The Packer Pundit

Thompson says trading Rodgers
'never' discussed
Story from GBPostgazette.com
Rumors persist that Packers backup quarterback Aaron Rodgers is on the trading block in a possible deal for Oakland Raiders receiver Randy Moss. General Manager Ted Thompson, who should know better than anyone, doesn't put a lot of stock in such speculation. "It's never been discussed inside the building or outside the building," said Thompson when asked about a possible Rodgers trade. Thompson drafted Rodgers in the first round (No. 24 overall) in 2005 with the intention he would be the Packers' quarterback of the future. Nothing has changed Thompson's mind about that. "I think he's a very talented guy," Thompson said. "He's everything we thought of in terms of intelligence, and his physical ability, his ability to throw the ball. I like the way he handles himself around the team. "I think he has all the attributes to be a good quarterback." -- Link



Team breaks new ground with surface
Lambeau Field getting makeover
By BOB McGINN / journalsentinel.com
Posted: March 17, 2007
The Green Bay Packers are installing a hybrid surface at Lambeau Field that has met with decidedly mixed reviews in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and might not be a panacea in the National Football League's most historic stadium. By early May, the laborious task of weaving DD GrassMaster into Lambeau Field will have been completed at a cost of between $2.5 million and $3 million, according to chairman of the board Bob Harlan. But it won't be until late in the season before the Packers know for sure if the Dutch-developed system blending a 100% natural grass field with 3% synthetic reinforcement will perform better than the Kentucky bluegrass surfaces in Lambeau did for the last 40 years. "We've done a lot of research on it," general manager Ted Thompson said. "All the people that I've talked to said it was absolutely the best option for us." -- More





Thompson won't spend millions on mediocrity
By Mike Vandermause / gbpostgazette.com
The knock against Ted Thompson is the Green Bay Packers' general manager is sitting on a $21 million pile of cash and barely has moved during the first two weeks of NFL free agency. While some teams have been throwing money around like drunken sailors, Thompson has taken a more conservative approach. "It doesn't make sense to do something just so you can show people that you've done something, when in fact come next September or October you realize this did really not help us," said Thompson, who spent most of this past week on a scouting trip.

It's not that Thompson won't spend money in the open market, as evidenced by the signings last year of Charles Woodson and Ryan Pickett. But the 2007 free-agent field had the look of a rundown used-car lot, and it's obvious Thompson won't overpay for a beater. While he refuses to second-guess the wild spending habits of other teams, Thompson's philosophy tends to stand in contradiction to that approach. "I don't think, with the ability of other teams to lock in their best players, I don't know that the kind of players that can turn a franchise around ever make it to free agency," he said. Usually, there's a good reason why players are available. If they were bona fide difference-makers, their last employer would have done more to keep them.

If recent history is any indication, teams that make headlines in March are not the ones flourishing in the fall. The Minnesota Vikings and Washington Redskins are prime examples. They couldn't open their checkbooks fast enough to sign high-profile, high-priced free agents over the past three years. And what did their shopping sprees produce? The Redskins were a woeful 5-11 last season, and the Vikings were a pathetic 6-10.

In contrast, the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts signed just one free agent last year (kicker Adam Vinatieri), and the runner-up Chicago Bears picked up a nickel cornerback (Ricky Manning Jr.), a second-string quarterback (Brian Griese) and a special-teams player (Dante Wesley). Such evidence supports Thompson's approach to free agency, which recognizes the difference between using and abusing the system. Free agents effectively can fill some potholes on the roster, but reckless spending will cause greater problems down the road. The lone free agent to sign with the Packers this year is Frank Walker, who will battle for the No. 3 cornerback job. Just six teams — the Bears, Panthers, Giants, Chargers, Bengals and Ravens — have signed fewer players.

Other clubs have been more aggressive. "A team might be sitting in a place where they think, 'Well, we've got a two-year window to maybe win this thing," Thompson said. "I don't necessarily subscribe to that kind of thinking, but I'm sure there are people that look at it that way. Then they say, 'What the heck, let's shoot the moon here.'" Thompson prefers a more patient approach. "We're doing everything we can," he said. "We're pedaling as fast as we can. We're trying to get as good as we can as fast as we can." It may not be fast enough for some, but it's the only way Thompson knows how to operate. -- Link

Green signs with Houston Texans
By TOM SILVERSTEIN / journalsentinel.com
Posted: March 4, 2007
The Houston Texans made Ahman Green an offer he couldn't refuse, leaving the Green Bay Packers in the dust. Green agreed to terms with the Texans Sunday on a four-year, $23 million contract that an NFL source said will pay Green $8 million in the first year. The deal reportedly consists of $6.5 million in guaranteed money. The Packers were offering far less than that and were leery of offering more than $5 million for the 2007 season. The two sides negotiated throughout the day, but the Packers weren't willing to match Houston's offer and let Green go. Green indicated to Houston reporters Sunday before the deal was announced that it would be hard to leave Green Bay, but apparently the decision was easy when he got wind of the Texans' offer. Undoubtedly, former Packers coach Mike Sherman, who is now the offensive coordinator for the Texans, played a big role in convincing owner Bob McNair to pay such a high price for a 30-year old running back. The Packers' second all-time leading rusher had made a visit to Denver on Friday and then was flown on McNair's private jet to Houston where he took in a Rockets game Saturday night. After meeting with Texans' officials all day Sunday, Green spoke to reporters and said he didn't know if he could leave Green Bay. -- More