Bringing Back Tracy White
PackersLounge wants Ted Thompson to pick up the phone and call Tracy White. We understand the pull but it's time to move on.
By PackerAaron
Alex over at the Packers Lounge is calling for Ted Thompson to bring back special teams ace Tracy White, now that the seven year veteran is an unrestricted free agent. Money quote:
No one has been able to step and and fill the void left by Tracy White’s departure. He almost made a Pro-Bowl, caused a fumble on punt coverage in the 2007 Championship Game...and is coming off perhaps his best season ever. At 28-years-old he is now in the prime of his career.
I'm not sure I entirely agree that no one has been able to "fill the void". I'm pretty confident that Derrick Martin was starting to grow into that role before he was injured late in the season and that was one of the reasons the Packers brought him back on the eve of free agency. I think Alex is right that the Packers' special teams units would benefit, but White played well in Philly's 4-3 scheme last year. I don't think he's particularly suited to any of the 3-4 linebacking positions and having two special teams aces would be a bit of a luxury. (Then again, so was having 3 full backs, so what the hell...)
Where I think Alex is guilty of gross-overstatement is with the following:
In what many have called one of the greatest blunders in Ted Thompson’s tenure, releasing special team standout Tracy White in favor of Danny Lansanah has to be pretty close to the top of the list.
Please.
Cutting Jon Ryan for Derrick Frost and then holding onto Frost for months? Blunder. Tracy White? Mis-step.
That said, I really like this from the ol' Packer Ranter:
A free agent in the off-season, White spurned offers from Pittsburgh and Denver to re-sign with Green Bay." Here's a guy who was not only the most productive ST guys, he wanted to stay loyal to the Packers. And what do we do? Replace him with someone from the practice squad. TT: "We just felt Danny is a guy...that can add a little bit more juice." Are you kidding me? So many reasons this is wrong.
Ok, a BIG mis-step. But still...not a blunder.
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Comments (18)
April 14, 2010 at 04:10 pm
Tracy White Fact of the Day: Tracy White doesn't keep score, he keeps scalps.
April 14, 2010 at 04:31 pm
Ted Thompson's Top 3 Blunders:
1) Derrick Frost
2) Signing a FB over Tyrell Sutton
3) Releasing Anthony Smith
April 14, 2010 at 05:21 pm
please no.
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please tell me i don't have to read Tyrell Sutton complaints again.
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Anyhow - if those are the TOP 3 blunders of our GM we must have a kick-ass GM. One of those guys is a punter and the other two are turds.
PackerAaron
April 14, 2010 at 05:28 pm
But...but...Sutton went on to...to...play fullback with the Panthers! ;)
April 14, 2010 at 05:51 pm
And I didn't want to have to ever read about Frost but AN had to bring that up again.
Those 2 "turds" showed the most talent last preseason. Plus Smith could of been a HUGE help towards the end of the season. Woodson would agree.
April 14, 2010 at 08:18 pm
.... against 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and no stringers.
April 14, 2010 at 05:53 pm
So Justin Harrell doesn't rate? LOL. Thought I was the only one still holding out hope for Harrell!
April 14, 2010 at 05:58 pm
Not even I was going to mention that name
April 14, 2010 at 05:53 pm
Cut Poppinga for White.
April 14, 2010 at 06:00 pm
Poppinga < White
April 14, 2010 at 06:10 pm
Agreed. He's not a 3-4 guy, but when you have 3 FBs, that doesn't matter much...
We need all the help we can on ST. And this guy can surely help our ST.
April 14, 2010 at 08:40 pm
Try him at FB. You don't think he could get the job done?
April 14, 2010 at 09:28 pm
And with all the talk that we need a veteran backup QB. Just sign Tracy White!
You know that the "Favre never missed a start" thing is just a myth. You remember that Oakland, MNF game, right after Favre lost his father? Yeah, White was actually already with the team.
He dressed up as Favre, and had an amazing game...
April 14, 2010 at 08:14 pm
gettin rid of MANUEL was the biggest mistake IMO lol JK....
April 14, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Well considering we cut Giordano, and lost Kampman, I say we are a minus 2 net on the roster. We can afford to bring in Tracy White...Secondly, is he that much smaller than Bishop?? I say bring him in, cut Barbre, and call it a day!
April 15, 2010 at 01:58 am
Ted Thompson's number one blunder, after 22 years of service, Mike Wood (MS).
April 15, 2010 at 05:55 am
Ted's biggest mistake was not trading back to add more picks when the Brownies wanted Brady Quinn. That would have been a fricking smoke...instead he settled for Herrell, who I am about to give hope up on, but let's give him one more camp.
April 15, 2010 at 09:34 pm
Wow! A TT mistake commentary that does not include Favre! With that in mind I think TTs biggest mistake might have been not throwing graybeard under the freaking bus for how it all went down, but that may be his biggest move in the end. We can all let Brett make good (somehow) and cheer him when the time comes for induction. Kudos to Ted for making it better in the long run, that took vision.