Thompson Says Packers Have Done "A Lot Of Considering" In Free Agency

The Packers general manager met with reporters briefly on Monday at the NFL owners meetings in Florida. 

Ted Thompson, speaking to reporters at the league meetings today down in Florida, via Rob Demovsky:

“Just because we don’t sign somebody doesn’t mean we don’t consider people. We did a lot of considering, and we do all the time and wherever we felt like we could make our team better in the grand scheme things, we’ve tried to do that. So far, it’s been kind of quiet from a fan’s standpoint, and I’m sorry to say that. 

It’s interesting that people keep score. It’s still on-going. There are still surprises down the road I’m sure. I hope they’re good surprises as opposed to bad. But yeah, you have to kind of wait this thing out and see how it goes. We feel pretty good where we are in terms of getting some of our guys back.”

It's true the personnel people bring things to Ted all the time - and he does indeed consider them, before shooting them down. 

 

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Comments (43)

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DrealynWilliams's picture

March 21, 2016 at 03:09 pm

Uh oh. Is Ted feeling the pressure?

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dobber's picture

March 22, 2016 at 07:56 am

Nah. It's Ted being Ted: "Here's a nugget. Go chew on it for awhile. I have work to do."

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zoellner25's picture

March 21, 2016 at 03:11 pm

I hope he considers retirement

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3rdigraphics's picture

March 21, 2016 at 03:19 pm

"Consider" the source, that being Ted Thompson.

I by and large agree with everything Ted does. Getting a B or C tier UFA would be fine with me but I'm not going to lose sleep over it.

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4EVER's picture

March 21, 2016 at 04:31 pm

"It’s interesting that people keep score"

If this is part of the actual quote; the dude is all by himself in his own micro universe? Mind-boggling insane he is...sorry, he should ponder retirement.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Ted's problem; he himself has administered a lot of need in to the current roster via draft misses and not supplementing a need or two. So much so - that if available at 27 - would have to pass on Arron Rodgers in 2016. Year after year, selecting the BPA, the most basic principle of developing via the draft, is no longer an option for him. His build and develop via the draft has a major flaw, him...

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packsmack's picture

March 21, 2016 at 05:57 pm

Translation: "Hey dipshits, I lost a HOF safety, an elite TE, a solid ILB, and now a fucking mammoth DT to sudden injuries/retirements. No free agent signing can fix that bad luck, but we have yet to miss the playoffs since that luck started, so suck it."

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

March 21, 2016 at 05:59 pm

All teams loose players.

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packsmack's picture

March 21, 2016 at 06:02 pm

Not for life. Career ending injuries aren't common. Season enders, sure, but not career enders. Look what happened to San Fran with a few injuries and retirements. Ted is smarter than you and pretty much every other Packer fan when it comes to this stuff. He's kept the ship afloat despite major setbacks.

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NickPerry's picture

March 22, 2016 at 06:43 am

The BIGGEST issue I have and I'd imagine other have is the amount of time Thompson takes to address those losses. I mean we're talking YEARS of just plain ignoring positions of need.

Safety, ILB, OLB, TE, and RB are all positions Thompson has taken sometimes YEARS to address. You can't even compare what happened in SF to what Ted does. They had what, 12 players leave, retire, or get injured in a 2 year time frame.

I refuse to continue to be a TT apologist and Aaron Rodgers keeps the ship "Afloat" a hell of a lot more than TT does. The contracts signed this offseason by players like Green, Trevation, and Freeman suggest Ted didn't consider squat, considering he never inquired about Trevation and I'd bet the others.

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packsmack's picture

March 22, 2016 at 06:50 am

No, Ted stuck to his plan in each scenario, as he should, and they just didn't work out. You see, he DID plan ahead. He had guys on the roster at each of those positions that he trusted would develop into adequate replacements. They didn't. He's not infallible. But flipping out after injuries and spending HUGE money in free agency is never the answer. And it would take HUGE money to get guys to come to Green Bay.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

March 22, 2016 at 10:29 am

Yeah, he stuck to his plan and it's a shitty plan based on the result.

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packsmack's picture

March 22, 2016 at 09:34 pm

The result of the longest active playoff streak? Okay.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

March 23, 2016 at 12:01 pm

Honestly most of the credit goes to McCarthy in my book.

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packsmack's picture

March 23, 2016 at 12:37 pm

Lol

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

March 23, 2016 at 01:09 pm

Maybe you can laugh while you tell me how I should be impressed with the 2011-14 drafts Thompson directed.

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RCPackerFan's picture

March 23, 2016 at 01:12 pm

2011-2012 very bad.

2013-2014 very good.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

March 23, 2016 at 09:39 pm

2013-14 average.

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NickPerry's picture

March 23, 2016 at 05:47 am

I understand what you're saying packsmack and I'd agree with you, spending HUGE in FA isn't the answer, but neither is turning your back and ignoring the obvious problem. There's been plenty of players who could help the Packers who wouldn't cost "Huge Money". TT hasn't always had the Players on the roster to develop. McMillian, MD Jennings, DL Smith, Barrington, Quarless, Green or even Barclay to name a few haven't ever been considered what I would say as adequate players to develop or be replacements, they've all have/had issues with their games and the issues are pretty obvious.

