Ted Thompson Must Go!

Once again, I spent the entire day after the NFL Draft covered in my own vomit. Ted Thompson and his special brand of stupidity ruined yet another draft weekend; two of my favorite days of the year.

Stupid picks and stupid strategy.

Justin Harrell, a guy who has no history in college of staying healthy, is taken at 16. Why didn't Thompson trade down at this spot? Denver was willing to trade into the 17-hole and Cleveland was desperate to get back into the first round to get Brady Quinn. Harrell would have been available anywhere between 17-32 and the Packers would have gotten extra picks this year, and in the case of Cleveland, their number one next year which will be quite high.

Yet Thompson stayed put, which makes his second round strategy even more maddening.

With a need for a running back, Thompson traded down to the end of the second round. Just perfect. Minnesota jumped up to get Sidney Rice (mark it down--future All-Pro) and Teddy Ballgame pissed all over himself. OK, no receiver, but two good backs, Irons and Henry were there. Need and opportunity. Nope...makes too much sense...let's trade down, have both those guys get picked in our spot, and take a guy who SPLIT TIME at best in his career. If you wanted a back, stay there and take a better back than Jackson.

If I'm Brett Favre, the day before training camp, I announce my retirement.

Look, I understand not taking a first-round receiver. History has a tendency to look unkindly upon first-round wide receivers. But there were players available that would have helped Green Bay.

Here's my first five picks, if I'm in charge. These are at the original spots the Packers selected before deals were made. Each player was still on the board at the time of the picks. Tell me this isn't better then what Teddy Pisspants did.

1 (16) CB-Leon Hall Michigan
2 (47) RB-Kenny Irons Auburn
3 (78) CB-Daymeion Hughes California
4 (112) WR-Steve Breaston Michigan
5 (157) TE-Ben Patrick Delaware

In Hall and Hughes, you get depth and vast improvement in the nickle and dime packages. Irons is a pretty good back who was productive at Auburn. Breaston gives you a fantastic return guy and an outside option on offense and Patrick had himself a decent career at Delaware. Keep the two seventh round picks Harris and Wynn and add the kicker Mason Crosby at six, and I think you've helped yourself.

Remember, you still have plenty of cap money left over and can make a move or two for a veteran defensive tackle after June 1. Make any deal one year so as not to burden yourself with dead money if a guy doesn't work out. That's short-term help until the '08 draft or next offeseason's free agency period.

With the Favre window closing quickly, the Packers coming off an 8-8 '06 had a good chance to make a run this year. But, with very little help coming in the draft and only Frank Walker to show for free agency, and a second-place schedule, 8-8 in '07 is a fantasy.

And with 8-8 out of reach, next year Teddy Poopypants has a fantastic opportunity to screw up an even higher pick and raise his level of incompetence to match the importance of the pick.

Hope springs eternal, right friends?