The Time for Eliot Wolf is Now

Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson recently promoted Eliot Wolf.  Thompson insisted that the promotion had nothing to do with a succession plan.  But with a flexible young dynamo like Eliot Wolf ready and waiting in the wings, is there really any reason to wait?

In my perfect world it goes something like this:

In the not too distant future Green Bay Packers President Mark Murphy strolls to the podium in the media room at 1265 Lombardi Avenue to address a packed house.  Microphones and computers are everywhere in a standing room only auditorium.  It is the same one where Brett Favre wept while announcing his own retirement years earlier.

“Today I want to thank Ted Thompson for what he has done for the Green Bay Packers over the many years of service to the organization.  Ted was instrumental in taking the Packers to the Super Bowl XVL and for securing the talent to win the second most games of this decade.  Ted will stay with the organization and help in the transition until the end of the league year in March 2017.  We wish Ted well in his much deserved retirement.”

“Now I am pleased to introduce the new General Manager of the Green Bay Packers, Eliot Wolf”.

Now back to reality.  With the announcement of the promotion of Eliot Wolf and Brian Gutekunst on Monday the succession plan is in place.  Forget Ted’s Thompson’s comments that the promotions had nothing to do with succession.  Quite the opposite; they had EVERYTHING to do with succession.  The only thing now in question is when the succession takes place.

Eliot Wolf has elite bloodlines as the son of HOF Ron Wolf, who just so happened to be the general manager of the Packers during their rise to prominence in the 90’s.  Son Eliot Wolf also has the experience he needs to take over the football operations.

Eliot Wolf now becomes the third-highest ranking official in Thompson’s football operations behind only Thompson and Russ Ball, vice president of football administration/player finance. Wolf joined the Packers as a pro personnel assistant in 2004 after attending college. He was promoted to assistant director of pro personnel (2008), to the assistant director of player personnel (2011) and later director of player personnel (2015).  Prior to joining the Packers he “worked” for his father grading players even as a 12-year old youngster.

From the league meetings Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel chatted with current Raiders General Manager Reggie McKenzie who also held the same position to which Wolf was just promoted.

Silverstein reported: The promotion is the final step for Wolf in following in the footsteps of his father.

"No question, no question," McKenzie said Monday at the NFL owners meetings here when asked if Wolf was going to be an NFL general manager. "It's going to be somewhere. If Green Bay doesn't do anything, somebody else will”.

Speaking to reporters in Boca Raton, Florida Thompson denied that the promotions have anything to do with a succession plan but everything to do with promoting deserving people within the organization.  Thompson was asked about the succession theory. ”It has nothing to do with it.” Remarked Thompson. “It's just part of our organization and this part of the organization, the personnel part, fluctuates from time to time. As it's gone forward the 10 or 11 years I've been here, there's been times when you're a little bit top heavy in your personnel department and there's times when it lessens a little bit.”  So much for more Ted-speak.

There is reason to suggest the trend toward younger general managers, which is already all the rage in MLB, is already finding its way into the NFL as well.  The driving force is something called analytics.  Analytics is the discovery and communication of meaningful patterns in data and is especially valuable in areas with abundant recorded information.  Draft eligible football players and free agents undoubtedly fall into that category.  It is relatively new, exciting and it works.

The use of analytics was key in the hiring of Jacksonville Jaguars general manager David Caldwell who is 41 years of age.  The Jaguars have already begun this progressive way of thinking, as they incorporated this "money ball" method into the selection of draft choices.  Adding to the youth movement are Howie Roseman (40) of the Philadelphia Eagles, Ryan Pace (38) of the Chicago Bears, Bob Quinn (39) of the Detroit Lions, and Sashi Brown (39) of the Cleveland Browns.  Several clubs also employ general managers who are in their early 40’s.

The Packers have dabbled in analytics to some extent for a few years now as Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported in August of 2014.  McGinn found at the time that the Packers had hired an outside consulting firm to help the team use analytics as early as 2009 and that data was instrumental in the selection of B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews in the 2009 draft.  However Thompson was unwilling to commit to that consultant and their services were discontinued after a year or two, reported McGinn.

Just because there is a trend toward youth and analytics doesn’t mean that the Packers need to make a change.  But with a flexible young dynamo like Eliot Wolf ready and waiting in the wings, is there really any reason to wait?

Under the tutelage of Ted Thompson Wolf has blossomed into an astute talent evaluator. Wolf would undoubtedly use the draft as his primary building block for constructing his team which he learned from Thompson.  But he also learned the basics from a HOF general manager in his father Ron.  Ron Wolf differed greatly from Ted Thompson in that he used the draft, free agency and trades to quickly reshape the Green Bay Packers from also-rans to Super Bowl Champs in just four short years.

That 1996 team featured nine Ron Wolf draft picks who were starters on offense, one free agent (Frank Winters) and one trade (Brett Favre).  The defensive starters featured six who were draft picks, and five free agents including the entire line with Reggie White, Santana Dotson, Sean Jones and Gilbert Brown.

But those were different times and there is little need to blow up this team.  Nor is there need for huge infusions of outside talent.  But judicious use of free agency is indeed a good thing – at least in the mind of the 31 other NFL clubs who participated in the process this year and last.  The one holdout, so far at least, is your Green Bay Packers.

There is one other important aspect of a Ron Wolf assembled team that differs greatly from Thompson.  Wolf would constantly churn the bottom of his roster.  The bottom 5 – 7 players were almost never the same a month or two into the season as they were at the start.  Many of those roster spots turned over multiple times.  Veterans or promising players that Wolf had identified were brought in to help the team win that year.  Remember Andre Rison and Ron Cox?  Those end-of-career veterans ended up playing significant roles in the victory in Super Bowl XXXI.  Can you picture Thompson adding a skilled veteran player to help the team win this year rather than players who constantly were inactive on game day?  Wouldn’t an accomplished but older veteran offensive tackle have been a welcome addition at mid-season rather than trotting out the inept and over-matched Don Barclay time and again?

Apologists for Thompson will point to the James Jones acquisition last year as comparable to the Rison signing.  There is however a huge difference in the two signings.  Jones, an individual who Thompson was comfortable with, was picked up as a need player plugging a gaping hole created by the injury to Jordy Nelson.  Rison was a fortuitous pickup but risky.  High upside, possible big downside with his attitude and actions.  But Wolf saw a talent that could be assimilated into his locker room with little chance of disruption.  He took a calculated risk with a major talent and it paid off big.  A short term ‘rental’ yielding long remembered gains.

There is every reason to believe that as general manager Eliot Wolf would follow the lead of his father and would use every tool available in his tool box, not just one.  The draft, trades, analytics and free agency could once again be linked to the success of the Green Bay Packers, not just Ted Thompson’s method of draft only.

If Packers fans were honest with themselves they would also see that “Comfortable Ted” is surrounded by others – both underlings and bosses alike - who similarly support each other’s every mood.  Packers President Mark Murphy and head coach Mike McCarthy were quick to jump in and defend Thompson’s free agent malaise.  Why take risks when your entire inner circle is patting you on the back and urging you to stay the course?  Murphy must become a demanding boss rather than a colleague and friend.

Mike McCarthy found out the hard way that an organization can become too comfortable with itself which is not always in your personal best interest or that of your team.  Take the case of former special teams’ coordinator Shawn Slocum.  Even to the casual Packers fan it was obvious that Slocum was in over his head.  Seemingly his chummy relationship with head coach Mike McCarthy shielded him from being fired despite constant special teams’ gaffs and annual rankings at or near the bottom in the league.  But he was almost never challenged to improve.  McCarthy’s solution the year prior to the Seattle meltdown was to fire his assistant – good cover but the wrong move.  It was only after Slocum’s sloppiness caused the Packers a trip to Super Bowl XLV that he met the fate he deserved years earlier.  Too little, too late.

