1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined as always 3 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 1: by my trusted colleague Western hot Coitz. Were coming to 4 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:24,760 Speaker 1: you from socially distant locations at lambeau Field, and we 5 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: thought we were going to focus this show on Matt 6 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: Lafleur's season ending news conference, but at the time we 7 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:35,599 Speaker 1: are taping this on Thursday morning, that has not yet occurred. 8 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:39,160 Speaker 1: So and there are reports out there of some potential 9 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: coaching changes on the staff and whatnot, but we are 10 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:44,159 Speaker 1: going to hold off on that discussion until we do 11 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: hear from the head coach and possibly from general manager 12 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:50,559 Speaker 1: Brian Guda Kunst as well, So we will table that 13 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 1: discussion for now. And it's probably a good thing because 14 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: there is one significant topic that we have not yet 15 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: discussed west Um, mostly due to timing of our shows 16 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: and the NFC Championship game. But about a week ago, 17 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: general manager, former general manager Ted Thompson passed away at 18 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:14,119 Speaker 1: the age of sixty eight, and uh, you talk about 19 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 1: a man who left a whale of a legacy at 20 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 1: twelve sixty five Lombardi Avenue, a legacy that was still 21 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: being felt with the team and the players that he acquired. Um, 22 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: it's uh. It was certainly a sad time to hear 23 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:35,039 Speaker 1: about his passing, but but also a lot of a 24 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: lot of really fun discussion and celebration of of what 25 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 1: was really an iconic figure in this franchise's history. Yeah, 26 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 1: and icon of figure Mike that I also don't think 27 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:47,039 Speaker 1: ever really got enough credit or enough to do for 28 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 1: everything that he's added to the organization too, to all 29 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: the winning that has come after it, and the fact 30 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 1: that there's only four Lombardi Trophies down there in the 31 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 1: players lobby, and Ted Thompson in his work as the 32 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 1: Packers g um during those first five years, helped put 33 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 1: that trophy there. He made the biggest decision, I feel 34 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: in pro sports history. I don't know if any other 35 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 1: general manager, I'd be interested in having a debate with 36 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:16,640 Speaker 1: people about any general manager that had to make a 37 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: more difficult decision than what Ted did in the summer 38 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: of two thousand eight, where you have not only just 39 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: a future Hall of Famer, not just a three time 40 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: m VP quarterback, but a guy that really was the 41 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 1: face of the Packers resurgence in the nineties and you 42 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:36,839 Speaker 1: have to make the decision to move forward with your 43 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 1: draft pick with a guy that you took that raised 44 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,079 Speaker 1: eyebrows three years earlier. It was the ultimate wager. And 45 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 1: it wasn't just a wager of his job, right. It 46 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 1: wasn't just that Ted Thompson said, Okay, this is the 47 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 1: guy I'm going with and whatever happens happens. He would 48 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:59,399 Speaker 1: have went down in infamy among Packer fans if that 49 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: move didn't work out the way it did. The stakes 50 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 1: were so high for Ted and he put it all 51 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: on red and read is how it came up on 52 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: the table for Aaron Rodgers to not only follow a 53 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 1: Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback, but then become arguably 54 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 1: the best player to ever play the position in the 55 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: National Football League, the most talented, the smartest, you know, 56 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: soon to be three time m v P. Ted had 57 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 1: to make a really tough call. And as I said, 58 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 1: and I tweeted it, and I mentioned this in some 59 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 1: of our insider in boxes. Not once Mike in the 60 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 1: ten years that followed did Ted ever go before a microphone, 61 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: did he ever say hey, good call. On my part, 62 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: he was all about the team. He was all about 63 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: the organization, and he made a decision Mike that set 64 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: up the organization for twelve years of success. That is 65 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 1: what has followed. Yeah. Absolutely. I think the phrase that 66 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: I had used in Insider Inbox put it in the headline, 67 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 1: was that he personified stewardship, and uh he really felt 68 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: that his his duty as general manager the Green Bay 69 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: Packers was to be a steward of the franchise, not 70 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 1: only of the roster and the football team, but really 71 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:16,920 Speaker 1: of the organization as a whole, of the position that 72 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: he held to uh, as you had written about, to 73 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: continue the prestige of being the general manager of the 74 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 1: Green Bay Packers and all the responsibility that goes along 75 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 1: with that. And I think I think the um, you know, 76 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 1: we lots of lots of past comments that that you know, 77 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 1: you and I were digging out from people that that 78 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 1: knew him so well, and I think one of the 79 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 1: one of the best ones was from John Schneider, who 80 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 1: worked under Ted as a personnel executive here with the 81 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: Packers and then of course has gone on for several 82 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,359 Speaker 1: years to be the general manager and built, you know, 83 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:55,039 Speaker 1: helped build his own Super Bowl team with the Seattle Seahawks. 