Ted Thompson To Lose His Job When Brett Favre Wins the Division

The NFC North 2009 season has the most anticipated storyline in the NFL.

 

If the Minnesota Vikings with Brett Favre win the division title, do they also take Packers GM Ted Thompson’s job and career with them?  Or will Brett not have the energy for 16 grueling games as Thompson believes and leave the Vikings running on empty?  

 

This will be a winner-take-all battle of epic proportion for both men.

 

Brett Favre is ready to reach deep into his reserve energy tanks and play football.  Favre is mentally more familiar with the offensive system and physically ready to test his surgically repaired shoulder. 

 

Thompson claims that Favre isn’t up to the physical or mental challenges after 18 seasons seemed like the right call last year.  Favre’s skill set did fade with injury as a poor late season performance ruined the Jets playoff chances.

 

Should the Vikings finish again in first place, I predict the Green Bay Packers executive management will remove Thompson sometime in January 2010.  Favre’s will have delivered a stealthy knockout blow to his arch nemesis from 500 mile away.

 

Thompson’s dismissal is completely justified.  He failed miserably to bring the “glory days” back to Green Bay.  Five years of mediocre seasons and one playoff appearance is justification enough for many loyal fans.  His style of internal player development and decision-making ability appear limited at best.

 

His mismanagement of the Brett Favre saga was humiliating for the team and fans at best.  Clearly Favre, while in the twilight of his career, can still play and he earned the right to stay in Green Bay based upon the “lifetime” contract he signed back in 2002.  Thompson will be fondly remembered not for his success, but by running the Packer’s living legend out of town too early.

 

In reality will any of this happen?  Favre and Minnesota make a mismatched fit because the Vikings are weak at QB and desperate to advance deeper into the playoffs.  The Packers are ready to challenge again after addressing their defensive weakness. 

 

From media analysts to strangers on the street however, the early polls show the popular pick to be the Viking as 3-to-1 favorites to take the division.   

 

Stranger things like this have never happened before in the NFL. 

 

Why Aren’t the Green Bay Packers Listening To Aaron Kampman’s Silence?

The Green Bay Packers’ well-liked veteran Aaron Kampman has something to say, but the coaches aren’t listening.  The Packers refuse to acknowledge he doesn’t like the forced switch from his Pro Bowl defensive end position to the left outside linebacker in the new 3-4 system this year.

 

Kampman was an elite NFL pass-rushing end recording 30+ sacks over the past three season.  His silence stems not only from his displeasure with the change but also that he established himself as a dominant force on the line. 

 

Aaron needs to break his silence and address the confidence and esteem his coaches hold in him.  Coach Mike McCarthy clearly believes that the switch will produce better results based upon Kampman’s professional attitude, athletic ability and the tireless energy he has both on and off the field.

 

He should view this as an opportunity to prove to the league, the Packers and himself that he is a versitile athlete capable of excelling at multiple positions.  His professional mindset and absolute focus are positive signs that he will be successful as an outside linebacker. 

 

The New England Patriots made a similiar more with Mike Vrabel with much success.  As one of the most productive players over the past three years, Kampman will hopefully make a similiar transition from anchoring the D line to the linebackers.     

 

While Kampman makes the switch, the Packers management and coaching staff need to step up their praise for his team-orientated focus to make amends.  The organization addressed the change by bringing in Kevin Greene, a former Pro Bowl outside linebacker, to speed up Kampman’s transition and provide individual coaching. 

 

That may satisfy the technical aspect of the position, but has it improved the situation in Aaron’s mind?  Defensive coordinator Dom Capers several conversations provide limited insight.  “I haven’t sensed [Kampman’s discomfort with the move] at all since I’ve been here”, Capers told reports this week.

 

Caper’s lack of insight does not dimish the fact that Kampman, maybe just maybe, deserves some recognition from higher management.  Unfortunately this contrasts with Packers GM Ted Thompson’s personal style in handing players. 

 

While the outcome of this switch is uncertain, Kampman remains professional as ever.  “He spent hour after hour with Kevin individually…He’s done all those things that you’d ask any player to do,” Capers continued to reporters earlier this week. 

 

Why does Kampman continue to not address the transition publically?  I believe there are three reasons to explain Kampman’s silence on this critical issue.

 

First, he doesn’t want to cause additional distractions for teammates given the circus-like atmosphere surrounding training camp in 2008.

 

Second, the organization reassured Kampman that he will be given plenty of opportunities to zone blitz the QB from his new linebacker position.  This gives the Packers’ best pass rusher a chance at double digit sack numbers again. 

 

Lastly, he may feel foolish playing behind rookie defensive tackle, B.J. Raji from Boston College, who will line up in Kampman’s old position.  Ironically, the unsigned rookie is missing precious practices that will slow his development this season.

  

“You’re a fool if you never learn from your past…but you can’t live in the past,” Kampman recently told Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press Gazette.

 

While Kampman’s past results were a success, Packer players, let alone fans, cannot remain living in the past forever.

Obama’s New “Cash for NFL Team Clunkers” Program Boosts Ticket Sales

President Barack Obama, at the urging of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, is devising a plan to aid NFL owners from slumping revenue and season ticket renewals this season. 
 