And there is a sense of urgency to make this change happen. President Mark Murphy, a fine man and respected NFL executive, needs to see through the clutter and glad-handing and challenge himself and his entire organization to improve.  His star players are closer to the end of their careers than the start of them.  Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews and Jordy Nelson are only a few short years away from retirement.  It will come all too soon.  Wouldn’t it be a shame for them to have won only one Super Bowl victory when all they need is a little more infusion of talent to take them over the top?  Talent that may not be available to a draft-only team like the Packers.

The time is now for the announcement to be made – Ted Thompson will phase himself out in favor of Eliot Wolf and will retire at the end of the season.  It would be for the good of the team and its loyal fan base. 

Will it happen?  Almost assuredly not.  But I can always dream.

Author’s Note:  I will be taking my own B.J. Raji - type hiatus from writing for CheeseheadTV.  I want to thank Jersey Al and the entire staff at CHTV for allowing me the opportunity to be part of their high quality and talented team.  Good luck to all – especially the Green Bay Packers and their fans!

 

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Comments (131)

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Lphill's picture

March 24, 2016 at 06:54 am

If 2016 is another heartbreak Ted should move on one way or another,injuries aside if needs are not met then it all falls on Ted.

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Amanofthenorth's picture

March 24, 2016 at 07:37 am

Agreed. If Thompson can't recover an onside kick or keep people from getting injured AKA Jesus, he needs to go.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

March 24, 2016 at 08:39 pm

Ah, the American viewpoint - one says I take full responsibility while accepting no responsibility for the debacle at hand. Then the executive points fingers at underlings, who in any event are not (or cannot) be fired due to civil service. Well, at least Slocum got fired, even though it was years too late. As for injuries, I do not think there are enough facts to support the allegation made by some that TT drafts and/or re-signs injury prone players. The European tendency to have a cabinet secretary resign over debacles that he had no knowledge of and had no role in hiring the person who messed up arguably does lead to the loss of good executive talent. There probably is a happy medium.

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Samson's picture

March 25, 2016 at 08:49 pm

Typical TT homer. --- You are aware (right) that TT has very rarely used all the tools of his trade. --- Sure, let's win another 10 games in season 2016 & then watch someone else in the SB. -- It's obvious at this point what GB's weak positions are & TT is going to rely on 4th & 5th round draft picks again. --- 2016 will be another lost season for an elite QB (AR).

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PackerBacker's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:36 am

So ... you're saying if TT's team has a 10-12 win season and gets to the 2nd or 3rd week in the postseason, but loses in a heartbreaking way, he should leave. Is that right? Because you realize how ridiculous that sounds, right?

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

March 24, 2016 at 05:45 pm

Just ask John Fox...

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packsmack's picture

March 24, 2016 at 10:33 am

"SOMEONE MUST PAY FOR MY SADNESS!!!!"

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J0hn Denver's Gavel's picture

March 24, 2016 at 11:41 am

Now THAT is funny!!

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

March 24, 2016 at 08:53 pm

I agree with PackerBacker that TT should not be blamed if GB wins 12 games but loses in the playoffs early due to some heartbreaking scenario (ball does not bounce our way in a loss to a really good team).

Barring a rash of injuries or injuries to 1 or 2 of our star players, though, a 10-win season would certainly give me pause about TT and cause me to re-evaluate. In fact, 9 wins or less would give be of grave concern, depending on circumstance.

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Samson's picture

March 25, 2016 at 08:55 pm

You're already (in March) lining up excuses for TT. --- Try to ignore TT's personal makeup. This is about Green Bay Packer football, not a GM's personal issues.

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NickPerry's picture

March 24, 2016 at 07:06 am

The Packers have dabbled in analytics to some extent for a few years now as Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported in August of 2014. McGinn found at the time that the Packers had hired an outside consulting firm to help the team use analytics as early as 2009 and that data was instrumental in the selection of B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews in the 2009 draft. However Thompson was unwilling to commit to that consultant and their services were discontinued after a year or two, reported McGinn.

FINALLY!!! Answers to the 2011 and 2012 draft classes.

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Mojo's picture

March 24, 2016 at 11:27 am

Let's face it though - for all of the authors implied support for analytics in drafting - Raji was a mediocre pick at number 9 in the first round.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:00 pm

Raji was a mediocre selection for a #9 selection. Worse, the reasons for that mediocrity was in the scouting reports (his college coaches, who disliked him, were pretty clear who that he had work ethic/character issues). The other reason suggested for his mediocrity was moving him to DE, and that was a coaching decision (perhaps predicated on there being no one else to play DE). In fairness, IIRC the players taken right after Raji also had issues).

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Samson's picture

March 25, 2016 at 08:57 pm

But yet, TT drafted him. -- You're great at all the hindsight knowledege. --- You also post waaaaaay too much with your nonsense.

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Evan's picture

March 24, 2016 at 07:07 am

"If Packers fans were honest with themselves they would also see that “Comfortable Ted” is surrounded by others – both underlings and bosses alike - who similarly support each other’s every mood. Packers President Mark Murphy and head coach Mike McCarthy were quick to jump in and defend Thompson’s free agent malaise. Why take risks when your entire inner circle is patting you on the back and urging you to stay the course? Murphy must become a demanding boss rather than a colleague and friend."

I have two issues with this paragraph.

1. We have no idea what goes on behind close doors. Just because Murphy and McCarthy defend Ted publicly, doesn't mean they don't push back behind the scenes.

2. If you look at all Ted's underlings who have gone on to GM jobs with other teams, every single one of them is far more aggressive in trades and free agency than he is. That tells me that Ted fills out his personnel staff with people of varying opinions -- not just a bunch of yes men.

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marpag1's picture

March 24, 2016 at 07:41 am

According to the article, you are clearly "not being honest with yourself." So there. That should answer your concerns.

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Evan's picture

March 24, 2016 at 08:51 am

Ha...wouldn't be the first time.

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Since'61's picture

March 24, 2016 at 07:08 am

Jeff a very good and timely article. The time to make Elliott the GM is sooner rather than later. The problem is not just the back slapping TT sycophants that you mention within the organization, it is also the fact that TT and Murphy know that Lambeau is sold out forever. Why shake things up when you can't sell anymore tickets anyway? Not to mention that in a few years they will have completed "Packer World" and have a year round non-football revenue source. The object in sports is to win now. Ron Wolf understood this and hopefully the apple hasn't fallen too far from the tree in Eliot's case. TT has done a great job but depending on the results in 2016 it may time for his last hurrah. Go Eliot Go! Jeff, I hope that you enjoy your hiatus and return soon. Appreciate your hard work and excellent articles. Thanks, Since '61

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PackerBacker's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:42 am

Yeah, shake things up. It's not like we have won the second most games in this decade. It's not like we have a SB win. It's not like we are consistently in the playoffs with a chance to go the the SB.
Oh wait, we are?
Hmmm, maybe the grass is always greener on the other side.
And maybe Murphy is happy with TT because they win the majority of their games and are basically a team and organization that most other fan bases would kill to have.

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NickPerry's picture

March 24, 2016 at 10:16 am

Or maybe just maybe had Thompson not continued to not just address but ignore obvious areas of need, used every avenue available to build his roster I.E. Trades, Free Agency, the Packers may have won more than one SB having 2 of the greatest QB's ever or had fewer "One and Done" in the playoffs.

