Free agency is upon us.
Agents have already been working the phones for their clients and deals have already been agreed upon.
Where are the Green Bay Packers in all of this?
For most people, they’re probably an afterthought.
Agents call teams looking for a fit for their clients during the two-day legal tampering period that precedes free agency. Some teams call agents and that’s apparently what happened when the Packers expressed interest in running back Matt Forte on Tuesday.
However, it sounds as if no one bothers calling the Packers, unless those people represent Packers’ free agents.
As for the Packers negotiating with any other team’s free agents right now, it’s not likely. Agents around the league dismiss the Packers when it comes to selling their free agents because they know general manager Ted Thompson doesn’t sign them very often.
“Green Bay ignores free agency,” one agent said.
This isn’t surprising.
Despite what he says, Packers general manager Ted Thompson does largely ignore free agency.
Just because this isn’t surprising, doesn’t mean it isn’t troublesome.
The Packers have essentially put themselves at a competitive disadvantage because of Thompson’s known or perceived disdain for free agency.
Success in any field requires communication. The Packers have placed themselves outside of the flow of information.
So perhaps it’s not a disdain for free agency after all, as Thompson has suggested.
Perhaps it’s just that the Packers have created an environment where others refuse to participate with them. And if that’s the case, the Packers better do something to change.