Announcement

**MJZiggy** · 08-24-2008, 11:00 AM

Andrew Brandt was not underrated. Everyone knew what a phenomenal job he did for us, but he didn't leave in a dispute with Ted Thompson. He left because the Board of Directors chose Mark Murphy over him to be the team President. He wanted that job and when he didn't get it felt like he had become stagnant and wanted to move in a different direction.

As to Ball, the dude has done 2 contracts and the rookies. I think the issue with Grant was they just wanted him in camp and were likely to throw a few things at him they might not have otherwise just to get him there. Not a great precedent, but the dude was the entire spark in our running game last year. Maybe they were just thinking about where they were without him...

**GBRulz** · 08-24-2008, 11:40 AM

Of course Brandt isn't going to dog on TT to the public. In the position he was in, you don't want to burn bridges.

Brandt left because of TT. Under Harlan, he was fully in control of player negotiations, but TT came and was very involved in this and wanted to have the final say. I hear lots of rumors about things just like anyone else around here, but I've heard this from several reliable people so I do believe it's a fact.

Snake, I agree....Brandt may have been an asshole (personal reasons only for saying that) but the guy did his job well, no doubt about it. I also believe it's too early to really judge what kind of job the noob is doing.

**bobblehead** · 08-24-2008, 11:48 AM

Originally posted by GBRulz

Of course Brandt isn't going to dog on TT to the public. In the position he was in, you don't want to burn bridges.

Brandt left because of TT. Under Harlan, he was fully in control of player negotiations, but TT came and was very involved in this and wanted to have the final say. I hear lots of rumors about things just like anyone else around here, but I've heard this from several reliable people so I do believe it's a fact.

Snake, I agree....Brandt may have been an asshole (personal reasons only for saying that) but the guy did his job well, no doubt about it. I also believe it's too early to really judge what kind of job the noob is doing.

I agree with most of your post, but if TT is the one who is building the team, he should be the one with the final say on a contract. TT is the guy who judges just how good a talent someone is, not brandt and not ball, TT is the guy who will be fired if too many average players get big contracts.

I must admit ignorance on this, but how does it work with most teams?? I would think the GM is very involved in most salary negotiations.

**KYPack** · 08-24-2008, 11:48 AM

Man, this is one sharp forum. Brandt was gone when TT began to "look over his shoulder" and his power move for the Presidency fell short.

Brandt was a sharp cookie, but he never did anything that 20 or so other competent cap wizards couldn't of done. The deals Ball signed look OK.

As far as losing Brandt, it might be addition by subtraction by not having his massive ego in the corporation anymore.

**pbmax** · 08-24-2008, 11:55 AM

You can't judge Grant's contract on the total possible number. There is a tremendous level of protection built in to that contract for the Packers. Grant cannot trigger each year's escalators unless he hits a target in each of the previous years.

Its just as likely this is a two year deal for 8.5 million than the scenario you used.

**GBRulz** · 08-24-2008, 11:57 AM

You do bring up some valid points, bobblehead. I really don't know the chain of command in how salary cap negotiators work with most teams. I just know that Harlan was a very "hands off" guy when it came to his personnel. He gave them a job to do and fully trusted them to do it. He was more involved in public relations and having a relationship with the fans. Maybe that is what Brandt didn't like about TT, as he wasn't used to having someone be so involved with the negotiations.

**BZnDallas** · 08-24-2008, 12:22 PM

Originally posted by pbmax

You can't judge Grant's contract on the total possible number. There is a tremendous level of protection built in to that contract for the Packers. Grant cannot trigger each year's escalators unless he hits a target in each of the previous years.

Its just as likely this is a two year deal for 8.5 million on the scenario you used.

i agree... but i'd love to see grant come close to getting the total number... if he does he will be a hell of a player and IMO no doubt help in getting us to the big dance... 11 days and counting (15 for the Green and Gold)!!

**pbmax** · 08-24-2008, 12:32 PM

It breaks down mainly into one of two scenarios. One, the GM/Owner has a football background (or thinks he does). In these cases, the Cap Guy usually has a little more latitude overall and has to report to someone in the Administration who handles the budget. The Cap number is very real for teams from a roster standpoint, but from an actual cash standpoint its almost meaningless.

For teams like the Jets or Saints, the GM is from the cap side of the business. This creates more interesting scenarios between GM and cap guy. Ball's move was seen as a step toward more responsibility since he was going from Cap GM (Loomis) to Scout GM (T2). Since he was hired, Ball has been promoted to Vice President of Something so he is on Murphy's Executive Team (not the same as the Exec Committee of the Packers' Board).

I hadn't heard what GB heard about T2 and Brandt being at odds other than the blurb about ego when the team announced his departure, but its clear he was on a tighter budget for free agents with T2 than Sherman. But Sherman had the same authority as T2 over who to pursue and who to sign. I do remember the reporting structure changed when T2 came on board and I do think Brandt went from reporting to Harlan to reporting to T2.

Originally posted by bobblehead

I agree with most of your post, but if TT is the one who is building the team, he should be the one with the final say on a contract. TT is the guy who judges just how good a talent someone is, not brandt and not ball, TT is the guy who will be fired if too many average players get big contracts.

I must admit ignorance on this, but how does it work with most teams?? I would think the GM is very involved in most salary negotiations.

**Partial** · 08-24-2008, 01:07 PM

I think Andy Brandt did a really good job, and I'm sure the new guy will do just fine. It's not rocket science anymore - the tricks to beat the cap are well known and publically available with ESPN's discussions of contracts, etc.

I'm not at all worried about them taking a step down in that regard. I do wonder if they should have made a better effort to keep a bright mind like Brandt. Can't deny he is extremely intelligent.

**falco** · 08-24-2008, 02:04 PM