Just something to consider. The Packers don't win SB 45 without Woodson and Pickett, both Free Agents. They should have been there 2 years ago which was Peppers first season. Personally I'd rather take a swing and see if I can hit a Home Run than hit singles and be satisfied, especially for what some of the players signed for that could have truly helped the Packers this Free Agency period. OR, we can continue to sign guys like Perry, Taylor, Starks, and Guion who weren't good enough to get us there in the first place.

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packsmack's picture

March 24, 2016 at 10:52 am

You're talking about aging free agents that no one else wanted/offered. Those are the ones we get, and guys like that with tread on the tires are hard to find.

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NickPerry's picture

March 25, 2016 at 06:25 am

Pickett was 27 and Woodson was 28 or so but had a attitude nobody wanted to deal with. I wouldn't really call them aging. Peppers obviously was aging and the contract TT gave him protected him after year one.

I'm talking about those because THATS ALL Thompson has signed. Green, Trevathon, Freeman were all signed to very "Cap Friendly Contracts". I'm not suggesting Thompson go sign a guy like Suh did with Miami or anyone else to a contract like that and there's a huge difference to what Since '61, myself, and other have suggested.

I've also NEVER said TT is a horrible GM, I've only suggested he needs to be more aggressive exploring ALL Avenues to improve his team. He can sit there and tell us all day till he's blue in the face that he does that exact thing. I call BS because his 11 year history in Green Bay suggests he doesn't.

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packsmack's picture

March 25, 2016 at 01:42 pm

27 and 28 are both aging. Not old, but aging. And the bigger point wasn't even the age as much as the fact that no one else offered. If there's a competitive offer elsewhere, 9 times out of 10, he's not picking Green Bay.

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dobber's picture

March 25, 2016 at 01:50 pm

I don't disagree with you. In all, TT has a very difficult job because he's not just balancing THIS YEAR's cap, but he's projecting out 2-3 years on just about every deal he gives to a rookie, UDFA, Packer FA, or any outside FA they consider.

What is a "cap-friendly" deal? It's easy to look at 2016 and say "there's room"...but what about 2017? 2018? Dead money? That all needs to be taken into account. I have a Ph.D. in Chemistry and had a second major in math. I wouldn't want to have to juggle all of that stuff on a daily basis.

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Evan's picture

March 25, 2016 at 01:54 pm

...nerd

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Since'61's picture

March 25, 2016 at 08:59 am

PackerBacker - if you have read my posts over the last 5-6 years going back to Jersey Al's AllGBP you would know that I have been and still am a strong supporter of TT. And while I give him credit and props for building a very good football team I also have to be critical and disappointed with the fact that he has not finished the job. I'm not advocating to shake things up by supporting Eliot Wolf to replace TT. I'm actually advocating for continuity that goes all the way back to 1991 when Ron Wolf was appointed GM of the Packers. Eliot offers the opportunity for the Packers to have the best of both worlds since he has been mentored by his father, a HOF GM, and by TT, a master of scouting and draft strategy and tactics. Maybe Wolf brings a bit of a new approach to improving the roster and we get one or two players that get us over the jump and into the Super Bowl. Most approaches can be managed to success with solid coaching and a great QB. Both of which we have. But in this era a team needs to be willing to take whatever steps necessary to win the SB. Winning the SB is the differentiator, it is the step above the playoff carousel that the Packers have remained on for 5 consecutive seasons. I'm not advocating to change from draft and develop, I'm advocating to build on it with any and all the tools available. I believe that the time has come to give Eliot the chance to do that. Thanks, Since '61

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Tundraboy's picture

March 24, 2016 at 11:45 pm

I'm sold.

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NickPerry's picture

March 25, 2016 at 06:16 am

As always well said Since '61. As a fellow commentor from ALLGBP and now at Cheesehead TV, your posts have always been supportive and spot on and this one couldn't have been said better.

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Since'61's picture

March 25, 2016 at 09:04 am

Thanks Nick. Your comments and the comments of many of our fellow posters from AllGBP are among the reasons I've enjoyed being part of All GBP and now Cheesehead TV. Keep the faith and Go Pack. Since '61

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

March 25, 2016 at 05:01 pm

I have always paid attention to your posts, Since 61, and generally agreed with them. I have detected some change in tone lately, just a tad less patience with the status quo and current MO. Perhaps I am wrong. I freely admit that my own thinking has evolved a bit, and I am more likely lately to criticize the FO (I have always had certain issues with the coaching - primarily their reluctance to play rookies enough) than formerly.

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Guisado's picture

March 24, 2016 at 07:10 am

Thanks for the articles Jeff. Enjoy your hiatus.

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Evan's picture

March 24, 2016 at 07:11 am

A Raji-type hiatus? Did you fail a drug test too?

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packerfan9507's picture

February 13, 2019 at 07:49 pm

Go Pack

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Horse's picture

March 24, 2016 at 07:36 am

Ron Wolf Lombardi trophies: 1.

Long article to justify being pissed off that TT hasn't signed the miraculous free agents who would surely put Green Bay over the top every season.

Maybe you'll be back for the 12th Annual Fire Ted Thompson Jubilee in 2017.

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Upon Further Review's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:27 am

Add in the fact that this article supposes Eliot Wolf would act exactly as his father did (20 plus years ago and in a completely different NFL climate) to become the savior of the Packers from the oppressive and short-sighted Thompson regime.

This article is just a long and angry rant to vent frustration towards supposed lack of commitment to winning championships.

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Mojo's picture

March 24, 2016 at 11:47 am

Exactly UFR, there's a ton of speculation in this article. For all we know Eliot is a TT disciple, hates analytics and thinks his father was a dolt. Probably not, but how do we know?

From the article; "Under the tutelage of Ted Thompson Wolf has blossomed into an astute talent evaluator." Again, how do we know? Is the author privy to Eliots recommendations? If so let us know.

I understand the want for change for changes sake. But none if us know if E. Wolf would be better than Ted. Could be he is, but it's based on complete guess work, not historical accreditation.

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Oppy's picture

March 24, 2016 at 02:07 pm

Both Ron and Elliot Wolf have stated that Elliot honed his craft as a talent evaluator- from a young age- working directly beneath Ted Thompson. Elliot used to basically be TT's Admin, running paperwork, grading film, shaping up the big board, etc and so forth, while his father was the GM of the Packers. Ron basically gave Ted his son and said, "Put him to work". Lol.

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Chad Toporski's picture

March 24, 2016 at 02:26 pm

To many fans, the young Wolf is a beam of hope magnified by the frustrations with Ted Thompson. But as stated, there's only just speculation at this point without any true evidence to support the claims.

I am my father's son, but I am not my father.

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dobber's picture

March 24, 2016 at 02:50 pm

"I am my father's son, but I am not my father."

Thank you, Luke, now go clean up that mess you made of the Death Star...

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:14 pm

¨Maybe he thought his father was a dolt.¨ LOL, & then LOL some more. No doubt that Elliott may be better, worse, or about the same as Ron and TT. No one knows.

Some one said that when you have a young ascending guy who needs to see more action, you get rid of the veteran blocking his path a year too early rather than a year too late????

Nah, that is a dumb adage coined by some moron.

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Oppy's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:23 pm

Better to let a guy go a year too early than a year to late is a great adage in its proper context, in which the "guy" in question is tasked with a physically demanding job, where age equals undeniable deterioration of physical skills that are required to perform and compete. Clearly, barring mental faculties failing an aging man (which is not a guaranteed occurrence), a talent evaluator or other business administrator actually stands to sharpen his skills with time, as experience and knowledge are the tools of his trade as opposed to the speed, quickness, strength of a pro athlete.

