A Leopard Will Change His Spots Before Ted Thompson Changes His

The “Just Good Enough” Packers of the Ted Thompson Era may not be just good enough this year, but it seems even the loss of the best quarterback in the game today and a defense that can’t be depended upon isn’t enough to get Thompson to adjust to the current dire situation and actually do something to help the team during the season.

Ted Thompson and CEO Mark Murphy hang their hats on having the longest current streak of playoff appearances (tied with the Patriots) and if the team makes the playoffs this year it would tie the NFL record. That seemed assured until Aaron Rodgers went down. And now with the season in doubt it is up to Thompson to make the right moves to save the “prized” streak by building for the now and not for the constant future like he does every year.

Evan Siegel on Lombard Ave said this two months ago in an article titled ‘The Green Bay Packers are poised for another Super Bowl push after Ted Thompson‘s finest offseason as general manager’, “Since being hired in 2005, Packers general manager Ted Thompson has been one of the most successful executives in the NFL. A silent, zen-like figure, Thompson quietly does his job while head coach Mike McCarthy and the rest of the Packers deal with the media. Thompson has come under fire in recent years from impatient Packer fans, but this offseason was without question his best.” The rest of article was “Trust in Ted” crap since this man is obviously a vice president of his “Tedders” local chapter.

The Packers are 4-3 with 2 losses in a row after Aaron Rodgers went down. The current designated successor Brett Hundley so far isn’t ready for prime time completing 31-of-59 passes (52.5%) for 244 yards (4.1 per attempt) with 1 TD and 4 interceptions for a quarterback rating of 40.5.  However, on the plus side he can scramble with 4 runs for 47 yards and a TD.

Murphy said this last July 24th at the annual shareholders meeting, “I hear from a lot of fans that they’re disappointed that I’ve accepted mediocrity and I’m just happy to be in the playoffs and that I should fire (GM) Ted (Thompson) and (coach) Mike (McCarthy) and then after I do that, retire. So you realize that it’s a spread and there’s all kinds of fans, but I would hope that the average or typical fan understands that when you work for the Packers organization and you set a record for most consecutive years in the playoffs with our history and tradition, that’s pretty good. If we are fortunate enough to make the playoffs this year, we would tie the NFL record, so it’s not something that is easily accomplished, particularly when the whole league is set up for parity. It’s hard to have consistent success.”

Thompson said (does he actually talk, well sort of yes, his mouth moves and words seem to come, but sort of no, because he never says anything of substance) at the shareholders meeting, “We made the playoffs for the eighth straight time. The Packers won the NFC North for the fifth time in the last six years. I don’t know what happened in that sixth year. Thank you as well to the shareholders, thank you for your dedication, your sacrifice and your support. We appreciate all of you coming today. There is nothing that compares to the support given to the Green Bay Packers and we will never take your loyalty for granted. Goodbye for now, and go Pack go.”

Murphy reinforced his standing as the leader of the “Trust in Ted” crowd saying, "I've had the pleasure of working with Ted for 10 years, and I tell you, I couldn't be more proud of the way he handles himself. I think he's doing a great job as our general manager. And you'll see, it's very hard to win in the NFL, and the kind of consistent success that we've achieved during his tenure here. It's pretty remarkable. My hope is as long as he's healthy and continues to enjoy the job, is performing at a high level, he'll continue as our general manager.”

Well now Zen Thompson is facing a crisis. Does he give up on the season and lose his precious playoff streak or does he make a trade or two to save the season?

The trade deadline is Oct. 31, which is before the next Packers game, so we will know what direction he goes in and what to expect for the final 9 games of the season of which at least 6 (Lions (3-3), Bears (3-4), Ravens (3-4), Steelers (5-2), Bucs (2-4), Browns (0-7) will be without Aaron Rodgers. Every single one of those games is winnable. The last 3 are, too (Panthers (4-3), Vikings (5-2), Lions.

Speculation and this is all it is, is what players can he traded for to save the season. 1. Eli Manning (get him). 2. Colts cornerback Vontae Davis (get him). 3. Jaguars DE/OLB Donte Fowler (get him). Davis and Fowler could be got for middle draft picks. Manning maybe too since he is having a terrible season. A change of scenery could be what Manning and the Packers need.

Manning won’t be donning the Green and Gold because McCarthy has his reputation on the line with Hundley and with his back up he will live or die with him. I have no doubt on that.

The other two require the “Zen Master” to change his spots. Thompson will only pick up cheap street agents and the cheaper the better. He just can’t trade away his precious draft picks for talent during the season. He just can’t. The Packers Head Leopard is what he is and the Packers will live or die with him.

Our beloved Packers are led by what it seems to be the “Three Wise Monkeys”, Mark “Hear No Evil” Murphy, Ted “See No Evil” Thompson and Mike “Speak No Evil” McCarthy, who are so invested in their way they wont’ and can’t change.

I’m afraid the Packers are going to die a slow death as a delusional Zen Thompson locks himself in his spacious office secure in the knowledge he is one of the most successful executives in the NFL heading for the Packers and NFL Hall of Fame some day.

This season can be saved, but drastic actions MUST be taken by men who take NO drastic actions ever. The Packers will live or die with the current roster, so Brett Hundley (not Eli Manning) will be quarterback for the next 6 weeks and no cavalry will arrive for the 22nd ranked defense.

When and if Aaron Rodgers returns the Packers may sitting at 4-9 with an 8-game losing streak, including handing the woeful Browns their first win. Don’t laugh Mike Florio said a few weeks ago when the Packers were winning and Aaron Rodgers was doing his thing, “Take away Rodgers, and the Packers wouldn’t win a game”. So far he has been right.