which leads me to the question, do you believe he wasn't looking? I think he was. I think he's always working, even when the rest of us are sleeping or complaining about how he doesn't do certain things. I never for a second think that Ted does not look for ways to make this team better. We don't know what he does. Case and point, Julius Peppers. Who had that on their radar? Josh sitton being cut, who sniffed that one out? he's traded for guys like Grant, brought in off other teams scraps like Williams, pulled in UDFA's like Shields. He's always looking.
The difference being, they believe in their work, they stick to their plan. Just because Player X may be available for a price doesn't mean the price fits and the benefit make it worth it. I would love a shut down corner, wouldn't have minded trading for one. But i'm more like Thompson, I'll believe in the guys we have that i've already put the work in on, because I trust my work, rather than over pay for what someone else is willing to get rid of. Competing teams aren't trading away good players and the non-contenders are looking for a lot of draft picks to rebuild with. It takes a special situation to trade for a guy like that, in season, for anything other than a tremendous price. usually that entails taking on a huge contract, taking on a player that is not fitting in the locker room, or giving up a lot in terms of draft picks