HEADLINES

Ted Thompson

NFC Notes: Bennett, Lions, Rams, Jennings

March 23rd, 2015 at 5:22pm CST by Luke Adams

Speaking to reporters in Arizona today, Seahawks general manager John Schneider said that defensive end Michael Bennett hasn’t requested a trade and is happy in Seattle, tweets Terry Blount of ESPN.com.

A report last week indicated that Bennett wanted a new contract, and perhaps a trade to Dan Quinn‘s Falcons, but even if that’s the case, it doesn’t look like the Seahawks have any plans to move him. For what it’s worth, Schneider appeared to dodge the issue of whether the defensive end wants his contract reworked, as Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times tweets.

Schneider also confirmed that defensive lineman Jesse Williams will be re-added to the Seahawks’ roster soon, indicating that Williams was only waived as a procedural transaction (Twitter link via Condotta).

Here’s more out of the NFC:

  • Lions GM Martin Mayhew confirmed today to reporters, including Josh Katzenstein of The Detroit News (Twitter link), that his team is in talks with free agent guard Rob Sims about a new deal.
  • The Rams are keeping their eye on free agent offensive linemen like Joe Barksdale, Stefen Wisniewski, and Justin Blalock, but the club isn’t expected to sign any of those players this week, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  • While the Cowboys aren’t likely to make any other noteworthy free agent investments, Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com suggests the club could go bargain shopping, identifying offensive tackle, safety, and return man as three potential areas of need.
  • Panthers owner Jerry Richardson took responsibility for the organization’s decision to not re-sign embattled defensive end Greg Hardy. “Whose call would you think that would be?” Richardson asked ESPN.com’s David Newton. When asked about the owner’s logic, Richardson replied that the Panthers “do the right things.”
  • When wideout Greg Jennings left the Packers for the Vikings in 2013, the veteran displayed some animosity towards the organization. However, Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson made it clear that those kinds of comments wouldn’t dissuade his team from pursuing the 31-year-old. “We’re not that sensitive about things like that,” Thompson said (via Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin.com). “Players are players. Players say things. Sometimes we make mistakes [too].”

NFC Mailbags: Packers, Lions, Panthers, Washington

March 21st, 2015 at 9:53am CST by Ben Levine

It’s Saturday morning, and that means ESPN.com’s NFL writers are opening their mailbags and answering questions from readers. With an eye towards the NFL draft, let’s start off with some notes from the NFC…

  • Rob Demovsky believes the Packers could select a quarterback late in this year’s draft. With the expected departure of Matt Flynn, the rookie could compete with Scott Tolzien for the backup gig.
  • Meanwhile, Demovsky says there’s little chance the Packers move up in the first round. The writer notes that general manager Ted Thompson has only traded up in the first round once, when he swapped a second-round and two third-round picks for a late first-rounder (used to select Clay Matthews).
  • Considering the fourth and fifth-round picks the Lions sent to the Ravens for Haloti Ngata, Michael Rothstein says it could be in the team’s best interest to trade down in the draft. With multiple roster holes, the team could benefit from having some extra picks.
  • Based on the Panthers early moves in free agency, David Newton believes the organization is targeting four positions in the first round: wide receiver, offensive tackle, running back and defensive lineman.
  • Washington‘s signing of Colt McCoy would not prevent the organization from selecting Marcus Mariota, says John Keim. In fact, if the Oregon quarterback falls to Washington, Keim says McCoy would be a good mentor for the rookie.

Packers GM On Wolf, Romo, Rodgers

January 8th, 2015 at 7:40pm CST by Zachary Links

Packers GM Ted Thompson was just a teenager the last time the Cowboys traveled to Lambeau Field for a playoff game. Fast forward a couple of years, Thompson is 61 and getting set for the next Lambeau postseason clash between the two teams. Just a few years ago, Thompson was dreaming of becoming an area scout and spending his off days on the beach. This is a far cry from that, but he tells Tom Pelissero of USA Today that he’s still extremely motivated by the hunt and happy to live a structured life, even if its a bit stressful. Here are some of the highlights from their chat..

On the GM candidacy of staffers like Eliot Wolf, Alonzo Highsmith, and Brian Gutekunst:

Oh, I would think so. There’s several guys, and some of the young guys — it’ll be a longer time before they reach that point. But yeah, I think they will. It’s the same way Ron taught us all, and what I mean is in the draft meetings — because you go through 17, 18 days before the combine, and it’s just a grind all the time — but it’s a remarkable learning tool for everybody. Then you have to be put in a position where you have to make a decision like ‘boom, boom,’ right now. And that’s a different thing. That’s something that needs more work.

On losing scouts to higher-ranked jobs elsewhere and replacing them:

Yeah, it’s the next man up thing. It works the same way as players. Obviously, it’s a different set of circumstances. But we go about our personnel department and college scouting, pro scouting exactly the same way that (former Packers GM) Ron Wolf taught us all to do it. You’ve got your 20 guys, counting your college scouts and pro scouts and whatever, and then you give them particular assignments. And if one leaves, then somebody else takes that chair and you go on. And normally, you’re adding young guys to train as you go along there, so you’ve got that cycle of guys coming through. We have had quite a number of them go through and become very successful.

With all the resources that teams put into scouting, how does someone like Tony Romo (undrafted in 2013) fall through the cracks?

It’s remarkable. Tom Brady going in the sixth round. Go figure. There are free agents, and we spend a lot of time on college free agents. But people also remember that there used to be 17 rounds in the draft, and there were guys that were getting drafted in the 17th round that wound up making it.

On his expectations for Aaron Rodgers after drafting him No. 24 in 2005:

I don’t know if you could ever predict that. I think you have high hopes for all the young men that you bring in. Aaron’s was going to be a different road than most in this day and age. Most people are not taken with the idea that, ‘OK, you’re going to not play for a couple of years,’ or something. Usually, they have to go play. We were fortunate to have a team with a quarterback that was established, and we didn’t have to throw him to the wolves. Who knows how it would’ve turned out? I think he would’ve still been a good player either way. There are other people that think if we’d have thrown him to the dogs, it might’ve ruined him. Who knows? But as it turned out, the way we did it, I guess I’m glad we did it, because it worked.

North Links: Steelers, Peppers, Browns

January 4th, 2015 at 1:55pm CST by Ben Levine

We learned earlier today that the future is uncertain for a couple of veteran Steelers defenders. Troy Polamalu and James Harrison could soon call it a career, but neither player wanted to address the speculation following their loss to the Ravens on Saturday.

“Honestly, we just lost a game,” said Polamalu (via ESPN.com’s Scott Brown). “I don’t think I’m prepared to even think about that or talk about that at this time.”

“We’ll see,” Harrison said. “I’m not going to answer a question [about the future] right now because I’m not in the right mind frame.”

Let’s check out some more notes from the NFL’s north divisions…

  • Packers general manager Ted Thompson probably has a “good idea” about whether he’ll have Julius Peppers back next season, ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky writes. If the organization thinks Peppers can repeat his production from 2014, Demovsky believes they’ll bring the veteran (and his $9.5MM salary) back for a second year.
  • Even though the Packers are interested in extending defensive tackle Letroy Guion, that doesn’t mean B.J. Raji‘s tenure with the organization is over, writes Demovsky.
  • It’s sounding like Browns general manager Ray Farmer has zero intention of giving up on quarterback Johnny Manziel, writes Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. If the team was to move on and trade up for Marcus Mariota, Cabot estimates that it would cost three first-rounders.
  • Furthermore, Cabot says the turnaround of cornerback Joe Haden proves that the Browns shouldn’t give up on Manziel or Justin Gilbert.

Extra Points: HGH, Thompson, Raiders

September 4th, 2014 at 4:58pm CST by Luke Adams

Reports today, including one from ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen, have suggested that talks between the NFL and the NFLPA have intensified, as the two sides attempt to implement HGH testing and revamp the league’s current drug policy. However, NFLPA president Eric Winston has issued a statement cautioning that there’s still work to be done.

“Players who have been to any collective bargaining negotiation understand that we never describe them as ‘very close,'” Winston said. “We look at every issue we can to improve the rights and benefits of players. This process takes time, it takes creativity and it is never easy. We want to get a new agreement in place but we understand the responsibility we have to the players and to the game. It is critical that we get this right.”

Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Ted Thompson’s new contract with the Packers should keep him with the team well into his mid-60s. Rapoport reports that the deal, which was signed in July, is a three-year pact that runs through 2018.
  • Meanwhile, Peter King takes an in-depth look at Thompson in a piece for TheMMQB.com, which includes the Packers GM discussing the team’s signing of Julius Peppers.
  • Although a report on Wednesday suggested that the City of Oakland is closing in on an agreement for a new stadium for the Raiders, San Antonio is “still in conversations” to move the Raiders to Texas, city manager Sheryl Sculley tells Josh Baugh and Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News.
  • During the 48-hour window between when the Saints cut him and re-signed him, Robert Meachem received inquiries from other teams, but he says he knew the call from New Orleans was coming, tweets Sean Fazende of FOX 8 Sports.
  • Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com explains why the 49ers saw $8MM in cap space disappear this week, as the cap calculations for the 2014 season started taking into account teams’ full rosters rather than just their top 51 highest-paid players.

