Confessions of a Polluted Mindset - The Policy of Truth
The Weekly Packers Brain Drain from Jersey Al.
By JerseyAl
To absolutely no one's surprise, Ed Policy, the current Packers Chief Operating Officer and second-in command on the administrative side, has been selected to replace Mark Murphy when he faces mandatory retirement next July. The Packers conducted an "expansive and inclusive search" over the last year, which led them to ( if they were willing to tell the truth) where they surely expected to end up anyway. Policy has been Murphy's right-hand man as COO over the last seven years as well as the Packers' Chief Legal Counsel. The big question everyone is pondering is what might change under Ed Policy? Truthfully, my early guess would be, not a lot.
Ron Wolf wrote a book called "The Packer Way," subtitled "Nine Stepping Stones to Building a Winning Organization." The Packer Way is very different from how most NFL teams operate these days, mostly thanks to the lack of a meddling billionaire owner. Policy has been educated in the "Packers Way" of doing things over his 12 years with the organization. While you may mostly think of "The Packer Way" in terms of building their football team (players and coaches), those policies carry over to the rest of the organization. They most likely develop business-side personnel like they develop players. Cross-train in different disciplines, encourage versatility, provide opportunities and new responsibilities, trust them to execute, and promote from within to those who've earned it.
In addition to his work on the legal side Policy spearheaded the Titletown development project and was also in charge of multiple other departments in the Packers' organization; communications, marketing and fan engagement, sales and business development, security, and development and hospitality departments. In short, While we don't know for sure, Policy has seemingly touched every aspect of the Packers Organization except one - the football side.
And that brings us to Mark Murphy, who has been a bit of a lightning rod for those looking to blame someone for the Packers' lack of Super Bowls during the Rodgers Era. I remember our own Ken Lass wrote a fine article on January 30th of 2023, after the disappointing 2022 season, on why "Murphy is not the Problem." Lass opined that he didn't believe Murphy was pulling any strings on football decisions and more importantly critical decisions like whether to part ways with future HOF quarterback Aaron Rodgers. From Lass:
Was it Murphy who actually made the call that the Packers were going to stick with the reigning two time MVP, and re-sign him for three years to the richest deal in league history? Or was he just approving a strategy that Gutekunst/LaFleur/Ball came up with? Publicly at least, there was no indication Murphy played a role in bringing the future Hall of Fame signal caller back, except to give the ultimate okay.
While nothing more than pure speculation, I've always felt and continue to feel that Brian Gutekunst had had enough of the Rodgers ego and drama and was ready to trade him then, even if they weren't sure about Jordan Love at the time. In my mind, it was Murphy and LaFleur who lobbied hard to keep Rodgers in Green Bay and make another run or two at a Super Bowl. Murphy not wanting to give up on the golden goose that Rodgers was from a revenue standpoint and LaFleur finding it difficult to part with arguably the best NFL quarterback of the last 15 years. This is pure speculation, of course, and I'm comfortable with that. We don't know what actually happened, as the Packers "mode" has not been one of a "Policy of Truth."
Now you're standing there tongue-tied
You better learn your lesson well
Hide what you have to hide
And tell what you have to tell
Okay, that was a stretch, but I had to work "Policy of Truth" in there somehow.
There won't be a Polluted Mindset" next week, as I'll be "down the shore" on a family vacation and hope to unplug as much as humanly possible. Enjoy your summer and see you again in two weeks!
Go Pack Go!
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__________________________
"Jersey Al" Bracco is the Editor-In-Chief, part owner and wearer of various hats for CheeseheadTV.com and PackersTalk.com. He's a lifetime Packers fan living in the land of the Giants (and Jets). Follow Al on twitter at @JerseyalGBP.
__________________________
Comments (68)
greengold
June 26, 2024 at 06:17 am
Agree 100%, Al. Here's to hoping Policy brings back the Bob Harlan model as COO of the Green Bay Packers, while giving his GM Head of Football Operations status.
I'm guessing you pulled something with that stretch! Enjoy your vacation, Al.
Guam
June 26, 2024 at 07:36 am
Strong second to your sentiment that Gute gets the "Head of Football" title. Gute has executed two remarkable transitions - the first a massive talent infusion after two failed Ted Thompson drafts at the end of his tenure and the second a transition from a HOF QB to another talented young QB. If you think either are easy, ask the Chicago Bears about accomplishing either one ("rebuilding since 1986").
