Dear Mark Murphy
As the proprietor of a Packer fan blog and as a writer in general, I feel obligated to say something monumental today. Well, it may not be monumental but it will be something.
As the proprietor of a Packer fan blog and as a writer in general, I feel obligated to say something monumental today. Well, it may not be monumental but it will be something.
As much as the prospect of having to do so pains me at best, here are my thoughts on the team I live and die by.
I feel I always need to start with some kind of disclaimer about my knowledge in these types of situations, but in this instance I am going to refrain from doing so. Unless you are working for the organization, or have been lucky enough to gain to some kind of inside football knowledge, I am confident in saying I can hold my own in any reality based Packer conversation.
I never miss a game, I am certainly better read than most, and I devote approximately one-third of my total available time to following the Green Bay Packers.
That being said, I think I have a good grasp of the situation, and what the future should hold.
As put so eloquently by someone else, I think you’re facing a cold reality.
Not that you will listen to what I have to say with any real tangible interest, but, this is what I think the Packer’s should do… starting tomorrow.
Fire Ted Thompson
That sound you hear is the collective gasp of the three or so people that regularly read my blog.
Shocking? Overall not really, but coming from my mouth it certainly will be considered unexpected. I have been the staunchest supporter of Ted Thompson since the word go. As a fan I feel it an unwritten rule to support the general manager and the decisions of the team with a warm embrace. You never slander or openly hope for the demise of anyone on your team. If you do, you are hardly a true fan.
I am not here to bash Ted Thompson, his decision making, or the team’s record. Whether you believe in Ted Thompson or not, the long term repercussions of another season with Ted at the helm, could devastate the already pot-holed Packer nation.
This has nothing to do with Favre (who still is a whiny little prima donna – Go Jets), or draft picks, or even our record. It has everything to do with a divided fan base and its reflection on a pride depraved organization.
The situation will not improve either. If you think the microscope on this off-season was bad, just wait until next year. The fans will not unite, the players will not come, and the team will not improve.
It seems everyone is longing for that cry baby… err young kid that goes out and plays with ardent fervor every Sunday. Please give our young guys a chance to do the same, to relax and play football.
You don’t have to change to playbook just change the face.
Make it all go away… it’s not worth it.
You Better Frickin’ Get Jennings
You obviously asked Greg Jennings if he wanted to talk contract this off-season. He also obviously said he wasn’t interested in talking quite yet. Eliminating Ted Thompson will go a long way in solving that problem. Greg Jennings is a superstar, the likes we haven’t seen in Green Bay in quite some time. He is the face of your franchise. Greg Jennings does not want to be a part of this circus.
Greg is above that.
Fire Bob Sanders (and his entire staff)
Do I really need to get into this? This was completely and totally unacceptable.
Please Bring Back Packer Football
What we have seen the past few weeks is completely un-inspired football. This team has always been synonymous with toughness and heart. We saw neither this season. We saw great play by a young quarterback, breakout years in the secondary, and rejuvenated careers. But, we did not see any fire, any toughness, or any I’m going to smash you down Packer football that is this team.
I totally support the Favre situation. It is obvious that Aaron Rodgers is the future of this team. Yet, Aaron is not the same type of person as Brett was. You never replaced the intangibles that Brett brought to the game. Aaron Rodgers is not that guy, Greg Jennings is not that guy, and Donald Driver was not that guy.
Find that guy and sign him.
We need that guy.
I am virtually certain that guy does not reside in the draft pool either. That was a hint.
Not to keep you any longer, it is obviously apparent that this situation cannot continue. No matter who is right or who is wrong, it is time to remove the owner of that judgment and replace him with an impartial party.
If you do not make this amazingly difficult decision immediately, you will put the proud face of this franchise in great peril.
Get it done, I think you will be surprised at how many will feel understandably relieved.
(Stay Tuned)
Comments (31)
December 08, 2008 at 04:09 pm
Bravo Alex....can I link this over at the packerbacker.. ? good stuff !
Alex Tallitsch
December 08, 2008 at 04:13 pm
Go nuts.
December 08, 2008 at 04:20 pm
Whoa.
December 08, 2008 at 06:17 pm
Excellent Alex!
December 08, 2008 at 09:25 pm
Stay consistent, Alex.
Alex Tallitsch
December 08, 2008 at 09:30 pm
I changed my mind. I think it is the best scenario. Not my personal favorite but the best. It is not a want to... it is a have to.
