Green Bay Packers: Why Ted Thompson Is the Best General Manager In The NFL

Let me be the first to call for Ted Thompson Day in the state of Wisconsin!

I’m telling you this guy has earned himself a day, a parade, a cake, or whatever it is you can find that looks somewhat celebratory. 

You may be reading this wondering why I would even write this article. Why would somebody celebrate Ted Thompson? After all, he is only just doing his job right?

Wrong.

Ted Thompson is the best General Manager in the NFL.

Let’s take a trip in the time machine real fast, and take it back oh, let’s say, two off-seasons ago. 

Remember when the Packers quarterback was this guy named Brett Favre? 

I mean, Favre did some things in his day, and he racked up a few noteworthy accomplishments in Green Bay. 

Ok, let’s just be honest: Brett Favre could have literally kicked your dog, stole your girlfriend, spit in your face, and then laughed at you and you would still be staring at him all big eyed and excited. 

You would ask for his autograph, and then brag to your friends later about all the horrible things that Brett Favre did to you.

Brett Favre was king, and he knew it.

Year after year his ego grew almost as fast as his interception rate, and finally, with it all on the line he broke our hearts one last time in the NFC Championship game.

He then proceeded to take his ball and go home, but then come back again, but then go back home, and perhaps come back again one more time.

Packer Nation was literally torn to pieces over Favre’s whole retirement fiasco. Many people were grovelling at his feet begging him to come back, and many others were ready to move forward with Aaron Rodgers, and hope for a better future.

In the end it was Favre who came crying back in the same way that he left, and there was only one man who had enough guts to face his critics, face the media, and more importantly face Favre, and say no.

That man was Ted Thompson.

This is where you cue the "Hallelujah" chorus sung by the choir of angels.

Flash forward a couple years. Brett Favre has spent most of his time getting sacked, throwing interceptions, hanging out with Jenn Sterger, and on his cell phone.

Aaron Rodgers just led the Green Bay Packers to the Super Bowl, and now has a chance to win it.

Have you started baking that Ted Thompson cake yet? If not, don’t worry, it gets even better.

Thompson often times gets flak about the way that he runs the Packers. He is a very in—house type of GM, and would much rather promote within the system than go out and acquire big free agents.

It might seem boring and stale at times, but there is definitely a method to the madness here, and the proof is on display in the team that you just watched win their way to Super Bowl XLV.

Before we can even talk about how Thompson stone—walled Brett Favre, you have to go back to the draft in which he actually had the wherewithal to jump on Aaron Rodgers, and then implemented a plan to slowly develop him. 

In a league that has become so here and now oriented, Thompson has shown that patience really does pay off.

Next, we can turn our eyes to the Packers depth chart. This is a team that has suffered more injuries than any other team in the league, and is still in prime position to win the Super Bowl.

Depth comes down to one thing, drafting good players and trusting your system. 

This is where Thompson is king.

Allow me to take a moment to list out the some of the players that have been drafted by Thompson. Pay close attention to the amount of impact players on this list.

Aaron Rodgers, Nick Collins, A.J. Hawk, Daryn Colledge, Greg Jennings, Jason Spitz, Johnny Jolly, Justin Harrell, Brandon Jackson, James Jones, Desmond Bishop, Mason Crosby, Jordy Nelson, Patrick Lee, Jermichael Finley, Josh Sitton, Matt Flynn, B.J Raji, Clay Matthews, TJ Lang, Brad Jones.

I pretty much just listed out a legitimate starting lineup for a playoff team in the NFL, and the scary part is, most of those players are backups and role players on the Packers. It’s also impressive to note how many Pro Bowl caliber players were drafted outside of the first round.

Still doubt that Ted Thompson is the best General Manager in the NFL?

To illustrate my point just a little bit further, let’s look at the Packers recent run through the playoffs.

Rookie running back, James Starks has added a much needed spark to the Packers running game. Sam Shields, a rookie cornerback, had two interceptions against the Bears in the title game, including the game sealer, and rookie punter Tim Masthay effectively neutralized some of the best kick returners in the league. He consistently had the opposing team backed up in their own territory.

Ted Thompson is the best General Manager in the NFL.

He has stood firm in his belief of building a team through the draft, and has faced all his critics regarding his decisions. He said no to arguably the biggest icon in the NFL, and chose to go with the virtually unproven young quarterback that he drafted.

Every decision that Thompson has made was in the best interest of the Green Bay Packers, and he has made all the right decisions so far, despite what other people thought.

He has built this team from the ground up, and supplied them with enough depth and talent to withstand even the most injury—plagued seasons.

Now his team will be playing in the Super Bowl, and he deserves all the credit for it.

When considering my statements keep this in mind: Yes, the Packers are in the Super Bowl this year, but they are in great position to make another run next year, and for many years after that.

This team is going to get back their all—star tight end, Jermichael Finley, and a handful of other starters that were not able to play this season. Not only that, but one could only wonder who Thomson will be able to snatch up in this upcoming draft.

The Packers are going to be very good for a very long time.

That is why Ted Thompson is the best General Manager in the NFL.

Let’s start working on that holiday.