1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:20,919 Speaker 1: Hi, everyone, Welcome to Packers unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford, sitting alongside my colleague West Hodkowitz, 3 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: were coming to you here from our studios at lambeau 4 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: Field and West. A lot of news swirling out of 5 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 1: twelve sixty five Lombardi Avenue. First and foremost that General 6 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 1: Manager Ted Thompson has stepped aside to take a senior 7 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 1: advisory role within the football operations, and Mark Murphy will 8 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 1: be be beginning a search for a new GM of 9 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:47,839 Speaker 1: the Green May Packers. And I'd like to focus our 10 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 1: show today on that. I know there's other news swirling 11 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 1: around out there about the coaching staff and some things 12 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: that may be going on there, but this change at GM. 13 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: Ted Thompson a thirteen year ten year hired in two 14 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,680 Speaker 1: thousand five to take over the Packers football operations, Packers 15 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 1: undergoing a search now for a new leader at the 16 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 1: top of the football chain for the first time in 17 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 1: a long time. Yeah, And and Mark Murphy when they 18 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 1: sat down and discussed it, this is something he mentioned 19 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: that him and Ted, they've been talking about this for 20 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: a number of years. Every year they'd sit down after 21 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 1: the season's over have a conversation, and in those really 22 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 1: were fluid things and kind of seeing where you know, 23 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: Thompson sort of saw his future. And and and one of 24 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:33,679 Speaker 1: the most reoccurring themes in that Mike was, you know, 25 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 1: he's a scout and at the end of the day, 26 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 1: he's always going to be a scout at heart. So 27 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: looking at this position, a lot of things yet to 28 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 1: be decided about how exactly you know, the job, responsibilities 29 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 1: and what he'll you know, what he'll be looked for. 30 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 1: But as Murphy said, the number one thing is it's 31 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: gonna allow him to probably still be a part of 32 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: the process and a guy he'll be, you know, almost 33 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: like a special assistant to the GM as he said. 34 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: As Murphy said, I mean just invaluable. The amount of 35 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 1: resources and experience that Thompson as, Um, you know, some 36 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: of that could be based in Green Bay, some of 37 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: that might allow to travel. We'll wait and see. But 38 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, Uh, the reason why 39 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 1: I think this is going to be such a coveted 40 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 1: job is really goes back to what Ron Wolf did, 41 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: what Ted Thompson did to put the Packers in this position. 42 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 1: Now six years later, Um, it comes back to being 43 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 1: able to uphold that standard, and that's something that Thompson 44 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: did for thirteen years. Yeah, you'll have a new GM 45 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 1: coming in here who has a franchise quarterback in place, 46 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: thanks to Ted Thompson as he made the transition as 47 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 1: rocky as it was at the time, but he got 48 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,240 Speaker 1: the Packers through it successfully, the transition from one Hall 49 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: of Fame quarterback to another, Brett Farve to Aaron Rodgers. 50 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: This is a very attractive job. And one thing I 51 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 1: thought was interesting that Mark Murphy said is he's not 52 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 1: necessarily going to limit himself in terms of uh the 53 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 1: search for Ted Thompson's successor. There are certainly some candidates 54 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:54,519 Speaker 1: in house here in Green Bay. Elliott Wolf, Brian Gudicun, 55 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 1: Salonzo Highsmith, senior personnel executives with long, impressive resumes. You 56 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: have Russ Ball, who has been managing the Packers salary 57 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: cap probably as well as anybody in the league over 58 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 1: the last several years, alongside Ted Thompson. But Mark Murphy 59 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 1: said there will be outside candidates as well. A consultant 60 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 1: will be will be brought in to help with the 61 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: search to help identify potential candidates. There's going to be 62 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 1: a lot going on. It sounds like something could happen 63 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 1: fairly quickly. Mark Murphy is not going to sit around 64 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,920 Speaker 1: and wait. This is not something that UM that you 65 