As far as a player needing "Huge money to come to Green Bay" maybe that's true to a point, theyll be some guys where the nightlife is too important to them to come to Green Bay. But by 26 or 27 years old when most of these guys become FA's, I'd think perhaps they've growen up a tad and winning a SB or playing with Aaron Rodgers would outweight Applebee's being the "Hotspot" in town.

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Since'61's picture

March 21, 2016 at 06:43 pm

Jeremy - you are correct, all teams lose players. The difference is that other teams try to fill the holes in their roster while TT does a lot of considering rather than trying to improve the team by actually signing players to fill the holes in the Packers roster. If we are going to get to the next level TTs going to need a new approach or the Packers need a new GM. Thanks, Since '61

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

March 21, 2016 at 05:59 pm

"We did a lot of considering"

I disagree with the process then. They gave Nick Perry 5 million a year but have no money to find an MLB who can cover.

Actually now that I consider it 'a lot', I consider that statement to be Bullshit.

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ray nichkee's picture

March 21, 2016 at 06:19 pm

Ted just signed a shortstop from the rockies. I bet he'll cover the middle good.

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Since'61's picture

March 21, 2016 at 06:27 pm

If TT actually made that statement then maybe it's time for him to do a lot of considering about moving on. He's done a nice job getting the team to where it is now. The problem is he is doing nothing "but considering" about getting the team over the hump and into the SB. The worst thing that management can do is to do nothing and sadly TTs comment admits that he's done nothing. It is actually arrogance on his part to think that this team is fine as is and that none of the previously available FAs could improve his team, especially at ILB and TE. I hope that the recent promotion of Eliot Wolf means that he will become GM sooner rather than later. I expect that Elliott knows that the GM job requires more than considering. Thanks, Since '61

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RVAborn's picture

March 22, 2016 at 01:11 am

61'- you are dead on. TT has done a good job, and his frugality is a good trait to keep a healthy salary cap. However, he tends to over value his own, and James Starks is a prime example. It's really not even feasible TT gives a 30 year old, injury-prone back up running back 3 mil/year that he did not draft. Conversely, he probably "considered" Jared Cook at the "vet minimum", who is basically a Finley 2.0.

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dobber's picture

March 22, 2016 at 08:03 am

Every day that goes by that Jared Cook is still unsigned is a day closer to him becoming a Packer.

"It's really not even feasible TT gives a 30 year old, injury-prone back up running back 3 mil/year that he did not draft."

Starks was a 6th round pick in the 2010 draft.

All RB are injury-prone. It's the nature of the position. That said, Starks has played in every game of the last two seasons.

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RCPackerFan's picture

March 22, 2016 at 08:52 am

'Every day that goes by that Jared Cook is still unsigned is a day closer to him becoming a Packer.'

I do agree with this. My assumption is that Cook wanted more then what the Packers were willing to offer. And every day that goes by means that he isn't getting signed to a bigger contract by other teams. Which means his asking price should come down and could come down to what the Packers want to pay him.

Just a guess, but it seems like it could be a good possibility.

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Tundraboy's picture

March 22, 2016 at 07:26 pm

Agree Since 61. Players know how close they are and they see through TTs rationalizations. At some point the leader has to lead. After some of the tough losses we have add, I think they want to see some emotion from leadership. It's human nature. Nobody should accept losing this quietly.

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TommyG's picture

March 21, 2016 at 07:46 pm

His considering comment brings me back to the point about vets using our packers purely as leverage. I would actually be surprised if players were not just considered but that offers were made as well. While some players out there may like landing in GB for a shot to play for a title, they and their agents really enjoy telling the opposition " hey the packers, your teams roadblock, is offering me this". We are the leverage.

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TKWorldWide's picture

March 21, 2016 at 07:48 pm

I doubt it.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

March 22, 2016 at 12:47 am

I draw only 2 conclusions from TT's statement:

1) TT isn't good at PR;
2) TT feels no need to be good at PR/spin.

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dobber's picture

March 22, 2016 at 07:59 am

Bingo on both counts.

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3rdigraphics's picture

March 22, 2016 at 07:22 am

I'm more concerned with Ted overpaying his own guys to bring them back.

The Starks, Guion, Crosby and Taylor contracts all seem too big--not crazy big but they got more than they should have based on the market and their production. Starks' deal was alarming to me.

Maybe this is the new norm since the cap went up significantly this year...

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egbertsouse's picture

March 22, 2016 at 07:56 am

Teddy, sitting around with your thumb up your ass is not considered "doing something."

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Packer_Pete's picture

March 22, 2016 at 09:18 am

It's plain and simple. Fans here wanting to sign players really are calling to sign names. Does anyone really think a 37 catch guy like Green helps at TE? Travathan looked good in Denver, but look at who was playing around him: Wolfe, Malik Jackson, Williams, Ware, Miller - that is top talent. Even AJ Hawk or Brad Jones would look good surrounded by those guys. Nothing against Freeman, but if you look at this NFL career, he averaged 5 tackles a game (combined solo and assist) in the 4 years he played since 2012. AJ Hawk during the same time averaged over 6. Yet people talk as if those are all superstars who will immediately make the Packers a SB favorite...