84 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: But He always talked about Ted as both doing it 85 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,840 Speaker 1: the right way, it also doing it his own way. 86 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 1: And um, we heard a lot about you know, integrity 87 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:09,040 Speaker 1: and character and everything that was part of the man 88 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:11,919 Speaker 1: of Ted Thompson in terms of always doing things the 89 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 1: right way. Um, never any flaws or blemishes in that regard, 90 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: but also but also doing it his own way. He 91 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 1: he he felt he made decisions that were in the 92 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 1: best interests of the Green Bay Packers. It wasn't about 93 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 1: trying to be the smartest guy in the room. It 94 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 1: wasn't about trying to um, you know, trying to to 95 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:34,359 Speaker 1: bolster his own reputation or legacy in any way. It 96 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 1: was always about what was best for the team. And 97 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 1: that's what everybody respected about him. Does every single move 98 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 1: work out the way you wanted to know? But his 99 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 1: motivations could never be questioned in terms of in terms 100 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 1: of the rationale behind his decisions. And I think that's 101 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 1: what everyone respected the most about him. Yeah, And then 102 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 1: we live in a day and age, Mike now where 103 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 1: especially people from my generation and in those beneath me, 104 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 1: it's all about look at what I do, Uh, give 105 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 1: me credit for this. I need to feel vindicated for anything, 106 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 1: not even if you had any skin in the game. 107 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 1: If you're just making you know, content or whatever, hey 108 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 1: like me, retweet me, love me. And Ted never asked 109 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 1: for any of that, And that's what I've always respected 110 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: he was. He was the last of the dying breed 111 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:26,599 Speaker 1: in that way. And once more, another thing that I 112 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:29,040 Speaker 1: just I feel like I I touched on this in 113 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: the Packers pregame show before the game against the Buccaneers. 114 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 1: One thing that always gets lost with Ted is people 115 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 1: talk about he didn't sign enough free agents. But and 116 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: I said this to James Jones, and I meant this, Mike, 117 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: you show me from two thousand and five to two 118 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 1: thousand and seventeen, how many instances there were of a 119 00:06:53,080 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: Packers player who earned his contract with the team, played well, 120 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:04,679 Speaker 1: and the Packers at some point because of clerical issues 121 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: or whatnot, they had to release them because it just 122 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: it wasn't gonna work out with the cap the way 123 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 1: that Ted lead in how he kept a balanced budget. Now, 124 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: a lot of the credit to goes to russ Ball 125 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 1: for being able to negotiate these deals and get everything working. 126 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 1: But if Truman Williams signed a five year contract, with 127 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 1: the Green Bay Packers. He knew he was going to 128 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 1: get that five year contract if he played well. Ryan Pickett, 129 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 1: all these guys, Jordy Nelson, they took care of their own. 130 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 1: It's one thing to sign him. It's one thing to 131 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 1: put out that press release and everybody's really happy about it. 132 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 1: You have a press conference and it's it's a joyous occasion. 133 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 1: But if the bill comes due in a couple of 134 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 1: years and you can't afford it, no one ever really 135 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: talks about the fact that that's actually a human being 136 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: there that is going to have to go find new 137 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 1: work and it's gonna have to find a way to 138 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 1: get the rest of that money. That never happened with Ted. 139 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: If a guy earned the contract and he played well 140 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 1: on the contract, he saw the end of that contract. 141 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 1: Clay Matthews. The list goes on and on, and I 142 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 1: think he needs to get some more credit for that. 143 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: He did sign some free agents, Ryan Pickett, Charles Woodson, 144 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 1: who's going to probably be in the Hall of Fame 145 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 1: here in a week, Julius Peppers. There was a list there. 