Mostly in part to the majority of fans being totally lame.
If this were to happen again next year, it could set the organization back decades.
Alex Tallitsch
December 08, 2008 at 09:31 pm
On a side note, if you woke up tomorrow and heard Ted got the axe and would be replaced by (GM with similar resume) would you lose any sleep over it?
December 08, 2008 at 09:35 pm
I agree for the most part but I would not fire TT. He pretty much built the young core we have today, and turned an 4 win team to a playoff team. If TT were never hired we would never have been in the playoffs last year. We were horrible, and TT turned the team around. We had a bad year due to injuries and the close losses killed the heart of this team we displayed game 1, but I do not care about the fan base at all. TT is regarded as the best evaluator of talent in the league today and giving that up for another GM is absurd. The fans wont care if we have a 10+ record next year and new GM . We all know that fans will be mad as long as Favre is in the league or the Jets get in the playoffs. Chances are that our problems will be over next year. We will have better picks next season and TT can do even more for this team. Where would we be without your man Jennings, or even: Jones, Woodson? If there is one decision that would kill this team, its firing one of the best GM's in the industry.
December 08, 2008 at 09:37 pm
You forgot the part where we stop acting like retards when it comes to free agency. Dangerous waters my ass. It's dangerous to rely solely on the draft.
I will be very surprised if TT gets fired. Especially since a lot of fans are calling for it. MM made his stance with Bob Harlan back in August. If he's not going to dip into free agency, I'm all for the firing. You can rely solely on the draft to be competitive. He's great for bringing in talent, but the team has little veteran, playmaking back-bone at the moment. It would be nice if management proved it had some balls in the offseason. Get Haynesworth.
December 08, 2008 at 09:38 pm
"The fans wont care if we have a 10+ record next year and new GM"
The fans wont care if we have a 10+ win record next year
**
Alex Tallitsch
December 08, 2008 at 09:42 pm
Damn Pro you actually said something I almost agree with.
I am more worried about players not wanting to come here. If no one wants to come here, or stay here for that matter, it really doesn't matter how well you pick.
It's simple social damage control. Nothing more.
All I am saying is that if we keep Ted and he does not win (which I hope doesn't happen) it could really do some damage to the future of the organization that already has problems attracting talent.
December 08, 2008 at 09:44 pm
"Chances are that our problems will be over next year."
How do you figure. The run was bad with jenkins and Barnett. If we don't dip into free agency it will be the same old shit. Good prospects with a chance to develope. Only thing is, time takes its toll. You need veteran playmakers to fill the gaps. You can't always wait around for them.
December 08, 2008 at 09:52 pm
Would you feel better with healthy safeties? Healthy D-Line? Younger OL? New young players? For your information we were only beat soundly 3x, every other loss was close (within one touchdown,) do you think that if we did not have all the injuries we would be in the same situation? Answer: NO. We did not have the depth on DL due to injury, starters wer taking too many snaps and played poorly as a result. When that depth is restored I have the utmost confidence we win those close games.
Alex Tallitsch
December 08, 2008 at 09:55 pm
I hope you are right Pro. I will agree with Asshalo in that there is nothing wrong with restoring some of that depth with quality veterans.
If veterans want to come here. Again, my main concern.
December 08, 2008 at 10:01 pm
You're going to force me to put out one of my offseason articles now, aren't you.
Alex Tallitsch
December 08, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Julius Peppers looks pretty nice.
December 08, 2008 at 11:45 pm
You have to also realize that if you fire Thompson, the new GM will want to bring in his own coach, who will want to hire his own staff. So if you fire Thompson, you are firing everyone. Thats a lot of money. Just too drastic IMO.
Alex Tallitsch
December 08, 2008 at 11:59 pm
I don't think firing a GM while keeping a coach is unprecedented. You may be able to prove me wrong, but I don't think the Ted/MM package is a all or nothing deal.
Half the staff we all agree needs to be replaced anyway.
December 09, 2008 at 12:11 am
Half?
You are so dead Wednesday.
Alex Tallitsch
December 09, 2008 at 07:41 am
Half. Defense and special teams = half in my math book.
December 09, 2008 at 11:49 am
smells like someone wanted to increase their traffic in here.
Alex Tallitsch
December 09, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Not really. Although it is working. In all seriousness,
I don't see a dismissal as anything I would lose any sleep over. I am somewhat convinced that it may be the lesser of two evils.
December 09, 2008 at 01:12 pm
im just playing.
but really, I don't see where the "free agents wont come here" is coming from.
Jennings just wants his money. nothing wrong with that.
any other examples?
Alex Tallitsch
December 09, 2008 at 02:08 pm
There are no examples.
I hold the opinion that players will not want to deal with the scrutiny, the fan fracture, or Ted's negotiating style.
Would you want to join this mess? That is my only point. The magnifying glass is going to be right over this team more-so than probably most teams in the league. I worry that players will not want to throw themselves into that kind of fire.
If we had a winning season, I think perceptions would be different. It isn't a matter of Ted doing his job or not, it is how the situation is perceived from the outside looking in.
December 09, 2008 at 03:50 pm
One third of your time? That's all?
December 09, 2008 at 03:57 pm
If you take out sleeping it is much more.
December 09, 2008 at 07:42 pm
Seriously? Fire Ted Thompson already? No way dude. The guy built the young core of this team. He traded for Ryan Grant, he drafted Jennings, Hawk, Brandon Jackson, Rodgers...the list goes on.
The only thing that changes the fans perspective of a team is wins, wins and wins. We can finish this year out 8-8 and end the season on a strong note. Or we can take the ball and go home. These final three games can change next season, change the future of this team. This is still a team that was in the NFC Championship game last season, we were ONE WIN AWAY from the Super Bowl.
Your ready to can the man that has played a HUGE hand in turning this team around from 4-12.
Keep the faith man...
December 10, 2008 at 08:18 am
Either kick McCarthy in the seat of the pants for acting like a jerk to the press after virtually every game, or fire him. It's bad enough that he's a losing coach with no excuse other than injuries - which are largely the fault of the strength and conditioning coaches, who need a good kick in the seat of the pants, too - but his press conferences sound like a courtroom encounter where the star witness is trying desperately to only say the minimum words and not incriminate himself.
December 10, 2008 at 08:43 am
What are your thoughts on Bill Belichick? He's also a jerk to reporters.
I don't understand this kinda stuff. Why should he suck up to reporters and\or admit defeat publicly? I actually like his press conferences(this wont shock many) and I have for a while, even last year when we were winning. He's always been snippy to reporters because they ask the stupidest crap. I've copy and pasted many a quote to my pals on AIM because they were hilarious.
Also, lately it's sort of showing how frustrated he is, which is understandable.
December 10, 2008 at 11:33 am
good grief... i never realized how important press conferences were to some people. Like thats where football teams get better or something. Its a freaking requirement. He has to get up there and talk. He doesn't want to be up there... no real coach does. he wants to be in his office or in his locker room, or on the practice field figuring out how to fix his team. Instead he has to talk to a bunch of people with the agenda of keeping people reading their newspaper article.
I don't care if Mike gets up there and takes a dump on the microphones, it ain't gonna help or hurt this team. Its just an exercise in feeding ever shortening attention spans.
December 10, 2008 at 04:23 pm
Also keep in mind the only reason Jennings wanted to wait to talk about a new contract is because if he gets into the Pro Bowl his value skyrockets and he will get a locked prime time deal. The Packers wont hesitate to pay our best offensive weapon, if they did it with Grant, they will undoubtedly do it with someone who actually proved he can preform. This year is hardly TT's fault, the defensive scheme this year was absolutely pathetic. We basically played a base nickle vanilla set along with a 4-3 which we moved away from. Sanders basically relied on our players to do all the work with the occasional turnover and had no complexity to his plays. I would sit on the couch and play the game blitz or no blitz. It was pretty obvious and 2 LB's and a weak DL cannot stop a RB. This season was a disappointment but im tired of pathetic defense. On almost every other playoff contender our Offense did more than it had to in order to win games. Give the Packers the Jets defense and I guarantee that we blow out most teams. Give us Rex Ryan calling plays and the same will happen. Dont blame this on TT and his picks or Rodgers for all the haters out there. For a first year starting QB you dont want to have them win the game for you, you want to have the defense be good enough to eliminate that possibility. Our problem is Sanders and injured players on defense, this season lied on their shoulders. It starts with a new D-cord, then more depth. I believe we can fix those problems pretty easy and yes, Packer Football will be back.