There was plenty of speculation before the draft that Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson might call it a career sometime soon.
That isn’t going to be the case.
“I’m just getting started,” Thompson told Packers.com. “I feel pretty good.”
He went on to say he doesn’t have an exit plan, which means he’ll be in Green Bay for a while.
The speculation about Thompson possibly retiring soon was centered around his contract. While the Packers were talking to coach Mike McCarthy about a new deal, there’s been no word they’ve discussed one with Thompson.
McCarthy’s deal runs through the 2015 season, while Thompson’s runs through the 2016 draft.
Obviously it would be less than ideal if McCarthy was under contract, Thompson retired and the Packers had to bring in a new GM. If history tells us anything, it’s that general managers typically want to hire their own coach instead of working with the guy from the previous regime.
If the Packers do end up giving McCarthy an extension, they’ll likely give Thompson one as well. It’s now pretty clear that he’d be open to such a scenario.