Tundraboy
June 26, 2024 at 10:24 pm
Exactly!
TheTaxiSquad
June 26, 2024 at 11:07 pm
Gute’s always been head of football operations. Regardless of titles. I certainly feel that’s true.
Guam
June 27, 2024 at 07:11 am
Hard to be head of football operations when the Head Coach and coaching staff doesn't report to you.
packerbackerjim
June 26, 2024 at 06:27 am
The Packer Administration has been as enigmatic as any this side of the Kremlin. When things are going well, criticism is minimal; when it is not, they become the proverbial punching bag which doesn’t seem to bother them one bit. For many good reasons, I wish Policy well.
Boneman
June 26, 2024 at 06:28 am
My guess is that someone out of the "90 candidates" considered for Murphy's job will be hired to fill in Policy's old position... waste not want not. Policy was always going to get the job.
HarryHodag
June 26, 2024 at 06:34 am
Somewhat understated is that Ed is the son of Carmen Policy who was the leader during the 49'ers Super Bowl winning ways in the 80's and 90's. I hope Ed Policy can replicate those ways in Green Bay.
greengold
June 26, 2024 at 06:58 am
I was wondering about that, Harry. Thanks!
Coldworld
June 26, 2024 at 10:04 am
His input was on the business and corporate structure/governance side. He is credited with ending internal infighting at the 49ers. He created the basis for a successful franchise, but he didn’t run the football side on an executive basis. He was a Harlen type figure.
Cheezehead72
June 26, 2024 at 06:42 am
What two weeks until the next "Confessions of a Polluted Mindset". Just when I thought the dead zone could not get worse. After all the headline news is the Chiefs Holiday Special.
egbertsouse
June 26, 2024 at 06:52 am
A Depeche Mode reference on CHTV. Way to go, Jersey Al!
GregC
June 26, 2024 at 07:10 am
I'm still waiting for the first shred of evidence that Mark Murphy overruled Brian Gutekunst when Rodgers got that big contract. Instead we get "pure speculation." But at least Al admits it. Most people state it as a fact.
Guam
June 26, 2024 at 07:28 am
Reading corporate "tea leaves" is always an arcane process that never provides a factual basis. Unfortunately it is often the only way to try to understand events, both for outsiders and for lower level insiders. If you are looking for facts only, most of the comments at CHTV will not be of interest to you.
Cheezehead72
June 26, 2024 at 07:29 am
You will probably never get any definitive evidence that MM overruled Gute about signing Rodgers to a new contract to keep him in GB. But when it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck it is probably a duck.
MMs primary responsibility to the organization is to make money and be successful as an organization. Rodgers sold tickets here and when the team was traveling. Rodgers got the Packers on primetime TV. Rodgers gave the Packers the best opportunity to compete and win a SB.
Gutes primary responsibility is to build a team that the HC wants and that has good chemistry. I cannot believe that Rodgers improved the chemistry of the team with all his drama and me first attitude. So I cannot believe that Gute wanted him on the team. Plus Gute had no say as MM makes the decisions and MM had the authority to terminate him.
It boils down to if MM wanted Rodgers Ball would do what he could to make it happen. If MM wanted Rodgers gone Rodgers would have been gone. So even if Gute wanted to keep Rodgers MM must have wanted to keep him. So even if that happened MM is responsible for what happened. That comes with being the leader of the organization.
When the organization does the right thing MM gets credit so when they made a mistake he gets the credit. That is what being the leader is all about.
GregC
June 26, 2024 at 09:45 pm
"It boils down to if MM wanted Rodgers Ball would do what he could to make it happen. If MM wanted Rodgers gone Rodgers would have been gone. So even if Gute wanted to keep Rodgers MM must have wanted to keep him. So even if that happened MM is responsible for what happened. That comes with being the leader of the organization."
If you are going to put all of the blame for the Rodgers fiasco on Murphy, then you also have to give Murphy credit for everything that has gone right in the last few years--which is quite a lot.
Oppy
June 26, 2024 at 07:47 am
There is an anomalous period of time between the loss of Ted Thompson's power as GM and 2021/2022 where the Green Bay Packers started to manage their cap in somewhat reckless fashion the likes of which we had never seen in Green Bay before, and it was all in attempts to prioritize keeping aging veterans on the roster (over young, developing youth) at whatever cost to the future health of the cap.
Those moves seemed to follow the vocal desires of the QB.
Meanwhile, the GM made a number of thinly-veiled critiques on how the Packers were managing the cap.
There's so much circumstantial evidence of meddling in the GM's operation it is hard to deny. Much of it takes a deep understanding of how rosters are built and a team grows into its roster. It also takes an understanding of how the Packers have done business for 30 years, who Ron Wolf is, and how his understudies have conducted themselves in upholding his principles of team management. While Gutekunst is his own man, he's a Ted Thompson disciple, who was a Wolf disciple. Yes, he believes more in raw athleticism and is more likely to test free agency, but the reverence for cap health is evident. The fingerprints are all over him. The cap handling is the most obvious sign of distress, but there are many others.
Some people only believe their ears. Others take their cues from what they witness.
greengold
June 26, 2024 at 09:29 am
All of this is spot on, Oppy.
That was a very interesting transition we Packer fans witnessed. For Gutekunst, I am really happy to see him develop as a GM, and I believe he's turning into quite a good one at that. It is a position where a high percentage of the tasks in fulfilling the job requirements successfully are unique to the job/learned on the job. I think his last 3 years as GM of the Packers have proven him to be an ascending talent.
Similar situation to Jordan Love in that Gutekunst has been able to pick and choose what he thinks works best, and discard those things his legendary predecessor might have done that hindered ultimate team success. I see both sharing these same characteristics.
Ted trying to win the draft every year with the most picks, while completely ditching Free Agency as a talent resource killed many opportunities. Trades he didn't even attempt... there is no trophy for "winning" the draft, nor for having the -most- cap space. I appreciate and agree with your sentiment, but Ted could have popped for more during his day. Unsure why he didn't after witnessing the impact of Ryan Pickett and Charles Woodson signings. Imagine if we had traded for Marshawn Lynch back in the day... I firmly believe there would be at least one more Lombardi Trophy in our case.
It truly is a delicate dance, and doing all of it -mostly- correct is rare air for any GM.
The future appears bright for this Packers team. I love these last 3 drafts, and Gutekunst's Free Agency signings this offseason could tip the scales in our favor. I really like what we are seeing leading into the 2024 season.
Leatherhead
June 26, 2024 at 09:13 am
People believe what they want to believe, Greg. One of the posters here yesterday flatly stated that Policy would not succeed unless he went back to the 'old' structure.
Oppy
June 26, 2024 at 06:37 pm
Leatherhead, who is the poster you are referring to?
I certainly hope you aren't referring to me, because I most certainly did not state anything remotely to that affect, flatly or otherwise.
Leatherhead
June 27, 2024 at 10:14 am
Not you Oppy.
dobber
June 26, 2024 at 10:55 am
At some point, someone will write a book or memoir. Until then, I don't think we'll ever know what really happens behind the green curtain.
Cheezehead72
June 26, 2024 at 02:38 pm
Don't you mean the "Green Door"
dobber
June 26, 2024 at 09:26 pm
"Wizard of Oz" ref.
stockholder
June 26, 2024 at 07:29 am
There is No speculation IMO.
The golden Goose statement said it all.
Money is the #1 objective now.
Not the Super-Bowl.
And MLF was right in wanting to Keep
Rodgers as long as he could.
Point: Rodgers was NO Loser!
The reality of trading Rodgers put
the spotlight on Gute.
Something anyone in his position would want.
He knew the blueprint after Favre.
And so did Rodgers. As did everyone.
But there is a difference in being Good
and winning it all.
Something the Packers just never
understood after Lombardi.
Change is only temporary.
Winners live forever.
Something No one wants to change in Green Bay.
Oppy
June 26, 2024 at 07:53 am
Money only matters to the Packers in terms of two items: ensure the funding necessary to field a team that can compete for Lombardi trohpies, and self-sufficiency to maintain long term viability in the NFL's smallest market. That's it. It's a not-for-profit. If it ain't for football, it either goes in the rainy-day bucket to make sure the Packers will always be the Green Bay Packers, or gets dispersed to public interests. That's it in a nutshell.
The difference in being good and winning it all is exactly why the Packers moved on from Favre and Rodgers. You're so close to understanding, but then you always illustrate you never really learned the lesson. So frustrating.
dobber
June 26, 2024 at 08:42 am
"Money only matters to the Packers in terms of two items"
Don't forget the philanthropic arm of the Packers organization. Over a million dollars every year given to local and state charitable organizations. It's a pittance compared to the operating budget of the team, but it's an important pittance.
Oppy
June 26, 2024 at 06:39 pm
Of course, Dobber. That was what I meant by, " or gets dispersed to public interests."
:)
JerseyAl
June 26, 2024 at 08:06 am
Seriously, nothing irritates me more than someone saying the Packers don't care about winning. Sorry, but it's just so ridiculous.
Reminds self: "Ignore it Al, just ignore it..."
stockholder
June 26, 2024 at 10:54 am
You and I can name ever player on the 60s
Dynasty team. Especially Defense!
I said it because the packers want to live in the past.
Where is the great 60s Defense we grew up with?
The saying still goes-
Offense fills the seats.
Defense wins championships.
What was the biggest complaint of #4 and #12?
The defense sucked and the game was on them.
Why did Lombardi leave GB?
The problem is management.
dobber
June 26, 2024 at 10:59 am
"I said it because the packers want to live in the past."
The Packers have embraced modern roster management as firmly as any other team. They have now shifted their cap dollars to allow them to invest in other places, but they're still going to have to pay the QB--just like anyone else with a talented QB.
"Offense fills the seats.
Defense wins championships."
It's really hard to get to the SB if you can't score points.
It's really hard to win the SB with a one-dimensional team.
stockholder
June 26, 2024 at 11:21 am
We are not like every other Team!
I have argued Gibbs won, with 3 different QBs.
If it was easy to win. Every one would do it.
Following what everyone does
Is being in bed with the enemy.
Oppy
June 27, 2024 at 11:25 am
"Following what everyone else does"
Speaking out of both sides of your mouth again.
Every single year you blast the Packers if they don't draft the supposed "consensus" pick when they're on the clock. But now it's "following what everyone else does" that is the problem.
You are adamant, for whatever reason, that the Packers shouldn't make Love the franchise QB, because they should be able to do it with anyone "like Gibbs". Yet, you bark and scream that the Packers will be losers because they sent Rodgers packing. He was "THE" guy they must have if they want to win.. unless we're talking about Love, then you point to the Redskins winning with 3 different QBs.
You, sir, have devolved into a continual contradiction. Your supposed philosophies are only upheld when it's convenient to your particular gripe on a given day.
Maybe take a break from being a hater and enjoy the Packers for what they are, as opposed to who you thought they should be this season. Rodgers is gone, Love is the QB, and Gutekunst is the GM. And guess what? They're in a better situation today than they have been in perhaps a decade.
Oppy
June 26, 2024 at 06:50 pm
Hey, stockholder, I hate to interrupt your ignorant blathering, but I'd like to hear you rationalize this notion you've laid out that the Packers don't care about winning, because they prioritize offense (which is only to fill the seats) and they clearly don't care about defense (which wins championships)...
When over the last 30 seasons, the Packers have drafted defensive players in the first round 24 times.. that's TWENTY-FOUR times... and, by the way, they didn't even make a 1st round selection in two of those seasons.
24 Defensive first round selections to 10 offensive first round selections over 30 years... But the Packers don't care about defense.
stockholder
June 27, 2024 at 06:12 am
No - You don't hate to interrupt.
But I'm use to it.
The Packers follow in the draft.
They don't go after the difference maker.
The next man up is what they have become.
dobber
June 26, 2024 at 11:00 am
Everyone plays with the same salary cap.
TKWorldWide
June 26, 2024 at 08:32 am
SH: Is that also Depeche Mode?
JerseyAl
June 26, 2024 at 12:57 pm
TK. No, but this is and might apply:
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
TKWorldWide
June 26, 2024 at 04:57 pm
Ha!
Try this:
Words to memorize
Words hypnotize
Words make my mouth exercise
packer132
June 26, 2024 at 12:17 pm
And that's why Rodgers will not be in the top QB's of all time. He was good but failed to show up in the playoffs and be a leader. He had many chances, but throwing into triple coverage thinking he could do it leads the way. Rodgers gave the Packers good years, not great. I think the 2024 team will be great for many years to come.
