Former Packers general manager Ted Thompson revealed on Wednesday that he has been diagnosed with an autonomic disorder. Thompson, who worked as a Packers executive for 13 years, announced the news in a statement. "Late in the 2017 season, Mark Murphy and I had a conversation about my health and future with the Packers," he said. "At that time, we mutually agreed that it was in the best interests of myself and the organization to step away from my role as general manager. In consultation with team physician Dr. John Gray, I began a complete health evaluation that has included second opinions over the last year from the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Mayo Clinic and the UT Southwestern Medical Center. "I have been diagnosed with an autonomic disorder. I feel that it’s important to mention that based on the test results and opinions of medical specialists, they feel that I do not fit the profile of someone suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)." According to the Mayo Clinic, the autonomic nervous system controls much of the body's involuntary functions. Symptoms can include issues with "the regulation of heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, perspiration, and bowel and bladder functions." Other symptoms can include fatigue, lightheadedness and cognitive impairment. Thompson went on to thank Dr. Gray, the Packers and his family for their support and said it is his "hope and belief" that he can overcome the disorder.<doc-sep>GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Former Packers general manager Ted Thompson said he is suffering from an autonomic disorder, a condition that causes weakness and cognitive issues, and he revealed that it was the reason he is no longer in the GM role with the team. Thompson, 66, issued a statement Wednesday through the team explaining, at least in part, his condition. "I have been diagnosed with an autonomic disorder," said Thompson, who played 10 seasons for the Houston Oilers (1975-84) before he got into scouting. "I feel that it's important to mention that based on the test results and opinions of medical specialists, they feel that I do not fit the profile of someone suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy [CTE]." According to the Mayo Clinic, "autonomic nerve disorders [dysautonomia] refer to disorders of autonomic nervous system [ANS] function. Dysautonomia is a general term used to describe a breakdown or abnormal function of the ANS. The autonomic nervous system controls much of your involuntary functions. Symptoms are wide-ranging and can include problems with the regulation of heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, perspiration, and bowel and bladder functions. Other symptoms include fatigue, lightheadedness, feeling faint or passing out [syncope], weakness, and cognitive impairment." Thompson did not disclose which nerve disorder he is suffering from, and, according to sources, there has been some debate from his doctors about which condition he has. As GM of the Packers, Ted Thompson drafted Aaron Rodgers and built a team that went to the playoffs for eight consecutive years. Brian Spurlock/USA Today Sports There had been wide speculation about Thompson's health during the latter stages of his tenure as general manager. He underwent hip replacement surgery in 2014 and curtailed his on-the-road scouting trips for a time. During a rare in-season interview with ESPN in January 2017, the week of the NFC Championship Game, his speech and movements were noticeably affected. It wasn't until a full year later that Packers president Mark Murphy announced Thompson would be reassigned to a senior advisory role. "Late in the 2017 season, Mark Murphy and I had a conversation about my health and future with the Packers," Thompson continued in the statement. "At that time, we mutually agreed that it was in the best interests of myself and the organization to step away from my role as general manager. In consultation with team physician Dr. John Gray, I began a complete health evaluation that has included second opinions over the last year from the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Mayo Clinic and the UT Southwestern Medical Center." Thompson was the architect of the Packers' Super Bowl XLV team. Six years earlier, he made quarterback Aaron Rodgers his first selection during the 2005 draft. Although Thompson drew the ire of fans for his commitment to the draft-and-develop plan -- eschewing big-money free agents -- he and coach Mike McCarthy, whom Thompson hired in 2006, put together a team that reached four NFC title games (2007, 2010, 2014, 2016) and made eight straight playoff appearances (2009-16). Thompson's draft record, while strong for the first 10 years of his tenure, worsened late in his time. There is not a player left from his 2015 draft, his third-to-last class. Murphy did not cite Thompson's health as a reason for the decision to remove him as general manager immediately after the 2017 season. Thompson remained around the Packers during the 2018 season but then moved to his native Texas. He made fewer appearances in Green Bay as the season went on, and a source said it was because Thompson could no longer travel alone. Thompson was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame on Saturday. "This is a great honor," Thompson said Saturday. "I appreciate it more than you can ever know. ... This means a lot to me." Most of Thompson's comments came in the form of a prerecorded video that was played during his presentation. Among those who sent video tributes to Thompson were former Packers coach Mike Holmgren, Seahawks general manager and Thompson protégé John