Ted Thompson’s first NFL draft as general manager of the Green Bay Packers received modest ratings from die-hard Packers fans and the media. Many felt that the Packers would snap up a defensive lineman early in the 70th annual Player Selection Meeting to fill a need and bolster an ineffective pass rush from the previous season.
Not so.
In fact, by the time that Green Bay was ready to select with the 24th overall pick, the highly rated Aaron Rodgers was sitting in the Green Room of the Javits Convention Center in New York. He
stayed seated for more than four hours before the Packers called on him, and thus indirectly christened Brett Favre’s heir apparent.
Not that it was an easy decision. Thompson said that he checked with a number of coaches and personnel in the Packers’ draft room prior to selecting Rodgers to get their blessing. When it was time to pick, Thompson was sure he was making the right decision for the future of the Packers.
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