The Facts: Fans have long lamented Ted Thompson's close-to-the-vest, take-few-chances approach to team building. Perhaps coach Mike McCarthy is joining the chorus. Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, one of the most plugged-in NFL reporters in the country, reported that McCarthy is "fed up" with Thompson's conservative approach to free agency.

Diehards Line: "According to several sources, McCarthy is fed up with his boss' unwillingness to take a chance and reinforce the roster with veteran players that might be unknown to the Packers but have the talent to contribute," McGinn wrote in a column that lambasted both the GM and coach for a lost season. ... Thompson has been lauded as a draft-and-develop general manager who takes few risks in free agency. Signing Julius Peppers two years ago was viewed as an anomaly -- one that worked out exceedingly well. Watching other teams flounder with overpriced free agents, which happens on a yearly basis, Thompson isn't going to alter his approach because of one exceedingly frustrating season that was punctuated by injuries. Still, as McGinn suggested his column, "In summary, I still can't believe a team with [Aaron] Rodgers taking every snap and that much talent could lose six times in the regular season, could fail to win another NFC North Division crown and [wasn't] playing Sunday in the NFC Championship Game for the right to reclaim the Lombardi Trophy that was well within its means." Valid contentions. We'll see if they lead to significant change.