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 1: just put on the back burner. You get going on it, 66 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 1: and he's going to make sure that he hires the 67 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: right person. But one thing we do know for sure, 68 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 1: and that is that the head coach of the team 69 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: will be Mike McCarthy. The new the new GM who 70 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 1: whoever it is that takes over, we'll have Mike McCarthy 71 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: as his head coach. In Yeah, Ted Thompson actually one 72 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: of the things he did this past season was actually 73 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 1: extending McCarthy through two thousand nineteen now, given him a 74 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 1: one year extension, so that stability is there. It's in 75 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 1: place for McCarthy now as he goes about figuring out 76 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: his coaching staff and in all those things that go 77 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 1: along with that. UM And as Murphy said to McCarthy 78 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 1: has been a part of a lot of winning ways 79 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 1: and a lot of tradition and success here. He hopes 80 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 1: that that's something that continues to come. UM. But looking 81 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: more towards Thompson's side of things and where they go 82 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 1: as far as the GM position. Murphy said, they will 83 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: have a search form that will be involved with this, 84 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:18,360 Speaker 1: but at the end of the day, it ultimately is 85 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 1: going to be his decision on what and who's gonna 86 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 1: be handling that job. And realistically, I think it is 87 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: the right approach kind of keeping things open, you know, 88 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 1: going through all the avenues, whether it's internal candidates, whether 89 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 1: it's in you know, scouting backgrounds, different types of backgrounds, 90 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 1: looking at guys across the league. Um, the branch and 91 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 1: the tree of of Ron Wolfe has spread throughout the 92 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:43,719 Speaker 1: entire NFL, and there's a number of guys that have 93 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 1: already been in general manager spots. There's other personal people 94 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 1: around the league that have been tied to Wolfe UM 95 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 1: that that came through Green Bay. So I think when 96 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: you look at those abundance of resources and and executives 97 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: that have sprouted from Green Bay, Wisconsin over the last 98 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,159 Speaker 1: twenty five years, it's one of the reasons why you 99 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 1: can see why Mark Murphy's talking about why he believes 100 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 1: this is a coveted job and why they think they'll 101 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: end up with a really strong candidate. Yeah, and as 102 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 1: much as this is a major change for the Packers, 103 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 1: organization for the first time in a long time. It's 104 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 1: important to stress here that overall the structure of how 105 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 1: things are going to operate in football is not going 106 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 1: to change. The general manager is going to have final 107 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:25,719 Speaker 1: say on football operations. Mark Murphy was asked, well, are 108 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: you going to encourage the general manager to use free 109 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,799 Speaker 1: agency more, maybe to do some things that Ted Thompson 110 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 1: didn't do as often as other gms in the league, 111 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,040 Speaker 1: And Mark Murphy said, that's going to be the general 112 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: manager's call. That that guy is going to run the 113 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 1: football operations, just as the decisions with regards to the 114 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:45,479 Speaker 1: coaching staff will be Mike McCarthy's call. That's how it's 115 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 1: operated here really since Ron Wolf was brought in and 116 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 1: hired Mike Holmgren. That's how things have been run here 117 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 1: for the last quarter century, and that part is not 118 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 1: going to be changed. Yeah. That chain of command from 119 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: you know, president CEO to general manager down to head 120 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,280 Speaker 1: coach and so on and so forth is something that 121 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:05,480 Speaker 1: Murphy says is really benefit of this organization when you 122 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 1: really break it down and look at it and how 123 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 1: they got to this point in time. It's been through 124 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 1: that process and that's something he definitely doesn't want to 125 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 1: firstsake through this. Uh. And I think really you look 126 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: at that that bond that can be built between a 127 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: GM and a head coach, um, you know, working hand 128 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 1: in hand together. I think that's important because we've seen 129 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 1: sometimes when people try to overextend themselves a little bit, 130 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: how that can throw a wrench into the whole thing. 