Since'61
June 26, 2024 at 07:51 am
Nice job as usual AL. I agree with your article especially your point about Murphy and MLF lobbying together to retain Rodgers. Speculation, yes, but highly probable. Another reason for Policy naming Gute Head of Football Operations after he takes over for Murphy.
Enjoy your vacation it's well earned. Thanks, Since '61
Coldworld
June 26, 2024 at 08:06 am
Ed Policy is a classic nepo baby. However, he seems to have proved himself. This has been rumored for years. Is the eventual appointment a good thing? That depends on if his performance is really that impressive or if it’s just the way the search was crafted and evaluated? A lot depends on the wisdom of those who adjudicate merit and framed the search.
Policy as a corporate executive looks the part, but one thing he is not and never has been is a football personnel man. If he is to succeed and if he’s a good choice, he must display a realization of that and return to the Harlen structure. If he doesn’t, then he’s likely got a belief in his own capabilities that may exceed his wisdom. In sports that very rarely works well when it overlaps with on field decisions.
Jerry Jones bought his team and has more actual football experience than Policy, we don’t need to be putting a non personnel person in a position to meddle on a regular basis in football matters. Involvement in those discussions is distorting in itself.
Policy will give an insight to his likely credibility by what he does with the corporate structure now the CEO is not a guy who could at least claim football side credibility.
As it happens, I’ve been wondering for a while, since the volte face on Rodgers a year after that mega extension, if Gute hasn’t been given more and more control. The trade of Douglas seems otherwise prescient given the later move to a new defensive philosophy that he likely wouldn’t fit well with. There are other reasons, but perhaps that’s Policy indicating he knows that we need a true GM post Murphy. That would be a very good portent for the Policy era.
Bitternotsour
June 26, 2024 at 10:11 am
Coldworld, there's no way that Policy gives up power. It just isn't happening. Also, that would require that MLF begin reporting to Gutekunst, and I'm just not seeing that happening. Ball (in my mind) is the potential loser here, as he clearly had Murphy's ear and his protection and he's going to lose his protector. I'd guess there is a chance he leaves when Murphy does, and then potentially Gutekunst can manage that line. But until MLF hits the road, he's going to continue to direct report to the CEO.
dobber
June 26, 2024 at 11:02 am
My guess is that Russ Ball's work in facilities, physical plant, travel, etc., allows him to work with Policy on a regular basis. I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't have a firm working relationship with Policy already.
Guam
June 26, 2024 at 11:35 am
What Policy does with football operations is the big question for the new CEO. He doesn't have the chops to assume the head of football operations on paper, but I have no idea what is in his mind. He has been in the NFL/Arena football for 23 years and could certainly have picked up a great deal of football knowledge while handling the non-football business. On the other hand Gute has proven to be a top shelf football executive. Between his infusion of talent into the team and finding the next Packer QB, he certainly has performed very well in his current job and probably warrants a promotion to full GM. Policy has an interesting decision to make because he could lose Gute if he doesn't promote him.
LLCHESTY
June 26, 2024 at 08:06 pm
I bet if Gutey walked into his office the day after Murphy's last day and said I want total control of football operations or I'm walking he'd at least give it one thought. Gutey would get offers up the wazoo from other teams, he'd just have to pick one without a (real) meddlesome owner.
Bitternotsour
June 26, 2024 at 10:50 am
Nepo baby is a little harsh, Policy made his bones, no doubt. He had the bloodline advantage of entry to the league, but he's been doing the dirty work, and the Packers have been successful on the field and at the box office during his tenure. I do not begrudge his ascension at all.
The NFL is the family business for the Policy's, and he hasn't soiled himself despite the advantages he received because of his name.
Coldworld
June 26, 2024 at 06:45 pm
He got in, which is the hard part, first to a sports law practice on the west coast and then into football organizations. Nepo baby is about getting a start when others without the connections might not, more than anything, at least that’s the context I used it to reference.
NFLfan
June 26, 2024 at 08:59 am
Nice, honest article, Al. I appreciate unvarnished sentiments.
It's a good thing Love finally blossomed as Gutekunst may have suffered a stroke having to undergo one more year of Rodger's schtick.
My guess is Murphy did intervene in the decision to keep Rodgers. NFL owners (Murphy had that much power) look @ revenue-enhancers
ie., merch sales, Prime Time games, QB 'relevance', etc.