146 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 1: But they also did such a good job of drafting 147 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: guys in taking care of those players needs to get 148 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: a little bit more credit for that. In my opinion, yeah, 149 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 1: I would. I would certainly agree any personal memories that 150 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 1: you have, just a personal story that you want to share, 151 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 1: any interaction with Ted that comes to mind. I have 152 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 1: one that a story I've told before an insider inbox, 153 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 1: So I will tell it again, but I will let 154 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 1: you go first. There's a few I I joked about 155 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:41,959 Speaker 1: this an inbox too. I wasn't in that circle of trust. 156 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 1: John Snyder always likes to talk about the circle of trust. 157 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 1: So we're in the circle of trust here, right. I 158 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:48,840 Speaker 1: was never in that with Ted, but I got to 159 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: cover him at the Press Gazette, and I got to 160 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:53,079 Speaker 1: cover him here for two and a half years with 161 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 1: the Green Bay Packers, and uh, the couple of things 162 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:58,720 Speaker 1: that the one story I really always appreciate is if 163 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: you if you ever interviewed Ted in the building times 164 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: out of ninety six, he always had a cup of 165 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:07,319 Speaker 1: coffee on him. And I remember sitting down with him 166 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 1: in sixteen, uh for what was gonna be the game 167 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:13,320 Speaker 1: or the yearbook story on him and Mike, and he 168 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 1: comes and he gets ready to do interview, and he's like, 169 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 1: hold on one second. I gotta get coffee, and he 170 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 1: left and it was like ten minutes past and he 171 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: comes back with the coffee, and you know, he'd see 172 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:25,200 Speaker 1: him in the hallway, always filling up and stuff like that. 173 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 1: Always very nice. There was another time too, where we 174 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 1: were on the road. I said this story and inbox. 175 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 1: We were on the road and it was myself, Duke 176 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: Bober and Ryan Hartwick. We're all going into an elevator 177 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:40,959 Speaker 1: and this just shows you Ted's really really, really dry 178 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 1: sense of humor, a very dark humor that he had. 179 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: And he's on the phone with somebody, and Duke, myself 180 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:50,720 Speaker 1: and Ryan in a line, not all together, but in 181 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:53,240 Speaker 1: a line one after another, got into the elevator and 182 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 1: as each of us came in, Ted goes, Hi, Hi, Hi, 183 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 1: And you can tell we're like, oh, hey, Ted, how's 184 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 1: it going. You can tell whoever was on the phone 185 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 1: with was like Ted, what what because they didn't break 186 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:08,440 Speaker 1: up the conversation. He just said it. You could tell 187 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 1: the person was like, Ted, what's going on? And he goes, 188 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,480 Speaker 1: I was just saying hi. And it's just that was 189 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 1: Ted Thompson. He just he just he had such a 190 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:20,560 Speaker 1: unique sense of humor and and also I mean, just 191 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 1: a really interesting philosophy. You know, the last interview I 192 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: ever did with him, Mike, it was in seventeen. It 193 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 1: was up in the fourth floor which is now Brian 194 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 1: Gudkin's office, the g MS office, and Ted. I walked 195 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: in and Ted had everything all laid out, He had 196 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:39,079 Speaker 1: his luggage all set, he was wearing a blazer, and 197 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 1: he was about to go out scouting again right after 198 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:46,720 Speaker 1: the interview was done, and I recited this quote on Twitter. 199 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 1: I think I might have put in an inbox two 200 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 1: and you already touched on it. But he had such 201 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 1: an insightful moment there when he was talking about the 202 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 1: run that they had been on to that point again 203 00:10:56,679 --> 00:11:00,200 Speaker 1: just coming off the NFC Championship game again, and he's said, 204 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 1: we are here for just such a short time, and 205 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:06,760 Speaker 1: it's important to realize that this is a special place 206 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 1: and we are stewards of it, and when our time 207 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: is up, our time is up, and there's never gonna 208 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: be another one like Ted Thompson. Yeah, he was. He 209 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 1: was a hell of a human being. Yeah. Well, I 210 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 1: arrived here at Packers dot Com in two thousand and six, 211 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 1: basically one year into Ted Thompson's tenure as the general manager, 212 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: and for about the first I would say five to 213 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 1: six seven, I'm not sure exactly how many years that 214 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 1: I was here on road trips, I happened to be 215 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:41,599 Speaker 1: the one who would sit next to Ted Thompson in 216 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 1: the press box, which always led to some interesting moments 217 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 1: because I would just keep you know, when things were 218 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: going bad, I would just keep my head in my computer. 219 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:55,200 Speaker 1: I wasn't going to engage in conversation or anything like that. 220 00:11:55,480 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 1: As you know, Ted publicly could be very stoic and emotionless, 221 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: and he would, you know, always always try to stay calm. Well. 222 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 1: One of the games that I happened to be sitting 223 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 1: next to Ted Thompson in the press box was Super 224 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:14,680 Speaker 1: Bowl forty five at it down in uh in Arlington, Texas. 