I know you know all this and are just being facetious, though :)

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

March 24, 2016 at 11:25 pm

Oppy. True of course, and I admit that the aphorism is not entirely apt (I just could not resist using it since I have a been a smart-alec all my life - to my cost at times). I do not think that TT has lost his skills, or is likely to decline in the foreseeable future. Moreover, TT is a good GM and replacing him, when it becomes necessary, presents a huge challenge. I trust that Murphy has reached an understanding with TT and Wolf about their future plans and ambitions. [This assumes something we do not know: I mean, it conceivably could be that Murphy does not have Elliott in mind for the GM job sometime in the future - he might think that would be the Peter Principle: promoting someone to his level of incompetence.] It would be unfortunate if Wolf leaves after the 2016 season to take a GM job with another team, Schneider re-signs with and commits to Seattle, and then TT changes his mind and retires. Or maybe that would turn out to be the best thing to happen. IDK.

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Tundraboy's picture

March 24, 2016 at 11:50 pm

Dobber. Lol. Great one to remember

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Tundraboy's picture

March 24, 2016 at 07:41 am

I hope this is not a year where at the end we HAVE to make the change. Let's use all our tools now, to win this year and make a change with a championship in hand and a positive transition going forward.

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PackerBacker's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:46 am

I'm sorry, but this is short-sighted.

It's better that we look to the future and make sure that the team is consistently good and always has a chance to win the SB, than to sacrifice the future for a SB win now and mediocrity for years to come.

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Tundraboy's picture

March 24, 2016 at 11:58 pm

Not my point. We're close, let's win now. Who said at the expense of the future. I just don't want to depend solely on draft picks to develop quickly and second year players to take leaps, when we have long standing holes. Being in contention is not the only goal.

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NickPerry's picture

March 25, 2016 at 06:04 am

I'm right there with you TB, I mean how many YEARS does it take to find a TE, ILB, and an OLB to go with Matthews. To Teds credit he did go get us Peppers, 5 years after he drafted Matthews. Nevermind Capers defense or the 3-4 defense DEPENDS on 2 quality OLB.

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Tundraboy's picture

March 25, 2016 at 07:58 am

Thanks NP. There are many who agree with us and others that try to convince us that we are pushing TT out the door. We are just pointing out the painfully obvious and we will keep doing it until something gives,not to prove ourselves as geniuses but do so we can get better sooner rather than later. Our great core is not getting younger and time passes quickly enough, and we all have seen how injuries and other uncontrollable things are enough to deal with, let alone without the experience and depth needed to overcome them when they inevitably happen.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

March 25, 2016 at 08:17 am

Actually, I would add that the 3-4 is designed to showcase 4 linebackers because it is supposed to be easier to find athletic 230-270 pound players than athletic 270-320 pound players.

Turns out Thompson has failed at drafting really good players to fill those 7 positions at all. By my count 10 years (just about an average NFL career) of drafts under Thompson has yielded Mike Daniels and Clay Matthews, the rest are just guys. So much of the "Master of the Draft" Legend.

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NickPerry's picture

March 25, 2016 at 05:39 pm

I agree, but I've heard numerous times and also noticed that the real successful 3-4 Defenses normally have a pair of OLB that get 10 or more sacks each. Look at Denver this year or Pittsburgh or the Ravens of years past and they always had those 2 OLB who wreaked havoc on the QB.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

March 24, 2016 at 07:50 am

Jeff, does your hiatus leave us at the mercy of the apologists for TT? Well, know that you will be missed.

I don't know what GB and TT are thinking as to TT's retirement. TT certainly has been good enough to wonder if his successor will be as good or better than he was.

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dobber's picture

March 24, 2016 at 08:29 am

The issue always becomes one of: we're at or near the top of the league, year-in and year-out, a change COULD put us over the top....or could send us spiraling in to the abyss for another 20 years. When you're at or near the top of the league, there's a lot more room to move down--and a lot more teams willing to replace you--than there is room to move up. When a move is warranted, this concern has to go out the window.

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cfedroff's picture

March 24, 2016 at 08:06 am

Super Bowl XLV

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lebowski's picture

March 24, 2016 at 08:15 am

"Wouldn’t an accomplished but older veteran offensive tackle have been a welcome addition at mid-season rather than trotting out the inept and over-matched Don Barclay time and again?" Amen, brother. Lovin the dream.

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Evan's picture

March 24, 2016 at 08:22 am

I know people will reply with "that's not my job!" but what mythical older, veteran offensive tackle who is available mid-season and who's better than Don Barclay are we talking about?!

Look at the state of STARTING offensive lines around the league. There aren't 64 quality tackles out there as it is, let alone backups and free agents.

Now, the Packers should have used Tretter sooner (though injuries to Linsley probably was a factor there too) but can we stop pretending that there are just a bunch of functional free agent offensive linemen just hanging around mid-season and Ted is too cheap and stubborn to bring one in.

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dobber's picture

March 24, 2016 at 08:30 am

^^^THIS^^^

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RCPackerFan's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:16 am

Completely agree..

And I think McCarthy is more to blame for not using Tretter at LT. Though we don't know if injuries affected Tretter or Linsley.

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RCPackerFan's picture

March 24, 2016 at 10:30 am

no, the person should have been Tretter.

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Evan's picture

March 24, 2016 at 10:56 am

Or maybe Vujnovich from the practice squad.

But unless you give me some names, you won't convince me that there was some better, "accomplished" veteran LT just hanging out by the phone in November.

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Mojo's picture

March 24, 2016 at 12:06 pm

The Packers failure at back-up LT, was clearly not instituting Tretter sooner.

In fact I'd resign Tretter before any of the other o-lineman coming due next year(maybe Bakh first because of the importance of the position).

Tretter isn't the strongest biggest guy, but mark my words, if given a chance Tretter would be the Packers best o-lineman. He's bright, has the best feet, good sliding mirror technique , agile and attacks to the next level. Too bad most of his four years here will go to waste due to injury and his subsequent positioning as a backup.

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Tundraboy's picture

March 25, 2016 at 12:06 am

Totally agree on Tretter. And his run blocking was as good as any one individual on line

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Evan's picture

March 24, 2016 at 01:06 pm

"Accomplished" was the author's word. That's what I'm responding to.

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lebowski's picture

March 24, 2016 at 10:49 pm

Seriously. We supposedly have a pro personnel dept. to keep tabs on practice squad players, vets without jobs, possible trade bait, whatever. No way in hell was the best option even remotely Don Barclay. I don't blame them for trusting him as he was serviceable prior to the injury, but it was painfully obvious after one game that he wasn't going to cut it. And those 'mythical vets' are out there. Remember when Arizona signed Dwight Freeney off the street at the end of last year and he got 3 sacks against us? That was cute.

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Tundraboy's picture

March 25, 2016 at 12:02 am

Cow, Can't argue with any of that. I mean Barclay?

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dobber's picture

March 24, 2016 at 08:31 am

I read this article and agree with it in many ways, but find myself disagreeing with the principle assumption and asking what basis we have to believe that Eliot Wolf will be any different from, or better than, TT in any way?

He has no independent track record to speak of or any kind of trail that points openly and publicly to what he has initiated or innovated aside from his parentage and ascent within the organization which, Jeff indicates, is full of back-patters and sycophants (which, as others have said above, is also speculation).

If anything, this shows how much we're suffering from the backup QB syndrome: who's the most popular player on a struggling or frustrating team? The backup QB, because anything can be better than the current situation which causes you to drink pepto like coffee. Hell, even last year many people here were calling for Scott Tolzien over ARod. We're wanting relief from the frustrations of a TT regime that doesn't fit the mold of other NFL franchises nor does it even pretend to cater in any way to the predilections of its fan base. We have fallen in love with a guy who, frankly, might be about as bright and astute in personnel and salary cap issues as I am...which would throw this team in the dumpster in a heartbeat.

