Alonzo Highsmith accepts offer from the Dolphins

[Patler]

Yup, Alonzo Highsmith accepted an offer from the Miami Dolphins:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/03/dolphins-sign-19-undrafted-rookies-including-highsmith/

He is an outside linebacker, and the son of the Packers' Senior Personnel Executive of the same name.

(You didn't think I meant OUR Alonzo Highsmith, did you????) :twisted:

[MadtownPacker]

Oh thought you meant Hightower....

http://thesportsdump.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/bubba-smith.jpg

[George Cumby]

Damn, that scared me. I thought we'd lost another piece of the brain trust.

[woodbuck27]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alonzo_Highsmith

Alonzo Highsmith Sr.:

http://uploads.usatodayhss.com/images/44/d3/ba836f61420e8ab90d6a67239423/Highsmith.jpg?maxw=450&q=60

Miami quarterback Bernie Kosar throws a pass to fullback Alonzo Highsmith in the 1984 Orange Bowl.

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQus4Hp2g8YIJcBtTYCAbOdotVUE89hi RAd9F4A2So9r7B4GHZK4g

'Father and Sons'. Alonzo Sr. Alonzo Jr. and A.J. Highsmith

Following his football career in the NFL playing with the Houston Oilers,Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay BUCS >>> Alonzo Highsmith became a professional boxer.

Over a four-year career, in 30 bouts >>> Alonzo Highsmith amassing a 27-1-2 record (Wikipedia) in the heavyweight division, with 23 of those victories coming by way of knockout.

Comment woodbuck27:

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTFyg2DuUqicuUocIb5qfPCDu9Iq5Jl_ cq3qR2vVHbCvpLeCVtE5w

Smokin'

http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=16880&cat=boxer

** http://www.fightsrec.com/alonzo-highsmith.html

** Includes video of Marc Gastineau (NY Jets) Vs Alonzo Highsmith (Houston Oilers, Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay BUCS) boxing match

Ohh ... there's only one boxer in the ring and his last name isn't Gastineau. It's the streetfighter/cage fighter Vs the BOXER.

I warn you >>> this is VIOLENT ! NOT FOR THE SENSATIVE or gentle of heart !

http://www.fightsrec.com/alonzo-highsmith.html#/alonzo-highsmith-video.html

This is quite funny:
Alonzo Highsmith talks boxing as a member of a panel discussion and almost fighting Former World Heaveyweight Champion George Foreman, in Foreman's hometown of Houston, Texas during George Foreman's comeback.

Also...he's candid discussing the then and now, possibly yet bleak outlook of an up and coming Manny 'Pacman' Pacquiao Vs Floyd 'Money' Mayweather fight. Inspite of funny comments RE: Floyd Mayweather and not liking him and his crazy family. His candor certainly excels. :grin:

http://www.fightsrec.com/alonzo-highsmith.html#/alonzo-highsmith-video.html

Latest news on that front (yesterday.... 09 May 2013):

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1632784-mayweather-vs-pacquiao-why-potential-super-fight-is-unlikelier-than-ever

"Since Mayweather already has guaranteed money in the bank regardless of who he fights in his next five bouts, there is no incentive to go for the gusto with Pacquiao. Additionally, Mayweather's switch to Showtime after being affiliated with HBO for the bulk of his career is a major stumbling block when it comes to Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLA.com." Fr. LINK immediately above.

The Top 25 Active Pound-for-Pound Boxers (Today):

By: Briggs Seekins (Featured Columnist) on May 5, 2013

Comment woodbuck27:

Who would you say is Numero Uno on this list? :

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1628459-the-top-25-active-pound-for-pound-boxers

Alonzo Highsmith's ... Post-athletic career:

Alonzo Highsmith resided in Missouri City, Texas with his wife, Denise Highsmith. They are the parents of 5 children. Alonzo Highsmith was 'a scout for the Green Bay Packers' and moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin in the summer of 2012, accepting a position (Senior Personnel Executive) in the front office of the Green Bay Packers.

Personal:

Highsmith's father, Walter Highsmith, was also a successful football player and coach. He, like Alonzo, played for the Houston Oilers in 1972. Walter Highsmoth played in the CFL for the Montreal Alouettes. While the family was in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Alonzo Highsmith played football and basketball as a teenager.

