Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Thursday, July 24, 2008
Thompson talks Favre, Grant, draft picks
GREEN BAY — As all-consuming as the ongoing Brett Favre saga has been for those who follow the Green Bay Packers, the football operation hasn't simply shut down while waiting for the soap opera reaching its endgame.
From unsigned starting halfback Ryan Grant's situation, to the team not having signed any of its nine draft picks, to depth concerns on the defensive line, there are plenty of non-Favre issues for general manager Ted Thompson to deal with.
But first, a little more about Favre.
Thompson said Monday he and Favre did not get together and talk while Favre was in town for Saturday's Packers Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
''We had a chance to say hello,'' said Thompson, who sat only a few tables away from Favre at the banquet inside the Lambeau Field atrium. ''Everything was kind of busy and hectic.''
Thompson said he wasn't worried about how he might be received at Thursday's annual shareholders meeting at Lambeau Field.
''I hadn't been worried. Should I be?'' Thompson said with a nervous chuckle. ''Obviously there have been a lot of times during my tenure, because of the emotion and passion the fans have for this team, where they've voiced their displeasure with me. And they have the right to do that.''
Thompson also didn't seem overly concerned with Grant being unsigned. Grant, an exclusive-rights free agent who did several interviews at ESPN's Bristol, Conn., studios Monday, said he is ''very optimistic'' a deal will get done before players report to training camp Sunday.
Thompson said talks were ''ongoing,'' while Grant said his agent, Alan Herman, was talking with the team Monday.
Asked by ESPN ''First Take'' host Dana Jacobson where he'll be next Monday if he doesn't have a deal done, Grant replied, ''I don't know. That's not the case as of right now. I'm not really gonna think that far on ahead.'' Asked if he would hold out, Grant replied, ''I don't think I'm going to put myself in that position. I think I'll wait 'til everything gets done for me to go up there.''
None of the team's draft picks had signed as of early Monday evening, although Thompson didn't think any of the picks would miss practice time while new contract negotiator Russ Ball worked out the deals with each agent.
''We don't anticipate any real problems at the end of the day,'' Thompson said. Asked if having the latest reporting date in the league would help his team because the market for each pick would be set, Thompson replied, ''Yeah, I think it probably helps. If you start early, you kind of have to be the first one to step out there. And that goes for the agents, too.''
Although Thompson wouldn't discuss the legal troubles of defensive tackle Johnny Jolly, who was arrested earlier this month for felony drug possession and is to be arraigned today in a Houston court, Thompson said he expected Jolly (shoulder) and Justin Harrell (back) to be able to participate in practices after missing offseason workouts with injuries.
''We've been discussing all year that the guys who were not in OTAs and minicamp, that most if not all by training camp would be ready to go,'' Thompson said. ''We're still thinking that.''
Meanwhile, in an interview with the Sporting News' Steve Greenberg that was posted on the magazine's Web site Monday, quarterback Aaron Rodgers sounds like someone who still expects to be the team's starter. Rodgers also subtlely points out Favre, who dressed and showered in his own separate locker room, wasn't as accessible as he is to his teammates.
In his response to a question about the change from Favre to him, Rodgers replies, ''I'm excited about doing things the way I want them. We're going to be a team that's united and connected.
''We've spent a lot of time together doing team functions, a lot of times at my house this offseason, and I think we've definitely gotten closer as a team. I don't think we had that as much last year. I don't ever want guys to feel like they can't talk to me or approach me. We're doing this together. I'm always open to suggestions. I think my teammates would all say I'm very approachable and pretty personable as well.''
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