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Upon Further Review's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:30 am

^^Truth^^

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marpag1's picture

March 24, 2016 at 01:11 pm

Asking too much??? No, it's not asking too much, it's asking far, far too little. All you want is a guy who "uses all three methods of acquiring talent?" Really? Can I interest you in a lightly used Matt Millen?

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dobber's picture

March 24, 2016 at 02:06 pm

Lightly used and heavily abused...

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Samson's picture

March 25, 2016 at 09:06 pm

Amazingly, Cow, all the homers who hang out here will be expressing the same viewpoint eventually. Another year (six in a row) with no SB appearance does that to fans. -- Or when AR decides he wants a better chance at a SB appearance & requests a release. This is the start of mediocrity in Green Bay. --- These clowns here have no idea how bad things can get. --- Face it--- TT & MM are simply not up to the task.

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3rdigraphics's picture

March 24, 2016 at 08:22 am

Eliot wolf has hit the ceiling in the packers org - he's got two options: take over for Ted or take over another team.

Everything seems to point that he'll take over for Ted VERY soon but no one outside 1265 Lombardi knows for sure...this is all conjecture.

Random thought: What if the offseason of 2016 is the "front office version" of the summer of 2008 where Ted plays the part of Brett Favre and Eliot Wolf the part of Aaron Rodgers? Now THAT would be some theater lol.

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dobber's picture

March 24, 2016 at 08:32 am

"What if the offseason of 2016 is the "front office version" of the summer of 2008 where Ted plays the part of Brett Favre and Eliot Wolf the part of Aaron Rodgers? Now THAT would be some theater lol."

So TT is going to be head man in Minnesota in two years?

I think you make a very good point, here, in that Wolf for all we know will be running this team until he either moves on or takes over openly. We'll never know because this team is so efficient at controlling its external message.

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Bearmeat's picture

March 24, 2016 at 08:39 am

If TT went to be the head man in Minnesota, they'd actually become a consistent contender.

No thanks.

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marpag1's picture

March 24, 2016 at 08:50 am

Just like the article a few days ago on virtually the same subject, there is a lot of crap in this article.

First of all, the amount of verbal bias and "weasel words" (yes, that's a legitimate term - you can look it up) in this article are through the roof. Thompson is "comfortable" and "contented." Wolf is "a young dynamo," while Thompson's strategy is a "malaise." Wolf has "elite bloodlines" (as if genetics made you "an astute talent evaluator"). Whatever TT says is "Ted-speak." The organization under Thompson is filled with "clutter and glad-handing" - whatever the heck that means. And anyone who disagrees with this is "not being honest" or is "a Thompson apologist."

If you want people to believe your argument, you are trying too hard. It only makes you appear biased and untrustworthy.

For the record, I'm totally OK with grooming Eliot Wolf to take over. But let's be honest now. Who can tell me ONE good decision that Eliot Wolf has made during his time with the Packers? Anyone? On what are we basing the notion that he is "a young dynamo?" How exactly do we know that he is anything more than Daddy's Boy?

Has Wolf ever said anything about his views on analytics? The article suggests that this is a huge factor for some reason. And I find it hilarious that the article sings the praises of analytics ... and then goes on to state proudly that five or six of the suckiest teams in the league all make heavy use of it (JAX, PHI, CHI, DET, CLE).

If you want some actual quotes on the subject of analytics, I can help. Bill Belichick said that they are "not real accurate" and "It's not really my thing." (Story here: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25440044/bill-belichick-ana...

Does analytics really have anything to do with this story at all??

Does anybody know that Wolf would be more involved in FA than Thompson? According to the article, "There is every reason to believe that as general manager Eliot Wolf would follow the lead of his father and would use every tool available in his tool box, not just one. The draft, trades, analytics and free agency could once again be linked to the success of the Green Bay Packers, not just Ted Thompson’s method of draft only." Really? OK, so if there is EVERY REASON to believe this, can you tell us just one of those reasons? And before you say, "Eliot learned from Ron," please remember that Ted Thompson did, too.

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dobber's picture

March 24, 2016 at 08:35 am

^^^DOUBLE THIS^^^

The time stamp says we were probably writing these at the same time, but I'm with ya, man!

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Evan's picture

March 24, 2016 at 08:47 am

Yea, great post. Especially this:

"Really? OK, so if there is EVERY REASON to believe this, can you tell us just one of those reasons? And before you say, "Eliot learned from Ron," please remember that Ted Thompson did too."

I'd argue the opposite is just as likely true. Sure, maybe Eliot will follow in Ron's footsteps. He is his dad and a Hall of Fame GM. But it's just as likely he'd follow in Ted's - he is the guy who actually trained and groomed him on the job after all.

The real answer is we have no idea.

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ray nichkee's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:19 am

Thanks for saving me some typing marpag. After these last two articles jeff needs to go on a hiatis, or maybe write for cleveland where they have a baseball guy in the front office.

What if eliot was the main influence not to sign trevathan? We don't know. One thing that seems to get overlooked is that ron wolf, schnieder, mckenzie, and dorsey all took over teams where the previous guy got canned. They wanted guys to fit their mold and the only way to do that quickly is free agency. Mcloughlin in washington said he wants 12 draft picks this year. They all are a bit different but they all have an eye for talent.

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Evan's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:31 am

"They wanted guys to fit their mold and the only way to do that quickly is free agency. "

Not exactly.

Reggie just needed players, period. He needed to field a team after gutting it, so he had no choice but to go crazy in free agency. Now that he's built a nice core through the draft, he still "has" to use free agency to hit the salary cap floor, but he's being much smarter about it.

Schneider has been far, far more aggressive, and is actually striking out a fair bit (basically threw away 2 first round picks for Harvin and Graham). Ironically, he's had the most success in the draft. Again, Carroll has final say there, so who knows.

Dorsey seems to have struck a nice balance, I'd say.

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ray nichkee's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:59 am

True evan, my point is that ted is in year 10 and the situations should be looked at before comparison. Schnieder by far seems the most aggressive. Who knows what pressures owners put on and what influences the coach can have too. I'd bet all mccarthy can do is say I'd like a this ted. Ried probobly has some influence, you mentioned carroll, I'd say not much in oakland because reggie can fire the coach.

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Evan's picture

March 24, 2016 at 10:58 am

Yea, that's fair.

As for Schneider, you say who knows "what influence the coach can have too."

I just want to make clear that it's my understanding that in Seattle Carroll has final say over player personnel. It's not just "influence" but he has official control.

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ray nichkee's picture

March 24, 2016 at 11:21 am

You are correct. From what i remember carroll was hired first. Schnieder was hired after the fact to fufill the duties of GM or similar role. Carroll has complete control of the roster. Whatever duties are divied out or comingled inbetween, i have no clue. It seems to be working but i think the seahawks would be just a team with a good defense without drafting wilson. The lynch trade was good but without a good QB you can load the box.

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Idiot Fan's picture

March 24, 2016 at 11:07 am

"Schneider has been far, far more aggressive, and is actually striking out a fair bit (basically threw away 2 first round picks for Harvin and Graham). Ironically, he's had the most success in the draft."

Exactly right. Also, I can imagine that there's some Seattle version of Cow on a Seahawk blog writing posts like:

"I don't understand how Schneider can continue to ignore the offensive line. That line cost us a trip to the Super Bowl last year, and now its two best players have left in free agency.

Garry Gilliam
Terry Poole
Mark Glowinski
Justin Britt
Patrick Lewis

I mean, just look at that list. Maybe Schneider should have used one of those two first-round picks he blew on Harvin or Graham on actually drafting a lineman. He's wasting the prime years of this defense!!!"

