By Rob Reischel

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Never let them see you sweat.

During Ted Thompson's five-year stint as the Green Bay Packers' general manager, this has been his mantra. When dealing with a press corps that has its fair share of tigers, Thompson is almost Buddha-like. No matter how edgy or probing a question may be, Thompson's tone, body language and approach never vary. Some wonder if the man ever blinks, let alone perspires.

But on Aug. 18, it's a good bet a bead or two of sweat formed on Thompson's brow. Same goes for Packers head coach Mike McCarthy.

That was the day former Green Bay legend Brett Favre signed with Minnesota, the Packers' most hated rival.

Thompson and McCarthy were already on the hot seat following the Packers' dismal 6-10 season in 2008. Now, with Favre in the division seeking revenge on the team that sent him packing last summer, that seat went from hot to scalding.

"You're a fool if you don't realize this is a business and take note of what's going on around you," Packers LB Aaron Kampman said. "We all know it's a large year around here, an important year. That's probably an understatement. Big year for everyone here, yes."

Just 19 months ago, Thompson and McCarthy were living large. The general manager had overhauled the depleted roster that former coach and GM Mike Sherman left behind. McCarthy brought renewed energy and imagination to a team that desperately needed both. And Thompson and McCarthy received a lion's share of the credit when the Packers went 13-3 and then reached the '07 NFC title game.

Contrast that to today, when the natives are restless and jobs are on the line.

Green Bay's seven-game slide from 2007 to last year was the greatest in team history. It also tied lowly Detroit for the league's biggest drop in wins in '08.

If the losing wasn't bad enough, the organization took a major public-relations hit from the Favre fiasco, one that eventually led to the future Hall of Fame quarterback being traded to the New York Jets. While many fans sided with Packers management, the Favre loyalists came out in full force, as well.

That led to something many never believed to be possible in Green Bay: a divided fan base.

It all added up to a bleak year in Green Bay, which has led to a make-or-break '09 for many in the organization.

"A guy or a team can go from being the talk of the NFL to being ripped like crazy," LB A.J. Hawk said. "It's just a crazy sport how it works.

"Obviously, going 6-10 last year and how we did it, that doesn't sit well with anyone in here. This is a high-pressure job for everybody. Everyone's always getting evaluated — coaches, players, everybody. And I'm sure this year is huge for a lot of us."

Starting with Thompson.

Thompson trained under Ron Wolf in Green Bay for eight years in the 1990s but hasn't had the same level of success as his legendary mentor. During Thompson's first four seasons, the Packers are 31-33 (.484), have reached the playoffs only once, and their magical 2007 season was the only year they've been above .500.

"It doesn't sound very good when you put it that way," Thompson said. "Yeah, it's a tough league. Especially last year, we were disappointed in the record last year. We felt like it should have been better, and that's my responsibility, so we're going to try to do better."

Thompson has never been popular among the fan base because he guards every morsel of information as if he's working for national security. In a city where the fan base owns the team, running a covert operation — especially when you're not winning — doesn't fly.

Thompson also largely ignores free agency, choosing instead to build through the draft and then re-sign his own players. And while Thompson's drafts have been largely successful, they haven't been enough to consistently get the Packers over the hump.

Thompson appears to have made the right decision in picking 25-year-old Aaron Rodgers over Favre last summer. Of course, Favre could laugh last this season by leading Minnesota to the top of the NFC North and deep into the postseason.

Packers president Mark Murphy supported Thompson and McCarthy throughout the Favre ordeal, and beyond. But former president Bob Harlan hired Thompson, and if the Packers stumble again in 2009 and the Vikings soar, Murphy could certainly make some changes.

"I think, in the NFL, every year's a big year," Murphy said. "You obviously saw last year how quickly things can change. But I have confidence in both of them, and I think they made the changes and did what they needed to do to turn things around and make sure we have a successful year this year."

Just two seasons ago, McCarthy was the runner-up to Bill Belichick in The Associated Press' Coach of the Year voting. He's also a forward thinker offensively who has been largely credited with Rodgers' development.

McCarthy was given a five-year, $20 million contract extension after the 2007 campaign and then proceeded to have his worst coaching season.

"I'll tell you this: I always refer to it as the lessons of 2008," McCarthy said. "It gets me up every day. It still burns my gut."

McCarthy fired eight assistant coaches from his 2008 staff and nudged former special-teams coach Mike Stock into retirement. McCarthy then hired Dom Capers — a former head coach in Carolina and Houston — to rescue a defense that gave up more points than any other Packers team in 22 years.

Capers is giving Green Bay's defense a makeover and switching to a 3-4 scheme. But if that transition takes time and the desired results are slow, the reaper could come calling for McCarthy.

"I don't view it that way," McCarthy said. "I'm thankful to be here today talking to you, if you can believe that. I'm serious. I have the best job in professional sports. I'm excited to coach these guys. I'm just excited that I am up here in 2009, ready to go."

What 2010 holds — for both McCarthy and Thompson — is far less certain.

Tuesday: PFW identifies 14 NFL head coaches who are on the hot seat this season, including McCarthy.

Kickoff is coming! PFW's annual Kickoff Issue goes on sale at PFWstore.com Monday evening and at newsstands and bookstores later this week. Also, be sure to buy copies of the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports 2009 NFL preview magazine, as well as the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football Guide 2009, both of which are now available at bookstores, newsstands and retail outlets where magazines are sold. Or order your copies online at PFWStore.com.