225 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 1: And I will never forget this. I will take this 226 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:22,760 Speaker 1: with me forever. Um where that press but the press 227 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,320 Speaker 1: box is sort of above around the corner of the 228 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:28,320 Speaker 1: one end zone, the end zone actually to the right. 229 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:31,439 Speaker 1: As you're watching Super Bowl forty five or any games 230 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:35,440 Speaker 1: from Dallas on television, that was the end zone where 231 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 1: Ben Roethlisberger went back to pass and got his arm 232 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 1: hit by Howard Green when he was trying to go 233 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: deep down the sideline right, and so we had a 234 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:45,720 Speaker 1: very good view of what was going on. And as 235 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 1: soon as Roethlisberger's arm was hit and that ball started 236 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 1: to flutter into the air down the field, Ted actually 237 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: started to stand up in his you know, from his 238 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: seat in the press box, and he was saying, that's 239 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 1: our ball, that's our ball, as Nick Collins was swooping 240 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:05,120 Speaker 1: over to intercept it. And then, as you know, Collins 241 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:07,440 Speaker 1: weaves his way through and actually gets a touchdown and 242 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 1: gets a pick six right down in front of us, 243 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:13,200 Speaker 1: and and and then you know, Ted, knowing that there's 244 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 1: decorum in the press box, obviously he was he was 245 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: restraining himself quite well. But then as he went to 246 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 1: sit back down, I put out my fist like this, 247 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:24,600 Speaker 1: and he sat down and gave me a little fist bump, 248 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:29,320 Speaker 1: and you know, I'll just I'll never forget that. And 249 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:31,960 Speaker 1: obviously the Packers end up winning that game. By the 250 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: fourth quarter, Ted Thompson was gone, not sitting next to 251 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,360 Speaker 1: me anymore because he had to be ready to go 252 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:38,680 Speaker 1: down on the field for the trophy celebration and all that. 253 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:40,319 Speaker 1: If the Packers were going to hang on and win, 254 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:44,080 Speaker 1: which they did. But um, but you don't see you 255 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 1: don't see Ted Thompson break any sort of decorum publicly 256 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 1: at all. And for that brief moment when that ball 257 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 1: was in the air towards Nick Collins, he did. But 258 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 1: yet he gathered himself and uh and he and I 259 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 1: shared a little fist bump there on on an iconic 260 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 1: play and Packers history. So I will always, um, I 261 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 1: will always certainly remember that. I want to throw some 262 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 1: questions at you, though, just to have a little fun 263 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: here in celebrating his legacy. We all know Aaron Rodgers 264 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 1: was his best draft pick. Charles Woodson was his best 265 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: free agent signing. There's no debating you know, any of that. 266 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 1: So we won't go down that road. But I want 267 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 1: to ask you a couple of things. One, we saw 268 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 1: Ted Thompson select a heck of a lot of really 269 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: really good football players in the second round of the 270 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 1: NFL Draft, So I want to ask you who do 271 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:34,320 Speaker 1: you think was his best second round draft? Jordy Nelson. 272 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: And I love this story that Brian Goodkin said when 273 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 1: he was talking to the media about Ted last week, 274 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 1: because everybody always talks about that first round deal, about 275 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:47,600 Speaker 1: all the Packers. Rogers has never thrown any first round 276 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 1: picks before. Mercedes Lewis is the only first round pick 277 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: that's ever caught a touchdown. Whatever that bs is. Good 278 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 1: Coins had such an interesting story and some of you 279 00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 1: might have already heard it, but I'm gonna recite it 280 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 1: if you have it, where Ted would bury players he 281 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 1: really liked on the draft board. You think Ted Thompson 282 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:07,240 Speaker 1: played things close to the vest with the media. He 283 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:09,960 Speaker 1: did it with his own scouts. There were a few 284 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 1: guys he really liked. He wouldn't let on with the 285 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:15,200 Speaker 1: scouts because he didn't want that getting out to an 286 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 1: agent getting out whoever. And it was funny. Goodkins recited 287 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 1: a story where that was the first player that he 288 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 1: was able to peg that Ted really liked that He 289 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:28,080 Speaker 1: didn't maybe have him where he would think you'd have 290 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 1: him on a draft board because he mentioned how you know, 291 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 1: they were sitting in a meeting together and he's like, man, 292 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 1: this guy is really good. This can this can you know? 293 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: Kansas State guys really good? And Ted was just poker 294 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: face the entire time. So not only this tells you 295 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 1: Ted Thompson the GM just what kind of guy this 296 