131 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:31,479 Speaker 1: And with Thompson and McCarthy was one of the most 132 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: successful duos in NFL history when you look at a 133 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:37,720 Speaker 1: personnel executive and a head coach. And now we'll just 134 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 1: have to wait and see what the next step is 135 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 1: going to be. Yeah, for sure with that we will 136 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: toss to a break back with more and Packers Unscripted 137 00:06:43,680 --> 00:07:04,280 Speaker 1: right after this h Welcome back to Packers Unscripted. Mike 138 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 1: Spofford in this chair, Wes Hodkowitz in that one in West. 139 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 1: Getting back to some more of Mark Murphy's comments with 140 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 1: regards to the transition ahead. Here at the top of 141 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: the Packers football organization, Ted Thompson's tenure thirteen years, half 142 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: a dozen. I believe it is division championships, the eight 143 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 1: straight playoff appearances, uh, nine playoff appearances overall. If I'm 144 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: not mistaken one Super Bowl Championship, obviously multiple trips to 145 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 1: the NFC Championship game. Mark Murphy acknowledged Ted Thompson has 146 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 1: been a lightning rod amongst fans. He receives takes a 147 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 1: lot of criticism. It's part of the territory. Anybody in 148 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 1: his position is going to have to deal with that. 149 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: But at the end of the day, history is going 150 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 1: to look back fondly on this GMS tenure. I believe Mark, 151 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: Mark Murphy believes, I know you do too. There aren't 152 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: too many who can a hold the job that long 153 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 1: and maintain that level of success that long, and Ted 154 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 1: Thompson deserves a lot of credit for what he's done. 155 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 1: Here here's the thing, Mike, I put Ted Chompson truthfully, 156 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 1: I put him in a mount rushmore of general managers 157 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: the NFL. I know that's high praise, but here's one 158 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 1: of the reasons why I do that. He had to 159 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 1: make for my money, and I'm sure San Francisco to 160 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 1: some extent went through this back in the nineties, but 161 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 1: he had to make the most difficult decision I think 162 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: in the modern era of the NFL. In Brett Favre 163 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: retiring wanting to come back and having to tell a 164 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:33,960 Speaker 1: future Pro Football Hall of Famer that we've basically moved 165 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 1: on with our organization and we are going to hitch 166 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 1: our car here to an unknown former first round draft pick, 167 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 1: but a relatively unknown Aaron Rodgers. At that point, he 168 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 1: really staked his career on that move. Everything could have ended. 169 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 1: If Aaron Rodgers didn't work out, that would have been 170 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 1: on the end of the road for everybody, and it 171 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 1: would have been something that I think would have been 172 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:01,080 Speaker 1: talked about forever. So for this, this narrative about the 173 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 1: Lightning rod the Packers, in my opinion, could have not 174 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 1: won another game after two thousand ten. And I think 175 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 1: Ted Thompson is in a really elite class of personnel 176 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 1: executives because that takes confidence in your scouting ability, it 177 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: takes confidence in your coaching staff, and honestly, it takes 178 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 1: confidence in a young guy that nobody knew a heck 179 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: of a lot about at that time, in Aaron Rodgers. 180 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 1: He made that call and it's set up the franchise 181 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 1: for the next ten to fifteen years. Yeah, I think, uh, 182 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: I think his legacy in this organization will fall just 183 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 1: short of his mentors. Ron Wolf, And I say that 184 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 1: in the most complimentary You're comparing, like, you know, talking 185 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 1: about a Pro Football Hall of Famer and Ron Wolf, 186 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 1: who brought the Packers back from the depths of despair 187 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:53,240 Speaker 1: and made the trade that brought Brett Farve to Green Bay, 188 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:56,000 Speaker 1: brought Reggie White, brought Mike Holmgren, all of that that 189 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 1: that sent the Packers back to prominence. And it took 190 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:02,960 Speaker 1: somebody pretty special and Ted Thompson to maintain that level 191 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 1: of success, to go from one Hall of Fame quarterback 192 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 1: to another, to win another Super Bowl with a completely 193 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:11,560 Speaker 1: different roster and in and a different head coach at 194 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:16,840 Speaker 1: different regime, the whole, the whole thing. I know, gms, 195 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 1: more than anything else, are evaluated on how they draft. 