A similar plan designed by Congress to boost auto sales for domestic car companies will now apply to the NFL as one of the few remaining domestic industries left in America.
 
Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder came up with the brilliant idea after thousands of Redskins fans didn’t renew their $6,500 club level season tickets. Owners around the league are rushing to be included in this program as the tough economic times pinch consumer spending.
 
The program will subsidize the price of tickets for ten home games up to $3,000 per seat. However, a few restrictions apply.

Playoff teams in 2008 season are excluded.  Sorry Pittsburgh fans, you will be paying full price for 2009.    
 
Teams that had winning records but did not qualify for the playoffs receive $2,000 with incremental increases for teams with below .500 records. Detroit Lions tickets will be given away for free. 
 
In order to increase revenue for team owners, season ticket holders must upgrade their seats in order to qualify.

Response from the franchises is mixed so far. Cleveland, Miami, Oakland and Green Bay all reported increases while only a handful of Lions fans accepted free tickets.
 
President Obama also urged fans who are unable to attend games to continue watching NFL games to support the league’s television advertising revenue. 

“Without watching hundreds of commercials for Bud Light, Buick, and Viagra each game,” Obama remarked at a recent White House backyard BBQ,“major NFL sponsorships are threatened—which will dramatically increase season ticket prices for future generations of Americans.”

Top Five “Black Sheep” in the Green Bay Packers Family

Every team, like every family, has problems and the Green Bay Packers family is no exception. With 90 years of Packer history, an interesting cast of characters populates the black sheep list of disgraced and disenfranchised players.

Let’s examine the best (or worst) to come into the little football town of Green Bay and what impressions they felt behind for the organization, fans and the community

Brett Favre Revealed: Only One Piece of Corn Left in His Head

At one time, back in say 1992 or 1993, maybe even as late 2002 or 2003, Brett Favre had a solid head for football, for right and wrong and for the importance of being a role model in the NFL Universe.

A country farmer might call this reasonable head “full o’ country corn”. Since Favre hails from Kiln, Mississippi, where the corn is well past knee high by the fourth of July, this seems like a fitting description for his state of mind at the beginning of his talented, record-breaking career.

Recently, erratic behavior, lack of contradictory statements and confusing interviews over the past two years are all symptoms, most people agree, of some unknown malaise affecting the 3 time NFL MVP.

When asked, the wise country farmer / sage smoothly reckoned, “That Favre boy has only one piece o’ corn left rattling around in that head of his”, based upon his recent actions. During the trials and tribulations of Favre’s long playing career he right under the noises of watchful television viewers, coaches and the media.

This article uncovers the exact moments when Favre’s ability to reason, his head for football, began to be knocked from him- as he lost piece after piece of that sweet Mississippi corn.

Who Needs a Winning Record? The 10 Best NFL Coaches Below .500

Many coaching professionals dream and aspire to be a NFL head coach at some point in their career.

The dream for many is considered a gift by bringing coaches fame, wealth and legandary status within the league.

More often than not, the dream becomes a nightmare as coaches learn that careers are easily destroyed by entrenched management, limited personal and ineffective playbooks.

Many coaching careers are discounted by a few unlucky seasons and deserve proper recognition for solid accomplishments*.

Come along and see who made the list.

*Rankings are based upon a minimum of 20 career NFL wins and the coach must have been active after the AFL-NFL merger. Being below .500 and still a head coach in the NFL does not earn an automatic spot on the list.

Why Brett Favre In Purple Is Better for the Green Bay Packers

Brett Favre will play for the Minnesota Vikings, to the shock and dismay of loyal Favre and Packers fans, in 2009. Donning the purple and yellow won’t intimidate or cause Brett one moment of discomfort because it will help him reach his last remaining goal.

For Brett, that goal clearly transcend professional football, “legend” edict, and common decency.  That goal is to humiliate the Green Bay Packers organization in general and embarrass Packers’ General Manager Ted Thompson personally, during a time when Packers fans remain bitter and visibly divided, not only over Ted’s decision, but the general chaos of the ensuing and disappointing 2008 season.

Brett’s last burning desire to reach that goal, by risking his reputation, his health, and the esteem of million of fans, continues without apparent regard for the intended and unintended consequences of his actions.

Brett clearly believes that being in the league will cause Packers fans to question Ted Thompson’s decision-making ability.  It is intended to destabilize the loyal fan base further and create turmoil for both the players and organization, as long as Brett remains a visible character in the NFL. 

From this misguided notion, Brett will enter the 2009 season ready to play his role. 

However, it will be that of Marcus Brutus and not that of the returning, age-defying hero.  Brett’s decision, as poor as it may be, will only solidify support for Ted  Thompson and the Green Bay Packers.

Reactionary fans will not appreciate having their legends insult them, which will trigger an up-swell of support, not only for Ted, but also Aaron Rodgers.  Bloggers around the league will wholeheartedly support the Packers while distancing themselves from Brett’s falling and tarnished reputation.     

Brett’s last season played in the NFL with Minnesota will give Packers fans many reasons to forget their past differences in support of the common good.  This unintended blessing bestowed by Brett may be the only true “catalyst” the team needs to return to the playoffs and perhaps the NFC championship game. 

Purple and yellow could just be the best color for the Green Bay Packers this season.    

 

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