Schneider, former Packers defensive back Charles Woodson and Rodgers. Among those in attendance were Thompson draft picks Jordy Nelson and Mason Crosby, Browns general manager John Dorsey, former Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie, former Packers GM Ron Wolf and his son Eliot, former Packers offensive line coach James Campen, and former Packers president Bob Harlan. It was Harlan who hired Thompson as GM in 2005. "I watched him come in and join us when he was very green, working for Ron Wolf, who's a demanding boss, and he was so good that Ron promoted him twice," Harlan said Saturday. "The first man that Mike Holmgren wanted to take to Seattle with him was Ted Thompson. Ted went to Seattle, built a Super Bowl team, and I just thought when it was time for us to get somebody, he was the one I wanted. "When I called him, I gave him the very same line I gave Ron earlier. I said, 'You're No. 1 on my list. I want to talk to you until you say yes.' I think he's done a marvelous job, and I'm really hurt when I hear fans who critique some of his drafts, because he and Mike McCarthy gave us 13 outstanding years and we're very fortunate. His first draft choice, everybody said, 'Well, the quarterback fell to him.' He didn't fall; 23 clubs decided to pass him up and he got him. "After I made the decision to hire him, I went to the executive committee first to get their promotion. Then I wanted to get one more confirmation, so I called Ron. I said, 'Ron, if I want somebody to come in and do for me now what you did in 1992, do you have someone you'd recommend?' He said, 'Yeah, Ted Thompson.' I said, 'Thanks, you answered my question,' and I hung up." Thompson concluded his statement by saying he plans to battle his condition. "I want to thank Dr. Gray, the medical professionals, the Green Bay Packers and my family for all that they have done and continue to do for me," Thompson said. "It was a tremendous honor to be inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame this past weekend. The Green Bay community and the fans of the Packers have always been and will continue to be very special to me. It is my hope and belief that I will be able to overcome this disorder. "Finally, I'd like to ask that you respect the privacy of myself and my family as we move forward."<doc-sep>The jokes about Ted Thompson’s diminishing health were never funny. While it’s true he’s a public figure and his ability to effectively do his job falls under the realm of reasonably asked questions, making light of a person’s mental capacity with dementia jokes is about as loathsome as it gets. Let’s not compare one to the other. With the news of Thompson’s condition, an autonomic disorder, questions naturally arise: when did these symptoms begin? Did they affect his ability to do his job and if so how? Who picked up the slack if he had the capacity for a smaller workload? And should the Packers have acted sooner in discussing his eventual replacement? It’s the job of beat reporters and Packers media to ask these questions and fans have a right to know as well, even in matters as sensitive as someone’s health. But any preening blowhards on Twitter doing a victory lap, pointing to this condition as definitive proof of Thompson’s demise and the feckless inaction of the team, ought to pump their brakes (not to mention take stock of whether that’s a good look for them as a person). In an effort to be first to be “right,” we are railroading the truth in search of the hottest take. And the truth is we don’t really know much at all. Anything beyond “Ted was sick enough in 2017 to have a discussion with Mark Murphy about his future with the team,” comes as speculation in terms of the affect Thompson’s health had on his ability to do his job. Being sick enough to step down in 2017 is not proof past failings were because of his health. Drafting is hard and most teams fail at it consistently. John Schneider had an all-time draft run and now can’t seem to find or keep cornerstone players. Blips like the 2015 draft happen. This announcement isn’t proof that Thompson’s perceived loss of fastball velocity comes as a result of this condition. We don’t know that. What we know is the Packers have had the best front office infrastructure in the sport for years. We also know the last few offseasons from Ted Thompson featured a flurry of free agent signings and some aggressive draft posturing with trades. Was this a result of Brian Gutekunst’s or Mark Murphy’s hands on the wheel? Russ Ball’s? Eliot Wolf’s? These are reasonable questions to ask, even necessary ones. But we can’t take for granted their answers simply because at some point in the future Thompson had to step down. Too much of this seems to come from limited reporting and the propensity to play body language doctor. Whispers about health problems aren’t new surrounding Thompson, even if they’re often ghoulish and/or bizarre. Thompson, more than most GMs, took a very active role earlier in his career when it came to scouting, insisting on a boots-on-the-ground approach that waned in recent years. Was that due to his deteriorating health, or because guys like Alonzo Highsmith, Wolf, and Gutekunst became such trusted lieutenants? The truth may lie somewhere in a shade of gray. Knowing now he was sick and that the illness ultimately led to his resignation—though an agreed upon one—doesn’t actually answer these questions. If anything, it leads to more, confirming what many have speculated on for years. Being right about that speculation doesn’t, then, allow one to speculate further. A broken clock is right twice a day — a rate some talking heads and Twitter trolls would love to crack. Perhaps the most pressing