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Mike Vandermause column: Thompson stays calm amid swirl of rumors
By Mike Vandermause
PHOENIX — Ted Thompson insists the Randy Moss trade rumors that have been swirling over his head for much of the offseason haven't been a distraction.
"It hasn't been, no," the Packers' general manager said Tuesday morning outside the Arizona Biltmore, site of the NFL owners meetings.
Then he added with a laugh: "It might become (a distraction)."
The trade of the controversial Oakland Raiders wide receiver to the Packers has been one of the most rumored transactions heard on the NFL grapevine over the past two months.
Fans have engaged in spirited debate, and Internet rumor mills have all but declared a Moss trade a done deal.
Somehow, Thompson has been able to rise above it all. He has been consistent in his refusal to comment about Moss. It's not good form to talk about an employee of another team, so Thompson has an easy out.
Thompson acknowledged he has engaged in numerous trade discussions during the offseason, but that's part of his routine. He estimated he might talk to between six and eight teams a week.
"Sometimes those talks heat up, and then you realize it's not going anywhere and it fizzles away," he said.
Thompson said this week's gathering of NFL owners, general managers and coaches in Arizona provided an opportunity to talk about trades.
"Yeah, whether it's me or somebody from another team, what we refer to as fishing expeditions, saying 'what about this, what about this', you get that kind of chat all the time," Thompson said.
While he won't admit it, there is no doubt Thompson has discussed a Moss trade. The Packers are in desperate need of offensive playmakers, and Thompson would be foolish not to explore all his options.
Why would he stop at receiver? The Packers could use a proven running back, and San Diego backup Michael Turner's name has surfaced as a possible trade candidate.
Consummating a deal for Moss, Turner or some other player would be dependent on negotiating the right price. In the case of Moss, it is believed the Packers are waiting for that to come down.
For their part, the Raiders are doing everything possible to bolster Moss' value. Oakland officials have been talking this week about wanting Moss in their lineup this season.
It doesn't take a genius to see they are blowing smoke. If the Raiders admitted they wanted to unload Moss, his value would plummet.
Why would the Raiders want to keep a 30-year-old receiver who is coming off a pair of subpar seasons and is scheduled to be paid $9.75 million in base salary in 2007?
The Packers must ask themselves the same question, although they would negotiate a lower salary as a condition of Moss coming to Green Bay.
A change of scenery, and being teamed with Brett Favre, could be enough to turn around Moss' sagging fortunes. Perhaps there's enough lightning left in Moss' legs to transform the Packers' offense.
Those are the expectations Thompson has managed to ignore. He has his mentor, former Packers GM Ron Wolf, to thank for the ability to tune out public sentiment.
"I've used poor Ron a lot, but I'll use him again, in that he told me never to get whacked out about that," Thompson said. "I can't react and do things for the sake of the populace. It has to be a thought-out decision that makes sense for the Packers."
Mike Vandermause is sports editor of the Press-Gazette.
By Mike Vandermause
PHOENIX — Ted Thompson insists the Randy Moss trade rumors that have been swirling over his head for much of the offseason haven't been a distraction.
"It hasn't been, no," the Packers' general manager said Tuesday morning outside the Arizona Biltmore, site of the NFL owners meetings.
Then he added with a laugh: "It might become (a distraction)."
The trade of the controversial Oakland Raiders wide receiver to the Packers has been one of the most rumored transactions heard on the NFL grapevine over the past two months.
Fans have engaged in spirited debate, and Internet rumor mills have all but declared a Moss trade a done deal.
Somehow, Thompson has been able to rise above it all. He has been consistent in his refusal to comment about Moss. It's not good form to talk about an employee of another team, so Thompson has an easy out.
Thompson acknowledged he has engaged in numerous trade discussions during the offseason, but that's part of his routine. He estimated he might talk to between six and eight teams a week.
"Sometimes those talks heat up, and then you realize it's not going anywhere and it fizzles away," he said.
Thompson said this week's gathering of NFL owners, general managers and coaches in Arizona provided an opportunity to talk about trades.
"Yeah, whether it's me or somebody from another team, what we refer to as fishing expeditions, saying 'what about this, what about this', you get that kind of chat all the time," Thompson said.
While he won't admit it, there is no doubt Thompson has discussed a Moss trade. The Packers are in desperate need of offensive playmakers, and Thompson would be foolish not to explore all his options.
Why would he stop at receiver? The Packers could use a proven running back, and San Diego backup Michael Turner's name has surfaced as a possible trade candidate.
Consummating a deal for Moss, Turner or some other player would be dependent on negotiating the right price. In the case of Moss, it is believed the Packers are waiting for that to come down.
For their part, the Raiders are doing everything possible to bolster Moss' value. Oakland officials have been talking this week about wanting Moss in their lineup this season.
It doesn't take a genius to see they are blowing smoke. If the Raiders admitted they wanted to unload Moss, his value would plummet.
Why would the Raiders want to keep a 30-year-old receiver who is coming off a pair of subpar seasons and is scheduled to be paid $9.75 million in base salary in 2007?
The Packers must ask themselves the same question, although they would negotiate a lower salary as a condition of Moss coming to Green Bay.
A change of scenery, and being teamed with Brett Favre, could be enough to turn around Moss' sagging fortunes. Perhaps there's enough lightning left in Moss' legs to transform the Packers' offense.
Those are the expectations Thompson has managed to ignore. He has his mentor, former Packers GM Ron Wolf, to thank for the ability to tune out public sentiment.
"I've used poor Ron a lot, but I'll use him again, in that he told me never to get whacked out about that," Thompson said. "I can't react and do things for the sake of the populace. It has to be a thought-out decision that makes sense for the Packers."
Mike Vandermause is sports editor of the Press-Gazette.
