Looks like TT did do most of drafting in Seattle

[longtimefan]

Maybe this helps shed more light on TT and his drafting or Mike drafting...

Link
Mike Holmgren, then the coach and general manager in Seattle, lured Thompson away from the Packers in January 2000. His title was vice president of football operations, and with rare exception in the drafts from 2000 through 2004 the selections were made by Thompson, according to Seahawks vice president Mike Reinfeldt.


Consistently, Ted did a pretty good getting us good talent," Reinfeldt said. "We got some real, real impact players at 19 with Alexander and at 17 with Hutchinson, ranges you don't really know what you're getting. Ron saved himself in later rounds. Ted hit 50 to 60%, and when guys turn and go to the Pro Bowl, that will get you places."

2000 (Nine picks, three starters)

On the day before the draft, Thompson informed Reinfeldt that he was targeting Alexander at 19 and McIntosh at 22. The Seahawks got whom they wanted.

 

[Zero2Cool]

Good information!

Maybe Packers.com is smarter than I thought

 

[tromadz]

looks like depack was wrong, and I was right. wasnt the first time, wont be the last. heh heh

 

[Greg C.]

Well, that's encouraging if it's true. It contradicts what I've always heard about how things worked in Seattle, but you wouldn't think Reinfeldt would just make that stuff up....

 

[longtimefan]

I have never thought TT did all the work in drafting...When Mike was GM, I figured Mike listened to him and took who he recommended..

 

[tromadz]

yeah im sure they listened to eachother, gotta communicate!

 

[IPBprez]

Trading down six times and "never once" trading up, Thompson ended up with 46 choices in the five drafts, -- 12 more than the norm.

Of those 46 players, three have made the Pro Bowl, 33 started at least one game, 19 are on the current 53-man roster (two are in reserve categories) and all but four played in at least one game.

Now, it's time TT did the same for the GBP'ers ...
I'm not really focused on those that played at least one game, that's just stuffin' info into a stat.... But, the number of picks he garnered "above the norm" -- is exactly what I look for - it's the 'opposite' of a Mike Sherman - and that's something Lambeau needs.... especially if we're about to lose a HOF'er in BF.

 

[DePack]

Listen guys (and tromadz too), I know for a fact that Holmgren had the say over the Alexander pick. He was the GM. When we had this discussion before, I emailed the Seahawks from their official website and asked them the question point blank. Their answer to me was that Mike Holmgren was responsible for the 2000 draft and had final say over ALL picks.

I never said TT didn't like the guy or didn't recommend the guy, but Mike Holmgren drafted the guy. It was his decision NOT TT's. If anyone can't see the difference then you know absolutely nothing about the NFL, but for some of you, it didn't take this post to show it.

I have no problem giving TT his due. I like the early returns on this years draft. I hope he turns out to be a genius FOR THE PACKERS. Let's just not pretend he is one yet.

 

[longtimefan]

We all know Mike was GM, we all know that he was Teds boss, we know Mike had the power to say "Ted wipe my a@@"....Mike could have said POINT BLANK, no we are not drafting this running back, correct? But he TRUSTED the choice/s made by Ted...

Yes you are correct M.H drafted him, but IMO that was just a formality....He probably did none of the research on him, just TRUSTED Teds choice...

But here we have Mike Reinfeldt admitting TT wanted him...Day b4 the draft Ted says I ( meaning he had the power to draft him) am taking Shaun....No where does it say he had to get the okay from M.H.

All of this is coming right from the V.P...

That to me is more important then what Seattle is saying NOW...

Do they admit an ex employee did it, or do they say a CURRENT employee drafted him?

 

[longtimefan]

One more piece from the article

"Ron Wolf said he was the one that built that Seattle team," Harlan said. "I feel very good about his capability for rebuilding this ball club."

 

[DePack]

Whatever dude. This is great PR for TT. Why he feels he needs it is what really concerns me. If you were a Packer fan when Holmy left you would know that he left because Green Bay would not give him the GM position. He was a control freak. You think he went to Seaatle and said I'm going to let someone else run the draft? You seem smarter than that.

Like I said before, I emailed the Seahawks even though it wasn't really necessary and their response was that Holmgren had the final say over the draft. I specifically asked who was the one that wanted Alexander, TT or Holmgren. He said he is sure they will never tell you that but he does know that Holmgren made the final decision.

Since you don't believe me it is

www.seahawks.com

They have a "contact us" section. They will return your email pretty quickly.

 

[longtimefan]

Whatever dude. This is great PR for TT. Why he feels he needs it is what really concerns me. If you were a Packer fan when Holmy left you would know that he left because Green Bay would not give him the GM position. He was a control freak. You think he went to Seaatle and said I'm going to let someone else run the draft? You seem smarter than that.

Like I said before, I emailed the Seahawks even though it wasn't really necessary and their response was that Holmgren had the final say over the draft. I specifically asked who was the one that wanted Alexander, TT or Holmgren. He said he is sure they will never tell you that but he does know that Holmgren made the final decision.

Since you don't believe me it is

www.seahawks.com

They have a "contact us" section. They will return your email pretty quickly.

I was a Packer fan since early 70's so I know the reasons Mike left..