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 1: guy was? Not only was he gonna draft Jordy Nelson, 297 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 1: it could have probably got him in the first round, 298 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 1: Ted decides to trade back and get him in the 299 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 1: second round. So the reason I liked that story one, 300 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 1: Jordy Nelson was a fantastic player and ended up having 301 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 1: a big, poor, big part in their Super Bowl championship 302 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 1: in two thousand ten. But he also was the first 303 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 1: round pick that no one wants to give the Packers 304 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 1: credit for because Ted Thompson would have taken him, but 305 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 1: he moved back, got the extra draft equity in the 306 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 1: second round of the two thousand eight draft, and then 307 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: was able to still get the player that he wanted. 308 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:21,240 Speaker 1: So for that reason, I'm gonna say, Jordy Nelson, Yeah, 309 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 1: trading back six spots if I remember right, from thirty 310 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 1: to thirty six to get to get Jordy Nelson near 311 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 1: the top of the second round. With you picking Nelson, 312 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 1: you left me with a tough call because now I 313 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: don't know, um there there are so many to choose 314 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 1: from here, as we all know, but it's really hard 315 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 1: for me to decide between Nick Collins and Davante Adams 316 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:46,920 Speaker 1: and expectually, I probably should have taken one of the two. 317 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: But I wanted to say that Nelson, No, you needed 318 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 1: to tell the Nelson story and that's okay, and and 319 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 1: and to say that, you know, and not to take 320 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 1: anything away from Greg Jennings being a second round pick 321 00:16:56,480 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 1: back in two thousand and six as well, but finding 322 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:05,639 Speaker 1: Nick Collins at Bethune Cookman, um, you know, small school, 323 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:10,160 Speaker 1: historically black college, um. And uh, you know, I mean 324 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,719 Speaker 1: at the time that Nick Collins was drafted, everybody's like, 325 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:15,680 Speaker 1: who is this guy? You know? And I actually tried 326 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:17,840 Speaker 1: to press Ted on that once when I had a 327 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:20,040 Speaker 1: one on one interview with him for a yearbook story 328 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:22,920 Speaker 1: similar to the you know what you were describing before 329 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:24,560 Speaker 1: when you were going to sit down in his office 330 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:27,920 Speaker 1: and he and he was like, oh, everybody everybody knew 331 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 1: who Nick Collins was. We didn't find we didn't find 332 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:32,680 Speaker 1: anybody special there. And it's it's like, well, I'm I'm 333 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:35,960 Speaker 1: not so sure talk about that too. I mean, it 334 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:39,159 Speaker 1: was that was Ted's guy. I mean, he he he, 335 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 1: he pegged Nick Collins and he got him. He got 336 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 1: him in the second round. And a couple of years 337 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 1: ago I probably would have for sure, said Nick Collins 338 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 1: over Davante Adams if I had to rank them. But 339 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:53,119 Speaker 1: now with where Davantae Adams is in his career, second 340 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 1: round pick in and uh, you know, looking like he 341 00:17:57,040 --> 00:18:00,320 Speaker 1: he uh, he could go down. He could end up 342 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 1: surpassing He's already surpassed many Packers players in terms of 343 00:18:04,359 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 1: what he's done in the postseason, and he's going to 344 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 1: just continue to climb the ranks of of a long 345 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:13,720 Speaker 1: list of great all time Packers wide receivers. So it's 346 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:16,440 Speaker 1: a tough call for me to pick between those two, 347 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 1: and it probably is. If you talk about pound for 348 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 1: pound value of the draft choice, it probably is Devonte 349 00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:24,359 Speaker 1: because he got him. I think at what fifty three. 350 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:27,360 Speaker 1: I think in the two thousand four NFL Draft, if 351 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:30,119 Speaker 1: you look at the picks around him, there were some 352 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 1: there were a lot of misses at the receiver position. 353 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 1: Uh and Ted Thompson the Packers personnel department, they found 354 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:39,679 Speaker 1: Davante Adams. Here was a guy who you know, he 355 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:42,359 Speaker 1: came out of Fresno State, had a prolific run, but 356 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 1: was still really young. He was an early entrant into 357 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 1: the draft and as it turned out, has become a 358 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 1: five tool player at the receiver position literally can do 359 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:54,119 Speaker 1: it all and has been the gift that keeps giving 360 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:57,199 Speaker 1: for the Packers offense. Yeah, and and Collins. You know, 361 00:18:57,320 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 1: unfortunately we all know about the neck injury that cut 362 00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:03,679 Speaker 1: his sure cut his career short. Excuse me, and uh, 363 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 1: you know you'll you'll always wonder. I'll always wonder if 364 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 1: Nick Collins was potentially headed to a to a Pro 365 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:11,359 Speaker 1: Football Hall of Fame career, if he hadn't had to 366 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:14,399 Speaker 1: retire as as soon as he did. Alright, my next question, 367 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:18,479 