Walter was also the former head coach of Texas Southern University and has enjoyed several coaching stints in college football and the CFL.

One of Alonzo Highsmith's sons, Brandon Thermilus, is a running back at the University at Buffalo.

Another of his sons, A.J. is a defensive back for the University of Miami.

Another of his sons, also named Alonzo Highsmith, currently plays linebacker for the University of Arkansas. This young man is the lead for this thread and my post.

Highsmith's cousin, Ali Highsmith, played for the Arizona Cardinals.

Thaa thaa thaa and Thaa... thaa... thaa and One Thing Leads To Another. :wink:

GO ALONZO GO !

[KYPack]

Yup, Alonzo Highsmith accepted an offer from the Miami Dolphins:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/03/dolphins-sign-19-undrafted-rookies-including-highsmith/

He is an outside linebacker, and the son of the Packers' Senior Personnel Executive of the same name.

(You didn't think I meant OUR Alonzo Highsmith, did you????) :twisted:

You got me old dog, fooled me cold.

Alonzo (the elder) is top notch front office talent.

He is wired for sound as a scout of prospects.

His biggest catch was Tramon Williams.

We lost enuff guys from our great front office team.

Alonzo definitely has the talent and smarts to be a GM some day.

[RashanGary]

Damn, that scared me. I thought we'd lost another piece of the brain trust.

haha, I was worried too.

[Joemailman]

You got me old dog, fooled me cold.

Alonzo (the elder) is top notch front office talent.

He is wired for sound as a scout of prospects.

His biggest catch was Tramon Williams.

We lost enuff guys from our great front office team.

Alonzo definitely has the talent and smarts to be a GM some day.

I believe he also had a lot to do with Sam Shields signing with the Packers instead of the Bears. NFC Title game might have been a bit different with Shields wearing a C on his helmet.

[KYPack]

I believe he also had a lot to do with Sam Shields signing with the Packers instead of the Bears. NFC Title game might have been a bit different with Shields wearing a C on his helmet.

Yer right, I believe Joe.

Alonzo has great contacts in Houston (Tramon) and Miami (he was an ex-cane). His dad coached at Texas Southern, long a pro pipeline.

Not only that, his kids have been big time college prospects, that keeps you in the college loop.

It wudda been lousy to lose the guy after Dorsey, McKenzie, & Schneider.

[Patler]

Apparently the young Alonzo was not that hot of a prospect coming out of high school, and not highly rated now as an NFL prospect. Are the Packers a year or two away from another nepotic hiring, ala the Wolfs and Harlans?

[Fritz]

I believe Thompson has made noises about retiring perhaps after the 2015 season? Not that he's said it directly. But I wonder if there's a succession battle being waged inside 1265 Lombardi.

Elliot Wolf versus Alonzo Highsmith?

[woodbuck27]

I believe Thompson has made noises about retiring perhaps after the 2015 season? Not that he's said it directly. But I wonder if there's a succession battle being waged inside 1265 Lombardi.

Elliot Wolf versus Alonzo Highsmith?

If they put on the gloves. I know who wins.

[pbmax]

I believe Thompson has made noises about retiring perhaps after the 2015 season? Not that he's said it directly. But I wonder if there's a succession battle being waged inside 1265 Lombardi.

Elliot Wolf versus Alonzo Highsmith?

I don't remember him saying it, but reporters speculating that he would be 62 by then. The theorizing started after the front office began to get shaken up after Murphy took over and lost/let go two formerly top people. Wied and a woman whose name escapes me.

They were trying to deduce who the likely candidates were for promotion and trying to decide of Russ Ball was headed for an admin job or was in line to be GM.

[Cleft Crusty]

What the hell would a guy like Ted Thompson retire to? Does he have a nagging wife like mine who would complain bitterly as I drag her around the country on my Harley to look at old high school football stadiums? Working 16 hours a day is better than that hell on earth.

[woodbuck27]

I don't remember him saying it, but reporters speculating that he would be 62 by then. The theorizing started after the front office began to get shaken up after Murphy took over and lost/let go two formerly top people. Wied and a woman whose name escapes me.

They were trying to deduce who the likely candidates were for promotion and trying to decide of Russ Ball was headed for an admin job or was in line to be GM.