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ray nichkee's picture

March 24, 2016 at 11:27 am

Nice, i thought all the trolls were over here though. They can have cow.

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packsmack's picture

March 24, 2016 at 12:09 pm

And the thing is, now that they have to, you know, pay Russell Wilson, they are going to have to tighten the purse strings or fall into obscurity.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

March 24, 2016 at 05:51 pm

Schneider absolutely nailed the 2011 Draft and Thompson absolutely bombed it, which is really the difference between the two teams right now.

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Idiot Fan's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:03 pm

And yet, since 2011 they have played four times: Fail Mary, Seahawk win, Bostic Brain-fart, and Packer win. Not all that different IMO.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:17 pm

Yeah, other than the Seahawks being a botched goal line call away from winning back to back Superbowls your totally correct.

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Oppy's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:32 pm

I just want to be clear on this, does getting close to winning a superbowl count, or is it championship or bust? There's an awful lot of Packers fans who say getting close to GETTING to the SB isn't worth a hill of beans, so I'd imagine that getting close to winning one (but not getting it done) wouldn't mean jack either.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:44 pm

So you are saying a team that wins a Superbowl and then comes close to winning a second is worse off than a team that doesn't even get to one because losing the second feels bad?

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Idiot Fan's picture

March 24, 2016 at 10:43 pm

Not worse off, but also not markedly better.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

March 25, 2016 at 08:08 am

Outside of this thread I take your handle ironically...

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Idiot Fan's picture

March 25, 2016 at 09:40 am

Under TT the Packers won one Superbowl (2010). Under JS the Seahawks won one Superbowl (2013). In 2014, the two teams played in the NFC Championship, and the Packers would have won but for a Bostic Brain-fart (BBF) at the end. The Seahawks thus advanced to the Superbowl, and they could have won (against a team the Packers beat earlier in the year) but for a brain-fart at the end of the game. The other three meetings between the two teams resulted in a Seahawk win, a Packer win, and the Fail Mary. Thus the only real difference between the two teams is that the BBF let them play in the SB instead of us. Your original post implied that there is a large difference between the two teams. There is not. Otherwise you would have to argue that, had Bostic not gone full BBF, we would be vastly superior to them.

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ChrisM's picture

March 25, 2016 at 03:02 am

"absolutely nailed the 2011 Draft"??? His first two picks are no longer on the roster and one of them is not even in the League. He did draft Sherman and KJ Wright, but they were 4th and 5th round picks, which means that even Schneider did not know what he was drafting or he would have drafted them earlier. The other players from that draft are no longer on the team. So, yes, he did get very good players, but it was in the later rounds which are, as everyone involved in the process would attest, is a total crap shoot!

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dobber's picture

March 25, 2016 at 05:20 am

"He did draft Sherman and KJ Wright, but they were 4th and 5th round picks, which means that even Schneider did not know what he was drafting or he would have drafted them earlier. "

The point is that he still drafted them, regardless of round. Maybe he didn't know exactly what he was getting, but he still got them. If there's a consensus fifth-round player that you think is going to be a world-beater do you take him in round 2? Probably not.

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Tundraboy's picture

March 25, 2016 at 12:18 am

Wow a universe with another Cow! Lol. Is that even possible?

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Tundraboy's picture

March 25, 2016 at 12:15 am

Nice analysis Evan

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ChrisM's picture

March 25, 2016 at 02:54 am

Well said. What particularly galls me is the prevalent belief that Ron Wolf is the greatest ever and TT is absolutely not in his league and the main reason why GB has not won multiple SBs. I totally agree that RW was a great GM and he turned things around for GB. But he also had a HoF QB and only won one SB. TT has the same # of SB victories. And he built a roster that was good enough to be only a few unlucky/boneheaded actions from going to and possibly winning multiple SBs. Now, that is not to say that I wouldn't enjoy it if TT brought a great FA to GB. I was thrilled when he brought in Peppers. But when you look at the list of next year's FAs that GB will need to sign, you can understand why he chose caution this year again.

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pointerjeff's picture

March 25, 2016 at 11:30 am

marpag1, some premises that we might agree on...or perhaps not:
1. Thompson is so heavily invested in the draft that he discounts all other instruments available to him to improve the team (free agents and trades). The only GM in the league to avoid ANY FA for two straight years.
2. Thompson dismissed his Analytic group, not Wolf.
3. I highly doubt that Eliot will not be closer to his father's philosophy of using all tools available than Thompson's methods. They remain very close.
3. Eliot Wolf is destined to take over the GM-Packers one day t and will have no clearer picture of him then than you do now.

With the short shelf life of true stars like Aaron Rodgers, are you really any worse off for giving Wolf his opportunity now?

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marpag1's picture

March 25, 2016 at 04:47 pm

Hey, I've got nothing against you, Jeff, and you are certainly free to hold whatever opinion you like. If I come on a bit strong sometimes, my apologies for that. But having said that, no, it doesn't seem like we're agreeing on much of anything here. To your points...

1. Generally speaking, there is only one thing that I care about when it comes to general managers, and it's NOT whether they use free agency or not. What they need to do is to populate the roster with with enough talent so that their team has a legitimate shot to beat the competition. HOW a general manager acquires the necessary talent is totally irrelevant to me... with one huge exception. Assuming the same quality of player, it is much, much, much better for a general manager to acquire that player through the draft and NOT through free agency, because draftees will almost always be had at a mere fraction of the cost. It is never the goal to use free agency. The only goal is to get good players.

2. The fact that Thompson DOESN'T like analytics does not say anything at all about whether or not Eliot Wolf DOES. Nor does it prove that using analytics is better than not using analytics.

3. (The first three). Sorry, buddy, but "Pointerjeff highly doubts it" isn't proof of anything.

3. (The second three). This is a good guess. I tend to believe it myself. But we can't count the cheese curds until they're breaded and deep fried. Is it impossible that a guy like Schneider could be enticed to come back?

Your last statement baffles me: "With the short shelf life of true stars like Aaron Rodgers, are you really any worse off for giving Wolf his opportunity now?" I guarantee that if you give me 10 minutes on google, I can find a whole raft of web articles "power ranking" NFL general managers, and only the wild outliers and the posts on Vikings message boards will have TT rated outside of the top five. Are you seriously suggesting that removing one of the most highly regarded GM's in the league and replacing him with an untested unknown quantity could not possibly backfire? Seriously??

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marpag1's picture

March 25, 2016 at 05:41 pm

Where do you exist, except the internet?

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Darwins Myth's picture

March 24, 2016 at 08:43 am

The organization has been stable and very competitive since the early 1990s. Now, all it takes are some witch hunters to change that, pretending they know what's going on at the Packers meetings, wanting to play armchair GM, and ignorantly bringing us back to the years of disrespect and mediocrity because T. Thompson doesn't run the Packers like they do with their own finances, when they daily pull out there credit cards... and then finding out they will have to file for bankruptcy, because they had unwisely spent their future savings on wants and not needs.

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dobber's picture

March 24, 2016 at 08:49 am

"Wolf is in his 13th season with the club and spent the past year as the director of player personnel after serving as the director of pro personnel for three years."

This is from the previous post on CHTV.com announcing Wolf's promotion. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Wolf was the guy who was in charge of compiling the scouting information that TT considers when looking at signing FAs.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/who-is-the-pro-personnel-director/

It was his job to help establish the value of these players and get that info to TT. Given the activity level of the Packers in FA over recent years, why would that establish any confidence that Wolf would be any more active than TT?

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pointerjeff's picture

March 25, 2016 at 11:33 am

Dobber: Eliot Wolf is very close to this father - his parents returned to live in GM to be closer to their son. You don't think the two of them sit around and talk philosophies of performing his job with a man so instrumental with his choice of careers?