Speaker 1: I have two more best value pick and we'll define 368 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:21,639 Speaker 1: value pick in this instance as what would be in 369 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:25,640 Speaker 1: the modern day draft construction as a third day draft pick. 370 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:27,680 Speaker 1: And I know who you're gonna say, but I'm gonna 371 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:30,840 Speaker 1: let you go first. It's the greatest value pick arguably 372 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 1: in modern NFL history. David Boxer. Uh, this is something, Mike, 373 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 1: where a couple of things to this. One, you find 374 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:41,880 Speaker 1: a franchise left tackle, you find a five time All 375 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:44,639 Speaker 1: Pro in the fourth round, hundred and ninth overall or 376 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:47,360 Speaker 1: whatever it was, you already had yourself a pretty good 377 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 1: day at the office. But two, there were so many 378 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:53,160 Speaker 1: tackles that were taken that year. There were so many 379 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,400 Speaker 1: offensive linemen that were taking that year. Um you think 380 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 1: of Luke Jokel was the second overall pick in the 381 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:01,320 Speaker 1: thirteen draft. Eric Fisher has gone on to have a 382 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:05,879 Speaker 1: fine career with Kansas City, But David Botr and also 383 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 1: Tarin Armstead are the two best in my opinion, out 384 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: of that draft, and they were taken in the third 385 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:13,719 Speaker 1: and fourth round. It just shows you with all the 386 00:20:13,800 --> 00:20:16,560 Speaker 1: assets that people put into the left tackle position, the 387 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:19,919 Speaker 1: blind side block in your quarterback. The Packers went and 388 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:22,040 Speaker 1: found a guy they really liked, a guy that some 389 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 1: scouts thought might end up being a center in the 390 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:26,680 Speaker 1: National Football League. Didn't think he was big enough. Oh 391 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:29,639 Speaker 1: and then and then, by the way, Bo has to 392 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 1: play that position from Jump Street, he has to come in, 393 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:34,520 Speaker 1: he looks like he's gonna end up being the starting 394 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:38,119 Speaker 1: right tackle. And then in that same family Family Knight 395 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:40,880 Speaker 1: scrimmage where he finally gets into the starting lineup, well, 396 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:43,840 Speaker 1: now he's over at left tackle in the weeks that follow. 397 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:48,200 Speaker 1: Because Brian Belogitor is a c L a remarkable value 398 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:50,879 Speaker 1: pick in my opinion. I mean, it obviously has to 399 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:54,720 Speaker 1: be Aaron Rodgers for his best pick ever, but when 400 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 1: you factor in that he was taken in the fourth 401 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:58,960 Speaker 1: round and the fact that he probably is headed to 402 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 1: the Pro Football Hall of Fame if he keeps on 403 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:03,439 Speaker 1: this trajectory. David Bakti is right there as far as 404 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:06,199 Speaker 1: number two or number three, Yeah, no question about it. 405 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:11,639 Speaker 1: And to continue the discussion and to pick somebody else again, 406 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:15,399 Speaker 1: I'm still deciding between two. There. There's there's an argument 407 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:18,080 Speaker 1: for staying on the offensive line and saying that Josh 408 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:21,480 Speaker 1: sit In, a fourth round pick out of Central Florida 409 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 1: who went on to multiple Pro Bowl and All Pro 410 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:28,240 Speaker 1: honors at the guard position, was a whale of a 411 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:31,640 Speaker 1: value pick in the fourth round, and there's no denying that. 412 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 1: But to change positions a little bit, I'm gonna go 413 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:38,439 Speaker 1: with his sixth one of his sixth round picks in 414 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:42,359 Speaker 1: two thousand seven and say kicker Mason Crosby. And there 415 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:44,160 Speaker 1: are a number of reasons to say this, not only 416 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:48,120 Speaker 1: because Mason Crosby has gone on to set franchise scoring 417 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:51,479 Speaker 1: records that he's putting up in the stratosphere that you know, 418 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:53,879 Speaker 1: for a franchise that's been around for a hundred plus 419 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:58,120 Speaker 1: years now, and he's setting scoring records that nobody's ever 420 00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:02,359 Speaker 1: going to touch. But also because we see in the 421 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 1: draft so often west the kickers get drafted with much 422 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:09,240 Speaker 1: higher picks, second round, third round, fourth round picks, and 423 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:11,560 Speaker 1: they don't work out. And you watch how these teams 424 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 1: around the league go through these kicker carousels, you know, 425 00:22:15,119 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 1: every every year, every other year, they're changing kickers and 426 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 1: trying to find the guy exactly, trying to find the 427 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 1: guy they can rely on to, you know, to make 428 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:26,200 Speaker 1: that forty yard field goal in the fourth quarter or 429 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 1: whatever the situation is. Ted Thompson found that guy in 430 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:33,680 Speaker 1: the sixth round in two thousand seven. And other than 431 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:37,159 Speaker 1: you know, one legitimate competition for his job when he 432 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 1: was coming off of one rough year, Mason Crosby has 433 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 1: unequivocally been the guy around here. And uh and to 434 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:47,399 Speaker 1: make a pick like that in the sixth round of 435 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:49,920 Speaker 1: the draft, which is which you know, the general fan 436 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 1: base looks at us, you know, the afterthoughts of the draft. Um, 437 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:57,440 Speaker 1: that to me would be probably the number two value 438 00:22:57,520 --> 00:23:02,119 Speaker 1: pick in this discussion, behind David Bakr. Alright, it's not 439 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:03,840 Speaker 1: just if I can say this too, it's not even 440 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:05,920 Speaker 1: just the value pick. You're absolutely right about that six 441 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:09,720 Speaker 1: round investment. Fantastic return on investment. But it's also the 442 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 1: fact that in two thousand twenty, even now that Ted 443 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:16,920 Speaker 1: has gone uh with no longer with us, Mason Crosby 444 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:19,800 Speaker 1: that that's that's a load off the shoulder of Matt Lafleur. 