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Green Bay Packers President Mark Murphy opened today's shareholders meeting by saying, "Good morning, how are you all doing?"
Watch below for running updates from Press-Gazette reporter Tony Walter, who's at the meeting. Refresh this story regularly and look for the time of day in bold that indicates new updates.
10 a.m.: There was applause as Murphy talked about his enthusiasm.
A woman signed for the hearing impaired.
He commented on the Brett Favre situation right away, saying it is a football decision, but pointing out that he has been closely involved.
"We're all in unison," Murphy said, and there was a combination of cheers and boos."We want to be fair to Brett but we also want to do what's in the best interest of the Green Bay Packers."
There were calls from the stands from fans asking that the Packers bring Favre back.
10:07 a.m.: It's apparent that there are a lot of shareholders who are going to be vocal about their desire to have Favre returned to the team for 2008.
Murphy is getting ready to call Ted Thompson to the stage, praising him for his work.
When Thompson walked to the podium, there were more cheers than boos, and a majority of the shareholders stood to applaud him.
Thompson is praising the passion and love of the fans.
"We are family here, but family sometime disagree. But we'll always be family," he said.
He said it's been a difficult time for everyone. He said it's a complicated matter that they'll continue to work through. He said the team will always look to God for guidance.
"We're very excited about this team coming forward," he said.
10:12 a.m.: Thompson said the team is well on its way to signing draft choices.
He said the team is continuing to address the contract needs of current players. He said running back Ryan Grant is one of the contracts being discussed. He doesn't anticipate a long-term problem, he said.
It's interesting that both Murphy and Thompson have talked about the Favre situation right away.
Thompson started a position-by-position discussion by mentioning the receivers. Everyone is waiting for him to talk about quarterbacks.
10:14 a.m.: Thompson said the quarterback situation is next.
"Easy," he said.
Then he talked about the three on the roster, including Aaron Rodgers.
He didn't dwell on the QB position and didn't mention Favre.
10:24 a.m.: Thompsn seems quite relaxed facing the shareholders, probably because he mentioned the Favre issue right off the bat.
He mentioned a contract extension to linebacker Brady Poppinga.
He actually used some humor, saying defensive backs are not normal people, drawing laughs from the crowd.
He said he wants to continue to build from within.
"Our focus is to win, and to win now," he said. "We said that last year."
He said the team is proud of 2007 but added, "But we're not satisfied."
Pre-Shareholders Meeting Information
Even Elvis showed up in support of Brett Favre for this morning's Green Bay Packers shareholders meeting.
“Honestly, I think there’s going to be trouble with Ted Thompson today. There’s going to be heckling,” said Tom Rakowski of Wind Lake, Wis., who was dressed in full Evis attire, with a cheesehead that said “Favre is King.”
Shareholders are being entertained prior to the 10 a.m. meeting with a showing of the team’s 2007 highlight film. It includes excerpts from Brett Favre’s retirement press conference in March but also includes his achievements last season.
The Packers expect about 10,00-12,000 shareholders to attend the east side stands were filling up fast.
There are about 20 chairs on the stage, with about a dozen TV cameras set up in front of the stands.
Other notes:
# Wearing a Favre jersey, Lynn VandeYacht of Neenah, attended her first shareholders meeting today to show support of Brett Favre.
“I’d love to see him come back, but I think the way it is now, that won’t happen,” said VandeYacht, who also had a sign that read “Ted how many false words will you be responsible for today?”
“No matter what happens with Brett Favre, Mark Murphy needs to release Ted Thompson,” she said.
# Debi Stinner a former Eagles’ fan turned Packers’ cheesehead, came from Pennsylvania to attend her first shareholders meeting.
“I’m very excited, she said. “I love everything about the Packers. But I’ve been about disowned by my family.”
Steiner, a third-grade teacher, says she uses the Packers to teach students about teamwork. “I stress that I’m not a Packers fan just because I like the team. I like what they stand for and I start teaching the kids what it’s like to be a team.”
# The Aaron Rodgers or Brett Favre debate also is causing rift between Packers fans and even marriage.
Mark Probst of Appleton supports Rodgers. He wore a no-name No. 12 jersey, but replaced the nameplate area with the words “move on.”
“Aaron Rodgers said it best -- get on board or shut up,” he said.
His wife, Patti, doesn’t agree. “Trade Ted instead,” she said. “If you’re going to make it to the Super Bowl, it won’t be with Aaron Rodgers.”
-- Sarah Kloepping, Tony Walter/Press-Gazette
I can't wait until WE ALL move on...
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