Packers GM Talks Extension, Future, Offseason

August 3rd, 2014 at 5:54pm CST by Ben Levine

The Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel’s Bob McGinn sat down with Packers general manager Ted Thompson on a variety of subjects, including Thompson’s new extension, his future with the franchise and the team’s offseason acquisitions. Here are some of the highlights:

On his contract negotiations with team President Mark Murphy:

“Informal. Yes, I had some representation. An attorney friend of mine. It wasn’t very difficult. It was done over the course of the last few weeks. I think Mark did it (alone).”

On whether he’ll follow the path of his mentor, Ron Wolf, who walked away from the game at age 62:

“Not specifically. I think everybody has their own threshold. Ron was very smart. What he’s been able to accomplish since his retirement in terms of traveling…he and his wife are in good health and have been able to do that…I think that’s marvelous. In my particular situation, I think if I can stay in good health and do this job, I think that’s a marvelous situation.”

On what keeps him motivated:

“The ability to stay up high. To continue the chase of scouting and working with good people. All those things are important to me. My family back home in Texas is important to me. I am cognizant that I’ve spent a large part of my life away from them. I’m going to make a concerted effort to try to be more in their lives. If it’s a weekend every six or eight weeks, I’m going to try to do stuff like that.”

On his role within the organization:

“The short answer is to be a leader. That encompasses a lot of different things. It’s making decisions, but it’s also the idea of being a good person and a servant to the people that work alongside me. The people that I work with have their own lives and their own families. It’s important to try to do this right.”

On Russ Ball (negotiating vice president) potentially being his successor:

“Russ Ball is outstanding. He’s one of those people I work so closely with and becomes part of your family. He’s a good man and certainly an asset to the Packers.”

On whether he deliberately matches contract lengths with head coach Mike McCarthy:

“It’s just been generally the stance of the organization to kind of tie the general manager and head coach in lock step. It makes a little bit of sense in terms of, if the contracts would expire or be lengthened out, they’d be (done) all at the same time.”

On team’s ability to consistently stay under the cap:

“Part of that is management and an understanding of what we will and won’t do on a contract. There’s a lot of angst when you get involved in negotiations. There’s a tendency by some teams to kind of maybe stretch a little bit beyond their reach. What we’ve always done, and what I think quite frankly is one of the secrets of this, is that we’ve always done it the same way. Meaning, we’ve looked at free agents and our own players the same way. We haven’t had four people sitting in my chair and three different head coaches. We’ve had the same people sitting in the chairs. I think when that happens, that changes your roster moves dramatically. It bodes well for me staying in place. I think it’s the continuity of having Mike and myself and our entire staff, coaching and personnel, they’re all the same.”

On taking the blame for last season’s back-up quarterback debacle:

“Well, you kind of push the envelope. You’re always trying to get better at that position, just like any other. It wasn’t like we didn’t bring different people in and take a look at them. It just didn’t work out. We feel pretty good about our (current) group.”

On allowing center Evan Dietrich-Smith to depart via free agency:

“It’s just the way it worked out, you know? He got a nice offer (from the Buccaneers) and we chose not to go there. I think (J.C. Tretter) has a chance to be a pretty good player. Working hard. Good kid. Smart.”

On whether the Julius Peppers acquisition will work out:

“I think so. I think that those that have doubted Mr. Peppers most of the time have been wrong. He is, as people have been able to see over the last few days, a gifted athlete despite being a little older than some. I look forward to watching him. He seems anxious to do it, too.”

Packers Extend GM Ted Thompson

July 30th, 2014 at 12:57pm CST by Luke Adams

General manager Ted Thompson has signed a new multiyear contract extension with the Packers, the team announced today in a press release. While the release didn’t include details on how long Thompson’s new deal runs, it appears the GM will remain in Green Bay for the foreseeable future, considering he already had two years left on his previous contract.

“I’m pleased that we were able to enter into this contract extension with Ted,” said Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy. “His outstanding work has been the key factor in the success that we’ve enjoyed in recent years. I have tremendous respect for Ted, and am confident that we will continue to contend for championships under his leadership.”

The seventh-longest-tenured general manager in the NFL, Thompson is entering his 10th season at the helm of the franchise. During his stint in Green Bay, the team has earned six playoff berths and only had a losing record twice. Of course, the club also won the Super Bowl following the 2010 season.

While there had been some speculation that Thompson could opt to retire soon, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported earlier this week that he didn’t envision the GM leaving the Packers anytime soon.

NFC Notes: Harbaugh, Peterson, Packers

July 29th, 2014 at 12:13pm CST by Luke Adams

Asked about Alex Boone‘s holdout and Vernon Davis‘ near-holdout, as well as his own contract situation, 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh took the opportunity to set the record straight regarding rumors about his deal with the Niners, in a conversation with Jason Cole of Bleacher Report.