I believe there is a plan in place. If no FAs are signed before the draft, then there will be plenty FAs available after the draft still. In fact, all the guys who aren't signed before will see their market value go further down, as nobody wants them.

The first few days and weeks of free agency are always insanity. Overpaid for players who really aren't that good. Anyone really think Osweiler is better than Brady, Luck, Palmer, or Dalton? Well he is paid way higher than any of those guys. Vernon Olivier, certainly a good player, get's insane money. Yet he averages 7 sacks a season - with Cameron Wake on the other side of the DL, who averages 10.

Every player has a money value. Osweiler and Vernon are most certainly overpaid. Travathan, Freeman, and Green have a money value too. Is Travathan really worth 6.15 million per year? Time will tell, but now instead of Miller and Ware he'll play with the likes of McPhee and Houston, with a DL consisting of Sutton, Goldman, and Hicks - unless they'll draft someone there who can play. That's a bit of a change from a DL of Wolfe, Jackson, Williams, don't you think?

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

March 22, 2016 at 03:40 pm

"The first few days and weeks of free agency are always insanity. Overpaid for players who really aren't that good. "

True but he Packers aren't in need of Osweiler, Wake or Oliver. They need an MLB, and a bunch of MLB's singed for very fair deals.

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Packer_Pete's picture

March 22, 2016 at 07:18 pm

We'll play the Bears twice. We'll see whether Travathan and Freeman are really worth the money they got. Fair deal maybe if you compare to the highest paid players at that position. Fair deal for what play they'll put on the field? We shall see. My argument especially with Travathan is that he looked good due to the tremendous talent around him. It must be easier to play with Ware and Miller as OLB and Wolfe, Jackson, and Sylvester Willams at DL than the sorry bunch the Bears put out there. Now he will be asked to be the star, not play in the shadow of stars. Big difference.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

March 23, 2016 at 01:12 pm

"Now he will be asked to be the star"

At 6 million? If that is "Star" money then is Nick Perry expected to "Star" as well?

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dobber's picture

March 23, 2016 at 01:32 pm

It's star money for an ILB...

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Maverick91's picture

March 23, 2016 at 10:30 am

If Ted lets Karlos Dansby and Jared Cook walk I might "consider" becoming a Bears fan. Answer this Ted: why haven't you "considered" bringing in Dansby for a look? He openly listed the Packers as a team he'd like to play for. We can't keep relying on Aaron to bail us out when a massive hole that you left gets exposed in the playoffs.

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dobber's picture

March 23, 2016 at 10:32 am

Classic example of trying to build up your own demand. If the Packers weren't going to pony up for a fast, young ILB like Trevathan who very directly addresses some of their self-identified needs, I don't see them throwing any money at Dansby unless he goes all the way down to the vet minimum.

Cook is still there, and the longer he's out there, the closer he'll come to TTs price. Have patience.

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Maverick91's picture

March 23, 2016 at 01:00 pm

Well if that's the case then why didn't Ted push to sign Travethan? In regards to Dansby even with his age he would be a massive upgrade over what we currently have on the roster. Plus he'll take a pay cut for a contending team, meaning he should cost no more then $3 million. And when you think about it is that really a steep price for a guy who had 108 tackles, 3 int and 2 FF last year? I mean we just over paid James Starks and Nick Perry, and Ted has shown willingness to sign old free agents, just look at Peppers. Plus Dansby will provide a competitive fire and leadership in the middle of our defense.

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dobber's picture

March 23, 2016 at 01:12 pm

"Well if that's the case then why didn't Ted push to sign Travethan? "

I can't answer that, but I can speculate that the ILB position is just not a position of value in the Packer organization. That maybe they don't want to bury $$ in a position that you're only utilizing 35-40% of the time due to sub packages. If you live in a community where you can't park and you take the train to and from work everyday, you probably shouldn't buy a Cadillac Escalade when a bicycle will get you where you need to be. The question is one of: do the Packers currently own a bicycle?

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Maverick91's picture

March 23, 2016 at 09:05 pm

Ok let me ask you this: why does Ted seem so content with just making the playoffs instead of winning Superbowls? He thinks he can just rely on Aaron Rodgers to take us there, but every player needs a great team around him no matter how great he is. Ted has adopted this "Settlers" mentality where he just brushes off a heart breaking loss and says "there's always next year", and unfortunately some Packers fans are adopting this mentality as well. Teds' job as GM is to do all he can to make this team better each year, that means exploring ALL avenues of player acquisition instead of just the draft, and I don't mean just "considering" players, I mean actually SIGNING them. Why settle for silver when you can have gold?

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SpudRapids's picture

March 23, 2016 at 02:50 pm

"Of the 86 players chosen for the Pro Bowl, only four of them changed teams last offseason. And two of those guys (Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall and Bills running back LeSean McCoy) were acquired by trade."

Free agency is overrated... paying for overrated players past their prime

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