest team in the NFL next year!!!

Kudos to TT, I'm still not going to change my sig.(yet). :icon_smile:
I was addicted to The Hokey Pokey, but I turned myself around!
Nonstopdrivel
15 years ago
The fact that this author was so unimaginative that he had to bring Brett Favre into this article instantly discredits him (as an interesting writer, anyway) in my eyes. Surely there is a more creative angle he could have pursued. Trotting out the tired Favre line is so trite. But I agree with his central premise.

Now I'll sit and wait for the spanking from our fearless leader. 😛
UserPostedImage
shield4life
15 years ago
If we can get one more draft as good as this year we would have an elite team.
Glad To Be A Packers Fan.
Greg C.
15 years ago

The fact that this author was so unimaginative that he had to bring Brett Favre into this article instantly discredits him (as an interesting writer, anyway) in my eyes. Surely there is a more creative angle he could have pursued. Trotting out the tired Favre line is so trite. But I agree with his central premise.

Now I'll sit and wait for the spanking from our fearless leader. :P

"Nonstopdrivel" wrote:



He only mentioned Favre once, in an almost offhand way. And it's true that when the Packers fell to 4-4 it was worse because Favre was doing so well in Minnesota. So I don't see that as a problem.

This draft looks like it has made up for last year's poor draft. We sure needed it. Without Clay Matthews, I think the defense would've sunk like a stone when Kampman got hurt--sort of like it sank last year after Jenkins' injury.
blank
Nonstopdrivel
15 years ago
Actually, he mentions Favre twice. ;)

It's hard to call it an off-hand way when he leads the article with that angle, and that's what I was objecting to. Surely there was a way to introduce the topic without yet another reference to the controversy. I hope someday the comparisons end, but I'm afraid Rodgers will have to win a Super Bowl first. *le sigh*
UserPostedImage
djcubez
15 years ago

Actually, he mentions Favre twice. ;)

It's hard to call it an off-hand way when he leads the article with that angle, and that's what I was objecting to. Surely there was a way to introduce the topic without yet another reference to the controversy. I hope someday the comparisons end, but I'm afraid Rodgers will have to win a Super Bowl first. *le sigh*

"Nonstopdrivel" wrote:


I don't know if you read the whole article but the lead story was about Brett Favre so he could have thrown in it as a transition or reference point. I think it actually makes sense to mention it because Thompson is still ridiculed in some circles for "driving Favre out of town." I think throwing the fact that Brett is having troubles in Minnesota is another way of giving kudos to Thompson for having faith in Aaron Rodgers.
Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (5h) : He's been sporting a ring for a while now. It's probably Madonna.
Martha Careful (8h) : We only do the tea before whoopee, it relaxes me.
wpr (9h) : That's awesome Martha.
Mucky Tundra (9h) : How's the ayahuasca tea he makes, Martha?
Martha Careful (10h) : Turns out he like older women
Martha Careful (10h) : I wasn't supposed to say anything, but yes the word is out and we are happy 😂😂😂
Mucky Tundra (10h) : I might be late on this but Aaron Rodgers is now married
Mucky Tundra (11h) : Well he can always ask his brother for pointers
Zero2Cool (13h) : Bo Melton taking some reps at CB as well as WR
Zero2Cool (13h) : key transactions coming today at 3pm that will consume more cap in 2025
Zero2Cool (9-Jun) : Jaire played in just 34 of a possible 68 games since the start of the 2021 season
Zero2Cool (9-Jun) : reported, but not expected to practice
Zero2Cool (9-Jun) : Jenkins has REPORTED for mandatory camp
Zero2Cool (9-Jun) : I really thought he'd play for Packers.
buckeyepackfan (9-Jun) : Packers releasing Jaire Alexander.
Mucky Tundra (8-Jun) : (Context: he wants his defense to create turnovers)
Mucky Tundra (8-Jun) : Giants DC Shane Bowen tells players to “be a damn pirate."
dfosterf (6-Jun) : Semper fi !
Cheesey (6-Jun) : This is why I have so much respect for those that have gone through battles
Cheesey (6-Jun) : I can't even imagine what that would have been like
wpr (6-Jun) : "Come on, you sons of bitches. Do you want to live forever?"
wpr (6-Jun) : Facing a line of machine guns 2 time medal of Honor recipient, First Sergeant Dan Daly told his men,
wpr (6-Jun) : Another detachment went into the Belleau Wood.
wpr (6-Jun) : On the 6th the Marines took Hill 142 but suffered terrible losses.
wpr (6-Jun) : It’s time to remember dfoster’s Marine brothers in Belleau Wood. The battle went on from June 1-26. Nearly 10,000 casualties.
packerfanoutwest (6-Jun) : Nick Collins and Morgan Burnett have signed with the PACK
packerfanoutwest (6-Jun) : he won't be wearing #12, maybe he will wear number two
packerfanoutwest (6-Jun) : He will fail this season, should have retired
Mucky Tundra (5-Jun) : Thus the cycle of Hall of Fame Packer QBs going to the Jets and then the Vikings is broken
bboystyle (5-Jun) : Rodgers to steelers on 1 year contract
Zero2Cool (5-Jun) : It's the cycle of civilizations. Get lazier, lazier, softer, softer and vanish.
Martha Careful (5-Jun) : great point. every aspect of society, including art, culture and sports has degraded.
dfosterf (4-Jun) : Green Bay sweep meant something to society about stopping pure excellence. We have the tush push now
dfosterf (4-Jun) : We old Martha.
Martha Careful (4-Jun) : *front four
Martha Careful (4-Jun) : Re frout four, I wish we had some Green "People Eaters" or a fearsome foursome
dfosterf (4-Jun) : *directions*
dfosterf (4-Jun) : Just don't ask him for driving direct
dfosterf (4-Jun) : Jim Marshall was an all-time great DE for the Purple People Eaters. Didn't like him. That's a compliment. RIP
Zero2Cool (3-Jun) : ooppppss
Zero2Cool (3-Jun) : “Kenny Clark played all of last season hurt by the way and got surgery to fix it in January”
Mucky Tundra (3-Jun) : @ByRyanWood How much did the injury affect him last fall? “A lot.”
Mucky Tundra (3-Jun) : @ByRyanWood Kenny Clark said he had foot surgery in January. Injured his foot in opener against Eagles and played through it all year.
Zero2Cool (3-Jun) : Golden is wearing guardian cap again. I bet he plays with it on too.
Mucky Tundra (3-Jun) : All the stuff I'm reading from Lions fans are pointing at his toe; he more or less has permanent turf toe in one of his big toes
dfosterf (3-Jun) : Kenny played through it, and a shame he gets little credit for that, imo
dfosterf (3-Jun) : Big men. I hope it's not the undoing of Kenny Clark
dfosterf (3-Jun) : Probably his toe. Pretty much a great center. Toe injuries are brutal to bigen
Mucky Tundra (2-Jun) : Lions All-Pro C Frank Ragnow retires
wpr (30-May) : It's all good.
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
8h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

11h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

13h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

7-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

6-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

5-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

5-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

1-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

29-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

27-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

27-May / Random Babble / Martha Careful

24-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

23-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / greengold

23-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / earthquake

22-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.