445 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 1: It's it makes Aaron Rodgers in these players on the sideline. 446 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:24,560 Speaker 1: They're confident that this guy is going to go in 447 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 1: there and make this kick. And I have to say this, 448 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:29,240 Speaker 1: I mean, Mason has played you mentioned two thousand and seven. 449 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 1: Since that day, two consecutive regular season games played, has 450 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:40,480 Speaker 1: not missed a start, has been durable, has been reliable, 451 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 1: and with the absence of one bad season in one 452 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 1: down game, has been one of the most reliable kickers 453 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:51,720 Speaker 1: in the National Football League during that time. Absolutely a 454 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:55,720 Speaker 1: fantastic pick that continues to be something that really helps 455 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:58,320 Speaker 1: the Packers to this day. Alright, one more to throw 456 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 1: at you. And this is kind of a stream question 457 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: because you can define it in some different ways. So 458 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:04,920 Speaker 1: I'll let you define out how you wanted, But the 459 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:09,359 Speaker 1: question is best under the radar acquisition, and what I 460 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:12,320 Speaker 1: mean by under the radar is when the guy arrived 461 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:16,080 Speaker 1: in the Packers locker room. However, he arrived in Green Bay, 462 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 1: nobody gave it a second thought, nobody knew who he was. No, 463 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 1: it wasn't something that would make any sort of a 464 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:26,800 Speaker 1: headline on from the transaction wire or whatever. So what 465 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 1: do you think best under the wire under the radar acquisition. 466 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:32,400 Speaker 1: There's a couple of good picks here. I think Ryan 467 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:36,000 Speaker 1: Grant is probably the right choice. Just with them, they 468 00:24:36,040 --> 00:24:38,080 Speaker 1: needed a running back. This guy ends up being a 469 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:41,080 Speaker 1: great acquisition for them. Also, I want to say, what 470 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:43,760 Speaker 1: was that a sixth round pick that they traded for him? 471 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:45,399 Speaker 1: Um and then goes on to be a player that 472 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:47,800 Speaker 1: helps them win a Super Bowl and and had multiple 473 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:50,919 Speaker 1: thousand yards seasons. So Ryan Grants probably the right answer. 474 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:53,520 Speaker 1: But I want to use this question to point out 475 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:56,240 Speaker 1: one other player on the modern team that I think 476 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:59,240 Speaker 1: sometimes we don't think about this with Ted Thompson, but 477 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:03,679 Speaker 1: they were some contracts in some in some paperwork that 478 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:07,639 Speaker 1: came across Ted's desk during his final month. Is GM 479 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:13,480 Speaker 1: three of those moves extending day Davante Adams, extending Corey 480 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 1: Linsley in signing a former quarterback turned receiver that then 481 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:24,399 Speaker 1: became a tight end Robert Tounyan to the practice squad 482 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:28,000 Speaker 1: on December four, two thousand seventeen, one of Ted's final transactions. 483 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:29,960 Speaker 1: And I know there's a lot that goes into that 484 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:32,200 Speaker 1: scouting process and determining that, you know what, this is 485 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:33,600 Speaker 1: the guy we want to bring in and give him 486 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:36,320 Speaker 1: a shot. There's ten twelve spots, let's see what he has. 487 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:39,639 Speaker 1: But that move, Mike has been something that has really 488 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:42,480 Speaker 1: helped solve a position that has been in flux for 489 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 1: seven years for green Bay, finding a playmaking, touchdown catching, 490 00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 1: all around producing tight end. Robert Tonyan has become that guy. 491 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:53,879 Speaker 1: And Ted Thompson was one that was one of the 492 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:57,080 Speaker 1: last things he put his John Hancock on was that 493 00:25:57,160 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 1: piece of paper saying all right, let's give this kid 494 00:25:59,560 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 1: a shot. And it's something that's really helping him to 495 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:04,400 Speaker 1: this day. Yeah, I've got a few that I want 496 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:07,040 Speaker 1: to mention here in this category. I actually already mentioned 497 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:10,600 Speaker 1: one that being Howard Green from from two thousand and ten. 498 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 1: That would what that's what you would would categorize as 499 00:26:14,359 --> 00:26:18,359 Speaker 1: a as a short term under the radar acquisition um. 500 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:21,399 Speaker 1: But to mention some other long term guys, you know, 501 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:25,439 Speaker 1: in two thousand six, plucking Termon Williams off of the 502 00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:29,199 