During his four years on the job as Packers GM, Ted Thompson has accomplished a number of things. His biggest achievement, though, might have been becoming the biggest villain in the state. Bigger than Gary Sheffield. Bigger than Gary Payton. Bigger than Ned Yost. Ted was the guy who refused to dive head first into free agency. He was also the man who traded away a legend in Brett Favre.
Ted bashing had become, not only a hobby, but a way of life for many Packer fans. In the days leading up to the draft, there were many fans who were wondering how Ted would screw it up. There were many fans who wondered which unknown player Thompson would choose with the number nine pick in the draft. When reports circulated that there was going to be a major surprise in the top ten (it turned out to be Oakland's selection of Darrius Heyward-Bey), many Packer fans thought that the surprise would be what Ted would do when the Packers were on the clock.
And certainly Thompson had the chance to pull a shocker. He had Michael Crabtree fall right into his lap. Even though wide receiver wasn't a need, one could have seen the Packers taking the player many thought was the best prospect in this draft. But, Ted went against what had always been his policy of drafting the highest rated player on his board (admittedly, we're all speculating that Crabtree was the highest rated player on his board). He drafted for need instead. Boston College's B.J. Raji, who could have been taken at any spot from number five on down, was the choice.
Not only did Ted fill a need, something he claimed wasn't the way he conducted his draft, but he drafted someone Packer fans had heard of. This wasn't Justin Harrell. This wasn't Jordy Nelson. This was a guy Packer fans had been reading about for the last couple of months.
But the Raji pick wasn't the biggest surprise Ted pulled on Saturday. No, that would come later in the first round when the Patriots were on the clock, and all of a sudden, were off the clock. In their place - the Green Bay Packers. When the Packer logo first flashed as being 'on the clock' during ESPN's draft coverage, I thought I was dreaming. Did Ted really trade up? Did he really take that kind of risk?
Yes he did. At that point, it wouldn't have mattered to me who Thompson chose at #26. The fact of the matter was that Thompson made a bold move up in the first round as opposed to dealing picks away for more picks later on. That the pick turned out to be USC Linebacker Clay Matthews was a bonus. Here was another player Packer fans had heard of, and a player with a pedigree as well. His father, grandfather and uncle were all players in the league.
What Thompson wound up doing was taking quality over quantity (a different tactic than he had displayed in his first four drafts). He filled major needs right off the bat. Raji will be stout against the run. He also will help what was an anemic pass rush last year (proving at B.C. that he could get to the quarterback. He will - if he stays healthy - make sure that Ryan Pickett has plenty left in the tank in November and December by taking some of his usual load off his shoulders.
And Matthews is seen by those smarter than me as a perfect fit as an outside linebacker in the Packers' new 3-4 scheme. One of the benefits we will see next season will be that Brady Poppinga will be a more effective pass rusher. He might not be an every down linebacker anymore, but he can finally fill the role of designated pass rusher that the team envisioned for him when they drafted him a few years ago. We won't have to worry about Poppinga getting lost and burnt in pass coverage.
As far as the other Packer selections are concerned, I'll be honest. Like most people, I haven't watched a whole lot of film on them. But, if the draftniks are right Thompson might have found a couple of offensive linemen (T.J. Lang specifically) who can be more than just guys filling roster spots. But, we'll have to wait to see how that works out.
Not only did Thompson go against his instincts, but what I heard on talk radio and read on the internet was against the norm as well. That was simply this. People (okay fans) giving the Packers GM credit for a job well done.
Packer fans have never embraced Thompson. The media has been (for the most part) pro-Ted, but the fans - well, let's just say they were ready to run Thompson out of town. Actually, the fans have been ready to do that for a few years already.
It wasn't that long ago that I wrote in this very space that Ted would never be able to win with Packer fans. At that time I firmly believed that no matter what happened - even of Green Bay won a Super Bowl - Ted would never get credit from the fans. The credit would go somewhere else. Fans would shower Aaron Rodgers or Mike McCarthy with the love. Fans would say the Packers won despite the moves Thompson had made.
I had plenty of reason to feel that way. I had spoken with thousands of Packer fans over the years. I've gotten thousands of emails from Packer fans over the years. I saw first hand the hatred fans had for Thompson over Favre-gate. I never thought Ted would be able to win the haters over to his side.
But, with what he did on Saturday (and again, let's face it - most fans don't know a lot about the second day players he chose), Ted seems to have Packer Nation on his side. I'm not saying that Packer Nation is now going to throw a parade in Teddy's honor. But, they seem to be on his side - which wasn't the case when he drafted Harrell, Nelson, or traded Favre.
Of course, if Raji doesn't work out the way we hope he will, the critics will come out of the woodwork. They'll wonder why he didn't draft Crabtree instead. And, if Matthews doesn't live up to the hype there will be plenty of people who come out and say Ted should have drafted someone else; that he shouldn't have given up multiple picks to get him.
But that won't happen now. It'll be a couple of years before we start hearing that (if Raji and/or Matthews bust out). For now, Ted's riding a wave popularity.
Who would've thought that would happen a few months ago?
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