I was always perplexed when people would say that "Aaron Rodgers fell into Ted Thompson's lap." To be polite, bull.
With Brett Favre on the roster, Thompson had more excuses than anybody to pass on Rodgers in 2005. He didn't. He had the courage to put the long-term interests of the Packers first.
Rodgers is just the biggest example. Take a look at the Packers' roster for Sunday's NFC Championship Game. You'll see some key players drafted by Thompson. Often in lower rounds. He found some gold.
David Bakhtiari. Davante Adams. Mason Crosby. Aaron Jones. All finds by Thompson and his staff.
Did Thompson hit on every pick? Absolutely not. No general manager does.
Thompson was always more comfortable watching film or being on the road scouting college talent. This was not a guy who loved the spotlight or sought to win the news conference.
I just know that he drafted Aaron Rodgers and put the Super Bowl 45 championship team together.
He was the architect in an era when the Packers were in the playoffs every year. We can argue about free agency spending or who he did or did not draft, but that's the beauty of the NFL.
When you watch the Packers play for a trip to the Super Bowl on Sunday, try to remember Ted Thompson. The Packers wouldn't be there without him.