196 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 1: And you can't say Aaron Rodgers, But other than Aaron Rodgers, 197 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 1: who do you think was Ted Thompson's best draft pick? Oh, 198 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:32,840 Speaker 1: this is tough, because Rogers, Aaron Rodgers, I mean, I mean, 199 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:34,679 Speaker 1: there's so many. I mean, I think you can make 200 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 1: an argument his his best pick other than Rodgers was 201 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 1: his next pick with Nick Cole. That's exactly what I 202 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:42,640 Speaker 1: was going to say. I think that was I think 203 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 1: that was his next best one after Collins plays his 204 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:49,720 Speaker 1: entire NFL career, he may have actually picked his first 205 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 1: two picks at the Packers drum Mener might have both 206 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 1: been Pro Football of Famers. I know, I know, it's incredible, 207 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 1: but the list goes on and on. Mike, I know, 208 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:02,680 Speaker 1: drive Marvin nuts upstairs in our production. But Clay Matthews, Um, 209 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 1: you look at a guy like David Bok tr might 210 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 1: there was what ten different offensive lineman taking before him 211 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 1: in two thousand and thirteen, he might. Him and Lane 212 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 1: Johnson are obviously the best ones. And in box tr 213 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 1: is actually a left tackle actually playing a position that 214 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 1: people put a lot of, you know, prominence on. That 215 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: was a heck of a draft pick. I mean Charles 216 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:27,679 Speaker 1: Woodson getting signed as far as the free agency moved 217 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: back in two thousand six, that was just his second 218 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: year on the job, and he brought in another guy 219 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:35,080 Speaker 1: who was gonna who is very soon going to be 220 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:36,720 Speaker 1: in the Hall of Fame. So it's one thing to 221 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 1: be able to find Aaron Rodgers in the draft to 222 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 1: Nick coins and I have a couple of good years, 223 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:42,559 Speaker 1: but how he was able to sustain that, And as 224 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:45,319 Speaker 1: Ron Wolfe said, from day one, you get so many 225 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:46,960 Speaker 1: bites at the apple in these drafts. You're not gonna 226 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:49,480 Speaker 1: hit on every single one of these guys. But Ted 227 00:11:49,559 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 1: Thompson's batting average with that and how he was able 228 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 1: to really build a foundation, build a super Bowl team. Um, 229 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 1: coming from where it was in two thousand five and 230 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: five years later having them in that game, it's it's 231 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 1: the ultimate testament to how he was able to turn 232 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:04,319 Speaker 1: this thing around. Yeah, when I look back at Ted 233 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:07,440 Speaker 1: Thompson's drafts, aside from the first two picks, we discussed 234 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 1: Rogers and Collins back to back right off the bat. 235 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:13,959 Speaker 1: I think what I will remember about Ted Thompson's drafts 236 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 1: the pick of Clay Matthews where he traded back up 237 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: into the first round to get a second first round 238 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:22,319 Speaker 1: pick in two thousand and nine, and uh and draft 239 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 1: a guy who became that Lynchpin pass rusher in the defense, 240 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 1: and uh um, we all know how things have gone 241 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: from there. But the other thing is to me, it's 242 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 1: it's for his drafts, it's been about receivers in the 243 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: second round and offensive lineman in the mid to late rounds. 