Slow and steady as ever, general manager Ted Thompson couldn't care less that he is lagging behind so many in the frenetic race that is the start of NFL free agency.
The Packers had zero acquisitions to their name in the opening week of the proceedings, continuing a trend since Thompson was hired in 2005.
"If we can help our team, we're going to try to help our team. (But) we're not going to sign a guy just so we can say, 'Look, we signed this guy,'" Thompson said. "It's got to be something that makes sense for us, and it also has to be a partnership."
A possible attempt at making a huge splash early in free agency dried out quickly when Thompson didn't want to get serious about contract talks with Dallas defensive end Chris Canty. Consequently, a visit was never arranged, and Canty signed a six-year, $41.5 million deal with the New York Giants.
The Packers are in need of upgrades on the defensive line, especially at end after moving Aaron Kampman to linebacker in the new 3-4 scheme, and Canty would have been a nice addition.
In turn, the D-line was further depleted when backup tackle Colin Cole, an unrestricted free agent, bolted Green Bay to become a starter with the Seattle Seahawks, who sweetened things with a five-year, $21 million contract.
Although Packers head coach Mike McCarthy indicated at the scouting combine that the team wanted to re-sign Cole, the fifth-year player was turned off by how Green Bay planned to use him in the overhauled defensive system.
"I definitely saw myself, before this whole process started, as being a Packer for my entire career," Cole said after signing with the Seahawks. "But, when it came down to it, I really feel as though the plan that they had for me wasn't the plan that I felt like my career should've been taking.
"I feel like they wanted me to continue to be a backup player, and I feel like I was definitely ready to take my game to the next level, to be a starter in this league and to move on from there. I really don't feel like they were a factor in that aspect."
