Green Bay - - Packers GM Ted Thompson picked up nine players in this weekend's draft. Two on defense, including a cornerback and defensive end, and seven on offense, including a pair of wide receivers, and two quarterbacks. They include QB Brian Brohm, Louisville (2nd round) and LSU's Matt Flynn, in the 7th and final round.

Does this put to rest the talk of ever needing to call Brett Favre in case Aaron Rodgers goes down with an injury?

"I doubt it," said Thompson with some laughter. "I don't know, you can never say never. There's always these 'what if's'. Anything can happen, sure. But we have to deal with the present. We have to deal with getting our team ready to play and fortifying the quarterback position."

So does he ever see a scenario where the Packers would have to call back Favre in to duty?

Replied Thompson, "I wouldn't anticipate that. No."

You just heard the door being shut.

Thompson was asked what about Dante Culpepper, brought in for a visit this week, but the he declined comment. "I wouldn't address anything specific right now, but for now we have two young guys (Brohm & Flynn) coming in to compete for the roster." 

Thompson also was asked if the team would consider re-signing long time back-up QB Craig Nall. "Probably not at this stage," said Thompson.

Nall was probably not only brought in as the best back-up available last fall, and a guy the team liked, but an old friend in the locker room for Favre. Now that Favre is gone, the youngest team in the NFL marches on.

Click here for complete list of the 2008 Packers Draft Picks 

In today's 4th round, (102 pick overall)  for the first time in his tenure as the Packers GM, Thompson traded up in the draft to get a player that shares his last name, and has a brother on the team. The Packers gave the Jets their 113th and 162nd pick to grab DE/OLB Jeremy Thompson, 6'4", 264lbs., out of Wake Forest. His brother is Orin Thompson, a back-up offensive tackle for the Packers. Jeremy is an articulate well spoken player, impressive figure in-person. Packers Scout Brian Gutzman, who resides in North Carolina, had kept an eye on Thompson early on, and the brother connection didn't hurt. But he also wrote that Thompson sometimes takes off on plays. Thompson's defense to reporters is that it's not a lack of effort, but how to finish plays, how to read the secondary part of a play, put himself in the best position should a play break back his way.

A  threat to KGB? While Thompson told me he usually lined up at right defensive end, and often would be used at Wake Forest to drop into coverage as a OLB, a Packers scout tells us he has more of the body type of Aaron Kampman, more upper body bulk.

Round 3, (91st overall) TE Jermichael Finley, 6'4", 243lbs. Univ. of Texas Longhorns. The Packers first pick Day 2 address perhaps there most pressing need, a back-up to tight end Donald Lee. Sure, Aaron Rodgers and Ryan Grant need  back-ups. But after releasing Bubba Franks, the only other tight ends of worth the Packers have are Tory Humphrey, coming off a broken ankle suffered in Training Camp. Ryan Krause was a receiver type. 

Finley is the big body type that will replace Bubba's previous role. A guy you could move in like a fullback to block, use in goal line. But he's a work in progress. He has two children, ages 3 and 3 months, and that was one of the reasons he left Texas early to earn a living in the NFL. He enters at just 21 years old. Finley is the first to admit he needs to work on his blocking, giving himself a grade of B-.

But his new position coach, Packers tight end coach Ben McAdoo says he is a naturally smooth receiver. "I look for things on the tape you can't coach, and he has a lot of raw talent. 6-foot-4, 243lbs, and that body frame, just 21 years old, there is a lot you can develop with that young man." McAddo was also impressed with Finley's agility as a basketball player as well.

- Mike Clemens