Mark Murphy - Green Bay Packers President and Chief Executive Officer and NFL Safety,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Murphy_(safety,_born_1955)

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/07/murphy-defends-packers-lack-of-activity-in-free-agency/

Murphy defends Packers’ lack of activity in free agency

Posted by Mike Florio on April 7, 2013, 10:52 PM EDT

http://www.packersnews.com/article/20120219/PKR0112/301310142/Green-Bay-Packers-NFL-Mark-Murphy-Tim-Connolly-Jason-Wied-Bob-Harlan-John-Jones

RE: The GREEN BAY PACKERS and Management:

Balancing act: Can a community's team survive in a corporate league?

Feb. 19, 2012

Green Bay Packers VP Jason Wied resigns (steps down)

Posted Jan 6, 2012

http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-1/Jason-Wied-resigns-from-Packers/5d8dddab-5164-4d9d-a934-f9e7dbdd18a4

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7432756/green-bay-packers-vice-president-jason-wied-resigns-citing-health-issues

The Green Bay Packers - Front office Staff:

May 14, 2013

http://www.packers.com/team/front-office.html

Administration

Mark Murphy, President and Chief Executive Officer
Paul Baniel, Vice President of Finance and Administration
Tim Connolly, Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Ed Policy, Vice President and General Counsel

Includes:

Football Operations

Ted Thompson, Executive V.P., General Manager & Director of Football Operations
Russ Ball, Vice President of Football Administration/Player Finance
Mike Eayrs, Director of Research and Development
Rob Davis, Director of Player Development
Matt Klein, Football Administration Coordinator
Jason Simmons, Coaching Administrator
Jeanne Bruette, Executive Assistant – General Manager
Melanie Marohl, Salary Cap Analyst
Linda Nuthals, Corporate Travel Manager
Sherry Schuldes, Manager of Family Programs
Lisa Waeghe, Executive Assistant – Head Coach
Diane Coron, Football Administration Assistant


Coaching

Mike McCarthy, Head Coach
Winston Moss, Assistant Head Coach/Inside Linebackers
Tom Clements, Offensive Coordinator
Dom Capers, Defensive Coordinator
Shawn Slocum, Special Teams Coordinator
Mark Lovat, Strength & Conditioning Coordinator
Edgar Bennett, Wide Receivers
James Campen, Offensive Line
Jerry Fontenot, Tight Ends
Joel Hilgenberg, Assistant Offensive Line
Ben McAdoo, Quarterbacks
Chad Morton, Special Teams Assistant
John Rushing, Offensive Assistant/Special Teams
Kevin Greene, Outside Linebackers
Scott McCurley, Defensive Quality Control
Darren Perry, Secondary – Safeties
Mike Trgovac, Defensive Line
Alex Van Pelt, Running Backs
Joe Whitt Jr., Secondary – Cornerbacks
Thadeus Jackson, Strength & Conditioning Assistant
Zac Woodfin, Strength & Conditioning Assistant


Player Personnel

Eliot Wolf, Director of Pro Personnel
Brian Gutekunst, Director of College Scouting
Alonzo Highsmith, Senior Personnel Executive
Sam Seale, West Regional Scout
Tim Terry, Assistant Director of Pro Personnel
Lee Gissendaner, Area Scout
Jon-Eric Sullivan, Area Scout
John Wojciechowski, Area Scout
Richmond Williams, Area Scout
Chad Brinker, Pro Scout
Glenn Cook, Pro Scout
Alonzo Dotson, College Scout
Mike Owen, College Scout
Danny Mock, College Scouting Coordinator
Autumn Thomas-Beenenga, Pro Personnel Coordinator

Plus many more support staff members in various areas and disciplines.

GO PACK GO !

[Patler]

I don't remember him saying it, but reporters speculating that he would be 62 by then. The theorizing started after the front office began to get shaken up after Murphy took over and lost/let go two formerly top people. Wied and a woman whose name escapes me.

Vicki Vannieuwenhoven - VP of Finance

[KYPack]

There is some palace intrigue at 1265 Lombardi avenue. But it ain't on the football side. Ted Thompson has things well in hand there and GBP President defers to TT in all things football.

On the business side, things have shifted considerably since the days of Harlan. Bob H was a Wisconsin boy had a great deal of charm. The feeling at the Packer offices was akin to Floyd's barber shop on the old Andy Griffith show. Murphy is a businessman all the way. He is distant and quiet. He is also very dedicated to future growth and the bottom line. That's great, the GBP must grow to succeed, but it has also brought a big time culture change to the Packer offices.

Murphy brought in Tim Connolly, a big time corporate shark, to shake things up and get people looking forward. Connolly has everybody looking forward, but also looking over their shoulder. He has left several bodies in his wake of the big shake -up. The most notable of Tim C's victims is Jason Wied. Wied was a Green Bay boy who was long thought to be the fair haired lad that might eventually rise to the Packer presidency. That may have happened, but soon after Connolly came aboard, he drove Wied out of the company. There have been several other instances of firings that would have never occurred in the Harlan area.

Were all these releases of corporate people necessary? Some say yea, some say no. But one thing is sure. The GBP front office is no longer the friendly little pond it used to be. Now it's more of a shark tank.

[Patler]

There is some palace intrigue at 1265 Lombardi avenue. But it ain't on the football side. Ted Thompson has things well in hand there and GBP President defers to TT in all things football.

On the business side, things have shifted considerably since the days of Harlan. Bob H was a Wisconsin boy had a great deal of charm. The feeling at the Packer offices was akin to Floyd's barber shop on the old Andy Griffith show. Murphy is a businessman all the way. He is distant and quiet. He is also very dedicated to future growth and the bottom line. That's great, the GBP must grow to succeed, but it has also brought a big time culture change to the Packer offices.

Murphy brought in Tim Connolly, a big time corporate shark, to shake things up and get people looking forward. Connolly has everybody looking forward, but also looking over their shoulder. He has left several bodies in his wake of the big shake -up. The most notable of Tim C's victims is Jason Wied. Wied was a Green Bay boy who was long thought to be the fair haired lad that might eventually rise to the Packer presidency. That may have happened, but soon after Connolly came aboard, he drove Wied out of the company. There have been several other instances of firings that would have never occurred in the Harlan area.

Were all these releases of corporate people necessary? Some say yea, some say no. But one thing is sure. The GBP front office is no longer the friendly little pond it used to be. Now it's more of a shark tank.

Yup. They also fired the lady that was their marketing director shortly after Murphy got there, as I recall.

[woodbuck27]

Vicki Vannieuwenhoven - VP of Finance

Imagine 'the stress relief' with that Lady gone. Maybe not having to remember how to pronounce her name or worse .... spell it.

Comment woodbuck27:

Seriouisly and the following. What happened here? Was there a fall from grace, or simply a resignation due to a pressing need to be at home in support of the children/teens, due to a family circumstance and her husband's career responsibility?

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2009/04/Issue-146/Sports-Industrialists/Packers-Vpfinance-Vicki-Vannieuwenhoven-Resigns-From-Team.aspx

Packers VP/Finance Vicki Vannieuwenhoven Resigns From Team

Published April 17, 2009

"Packers VP/Finance VICKI VANNIEUWENHOVEN "has resigned to spend more time with her three children while her husband, Lt. Col. TREVOR VANNIEUWENHOVEN, is deployed to Afghanistan," according to Richard Ryman of the GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE."

From the following to out the door uncerimoniously. How could that be true? Is that 'in TRUTH' the case?

Was it more than this official announcement reported in the LINK above?

" (Mark)Murphy said that Packers VP/Administration & General Counsel JASON WIED "will oversee the finance department until a replacement is found." Vannieuwenhoven said that she "will continue to work with the Packers and her successor, as needed." "

It certainly had seemed very good for 'this Lady' and her career with the Packers Organization:

Say Cheese: Pack Names First Female VP

"Vice president of finance Vicki Vannieuwenhoven, who will lead day-to-day financial operations for the Green Bay Packers, also must cope with salary-cap and revenue-sharing issues."

