Big Changes Needed

Eliot Wolf - The Future GM of a Super Bowl Team Not Named Packers

I want to state right up front I've been a big critic of General Manager Ted Thompson and finally a publication of significance (The Milwaukee Journal) has agreed with me and broached the subject of Thompson being fired.
 

I think all the problems the Packers had this season stem from Thompson's leadership and philosophy. So I think it's time to fire Thompson and elevate Eliot Wolf (son of Hall of Famer and former Packers GM Ron Wolf) from Director of Player Personnel before he is hired away like Seattle GM John Schneider in 2010, Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie in 2012 and Chiefs GM John Dorsey in 2013.
 

This becomes more urgent because Detroit and Tennessee made inquiries about talking to Wolf before the end of the season, but Thompson refused them permission. This only means that next year the 33-year old Wolf might be a hot commodity and will become the fourth Thompson protégée to leave and set up successful programs.

The GM of a Future Non-Super Bowl Team Named Packers

As Thompson did in the latter years of Brett Favre, he is wasting the remaining years of Aaron Rodgers. I think the Packers could have won the Super Bowl in 2007 with the acquisition of a key player or two in Favre's last season and should have won in 2011, last year and could have this year once again with an acquisition of a veteran backup offensive tackle and use of Jeff Janis more often.
 

So instead of the one Super Bowl that Thompson and Mike McCarthy is hanging their hats on the Packers should have been a Lombardiesqe dynasty with five titles in nine years (2007 {was 13-3 before losing the conference title game to Giants in overtime}, 2010 (was 10-6 and won Super Bowl as the 6th seed}, 2011 {was 15-1 before losing to Giants in Division Round after a bye}, 2014 {was 12-4 before losing the conference title game to Seahawks in overtime}, and this year).
 

The GM of the 6-Time NFL Champion Packers

However, under the 11 seasons of Thompson's leadership the Packers are just good enough to be in contention most every season, but haven't taken the steps to be truly great. Curly Lambeau (4 NFL titles in 8 years and 6 overall) and Vince Lombardi (5 NFL titles in 7 years) made acquisitions to push those teams over the top.
 

The GM of the 5-Time NFL Champion Packers

I think it all comes down to General Manager Mike Sherman's acquisition of defensive end Joe Johnson as a big-ticket free agent from the Saints. He turned out to be a bust and that spooked the Packers front office. I think they chose Thompson because he is adverse to signing big-ticket free agents.
 

However, a General Manager worth his salt will make the final one or two acquisitions to make a good team a great one. If Thompson had been General Manager in 1990's Reggie White, Santana Dotson, and Sean Jones would never have been Packers and the Packers wouldn't have been in two consecutive Super Bowls.
 

Mark Murphy - The CEO of a Future Non-Super Bowl Team Named Packers

However, CEO Mark Murphy is not a guy who fires people so we're stuck with Thompson as long as he wants to keep the job leaving us with a team that will just good enough to never win another Super Bowl. I think if Murphy can't see the forrest for the trees then maybe its time to get rid of him too.