I'm pretty certain Woody Johnson looks @ Rodgers differently than anxious Jets fans do. He likely sees him as a guy who has brought in far more $$$ than his 37M salary would suggest-6 Prime Time games, continual media 'engagement', seat sales, 'relevance'. Rodgers knows this, too.
(Unfortunately)
croatpackfan
June 26, 2024 at 09:16 am
Nice article as almous always, Al!
It is rarely occasion when public can say that learned about some top decision of any corporation (or public held company). It is always "speculation". Bu person who knows how structure (no matter what type of structure) works can make quite reliable conclusion about procedures and responsibilities for outcome of some major decisions. It works even better when you are in possition to understand the caracters of the involved person(s).
Also, it is common that large organization just let public to know what is the decision, not how they came to the decision or who was the leading person to support and decide about it. In more that 90% of cases it is the top manager whome subordinates reports.
So, I would say that I trully believe that main role in keeping FPQB for another year was the MM role, probably with strong support from MLF. To support that thesis I would like to add that FPQB became totaly poisoned towards acting GM - Brian Gutekunst to the level that he would not want to talk with him any more.
There is a lot of smoke and we knows that often if there is the smoke, something (or someone) is on fire...
I wish you pleasent vacation, which is well deserved, Al.
JerseyAl
June 26, 2024 at 12:59 pm
thanks. Heartbreaking loss for Croatia in the Euros. I root for them when not playing the US and Italy, so you know I was happy with the result, but do feel for Modric and the rest of the team.
croatpackfan
June 28, 2024 at 08:48 am
Well, our soccer coach did not release players who are too old, replacing them with younger, more potent players and the result was that Croatian team played the worst "football" of all teams on the championship.
Lot of my friends, as well as I was, were sure that it will not be good. Our "main" player did not played one full game throught he past season. He was used as replacement at Real Mardrid when there is left 15 to 20 minutes to the end of the game. It was clearly visible that he is out of form and his quickness slowly disappearing. (He is almost 40 yo).
So, it was not surprise for me, nor for my friends. I like rise of our neighbor - Slovenia. They played well with young and upcoming team with excellent coach. Also, I predicted that Austria will be true pleasent surprise of the championship, what turned out as good bet.
For me, main favorites are Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Sory for England, but they are playing no sence "football", as if they were totally unplayed. And I do not believe in Portugal.
NFLfan
June 26, 2024 at 09:28 am
I don't get the sense Murphy feels Gutekunst is fully qualified for the GM role.
dobber
June 26, 2024 at 10:52 am
Maybe he felt that way at first, but Gute has now had several years to show that his responsibilities aren't too big for him.
The interesting part of all this is Russ Ball, IMO. He's been around for a long time and really is a company man, but he's nearing the end and this might be where he looks for something different (or just retires). He's gotten kind of a "Rasputin" reputation among fans, but he's an important piece in making everything go.
11Bravo1p
June 27, 2024 at 01:03 am
I’m guessing that Russ Ball has been grooming someone to take over for him when he retires. That’s why I don’t understand the anger when the Packers promote from within. The organization has been tremendously successful since Wolf arrived, if someone has worked for the Packers for years and done well, it makes sense for them to be the top candidate. You learn more working along someone for a decade than in a 2 hour interview. Not saying that it always works (Wolf deciding to have Sherman to replace himself as GM), but it has worked pretty well.
dobber
June 26, 2024 at 09:31 am
Policy is well credentialed and has some breadth in his experience in sports teams and administration. At least they didn't pick a used car salesman off the board to run the team.
I tend to disagree with Al's assertion that there's little evidence that MM was meddling in personnel at times, but I also recognize that much of that opinion is fed by podcasters and talking heads trying to earn clicks and raise their own profile. Still, the sharp turns that would sometimes seem to occur--especially in the handling of 12--would make you wonder.
With that in mind, I was hoping for the kind of shift (Gute gets control of football operations) right up 'til the start of last season. Now I look at the structure and ask myself: Self...if the current structure resulted in three 13-win seasons, one 8-win season that led to a rebuild, and a 9-win year that seems to show that the rebuild is well on its way, do you really want to mess with that? Sure, the guy at the top is changing, but if MM wasn't terribly active in team/roster decisions and the new Pres remains fairly hands-off, why change it?