Stephen Taub and Dave Cook - CFO.com | US

April 3, 2007

http://iousports.org/blog-news/exclusive-interview-vicki-vannieuwenhoven-vice-president-finance-nfl-green-bay-packers-nik

And:

Exclusive Interview with Vicki Vannieuwenhoven, ( the first female) Vice President of Finance - NFL Green Bay Packers

By Nikki Rashan

" Packers President and CEO, Mark Murphy, acknowledges Vicki’s dedication to both her career and family. “I enjoy working with Vicki and I’m impressed with how she handles the balance between work and her kids,” he said. “I know she will continue to do a great job with the Packers.”

Not only is Vicki a role model for girls wishing to follow in her footsteps, she is also an example for women seeking to stabilize the responsibility of work with the devotion to family. She is a woman in harmony with her balancing act." Fr. LINK

PACKERS !

[KYPack]

Murphy wants all new hires to hit the ground running. When they don't he isn't afraid in the least to make changes. 4 VP level executives have left the Packers in the last couple years due to this management philosophy

LAURA SANKEY

• Former title: Senior vice president of sales and marketing

She didn't last long and when it was obvious she wasn't going to hack the program, she was squeezed out and replaced by Tim Connolly


VICKI VANNIEUWENHOVEN

• Former title: Vice president of finance

Vicki V tried to mix family and her job with the Pack. She couldn't do it and was also given the 'ol corporate shuffle. Many locals had a problem with this. Not only is she a local, her husband was deployed to Afghanistan while Vicki was out of a job. It was handled poorly by the Packers.

BETSY MITCHELL

• Former title: Vice president of organizational/staff development

It's not thought that this was definitely another corporate murder, but it is mentioned in the list of employees who have left in the Murphy regime.

There is also the infamous Jason Wied situation. Behind the curtain in many of these situations is Tim Connolly. Connolly is infamous as a real power broker who gets the job done, but is somewhat of a corporate torpedo. Connolly has worked for the Chiefs, the Vikes, and the Jags. In KC and Minny, they had to fire him to slow him down. With the Vikings, both Dennis Greene and the owner teamed up to get rid of Connolly. There, Connolly tried to insert himself in the NFL draft and get final say on who the Vikings selected!

His big fuck-up in Green Bay was post SB. When the SB rings weren't coming out fast enuff, it was learned that Connolly had inserted himself in the process, so the ring vendor believed Connolly had the final say.

He is slick, but many GBP observers think if another situation like that one crops up, Connolly may well be gone.

[pbmax]

That is the most depressing thing I have read in a while about the Packers.

[Patler]

One thing we all have to remember, the Packers aren't the little Mom & Pop business they were not too awful long ago. It is a decent size business, with lots of complexities. The staff is expanding continuously, and just like in any business of that magnitude, personalities will clash, problems will arise and people will leave, voluntarily and involuntarily.

[pbmax]

All very true. The initial barrage of anti-Murphy sentiment came around the time Wied left but may have been fanned by other moves such as the ones KY mentioned.

I just hope Murphy is talented enough to use these moves productively. Two of his moves, the Favre retirement package and the stock offering were not well received. The stock offering was tough as it coincided like last time with a Super Bowl. But it wasn't tied as closely to new construction of the stadium, though some of those funds are being put to use now.

We'll see. Its a dicey proposition there in Brown County with financial support for the Packers. Even with Harlan's considerable sway and influence, that stadium referendum did not pass by much.

[Patler]

Wied's departure was a little different. He went on a leave of absence for several months, then resigned instead of coming back. He released a statement himself saying that he had gone to treatment for an addiction to a herbal remedy he was taking for sleep apnea and insomnia. He said to finally put it behind him he needed a less stressful situation. The leave of absence made it look less like a force out, as did his willingness to explain and accept responsibility.

Vikki Vanbunchaletters stated a willingness to work with her successor to help the Packers however she could.

Murphy didn't mince words about the marketing lady. He flat out said she didn't fit in.


Incidentally, the lady who was CEO of the Raiders quit the other day. She was said to be the highest ranking female executive in pro sports.

[pbmax]

I do remember that story for Wied. But after John Jones, the Packers front office has a Kremlin vibe going on with the illnesses, leave of absence and then departure/Siberia.

On a slightly less related note, I am not a fan of those lifers who get sent to teams out of League offices. I am sure some have worked out but several (like John Jones) were nightmares for their teams. The Browns had one when they were reincarnated the 3rd time after Carmen Policy.