Speaker 1: practice squad of the Houston Texans and bringing him to 503 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:33,960 Speaker 1: Green Bay. Nobody, I mean Louisiana Tech. He's on undrafted 504 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:36,960 Speaker 1: on Houston's practice squad. Nobody knows who this guy is. 505 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 1: And of course we all know the long term career 506 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:42,520 Speaker 1: that Tremont Williams had for the Packers. And then in 507 00:26:42,560 --> 00:26:48,320 Speaker 1: two thousand and seven, two waiver wire claims that Ted 508 00:26:48,359 --> 00:26:50,800 Speaker 1: Thompson made and the Packers were a little bit higher 509 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 1: in the waiver claim order early in two thousand seven 510 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:56,440 Speaker 1: because in two thousand six they'd only gone eight and eight, right, 511 00:26:56,480 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 1: so they have a chance that John's watching right now, Yes, 512 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 1: John con being one of them. Um had earned a 513 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:06,879 Speaker 1: Super Bowl ring as a practice squad member of the 514 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh Steelers in two thousand five, and in two thousand 515 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:12,720 Speaker 1: seven he's on the waiver wire and Ted Thompson brings 516 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:16,880 Speaker 1: him in. He goes on to multiple Pro Bowl, All 517 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 1: Pro honors of his own as a fullback, becomes a 518 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 1: cult hero, the name chanting and everything in lambeau Field. 519 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:26,520 Speaker 1: Love it all. I love everything about John Kuhn's career 520 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:29,760 Speaker 1: and the guy that Aaron Rodgers often said when he 521 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:31,919 Speaker 1: was playing with him, not only were they very good friends, 522 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:34,919 Speaker 1: but said, if there's anybody who knows this offense as 523 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:37,600 Speaker 1: well as I do from an XS and O standpoint, 524 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:40,160 Speaker 1: it's John kun and the other one I will mention 525 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 1: to it doesn't rank quite as high as someone like 526 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 1: Terronto Williams or John Kuhn. But in two thousand seven 527 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 1: there was a waiver Actually this might have been two 528 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:50,000 Speaker 1: thousand six now that I think about it, um, but 529 00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:55,200 Speaker 1: Jared Bush was claimed waivers in in two thousand and six. Now, 530 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:57,800 Speaker 1: Jared Bush had his ups and downs on defense when 531 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:00,159 Speaker 1: he was forced into action in the secondary and one up, 532 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:04,000 Speaker 1: but he became a special teams stalwart and a standout 533 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:07,280 Speaker 1: for a number of years in that phase for the Packers. 534 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:09,480 Speaker 1: And then you know what, when he was pushed into 535 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:12,280 Speaker 1: action in Super Bowl forty five, the guy gets an 536 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 1: interception of Ben Roethlisberger to help the Packers win that 537 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:19,400 Speaker 1: Super Bowl in the Ted Thompson era, So those are 538 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:23,560 Speaker 1: those are the under the radar things that happened that 539 00:28:23,640 --> 00:28:27,840 Speaker 1: build successful championship franchises. And I just wanted to touch 540 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:30,080 Speaker 1: on a few of those as well before we sign off. 541 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:32,240 Speaker 1: One thing I got to mention too. I think you're 542 00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:35,000 Speaker 1: seeing the value of a Jared Bush in this particular 543 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:38,720 Speaker 1: era of football, especially a guy that was consistent a 544 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:41,040 Speaker 1: good gunner on special teams, did a lot of real 545 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:45,240 Speaker 1: good things there. But also with six defensive backpackages becoming prevalent, 546 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:47,600 Speaker 1: you need guys like that that can come in and 547 00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:50,240 Speaker 1: know every position. I remember talking to to Joe Wit 548 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:52,440 Speaker 1: him mentioning back in the day that Jared, if they 549 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:55,000 Speaker 1: needed to him, he could play dime linebacker. He understood 550 00:28:55,040 --> 00:28:57,920 Speaker 1: the calls there. There's a huge value to that. And 551 00:28:57,960 --> 00:29:00,760 Speaker 1: also just to close on this and that never being 552 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:04,200 Speaker 1: too proud to bring a player back. Uh, Matt Flynn 553 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 1: came back in thirteen, the Packers don't have one of 554 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:09,840 Speaker 1: their biggest moments of the Aaron Rodgers era him making 555 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 1: that past the Randall Cobb. As you know, John Coon 556 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:17,080 Speaker 1: blocks Julius Peppers if they don't bring in Matt Flynn midseason, 557 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:19,000 Speaker 1: and he ends up helping them win a couple of 558 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 1: games and tie another one. Uh. That was critical to 559 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:24,480 Speaker 1: the season. So there were so many small moves along 560 00:29:24,520 --> 00:29:27,160 Speaker 1: the way that the little tiny things that a GM 561 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:30,040 Speaker 1: needs to do that Ted and his staff were always 562 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:33,680 Speaker 1: so good at doing. Yeah, absolutely well, I've enjoyed this discussions. 563 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:36,480 Speaker 1: I hope you have to and certainly uh our thoughts 564 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:40,120 Speaker 1: and prayers with Ted Thompson's family and friends. Um, but 565 00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:43,280 Speaker 1: but a life to be celebrated. Certainly, with that, we'll 566 00:29:43,280 --> 00:29:45,640 Speaker 1: call it a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. 567 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:47,720 Speaker 1: Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the 568 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:51,120 Speaker 1: team moving forward in the off season on Packers dot com. 569 00:29:51,160 --> 00:29:53,680 Speaker 1: For West, I'm Mike. Thank you for tuning in, everybody. 570 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 1: We'll see you next time.