244 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:43,600 Speaker 1: Because he drafted Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobbin Davante 245 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 1: Adams all in the second round, throwing James Jones in 246 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 1: the third round just for good measure, and you mentioned 247 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: Box tr in the fourth round, Josh Sitton, T J. Lang, 248 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 1: also fourth rounders Corey Lindsley who just got a new 249 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 1: contract extension of fifth rounder J. C. Trader in there 250 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 1: is a fourth rounder, although he ended signing his second 251 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 1: contract elsewhere. Those are those are the trends, you know, 252 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:08,559 Speaker 1: sort of the things that that you hang your hat 253 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 1: on in a sense when you look at the tenure 254 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:12,199 Speaker 1: as a whole. Gonna be hard to forget some of 255 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: those picks. Yeah, and then also to throw it in 256 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: there too. Sometimes it's forget about this, but b J. Rogie, 257 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:18,559 Speaker 1: I mean, the Packers might not win the Super Bowl 258 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:19,960 Speaker 1: in two thousand and ten if it wasn't for that 259 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:22,439 Speaker 1: pick up b J. Rogers as well, the highest pick 260 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 1: that he had aside from a J Hawk when he 261 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: picked a Hawk fifth in two thousand and six. And 262 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:29,199 Speaker 1: and just to touch on briefly with Jordy Nelson, you're 263 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 1: absolutely right, I mean looking at him and a guy 264 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 1: that was a converted safety, a walk on player at 265 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 1: Kansas State. We'll talk about that shortly, But I mean, 266 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 1: how he really invested into guys who are relative unknowns. 267 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:41,559 Speaker 1: I think it's probably one of the things that really 268 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 1: underscores his resume in green Back. Yeah, let's talk a 269 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 1: little bit about that more when we come back after 270 00:13:47,280 --> 00:14:09,680 Speaker 1: this on Packers on script Welcome back to Packers Unscripted. 271 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: Mike Spofford here, West hodkoit's over there, and Wes. You 272 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: mentioned at the end of our last segment the thought 273 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 1: of some of these unheralded guys that Ted Thompson brought 274 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: into the Green Bay Packers and who have gone on 275 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 1: to play some big roles over the years. I mean, 276 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 1: one of the first ones that comes to mind for 277 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 1: me is Sam Shields, a guy who converted from wide 278 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 1: receiver to defensive back his final year in college, comes 279 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 1: to Green Bay as an undrafted rookie, intercepts two passes 280 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 1: in the NFC Championship game and and helps the Packers 281 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 1: win a Super Bowl, and uh becomes a tremendous cornerback, 282 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 1: a top flight cornerback in this league before unfortunately, the 283 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 1: concussions caught up to him and he had to cut 284 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 1: things short. But you talked to a couple of guys 285 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 1: in the current locker room who are forever thankful to 286 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: a GM like Ted Hobson for taking a look and 287 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: giving him a shot. Um some interesting comments there that 288 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 1: you find. Yeah, And and the one thing is I 289 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 1: think if you look back and certainly Aaron Rodgers, Nick Collins, 290 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:12,240 Speaker 1: claim Matthews, those type of players, multiple time Pro Bowlers, 291 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:14,520 Speaker 1: all pro type players are always going to be the 292 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 1: guys that you associate coaches with GMS with. But I 293 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 1: think sometimes it's the guys that aren't necessarily the higher 294 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 1: round draft picks or guys that are gonna necessarily, you know, 295 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 1: command all that attention. The Sam Shields, the Tremon Williams 296 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 1: of the world comes into the practice squad player and 297 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: then you know, getting a chance to talk to some 298 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 1: guys in the locker room during the final media available 299 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 1: on Tuesday. You know Lane Taylor, a guy that forty 300 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 1: one offensive linemen were taken in two thousand thirteen, a 301 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 1: record number. Lane Taylor wasn't one of them. He was 302 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:47,920 Speaker 1: a four year starting right guard at Oklahoma State. Nobody cared, 303 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 1: nobody noticed, and he had two offers. He could go 304 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 1: to Green Bay, you could have went to Cincinnati and 305 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 1: him and his agent, Matt Steagle, sat down and they said, 306 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 1: you know what, Green Bay, there's been a lot of 307 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: opportunity for guys who are undrafted that have had a 308 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 1: chance to prove themselves. He had to wait three full seasons, 309 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 1: but then he gets in the starting lineup last year 310 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 1: and then this year ends up signing an extension. In 311 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:12,560 Speaker 1: talking with Lucas Patrick, the Packers reserve offensive lineman, also 312 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 1: on Tuesday, I mean, you can make a case that 313 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: Lane Taylor's in the top ten of guards now in 314 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 1: the NFL with the way he's able to develop his 315 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 1: game and how stout he has become as a run 316 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 1: blocker in addition to what he does as a pass blocker. 