INDIANAPOLIS—Packers General Manager Ted Thompson did not close the door on the potential for Greg Jennings to return to the team.
"We think it's our best practice to try to retain as many of those guys as we can," Thompson said of players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents. "We'd very much like to do that and that includes Greg."
Jennings would become an unrestricted free agent on March 12 and speculation has been that the wide receiver will be playing for a different team next fall.
Thompson made his comments at the scouting combine, where he took his turn in the rotation of NFL general managers' and head coaches' press conferences on Friday. Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy was scheduled to address the media at 2 p.m. CT today.
"That's a lot of veteran leadership that won't be with us," Thompson added when asked about the recent departures of Donald Driver, Charles Woodson and Jeff Saturday. "We have a strong locker room. The wheel keeps turning. We feel confident of the leadership in our locker room."
Thompson commented on varying topics:
The loss of coaches and scouts to other teams—"We've had some losses with guys taking really good jobs around the league. We encourage that. You try to train your personnel staff and coaching staff to take the next step. The NFL is all about evolving."
Injured tackles Bryan Bulaga and Derek Sherrod—"We're expecting them back."
What he's looking for in a draft prospect—"There's an it factor. You don't really know it until you see it and usually it's too late."
Acquiring information—"Nobody tells the truth. It's all a mess. Can this guy help us win games? Can he play or not?"
Fitting players from a 4-3 defense into a 3-4 defense—"If you find a really good defensive player, just take him and figure out how you're going to use him."
Wide receivers—"You still want the big, fast guys. You gotta be able to catch the ball."
