Packers sign GM Ted Thompson to extension
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) With four NFC North titles and a Super Bowl victory in the past decade, Ted Thompson has had quite a run as Packers general manager.
Thompson sees no reason to stop now, even as retirement age nears. The team announced after practice Wednesday the signing of Thompson to a multiyear contract extension.
''The more you think about it, the more you think how nuts are you that you'd walk away from something like this,'' Thompson said. ''To get a chance to continue to do that after you put all the chips on the table, there's very little choice there. I want to be here.''
Terms of the deal were not announced. Thompson didn't comment on the specifics, either.
''No. I'm not a very specific guy,'' he said when asked if could be more specific about his contract, drawing laughs from reporters.
Extending coach Mike McCarthy's contract appears to be the next decision.
Both the general manager and coach last signed extensions in 2011, within about a month after the Packers won the Super Bowl.
''Big priority. It's been the plan the whole time,'' Thompson said about an extension for McCarthy. ''The way the organization is set up ... it's the way it's always been done here. The general manager kind of gets put away and then you do the head coach.''
Thompson, 61, took over in 2005; McCarthy was hired in January 2006.
''We anticipate each other's thoughts often, which might drive both of us crazy sometimes, but I think it's working well and has worked well,'' Thompson said.
Thompson missed the NFL meetings in March for a personal matter. He appeared energized last week in addressing the annual Packers shareholders meeting.
He might make a few more short trips home to go see family in his home state of Texas, though Thompson had no plans to delegate authority. He professed a continued love for scouting.
Thompson doesn't have a timeline for how much longer he wants to work.
''His outstanding work has been the key factor in the success that we've enjoyed in recent years,'' team president Mark Murphy.
Thompson's deal is the second high-profile extension announced by the club in the opening week of camp, following the deal signed by top receiver Jordy Nelson on Saturday.
They are among the highlights of what has been a smooth start to camp so far - though both McCarthy and Thompson bristled slightly when asked about the lack of distractions.
''That's me knocking on wood because you said something like that, jinxing it,'' said Thompson after knocking on the podium. ''You never talk about your good fortunes.''
Also:
IN AND OUT: Starting safety Morgan Burnett sat out some of practice Wednesday with what McCarthy called a ''tweaked'' ankle, though the injury didn't appear serious. Burnett remained on the sideline while Micah Hyde and first-round draft pick Ha Ha Clinton-Dix got a few looks with the first team as the safety duo in red zone drills.
Linebacker-defensive end Mike Neal practiced for the first time after watching the first few days with an abdominal injury. Inside linebacker Jamari Lattimore also returned after sitting out a few days because of illness. Guard T.J. Lang (shoulder) took part in position drills.
IN THE HOUSE: McCarthy singled out fourth-year cornerback Davon House's start to camp. He is part of what is looking like a deep position group in the secondary, especially with Casey Hayward at full speed from a hamstring injury that limited him last season. Sam Shields and Tramon Williams are the starting corners.
RED ZONE: Nelson caught a couple of touchdowns during two-minute drill practice, including one from a scrambling Aaron Rodgers around the right edge that had the pass rushing Julius Peppers yell out in frustration. ''The biggest thing when you get out there in two minutes is that you're a little ahead of the game because we've been going no-huddle since Day 1, so a lot the mechanics'' carry over, McCarthy said.
---
AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL
---
Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP
