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Posted February 3, 2007
Mike Vandermause column: Steady Thompson remains focused
By Mike Vandermause
Make no mistake, Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson was overjoyed Friday by the news of Brett Favre's return for the 2007 season.
But you never would have guessed it from his demeanor.
Thompson won't get any better news the rest of the offseason. He may as well have won the lottery. Yet he remained as unflappable as ever.
With Favre in the lineup, the up-and-coming Packers have a legitimate shot at the playoffs. Without the future Hall of Fame quarterback, Thompson's rebuilding program in Green Bay would have taken a major hit.
When Favre told him he was coming back for a 16th season in Green Bay, Thompson didn't shout with glee, or thank Favre profusely, or raise his fist in triumph.
Instead, Thompson matter-of-factly told Favre: "That's sounds good to me."
Good? Is that the best Thompson could offer?
This is great news for not only Packers fans, but for anyone who loves pro football. Favre remains one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, so a chance to watch him play at least one more season is reason to celebrate.
"It's good to have Brett coming back," Thompson reiterated.
One gets the impression if Thompson were in the middle of a fire, he calmly would collect his important belongings and stroll out of the building.
Try as they might, media members couldn't get Thompson to show much excitement, even when he was given the chance to toot his own horn.
Surely, Favre's decision was a glowing endorsement of the regime of Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy.
"You'd have to ask him if that means anything," Thompson said. "There are less uncertainties this year going forward than there were last year."
Surely, Thompson was on the phone with Favre frequently over the past month trying to convince him to return.
"I purposely didn't call him or bother him during this time," Thompson said.
"I think Mike had a conversation or two with him over the last week, but this was his call."
OK, so Thompson comes off as a little low key. Now that Favre's services have been secured for another season and there is one less position to worry about, Thompson must feel a great sense of relief.
"At some point in the future, Brett Favre is not going to be the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, and we're not going to fold our tents," Thompson said. "We're still going to line up and play."
Well, at the very least, the presence of Favre surely will give Thompson a sense of urgency in filling some key holes on the roster.
"Not really," Thompson said. "We feel like if we're doing things to help the team get better, whoever the quarterback is, whether it's Brett or whomever it might be, we're going to try to get better."
In the topsy-turvy NFL, Thompson never will get too high or too low. Nothing will distract him from his goal of building a championship contender.
The Packers are a lot closer to that possibility with Favre still on the team. You would just never know it by listening to Thompson.
Mike Vandermause is sports editor of the Press-Gazette.
Mike Vandermause column: Steady Thompson remains focused
By Mike Vandermause
Make no mistake, Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson was overjoyed Friday by the news of Brett Favre's return for the 2007 season.
But you never would have guessed it from his demeanor.
Thompson won't get any better news the rest of the offseason. He may as well have won the lottery. Yet he remained as unflappable as ever.
With Favre in the lineup, the up-and-coming Packers have a legitimate shot at the playoffs. Without the future Hall of Fame quarterback, Thompson's rebuilding program in Green Bay would have taken a major hit.
When Favre told him he was coming back for a 16th season in Green Bay, Thompson didn't shout with glee, or thank Favre profusely, or raise his fist in triumph.
Instead, Thompson matter-of-factly told Favre: "That's sounds good to me."
Good? Is that the best Thompson could offer?
This is great news for not only Packers fans, but for anyone who loves pro football. Favre remains one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, so a chance to watch him play at least one more season is reason to celebrate.
"It's good to have Brett coming back," Thompson reiterated.
One gets the impression if Thompson were in the middle of a fire, he calmly would collect his important belongings and stroll out of the building.
Try as they might, media members couldn't get Thompson to show much excitement, even when he was given the chance to toot his own horn.
Surely, Favre's decision was a glowing endorsement of the regime of Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy.
"You'd have to ask him if that means anything," Thompson said. "There are less uncertainties this year going forward than there were last year."
Surely, Thompson was on the phone with Favre frequently over the past month trying to convince him to return.
"I purposely didn't call him or bother him during this time," Thompson said.
"I think Mike had a conversation or two with him over the last week, but this was his call."
OK, so Thompson comes off as a little low key. Now that Favre's services have been secured for another season and there is one less position to worry about, Thompson must feel a great sense of relief.
"At some point in the future, Brett Favre is not going to be the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, and we're not going to fold our tents," Thompson said. "We're still going to line up and play."
Well, at the very least, the presence of Favre surely will give Thompson a sense of urgency in filling some key holes on the roster.
"Not really," Thompson said. "We feel like if we're doing things to help the team get better, whoever the quarterback is, whether it's Brett or whomever it might be, we're going to try to get better."
In the topsy-turvy NFL, Thompson never will get too high or too low. Nothing will distract him from his goal of building a championship contender.
The Packers are a lot closer to that possibility with Favre still on the team. You would just never know it by listening to Thompson.
Mike Vandermause is sports editor of the Press-Gazette.