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Evan's picture

March 25, 2016 at 12:55 pm

I'm sure they talk often.

And I'm just as sure Eliot sits around and talks philosophies of performing his job with the man he's worked directly under for the last 12 years.

I'd also say that "talking philosophies" with his father doesn't mean "agreeing with everything his father believes."

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dobber's picture

March 25, 2016 at 01:38 pm

...or being able to effectively employ it when he's on the clock.

The point is not that he can't do the job. If he's moved so quickly through the organization, it's likely that he's doing and saying things that make others take notice in a positive way. Whether he's done it on his own or through consultation with TT or his father, he must be doing the right things (we suppose...either that, or he's blowing smoke up the asses of the right people).

The point behind my statements (and marpag's if I may be so bold as to speak for him) is that there's a tremendous amount of speculation in this article built on next to no evidence that we can firmly attribute to Wolf or substantiate claims that he's ready to take the job. The article is clearly a "the grass is always greener" fluff piece, and it's sole purpose is to try to aggravate TT backers and entice TT detractors into commenting. That being the case, I have a hard time putting much stock in the article.

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marpag1's picture

March 25, 2016 at 05:40 pm

Yeah, that's my main point, dobber.

But there's another one, too: A lot of fans want free agency simply for free agency's sake, and little more than that. Allow me to illustrate. In a post above, Cow actually wrote these words: "I don't care who [the GM] is. I just want someone who uses all three methods of acquiring talent."

With all due respect to the superabundant beefiness of our bovine buddy, could there possibly be a dumber statement than this? "I don't care who the general manager is, just so long as he makes liberal use of free agency and trades?"

When did using free agency become the goal of a general manager, or the measure by which he's judged? What about acquiring a bunch of good players and still managing to fit them all in under the cap? What about winning games, playoff games, even super bowl games?

"No, no, no! We want someone who uses free agency, dammit!!"

Dumb.

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dobber's picture

March 25, 2016 at 06:51 pm

"...With all due respect to the superabundant beefiness of our bovine buddy, "

Just how long have you been waiting to use that one? ;)

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Hematite's picture

March 24, 2016 at 08:54 am

Ted likes driving in second gear.
It's time to shift into high gear before Aaron becomes history.
Give Ted a gold watch and send him out to pasture before it's too late.

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RCPackerFan's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:07 am

I think Wolf will be set up nicely to do a tremendous job.

I would think that within the next 2 years its very likely that Wolf will be our next GM.

Wolf has had some very good mentors in his life. Learning from his dad, and then learning from Thompson are 2 great role models.

One thing I have been wondering is when Thompson does stop being the GM if they will try and keep him in some other sort of role with the team. He loves scouting, so possible something in the scouting department.

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dobber's picture

March 24, 2016 at 01:06 pm

A la Doug Melvin with the Brewers? My opinion: football is running into many of the same problems now that baseball is running into, and that is personnel people who have little or no background in playing the game or in scouting. Baseball has shifted very radically in that direction, and football is following. At some point you have to have someone around who can assess the "non-stat-sheet, non-analytic" stuff that's going on in play...in that sense, football is so much bigger than baseball and (as Belichick was quoted as saying before) will likely continue to defy analytics.

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Tundraboy's picture

March 26, 2016 at 04:28 pm

Excellent point on baseball and I see that trend in the NFL as well, and it is not a good thing. Stats are useful for contract negotiations I suppose, but are dangerous when used alone to make decisions. People make decisions and the best people have real world experience playing with and managing people.

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croatpackfan's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:16 am

I'm stunned. So good GM was Ron Wolf. He was constantly adding FA talents to Packers to win SB several times while he was in the chair with HOF QB - WAIT: several? It was one - oups...
If Ron Wolf was good teacher, and I trully believed he was, he teached his son to be his own man, not Ron Wolf's shadow... You know what that mean? That Elliot Wolf will be doing the job as Elliot, not as Ron...
Further, we have to credit where there is something to be credited: Ron Wolf signed several FA who played significant role in winning SB title. That is the truth... But those several FA where available there for pick up. Maybe there was no such FA last year, or year before, or 2013, 2012... By the way, Ted Thompson do signs FA with significant impact on the team. I will mention just one: Woodson!
But Jeff and lot of auditorium here wants Packers to sign any FA. I'm reading that all of you wants cheap, significant and impactful FA to be signed ASAP. Somebody like Byrd? Or like Jimmy Graham? Or Dominik Suh? Should I start to throwing the names of FA to you that I read here how they are must to sign opportunities, just to learn season after that they were more bust than help to their teams... Oh, I'm sure Pete Carroll did not know how to use Jimmy Graham. I'm 100% convinced in that!
Also, by AcmePacking Company site poll, there is more than 60% Packers fans who supports draft & develop strategy of TT.
As you can see, I'm the one of them. I will not say anything against signing FA, but I will not demand that and I'm willing to let people who are paid for evaluation to do their jobs... Packers records shows they are doing things the way that makes Packers franchise GREAT!
Sorry, but one man away from winning SB is just kids dream!

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RCPackerFan's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:33 am

I'm a draft and develop guy. I love the way Thompson has built his team using mostly the draft and develop. Though, I would like to see Thompson be a bit more active in free agency or supplement with free agency. Not going after the headliners, but finding the guys that can come in and at the very least be a rotational guy. Like the Letroy Guions. Guion was a great signing.

Overall though the draft and develop process is the best way to build a team. The key part of the draft and develop is the development part. You have to give guys time to develop. Prime example is Jordy Nelson. it took him time to develop.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

March 24, 2016 at 05:55 pm

Draft and develop is what should be used to build the team. But you need a few free agent successes to put a team over the top to win the Super Bowl.

The last time Thompson filled holes with key free agents the Packers won a Super Bowl.
Elway did it last season and the Broncos won a Super Bowl.

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Tundraboy's picture

March 26, 2016 at 04:38 pm

Agree, just one difference. You have to have time to develop. As Roger's is over 30, and we have burned up a lot of time trying to make up after losing Collins, Bishop, and Finley, letting Woodson go, and deluding ourselves at ILB and Safety, we really have no time left to develop players in so many areas any longer. Thinking that Rodgers, Matthew's and others will continue to play at earlier levels while we develop and retool around them is irrational at best.

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Since'61's picture

March 24, 2016 at 04:50 pm

Croat - while it is true that Ron Wolf's Packers also won one Super Bowl there are many significant differences between Ron Wolf's Packers and TTs Packers. While Ron Wolf's Packers were coached by Mike Holmgren they were a better team than TTs Packers. TTs Packers have one player who is better at his position than Wolf's team and that player is the QB Aaron Rodgers. And Brett Favre is a HOF QB. Wolf's OL and DL were much better. No one on TTs DL could play on Wolf's DL with Reggie White, Santana Dotson, Sean Jones and Gilbert Brown. Mike Daniels would be a backup at best. On the OL maybe Sitton would play but he, Bulaga and Linsley would be backups. Same at RB. Wolf would not have drafted Lacy because he had William Henderson who had a different role than Lacy. WRs Jordy would be a backup. On defense CM3 and Julius Peppers in his prime would probably play but not necessarily be any better than the Packers LBs at the time. Wolf's safeties, Eugene Robinson and Leroy Butler were better than TTs safeties. If Wolf's team played today's Packers they would beat them and in this era they would win multiple SBs because they would be better than any team in the league today even the Cheatalots. Unlike the current Packers Holmgren's team almost never beat themselves, especially in the playoffs. Yes, Favre through more picks than Rodgers but Favre didn't play with rules that favored the passing game like the current rules and Favre had a defense that would get him the ball back without giving up a TD to do it. Wolf's DL actually got to the QB and Reggie White (the NFLs first free agent BTW) could wreck an offense single handedly. We have no one like that on TTs team. Wolf's team could actually convert 3rd and short or 4th and short and his team had 2 capable TEs, in Chmura and Keith Bryant. Finally, Ron Wolf never left his team with holes in the roster for multiple seasons as TT has done, first at safety and more recently at ILB and TE. He had Favre on offense and White on defense and he provided solid players around them. His team played in 2 SBs, back-to-back and may have reached a third but they were robbed by the officials (prior to replay) in a 1998 playoff game in SF. So while Ron Wolf and TT both have only 1 SB win I would take Wolf as my GM and Wolf's Packers coached by Mike Holmgren over TTs Packers even with Aaron Rodgers. Admitedly, I have the advantage of having watched both teams play so I can make the comparison. But comparing Ron Wolf to TT on the basis of SBs won is not a true comparison. Also, when Wolf's team won the SB, there was no doubt that they were the best team in the league. Just look at their point differential. Whereas when the Packers won in 2010 it almost all on Aaron Rodgers extraordinary playoff performances, which is some of the best QB play I have ever seen. Thanks, Since '61