“I signed my 10th contract in the National Football League in 2011, so I understand contracts,” Harbaugh said. “I understand how contracts work, and what they are there for. I also know that I work at the pleasure of the San Francisco 49ers organization and at the pleasure of the York Family. And I am paid extremely well – which I am most grateful for – and I am very proud to be part of this organization. For the record, I have never asked to be the highest-paid coach in football. I have never asked to be paid like a Super Bowl-winning coach. I have never asked for more power. Nor has anybody asked for those things on my behalf, which anybody in this organization can attest to, and all the focus will be on the 2014 season and achieving our goals of the team.”

Harbaugh’s comments seem to be directly reference an early-June report which suggested that contract talks between the Niners and their head coach had reached an impasse. While further discussions may still be on hold, it doesn’t sound as if Harbaugh is unhappy with his situation, which figures to be addressed after the 2014 season.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • Cardinals GM Steve Keim and cornerback Patrick Peterson both appear committed to working out a long-term extension sooner rather than later, with Keim indicating the team has had “great talks” with agent Joel Segal, and Peterson saying the two sides are in “pretty heated negotiations.” Still, as Tom Pelissero of USA Today writes, no template has been set yet for how to account for the 2015 options for 2011 first-rounders when negotiating their second contracts.
  • After speaking to “key people” within the Packers‘ organization, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com came away more convinced than ever that general manager Ted Thompson has no plans to retire anytime soon.
  • Peter King of TheMMQB.com takes a look at Jordan Gross’ somewhat surprising decision to retire after the 2013 season, and how the longtime Panthers tackle is transitioning into his post-playing career.
  • The Vikings are bringing in prominent criminal attorney Ted Wells, who headed the report on the Dolphins’ bullying scandal, to work on settlement talks for the Chris Kluwe investigation, a source tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

NFC North Links: Lions, Packers, Vikings

July 12th, 2014 at 5:48pm CST by Ben Levine

The squad likely won’t set any records, but the Lions have quietly built a solid secondary. As Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press writes, the team’s defensive backfield consists of a former All-Pro (Rashean Mathis), a former Super Bowl champion (James Ihedigbo), a talented former second-rounder (Darius Slay) and perhaps the most talented player of the bunch (Glover Quin). With that depth, the Lions should improve a passing defense that allowed the fifth-most passing yards in the NFC last season.

However, the team looked to have a solid secondary entering last season but struggled initially. Mathis, the oldest of the group, understands that the group has to be ready from day one.

“More of everything,” he said. “More consistency regardless of what coverage we’re in, what technique we’re in, we’re just going to be consistent and that means a lot, that means a lot.

“If we’re press, the ball is ours just as much as it’s theirs. If we’re (off-man coverage), same thing goes. Regardless of what technique we’re showing we’re just going to be more consistent. We didn’t start off well, but we finished well. So to start better is a good thing. To finish how we did last year, we want to finish even better. And we have the tools to do so.”

Let’s check out some more notes from the NFC North…

  • Free agent safety Jim Leonhard told WQOW-TV (via Marc Sessler of NFL.com) that he’s talked to the Packers about joining the team. “They’re a great organization,” Leonhard said. “I’d love to play for them but it hasn’t worked out up to now. You never know what can happen in the future, but we’ll see.”
  • In his recent Packers mailbag, ESPN.com writer Rob Demovsky said that it’s “a good bet that (Jordy) Nelson‘s deal will get done well before (Ted) Thompson‘s.” Packer president Mark Murphy previously said that extending Thompson is a “top priority.” However, Nelson and his expiring contract are likely higher on the front office’s check list.
  • Andre Johnson and the Vikings don’t “seem like a good fit,” opines ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling. The writer points out the that team already has a 30-year-old receiver in Greg Jennings, and a Johnson acquisition may reduce Cordarrelle Patterson‘s role.

NFC North Notes: Thompson, Bears, Lions

July 10th, 2014 at 4:46pm CST by Luke Adams

Let’s check in on the latest from around the NFC North….

  • Packers general manager Ted Thompson remains under contract through the 2016 draft, but that doesn’t mean the club hasn’t started thinking about extending his deal. According to ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky, Green Bay president Mark Murphy confirmed that he considers an extension for Thompson a priority for the team. “I think Ted’s been instrumental obviously in the run we’ve had,” Murphy said, adding that the GM hasn’t conveyed a desire to retire anytime soon.
  • Guard Matt Slauson is Jason Fitzgerald’s pick for the Bears‘ most team-friendly contract in his latest piece for Over The Cap. Fitzgerald had a harder time identifying the club’s worst contract, eventually deciding on Tim Jennings, who will be paid $7.5MM in the first year of his four-year deal.
  • Plenty of other March signings overshadowed the Lions‘ addition of fullback Jed Collins, but the former Saint may end up being a real difference-maker in Detroit this season, writes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
Load More Posts