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?

Draft Day is finally here....

Now we'll find out just how badly Ted Thompson will screw this up.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel is reporting this morning that Maryland Tight End Vernon Davis will be the Packers pick.

Oh, boy.

This is the kind of pick that makes you drive home from your draft parties with your head out the window.

Let's bring you up-to-date on Mr. Davis.

He's famous for running a sub-4.4 40-yard dash at the Combine.

Wheeee!

He was 6-3¼ and 254 at the combine, ran 4.38, jumped 42 and 10-8, and scored 20 on the Wonderlic. Pretty numbers. But can he run block? Seems kind of important in December in Green Bay.

4.38 was on turf indoors. Think he'll run 4.38 on December 15th with a 20 mile per hour north wind at Lambeau?

Think again.

If Teddy Wingnut wants Davis, that's fine. But not at pick 5. The only tight ends chosen at No. 5 were Riley Odoms by Denver in 1972 and Mike Ditka by Chicago in 1961. Anybody ever remember seeing that hilarious SNL skit about Riley Odoms? Me either.

My point is this. Davis may be the next Tony Gonzalez. He could be the next Antonio Gates. But at pick five, he better-damned-not-be the next Tyrone Davis. And the risk of getting Tyrone Davis is much higher. After all, how much does the tight end contribute in terms of offensive numbers if he's just a pass catcher? Bubba Franks is wonderful inside the three-yard-line. Everywhere else? Not so much. Plus, you just signed Bubba to a big-money extension last season? How much money can you put into that position when Davis won't be anything more than a third-down receiver and play in special situations. Bubba can block nicely, thank you. The Packers don't need another tight end.

I'm not totally sold on A.J. Hawk and if the Packers aren't either, they ought to trade down. D'Brickashaw Ferguson will be gone by five. Winston Justice wouldn't be a horrible selection down in the teens when you hedge your bet with an extra pick somewhere. And after losing Wahle, Rivera and Flanigan the last two years, you better find someone who can keep your quarterback upright or the Aaron Rodgers era will start sooner than anyone wishes.

Note: OK, I was wrong about Woodson. But I never expected Teddy Wingnut to throw that kind of money at him. I think it's worth it. Just so I don't have to look at Ahmad Carroll playing cornerback anymore.

Or hear Ed Hochuli speaking those fateful words.

Holding....Number 28....Defense....5-yard penalty....automatic first down.

I may live blog the draft....a little Commissioner's Analysis for my fantasy football leagues. After all, I have to let y'all catch up a bit in Swamp and Insanity.

Especially you West River Swampers.....Hahahahah! The trophy is mine!

Enjoy the draft.

Packer Agony to Continue

We're just days away from the NFL Draft. We all know that. What we don't know is when the days of 4-12 and stinking to boot will end in Green Bay.

What has the off-season meant to us? Well, we don't know about our quarterback. And frankly, aren't we all a little sick of his crap? We have a coach nobody knows anything about but who works, ostensibly, cheap.

And we have a second-year General Manager who couldn't find his ass without the aid of a road map and a flashlight.

Which brings me to today's nightmare. How can Ted Thompson screw up the fifth overall pick in the draft?

Let's count the ways.

First, in fairness to Mr. Thompson, drafting is an odds-against crapshoot.

Second....to hell with fairness. This yahoo hasn't done diddly-squat (new math term) to help this team.

OK, I can understand not matching the Giants obscene offer to LeVar Arrington. But Marc Boerighter and Marquand Manuel as your "BIG" off-season moves? You're kidding, right? And you just know Charles Woodson won't be a Packer.

So that leaves us with the draft.

Uh-oh.

Here's my prediction. Trade down. Way, way, way down.

Why?

Why to save money, of course. Thompson acts like any money he spends on actual talent comes out of his paycheck. How much money does he need? His haircut looks like his stylist was recently fired from Great Clips.

I'm not against trading down in principle. Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones used this strategy to build the Cowboys into a dominant team in the early to mid 90's.

If Ted would trade down a "few" spots; I'd have no problem. Get a player you want and get an extra pick is wonderful. I'd drive up to Green Bay and cut his lawn for free if he did this.

But I have the sinking feeling that around 1230 Saturday afternoon, Lord Tagliabue will stride to the podium and announce a deal. And that deal will have the Green and Gold picking at about 24. Whereupon lowball contract offers will commence. And we'll have a summer hearing about how some offensive guard from East Cupcake State will be in "Day 36" of his holdout.

Wake me when it's over. Please.