317 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 1: Those are the type of players that make a difference. 318 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 1: And then also to throw out there, guy like Justin McCrae, 319 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 1: who a year ago on New Year's Eve was working 320 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 1: at a as a bellman at a hotel in Orlando, 321 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 1: trying to find a way to get back into the NFL. 322 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:40,920 Speaker 1: He catches the eye of the Packers at the u 323 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:42,960 Speaker 1: c F Pro day after him and his brother beg 324 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: to get an opportunity to work out for them comes 325 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: the Green Bay ends up starting eight games for the 326 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 1: Packers this year, And as he said, I mean Ted Thompson, 327 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 1: the Green Met Packers gave him a shot when nobody 328 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:55,760 Speaker 1: else did. And I think that is probably the ultimate 329 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 1: sign of what Thompson really meant two guys in that 330 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 1: locker room. Is he end up opportunities. He created opportunities 331 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:04,160 Speaker 1: and and allowed guys to take advantage of it. Yeah. 332 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 1: I think of some of the other moves as well. 333 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: You talk about claiming guys on waivers early in Thompson's tenure, 334 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:13,639 Speaker 1: a guy like Jared Bush who ends up being a 335 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:16,399 Speaker 1: tremendous special teams player for a number of years, and 336 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:18,359 Speaker 1: then he's thrown into action in the Super Bowl and 337 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,480 Speaker 1: gets an interception against Ben Roethlisberger that helps the Packers 338 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:26,440 Speaker 1: win a championship. Um, you've got a guy like uh yeah, 339 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 1: that was the next one I was gonna say. The 340 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 1: waiver claimed John Cooney's claimed from Pittsburgh goes on. I mean, 341 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:33,120 Speaker 1: he becomes a you know, not just a cult hero, 342 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 1: but an incredibly productive member of the offense and a 343 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:38,879 Speaker 1: very valued member of in the meeting room, in the 344 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:40,919 Speaker 1: locker room, in the huddle, all of that, And who 345 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:44,119 Speaker 1: could ever forget obviously the block on Julius Peppers in 346 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 1: regular season finale. Even I'll throw out a guy like 347 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 1: Frank Zombo, you know, undrafted playing a reserve depth role 348 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:56,879 Speaker 1: as a as a rookie, gets a sack in the 349 00:17:56,920 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: second half of the Super Bowl to help the Packers 350 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:01,679 Speaker 1: win that game. His career are is continuous, still continuing 351 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:06,400 Speaker 1: in Kansas City, had some injuries that contributed to him 352 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 1: moving on and finding success elsewhere. But Ted Thompson and 353 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:12,440 Speaker 1: his personnel staff unearthed a guy like that and help 354 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 1: the Packers win a championship. Those are the types of 355 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:17,400 Speaker 1: things that that that you remember about a guy like Yeah. 356 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 1: And so many times people will always ask about, well, 357 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:22,440 Speaker 1: you know, signing free agents or you know bringing in 358 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:24,639 Speaker 1: you know so and so gets cut, why don't they 359 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:28,640 Speaker 1: sign them? Because they see these guys, They see justin McCrae, 360 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:31,000 Speaker 1: they see the put the work he put in since April. 361 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:33,399 Speaker 1: And you know, after you spend that much time with 362 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 1: these young guys, Uh, if you feel like they can 363 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:37,920 Speaker 1: make a difference for you once you get to training camp, 364 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:40,160 Speaker 1: well then yeah, you want to see them playing a game. 365 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:41,680 Speaker 1: You want to throw him in that fire. You want 366 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:44,560 Speaker 1: to see how they respond. That's how they found Lane Taylor. 367 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 1: That's how they found t J. Lane. Even if you 368 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 1: want to, you know, even look at guys like Sam 369 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:54,320 Speaker 1: Shields and and uh, you know, Trumont Williams. All those 370 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 1: guys didn't just walk in as undrafted free agents and 371 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,359 Speaker 1: just start now. They had to prove themselves. And that 372 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 1: investment and into that is I think one of the 373 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 1: things that not only helped the Packers win a Super Bowl, 374 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:06,160 Speaker 1: but stay in that conversation for as long as they did, 375 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:08,280 Speaker 1: as long as they have, yeah, no question about it. 376 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 1: With that, we'll toss to a breakback with more and 377 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: Packers Unscripted right after this. Welcome back to Packers Unscripted. 