Ted Thompson Steps Down as General Manager of the Packers

I was blown away by the news and it didn't look like that I was the only one. Before I digress into the strange and sudden timing of it, first and foremost it has to be said that Ted Thompson has been one of the best ever for the Green Bay Packers.

Through 13 seasons with the #Packers as GM, Ted Thompson:
-Finished with a 125-82-1 record
-Brought in Mike McCarthy
-Drafted Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, Clay Matthews, Mike Daniels, etc.
-1 Super Bowl title
-8 straight playoff appearances

— Lily Zhao (@LilySZhao) January 2, 2018

That's the short list. He has been amazing.

But the reason why this is happening now, suddenly after the season, is the bigger story. At first, I couldn't write anything it because if this was just a football move, an overreaction to the first losing season in almost a decade, it was terrible. There had to be more to it and Bob McGinn had the details.

Last month, Thompson was just gazing into space hardly mindful why he was attending a meeting of team executives, the source said.
The incident was one of several in the last six months that called into question Thompson’s fitness for performing such demanding work. It also opened the Packers to embarrassment for having a man with apparent health and focusing issues directing their football operation.

The entire article should be read, here's the screen shot from December 23rd that he mentioned in the article.

when the 'nog is too strong pic.twitter.com/FbcYOtXzbK

— Deadspin (@Deadspin) December 24, 2017

Team President Mark Murphy was quick to dismiss Bob McGinn's report that the Board of Directors forced him to remove Thompson. That part involving the Board of Directors seemed unlikely, it hasn't had a strong hand in regard to on-field decisions since the 1950s when Vince Lombardi ended their meddling.

But then Murphy says this change began over a year ago which seems unlikely given how it surprised almost everyone. I'm guessing the truth is somewhere in the middle. Thompson isn't himself anymore, though the board didn't officially force Murphy to act, and there was not going to be no good way to do to fire/demote him based on what he's done for the team while avoiding any discussion about his health.

I'm not sure how this is going to unfold but it's already gotten a little messy with Alonzo Highsmith leaving quickly for Cleveland after 19 years in Green Bay. It's going to be an attractive job, a winning franchise with a future Hall of Fame quarterback. I'd be happy with an internal replacement but it's worthwhile reaching out across the league to see who might be interested.