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Message: <blockquote data-quote="TJV" data-source="post: 360698" data-attributes="member: 4300"> I understand that feeling but it’s a familiar one, isn’t it? In fact after watching Ted Thompson for 6+ full seasons what we are witnessing is the “Thompson Way”. If we didn’t know better we’d think the Packers were in rebuilding mode. But of course we do know better as Thompson continues to work his plan. IMO that plan is the result of Ted Thompson having learned the lesson of the mistakes made by GMs before him, including his mentor, the rightly-revered Ron Wolf. What does the GM do after a Super Bowl winning season? Many GMs in that situation “fall in love” with their own aging vets and overpay them to stay. Or they gamble on an expensive big name FA or two. Some just sit back, resting on their laurels. What does Thompson do? He sees the return of starters J. Finley, Morgan Burnett, Grant, and Brad Jones from the IR, as well as future starter Mike Neal. He sees Marshall Newhouse returning to provide depth and perhaps Anthony Smith too. That’s four or five starters returning to the World Champion Packers. Those players return to a team with such depth it can afford (IMO) to say goodbye to Jenkins, Jones, Jackson and Colledge. As well as to Barnett, Chillar, Poppinga, (I assume) Tauscher, and of course Harrell who all spent significant time on IR last season. Yes the Packers likely will lose starters Jenkins and Colledge - and James Jones who is a significant target in the offense. But four players returning from IR are likely to be starters this season (my guess: Brad Jones won’t start).  None of the significant losses and potential losses should be a surprise IMO. When Thompson extended Hawk and Bishop we should have known Barnett had played his last snap in Green Bay. He’s just too expensive to be a backup. When Thompson didn’t engage in significant talks with Jenkins, Jones, or Colledge last season many guessed they’d be gone. Thompson’s way is to extend the contracts of core players before they expire. When he doesn’t do so, I think it’s safe to say those players will only return at a bargain price since Thompson “allowed” the market to set their price. Thompson’s way also leans toward letting players 30-years and older go, with rare exceptions. Jenkins age and injury history no doubt played a big role in Thompson not actively pursuing him last season.With all that in mind and knowing what a deep roster the Packers have, I guessed Thompson wouldn’t load up on draft picks because there just isn’t room on the roster. Instead, look what he’s done so far: He has added 15 UDFAs (as of 7-28 according to the <a href="http://blogs.greenbaypressgazette.com/blogs/gpg/insider/2011/07/28/packers-sign-15-undrafted-rookies/?odyssey=obinsite" target="_blank">Press Gazette</a>) and of course, 10 draftees. This is the “genius” of Ted Thompson. The team he leads just won a Super Bowl and is among the favorites to do it again. Instead of resting on his laurels, Thompson is getting an up close and personal look at 25 players from the most recent draft eligible class.  Another aspect of Thompson’s approach is his discipline makes him much less likely to reach for players at positions of “need” than most GMs. A recent article discussed the battle for the OLB spot opposite Matthews. Boy, wouldn’t it have been great if there were a stud early in the draft that Thompson and staff loved? But there weren’t and unlike many in his profession he didn’t compound the problem by using a valuable pick hoping for lightening to strike.  But why would a GM add so many rookies to a deep roster that just achieved the ultimate goal? A quote from one of the many pre-Super Bowl XLV articles I read was from an interview with Mike Holmgren in a <a href="http://packersnews.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20110130/PKR01/110130036/Thompson-has-proven-his-player-picking-abilities-Holmgren-says" target="_blank">greenbaypressgazette</a> article. As you no doubt remember on his way out of Green Bay Holmgren “stole” Ted Thompson and Mike Reinfeldt. (At least that’s how I remember it.) Mike said he thought they had the best front office in the NFL. Of course Holmgren was in charge but he solicited the views of his lieutenants. My favorite quote from the article is according to Holmgren, “… Thompson was known for often shooting down possible free agents to pursue by saying, “I can find better in the draft”. We have certainly seen that principle put into practice in Green Bay. I’m certainly not saying Thompson and staff are done as they may indeed add a UFA or two. But Thompson won’t overpay and certainly won’t ever “mortgage the future”. So when Packers fans consider the proposition of adding other teams’ players to their team’s roster, I suggest they remember Thompson’s words before he assumed his duties as VP of Football Operations/GM in Green Bay: “I can find better in the draft”. And considering the acquisition of players like Tramon Williams and Sam Shields, he could edit that statement by including “in, and after, the draft”.  Most NFL fans love the rush of a big-name acquisition by their team so it’s understandable some Packers fans watch rivals pick up those players and feel left out. But look at the players Thompson and staff have already acquired as they stick to Thompson’s Way… </blockquote>

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