question for journalists is the role the Packers as an organization play here. It strikes me as a little macabre to even type this, but should Green Bay have acted sooner? This one seems to be a little more easily answered. In every walk of life, people continue to work through illness. We often laud them for it. In sports, we simply want to know about the results, absent the human empathy part. Adults are trusted every day to decide if they’re capable of completing their professional tasks based on their help. If you can’t come in to work because you’re sick? You call in. This isn’t 5th grade where mommy or daddy need to give you a note. Ted Thompson earned the trust of the organization to say, “I can do this,” even if it meant working a little less and trusting the people around him a little more. We know how great the people around him are and we’re getting glimpses of how good we think Brian Gutekunst is. The Browns clearly loved his staff enough to recreate it a couple hundred miles to the East. Thompson earned the right to say when he felt he could no longer do the job. He was trusted, as millions are every day, to know his capabilities better than anyone else. Unless we get information about clear warning signs missed by the team, ones beyond just “well, the 2015 draft was bad,” we don’t really have clear evidence to suggest the Packers should have acted sooner in making this move. It’s still fair to ask that question, but not to assume it without evidence. We’ll likely never know the truth. It’s unlikely even Thompson himself could offer an honest assessment of whether or not his health was deleterious to his ability to do his job. We know him to be a fierce competitor, but it’s hard for anyone to make those kinds of determinations about themselves with clear eyes. Questions about timing should only be relevant to discussions about how chain of command changed, how responsibilities where shifted and for how long that went on. On the other hand, those are important ideas the Packers should be willing to explain. For a publicly owned team, they have to answer to the fans on this even if shareholders aren’t traditional ones. If discussing an aging person’s deteriorating health makes you feel icky, you aren’t alone. If it doesn’t, think about why that is. Unfortunately though, there are potential repercussions to this news that extend into the football realm. There are answers worth seeking. But that’s not the same as making assumptions. That difference matters, not simply materially for this discussion, but also to keep in mind the humanity of why we’re having it in the first place.<doc-sep>
GREEN BAY – Former Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson revealed Wednesday that he has been suffering from an autonomic disorder and said it is the primary reason he is no longer leading the team’s football operations. Thompson, who was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame on Saturday night, released a statement through the Packers addressing his health. “I have been diagnosed with an autonomic disorder,” Thompson said in the statement.”I feel that it’s important to mention that based on the test results and opinions of medical specialists, they feel that I do not fit the profile of someone suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).” Thompson played 10 seasons (1975-84) with the Houston Oilers, playing linebacker and serving primarily on special teams. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine website, the autonomic nervous system is “the part of your nervous system that controls involuntary actions, such as the beating of your heart and the widening or narrowing of your blood vessels. When something goes wrong in this system, it can cause serious problems, including blood pressure and heart problems and trouble breathing and swallowing.” The disorders can occur alone or as the result of another disease, such as Parkinson's disease, alcoholism and diabetes, the website said. Thompson did not say whether a specific disease or illness caused the disorder or whether the many tests he underwent revealed a cause. “In consultation with team physician Dr. John Gray, I began a complete health evaluation that has included second opinions over the last year from the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Mayo Clinic and the UT Southwestern Medical Center,” Thompson said in the statement. The first notable difference in Thompson’s appearance occurred at news conferences during the 2017 NFL draft. Thompson looked worn down and spoke slowly. When the shareholders meeting took place at Lambeau Field in July of that year, Thompson looked much better. However, the condition apparently worsened as the season wore on. “Late in the 2017 season, (president) Mark Murphy and I had a conversation about my health and future with the Packers,” Thompson said. “At that time, we mutually agreed that it was in the best interests of myself and the organization to step away from my role as general manager.” Thompson thanked the Packers medical staff and the entire organization for supporting him over the years and said he will continue to fight the disorder. “I want to thank Dr. Gray, the medical professionals, the Green Bay Packers and my family for all that they have done and continue to do for me. It was a tremendous honor to be inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame this past weekend. “The Green Bay community and the fans of the Packers have always been and will continue to be very special to me. It is my hope and belief that I will be able to overcome this disorder. “Finally, I’d like to ask that you respect the privacy of myself and my family as we move forward.”