I think you are confusing my thoughts on the whole issue...Of course Mike had final say over EVERYTHING going on, he was the GM....People needed his okay from all aspects of players, coaches etc.......He did have absolute power to say NO F'NG way are we drafting Shaun or whom ever, but he didn't, so why not?

Because he TRUSTED Ted and others, that is why he hired them..So they could do all the research and scouting on players..

I am not trying to argue here, I was on other side of the fence last week...But now we have a quote from the VP stating Ted was the one that wanted Shaun...

I could email them, but who is the one that is going to reply...A person with inside knowledge of what was talked about during the draft?? Or a person looking to send out some PR for M.H.

Since you are saying it is all PR for Ted right now, couldn't same be said about Seattle's view for M.H?

 

[Bruce]

I have said all along that Ted Thompson has a good football mind when it comes to college evaluation, but DePack is right this is a nice fluffy P.R. piece.

Look at the evaluation of each draft -- he is praised for every hit as if he single-handedly scouted, compliled and pull the trigger on every hit and it was someone else's fault whenever there was a miss

On the day before the draft, Thompson informed Reinfeldt that he was targeting Alexander at 19 and McIntosh at 22. The Seahawks got whom they wanted.

"McIntosh held out for a while but then played very, very well," Thompson said. "I don't think he knew where the training room was at the University of Wisconsin. Some people get hurt."

You don't have to read any further than the first draft, "In the second round, Thompson gave in to the defensive coaching staff and selected defensive back Ike Charlton. He was a bust. Thompson learned a lesson."

Further, McIntosh was a bust -- Thompson admits it when he says the guy must never have found the weight room at WI, but the author spins it into he would been great if not for his injury.

Koren Robinson at #9 (trade down from #7) was a bust in Seattle. He not only was a player that dropped as many passes as he caught, his alcoholism and poor character was such a cancer that Holmgren finally had to cut the kid. The article again spins this into T.T. somehow deserves credit of his success in MN.

There are drafts that 1 in 10 turned out to be starters -- but it is buried in such a way that even those drafts are spun to be successes.

T.T. was never more than the V.P. on a team. Does anyone with any knowledge of Mike Holmgren believe even for a second that he sat to the side and let someone else run the show? Thompson has a good football mind, and despite the rants and cries of most Packer fans during last years draft -- I kept saying slow down I think he may have made some shrewd moves -- so far it look like he did.

It is ridiculous to keep trying to make Thompson out to be the 2nd coming like this article does or the devil incarnated like some others do -- he is neither. He is a first time General Manager whose first team finished 4 - 12. Does he deserve all of the blame for that record? -- of course not. Is he partially responsible? -- absolutely! He has made some decent moves and some that are very questionable at best.

 

[longtimefan]

Nicely said Bruce...

I am not worried about the PR part, or anything else...I am just concerned on how the VP said Ted wanted Shaun..Nothing more...

 

[DePack]

Longtime...I agree. TT obviously liked Alexander and others, and probably even recommended him to Holmy. I just have a problem with the word THE. As in "TT was THE one that wanted Alexander". A whole lot of people wanted Alexander. Let's just say that TT helped convince Mike Holmgren to draft Alexander as well as others.

My whole point in this is not to bust on TT and build up Holmy. If you've read my posts on Holmgren you know that I am not a fan of his since he left. I have also said I am giving TT a chance and hope he's the real deal. My concern is when the organization or a pawn of the organization feels it necessary to, lets just say exagerate, or as Bruce put it, put out a fluff piece, on our new GM, it just leaves me a little uneasy.

 

[longtimefan]

Longtime...I agree. TT obviously liked Alexander and others, and probably even recommended him to Holmy. I just have a problem with the word THE. As in "TT was THE one that wanted Alexander". A whole lot of people wanted Alexander. Let's just say that TT helped convince Mike Holmgren to draft Alexander as well as others.

My whole point in this is not to bust on TT and build up Holmy. If you've read my posts on Holmgren you know that I am not a fan of his since he left. I have also said I am giving TT a chance and hope he's the real deal. My concern is when the organization or a pawn of the organization feels it necessary to, lets just say exagerate, or as Bruce put it, put out a fluff piece, on our new GM, it just leaves me a little uneasy.

got ya!!! We agree on mostly all of it....

I think we just have a diff of opinion on Shaun, Mike and Ted...

Sounds like a new sitcom in the works..LOL

 

[IPBprez]

Maybe someone should write to Lambeau and demand a re-write on TT's BIO......

 

[Zero2Cool]

So...
Who pulled the trigger on the draft day?

 

[IPBprez]

So...
Who pulled the trigger on the draft day?

Agreed -- At this point, it's pretty much all water under the bridge.

And, I do think that the stories about animosity in the Mgmt ranks in Seattle were probably all true. That temper Holmgren has may well have bowled over into the Front Office, more than once. TT doesn't appear to be the violent type - he seems to be a more even tempered guy, and Holmgren has enough EGO for three NFL teams, let alone just one.... You do the math!

I congratulate the Seahawks - because we all know, it's the Players who are stepping up to fulfill their dreams and put their Team in the BIG Dance. 30 other Teams didn't try quite hard enough to get there...

To me - this last game is always more about the Players than the Coaches.

If TT can produce the same results we're seeing in Seattle this year.. then who gives a damn.