378 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 1: Mike Spofford next to West, hod Kowits and West. Quickly 379 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:38,120 Speaker 1: before we go, it's worth touching on again what actually 380 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:40,919 Speaker 1: is going to go down? As I guess, one of 381 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:45,119 Speaker 1: Ted Thompson's last official orders of business as the general 382 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:48,520 Speaker 1: manager of the Packers, and that was the contract extensions 383 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 1: that were signed by Davante Adams and Corey Lindsley late 384 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: last week before the regular season finale. And we heard 385 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 1: from Adams for the first time since uh well since 386 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:01,280 Speaker 1: the big hit from Thomas Davis and Carolina that put 387 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,480 Speaker 1: it in the concussion protocol. And and then also since 388 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 1: he signed the contract obviously, and I don't know what 389 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 1: you thought of of his conversation with reporters, but he 390 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 1: struck me as a guy who is not wandering off 391 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 1: into the offseason to celebrate his big new contract. He's 392 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 1: looking at what's ahead and what he still wants to 393 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:23,199 Speaker 1: do to help this team win. That's that's where his 394 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:25,480 Speaker 1: energies are focused. Yeah, there's still so much out there 395 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 1: for him to achieve, you know, as you wrote your 396 00:20:28,359 --> 00:20:30,199 Speaker 1: story on Packers dot Com as well. I mean, it 397 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:31,960 Speaker 1: looked like he was on his way for a thousand 398 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:34,440 Speaker 1: yards season a year after he came three are shy 399 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 1: of his first one, uh, and then that you had 400 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:39,440 Speaker 1: to hit from Thomas Davis happened and that basically ended 401 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:42,560 Speaker 1: his season at that point. Does pass the concussion protocol 402 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 1: and now has an opportunity to go into the off 403 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 1: season healthy. He's not concerned about the long term impact 404 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:50,400 Speaker 1: of those injuries. He thinks it's gonna, you know, ultimately 405 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:53,520 Speaker 1: end up being okay, very quick turnaround on most on 406 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:56,200 Speaker 1: really all three of them. So it doesn't believe there'll 407 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 1: be any lasting effects of that. Uh. The biggest thing 408 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:01,679 Speaker 1: I thought in terms of his you know, mindset, is 409 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 1: just the role he assumed he is looking forward to 410 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:07,160 Speaker 1: taking on with this team. He understands when you get 411 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:09,240 Speaker 1: that second contract, you're gonna be looked at as a veteran, 412 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:11,280 Speaker 1: You're gonna be looked at as a leader. Uh, And 413 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:13,960 Speaker 1: he definitely embraces that role. He hopes that Jordy Nelson 414 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:16,040 Speaker 1: and Randall Cover are with him a lot of things 415 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 1: to be sorted out with all those um, you know, 416 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:21,960 Speaker 1: transactions and whatnot this offseason, but likes what they've built here, 417 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 1: likes the development he has, likes the relationship he's developed 418 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 1: with Aaron Rodgers, and hopes to continue it on. Yeah. 419 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:31,480 Speaker 1: And with regards to uh Adams, we've seen him over 420 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 1: the last couple of years, and if there were any 421 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:37,240 Speaker 1: questions about what he accomplished in when he finally got 422 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:40,879 Speaker 1: healthy again after a very injury, riddle you look at 423 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:43,399 Speaker 1: what he did in seventeen playing half the season without 424 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers. The production, it just confirmed his value and 425 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:49,439 Speaker 1: as I said in my story, it spiked his value 426 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 1: to this team. It did. And now they can look 427 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:53,359 Speaker 1: forward to it. It's only twenty five years old, a 428 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 1: long way to go. Yeah. Absolutely with that, we'll call 429 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:58,359 Speaker 1: it a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be 430 00:21:58,359 --> 00:22:01,000 Speaker 1: sure to follow all of our verdge of the team 431 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:03,720 Speaker 1: on Packers dot com on Twitter, He's at west Hod, 432 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:06,919 Speaker 1: I'm at Mike Spofford at Packers for the team account. 433 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 1: Thanks for tuning in, everybody. We'll see you next time. 434 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:10,960 Speaker 1: H