National Football Post Brunch News

Ted Thompson won't go after anyone, if he did it would be like admitting that he was wrong. He's already split the fan base and the last thing he wants is to stir things up again.

" He could have had Brett Favre"

I wish I could get a dime for every time that phrase will be repeated this year.

Cutting Henry could be an issue as well. Rehabilitation and disclosure issues are major items to the NFLPA.

Not to say they would make a campaign of this example(eyesore already) but there is probably some back channel static going on from this. There is supposed to be a policy and system employed in these cases.

Going on a personal basis is of course unique to applied behavioral medical fields. Five different doctors could give you five different recoveries or grade differently one another's own approach or effectiveness.

This is an item that should remain high on the list for the next commish. It could be employed as bargain leverage by both sides as well. I doubt the owners group and its competing factions would even reach consensus there.

It appears he was away from the playing field long enough to have been in some confidential form of treatment. As with any such instance, bad decisions can snowball into an avalanche, especially in the rockies...

Mike,

Do you think Rudi Johnson has anything left in the tank? Do you see RB needy teams like Hou/Den making a play for him?

Harrington, he's not going to grab starter headlines at this stage and it's clear you are building for the future.
Gradkowski would be interesting, though there seems to be a growing assessment that his play level hits a cieling.

Quinn Gray if you need a starter(close to that level) right now.

Several LB, C are free agents now. Willie Anderson is a free agent. Todd Wade looks to be the best short term help at tackle right now, of all that made the FA pool. Chad Slaughter for depth. Chad Mustard(former Bronco TE, a TNFP higlight on the waiver page upstairs) as a TE for cap and versatility. Welbourn for experience on the OL , Lekkerkerker for depth(one of the guys you hope to have for practice in a year, as Mike says you should plan).

Maybe the Vikes ring one up? They need someone for 4 games, or for depth behind their second player...

As for RB, I've been hoping for Labrandon Toefield to get a shot but he's pretty much relegated to journeyman status.

For youth, Dre Moore of Tampa maybe got the wake up call he needs. He fell from first round status, to a late three, to rookie cut. Check w/his former boss first.

Last guy on the roster? Josh Barret. 'Tweener' for a cover two team.

Would NE take a chance on O'Neil and see if Bill B. helps that guy play his best?

Either teams don't need RBs or the Niners got incredibly lucky because it looks like they snuck Thomas Clayton thru waivers. The kid can and will play in the NFL.

It really does appear that teams devalued the position. There's only so many hand offs you can do, the market is about passing and scoring.

Franchise tags seem to have scared many away as well. Teams don't want to deal with feature back demands, and generally respect the team who developed said back in their ability to hold the services.

At times it appears to be the shadow of collusion. Backs want the big money, something to match near the franchise amount, and teams fight ever getting to that level.

Mike or Mr.Brandt could probably give us an entire article on such a comparison. The best example of this season is the negotiator interests and what they asked for in compensation, in a contract for the services of Michael Turner.

That might contrast sharply to the Stephen Jackson holdout as well. One was leaving a team full of backs, the other was the only real item on his roster and an established team brand.

No way Thompson brings in a vet.

Since Basanaez was waived, the Packers should him bring him in for an interview.

Headlines for paper:
"Packers to sign Brett!"

It would sell copy.

Re: Packers bringing in veteran backup QB:

Just read the New York Post article in which Brett Favre relates the peculiar offer made by Ted Thompson to Favre during an April, 2008 visit to Favre's Mississippi home. Thompson traveled all the way there to tell Favre, hey, we're sending you your locker. He had the bizarre thought process he was proposing doing something special for Favre.

The story illustrates again what what a clumsy, clammy outcast Ted Thompson is. His refusal to address the backup QB position is irrational and odd, just like he is.

I believe Mr. Lombardi commented the other day that he had heard that several NFL GM's were scratching their heads at Thompson's behavior relative to this issue.