In edit: I typed this about an hour ago and had to walk away from my computer, so apologies if it turns out to be redundant.
Ferrari-Driver
June 26, 2024 at 09:57 am
Al's quote: "Was it Murphy who actually made the call that the Packers were going to stick with the reigning two time MVP, and re-sign him for three years to the richest deal in league history?"
Al, I think you are being rhetorical in that statement and I agree with the implication. I do believe Gute tired of the later years of the Rodgers era and it was no secret that Rodgers was no fan of Gute's. In fact many believed that Rodgers lobbied to have Gute replaced (or fired if you prefer that term).
I so want the Packers to return to the days when the General Manager was truly the head of football operations with the power to hire and fire anyone falling therein, including Russ Ball, and/or Matt LeFleur if he felt warranted (I certainly don't expect that in the near future). Murphy had a football background as a professional player and likely felt like he was best qualified to make the decisions on hiring/firing a general manage, head coach, and a financial officer, but Policy's expertise lies outside of that realm and I think chances are good that we will see the organizational structure return to the more conventional one that has been associated with a great many world championships coming to Green Bay.
JerseyAl
June 26, 2024 at 01:02 pm
That was Ken Lass' quote from his article I referenced.
GregC
June 26, 2024 at 11:26 am
I wonder if they might stick with the current structure at least until there is a change with the GM or head coach. It would be awkward for Gute to suddenly become LaFleur's boss after they have been more-or-less equals this whole time.
Leatherhead
June 26, 2024 at 12:46 pm
I totally agree Greg. But let's remember.....all this stuff is a year away. IF we were to win a Super Bowl this season, it's going to be a hard argument for the people who want to go back to the way it used to be.
There is a contingent on this board that has already emerged that thinks Policy is a nepo-baby who has no chance for success unless he returns the management structure to the old way. Furthermore, they don't think the Prez should make any football related decisions. He's just a suit, and other people with backgrounds in scouting, coaching, playing, etc. actually run the team.
To these people, there is no acceptable solution other than returning to the previous management structure. As Metallica famously said, "Nothing else matters".
dobber
June 26, 2024 at 01:15 pm
It all comes back to just how involved in personnel and on-field team operations Murphy really is. There's a day-to-day norm in the operation of the Packers, and Poilcy has been around enough to know something about what that is.
If Murph, as Al says, was relatively uninvolved (with the exception of OK'ing big contracts), then nothing really should change if Policy maintains that track. My expectation is that--if anything--Gute will be looking to stay the course or increase his autonomy...he's not going to want to take a step back and be shackled. If a new Prez decides he wants more say (shackling the GM), I think that will show in Gute looking for a new job--and I think he'd find one pretty quickly.
TheTaxiSquad
June 26, 2024 at 10:58 pm
👍. Well said
LeotisHarris
June 26, 2024 at 04:03 pm
I'm all for succession plans, seamless transitions, and investment in those inhouse superstars. If you can believe a guy from Jersey (and I do), especially one headed down shore (I still do) the fact that Ed has been woven into the fabric of 1265 for the last 13 very successful years bodes well for the franchise. Go, Ed!
I'd imagine the Packer Way is so pervasive within the organization that Janice in HR could walk into Arlo's office in IT, hand him Sophia's label maker (Sophia L. from Accounting, not Sophia G from Development) and Sophia would be able to create a custom label in less than a minute. I've heard if Pro Shop staff member rolls an ankle or has a bout of nausea , a substitute can be summoned from the Hall of Fame before you could say "Bob's your uncle."
TheTaxiSquad
June 26, 2024 at 10:57 pm
You’re high.
I’m not saying you’re wrong. But you’re just high.
Leatherhead
June 28, 2024 at 09:39 am
Leotis may be high, I don't know, but I do know that he's one of the most perceptive people here, and he is a leg-puller without equal. Sometimes, you have to read him a couple of times to get it, but it's always worth it.
TheTaxiSquad
June 26, 2024 at 10:55 pm
Who cares what anyone’s title is or who anyone reports to. They’ve been getting the job pretty damn well done for the last few years in my eyes. Look forward
JerseyAl
June 27, 2024 at 08:45 am
Agreed!
Leatherhead
June 27, 2024 at 10:16 am
I said that the current structure has put some good teams on the field. I got many downvotes for saying that.'