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ray nichkee's picture

March 24, 2016 at 02:07 pm

There is absoloutly no point in comparing those teams. Free agency was brand new and wolf took advantage of it. A 4-3 defense and a 3-4. A road grading O-line and a finesse pass protecting line. New rule changes favoring offense. I would think an expanding salary cap makes players go more for the bucks too. Training camp etc. has been cut way back. What else did i miss?

I too remember when the pack was a joke. Looking back both teams were on the top end at the time. I just wish sherman was never given the GM role. Farve would have at least another ring. Well maybe.

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barutanseijin's picture

March 24, 2016 at 05:18 pm

Also, #4 at his peak and a #12 who is no longer at the top of the game. Holmgren vs. a now kinda out of it MM. The team and TT himself are on the downhill side.

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Oppy's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:40 pm

I wouldn't be so quick to say Rodgers isn't at the top of his game any longer.

I have a feeling, as impossible as it may sound, his best playing days are still ahead of him.

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Tundraboy's picture

March 25, 2016 at 12:37 am

Two very different teams. One with no real holes, one with a few. Biggest difference, one with an excellent offense and a legendary defense. The other, phenomenal offense, even without a run game and an OK defense. Love them both but must admit loved the one who almost never beat themselves, could stop anyone on 3rd down, a little more right now.

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pointerjeff's picture

March 25, 2016 at 11:36 am

Hi croatpackfan: my point was that Thompson has become a one solution GM. He should wake up everyday and explore any and all options at pushing his team over the top - Super Bowl.
Wolf will become the GM one day anyway. Why not now before Rodgers retires?

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dobber's picture

March 25, 2016 at 01:45 pm

I would assert that TT is only just about to enter the era where his philosophy is likely to become much more the league norm (until the next CBA negotiations). I would argue more than half the teams in the league now claim to be "draft and develop", but the change in how compensatory picks are handled (i.e. that they become a tradeable commodity next year) will make them even more valuable and stifle free agent movement even more. Teams will be even more encouraged to get younger, to sign their own, and to let their high-priced aging talent walk in hopes of garnering compensatory picks to restock with. Signing other teams's FAs will rob teams of tradeable ammunition (compensatory picks) that they can use to manipulate their draft strategies. I fully expect that the players will do everything in their power to kill this in the next CBA because it's going to limit their earning power.

That doesn't make what TT is doing now any more palatable, but it's about to become much more prevalent. In this case, being ahead of his time isn't necessarily rewarding...but it's about to be.

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TarynsEyes's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:40 am

105.7 milw radio talk with Butler and Ellerslie simply implied...unless Eliot Wolf begins or becomes allowed to speak to the media and fsns, nobody knows what his thinking, direction is or could be as a potential GM.
Speculation will run amok and perhaps more or less depending on this season's play and if actual words can be heard from the ' young dynamo' himself in regard to the teams play or his partcipation in Thompsons decisions are made public this topic moot.

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ray nichkee's picture

March 24, 2016 at 11:29 am

Very true.

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EddieLee's picture

March 24, 2016 at 09:45 am

The grass is always greener....

John Schneider is a proven GM in this league that can certainly evaluate talent and put together a championship roster. Per reports, he has a clause in his current contract that allows him to make a lateral move to Green Bay. At least when he signed that contract his dream job was clearly at 1265 Lombardi Avenue. That may have changed since then and his owner has more $ to offer then just about anybody but he has to be an option to succeed Thompson. A damn good option.

Wolf will be a GM in this league. I certainly have no opinion or evidence that he will be a good GM or something else. How could we? The Packer organization knows him better then anyone else. They certainly appear they are trying to retain him and move him towards that role.

Thompson is a top tier GM in this league. To say otherwise is utter nonsense. Assuming Thompson hasn't indicated a retirement plan to the organization, the very difficult question for Mark Murphy is if he should fire a top-tier GM in order to hire one of these two other really good options. Again, fire a top tier GM. Put yourself in Mark Murphy's spot and just think about that for a moment. It's a career defining move for Murphy. A huge risk. What if Wolf isn't that good? What if Schneider and McCarthy have issues? It means firing a man he has worked closely with for 10 years. It means making a huge upheaval in the most important dept of your organization. Fans want the move because they see it as a way to get over the hump. The last hurdle to multiple championships. But, the reality is that it also represents just as much chance for the Packers to stumble back into mediocrity. Fans assume change is always progress. That Wolf or Schneider is a step forward. That isn't a given and is thus a huge risk when it means firing a really good GM to take it.

I'll trust Murphy and the organization to make that tough decision. They know the actors and players in this decision far better then even the biggest super fans.

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ray nichkee's picture

March 24, 2016 at 10:08 am

Schnieder is from de pere i believe, if not somewhere near green bay which may influence his dicision if offered the job. I don't see it happening though.

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dobber's picture

March 24, 2016 at 01:10 pm

Yes. Having done college in DePere, the Schneiders (of Schneider National trucking) are a prominent family in the area.

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Tundraboy's picture

March 25, 2016 at 12:42 am

Very true. Makes me wonder if we want Wolf to succeed so badly, or fear losing his potential , that we forget that Schneider has the track record to be the better successor.

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EddieLee's picture

March 24, 2016 at 10:23 am

Schneider is in the last year of his contract with Seattle. A lot of talk in Seattle why an extension hasn't been worked out yet...

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Since'61's picture

March 24, 2016 at 02:00 pm

Eddie - I certainly would not fire TT. That would be unfair given the job he has done and the Packers record during his tenure. So I would never advocate firing TT. I also wonder about Schneider's status in Seattle. I could actually see a scenario where TT retires after 2016 the Packers bring Schneider back as GM and Eliot Wolf goes to Seattle to get real GM experience and then the Packers bring Wolf back when Schneider is done. Stranger things have happened. We'll see. Thanks, Since '61

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TommyG's picture

April 01, 2016 at 08:10 pm

I have a good number of friends and family in TE Seattle area. The word from them is that the love affair with Schneider is over. A lot of fans and media types up there are beginning to blame him for the departure of many of their favorite players, and the odd timing of lynch's retirement.

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TommyG's picture

March 25, 2016 at 01:39 am

I do not get the excitement surrounding Wolf. Yes he's the son of the guy who built a Super Bowl team. He's worked under a guy who built a super bowl team. He has done zero himself. If not for his lineage no one would even discuss this. Was there this excitement when Mackenzie took the job? No, their was not. I have no doubt wolf will take the GM position (unless he gets poached like Mac did), but I'll hold my excitement until after three drafts.

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