Silverstein: Critics Go After Packers New Structure

[pbmax]

Six paragraphs in and it’s doubled my concern for the team. Murphy’s first quote is in the running for dumbest thing I have read an executive say this decade.

https://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2019/05/09/silverstein-critics-see-cracks-green-bay-packers-new-management-structure/1142267001/

Asked about that, Murphy said any questions about Ball’s responsibilities or performance are born of jealousies that exist over how the front office shook out.

Trashing former employees is a sure sign you are out of arguments for your decisions. It’s a paraphrase, so maybe Spoon is being hard on Murphy, but given his interviews about the new structure, I think he thinks he’s a genius in the making.

[Radagast]

Olivia Reiner was the most interesting part of the video. I'd like to see more of her.

[Bretsky]

FIRST OFF, THANKS FOR POSTING PB; GREAT ARTICLE and after reading it twice my faith in our next structure and Marcia Marcia Marcia has decreased even more.

I had suspected from other misc readings and MM's reaction to Ball as the GM (which was not proven but for the most part everybody was reporting it) that Ball was pretty much blowing Marcia and was an egomaniac corporate climber that rubbed many the wrong way. I also thought all along Marcia wanted to hire him as an all powerful GM. And when MM showed some stones and fought the idea, part of the f'cked up solution was this triangular structure giving Ball more power then he should have and letting Douchebag Marcia have power over everything. No surprise that Gooter may have thought he was interviewing for TT's job with full control and may have been surprised with the new structure.

So my unsupported view all along has more legs, and the connection between Ball and Marcia could lead to plenty of chaos and overall, this is just a F'CKED UP STRUCTURE.

And that's not even noting most of our personnell talent now resides in Cleveland (((

[Bretsky]

Six paragraphs in and it’s doubled my concern for the team. Murphy’s first quote is in the running for dumbest thing I have read an executive say this decade.

https://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2019/05/09/silverstein-critics-see-cracks-green-bay-packers-new-management-structure/1142267001/

Trashing former employees is a sure sign you are out of arguments for your decisions. It’s a paraphrase, so maybe Spoon is being hard on Murphy, but given his interviews about the new structure, I think he thinks he’s a genius in the making.

It further points out the huge ego and arrogance of Marcia. I think the whole article spoke very poorly of Marcia

[Patler]

Wow! An awful lot of over-reaction, in my opinion.

No reason at all that the current structure can't work, providing the individuals in the various positions are good at their jobs. Any structure can work if the individuals are good and work toward the common goal.

McCarthy made a power play, and it blew up in his face. The only thing that was going to save his job was a very deep playoff run. My biggest concern is if his play actually did influence Murphy's decision. I'm not convinced that it did, but I'm also not sure that it did not.

My thoughts on the three heads of the "monster"

Ball - It seems clear he is good at his job. Beyond that, we know nothing about him. Allegations that he is an insufferable corporate climber aren't verified by his work history, which appears more as a steady, not particularly rapid growth. Certainly nothing like Eliot Wolf's ascension. Accusations from departed employees who may have been passed over or otherwise disappointed don't mean much to me.

LaFleur - Interesting hire, but my feelings are much like when McCarthy was hired. When I heard, I basically said, "Who?". I knew nothing about him, but am certainly willing to be open minded about it. A slow start will not surprise or disappoint me.

Gutekunst - My biggest concern at this point. I like that he has been aggressive, but I have concerns about his decisions. I will break down the decisions that concern me:

• Randall - may have given away a talented player for nothing. I understand Randall may have had to go, but so far the return has not been good. But, I haven't given up on Kizer yet.

• Graham - signed and now retained on a "difference maker contract, and so far Graham has been anything but that. Highest paid TE on a per season basis.

• Smith & Smith - 8th and 18th highest paid edge rushers on a per season basis. Again, paid to be difference makers. I think they will be good players, not sure they won't be overpaid. Hopefully, it works out.

• Turner - on a per season basis the 7th highest LG, 9th highest RT, 13th highest RG contract. In his sixth season, but has started just 25 games. Started 12 for Miami in 2015, but they released him in 2016. Started 11 for Denver last year, but they didn't step up to retain him. Again, too much $?????

• 2018 draft - I like Alexander, but lots of ques.tions on the others. Could be a one-man draft. Does Jackson have a position? He didn't show a lot last year Was Burks worth a 3rd? Showed nothing last year. Will at least one of the WRs step up? I think at least one will. Bradley and Scott were both inconsistent and have yet to prove they are long term answers. I'm not sure Bradley will last this year. He had a poor (but not disastrous) snap just about every game last year.

[pbmax]

There is a very Brownsian and Wolfian tinge to the comments. Silverstein states plainly that Wolf the Older is no longer on speaking terms with Murphy and it could all be coming from that camp. Wolf has spoken about not ever coming back to day to day football unless he gets a stake, and those comments are years old. But perhaps he is eyeing the Exec Committee.

But it reinforces my concerns in three ways:

1. Lack of support for the core mission: Something spooked ST Coach Rizzi and even Murphy's spin seems to indicate they offered him less that he was seeking after LaFleur agreed to his terms prior to scheduling an interview. This could be the HC who thought control over the coaching staff also meant unlimited budget and no one else chiming in. He may have misjudged. But the result is you end up with a lesser candidate after deciding it was in your budget. Unforced error. You hire a first time coach and you should make it as easy as possible for them. Once again, when it came time to support a coach, they just mucked it up.

2. Silos: As the coach search may have demonstarted, not having clear lines of authority makes could make things difficult. Who was in charge of approving coaching contracts? When Capers had a set price, everyone went to Thompson to make the case. Who did they need to convince this time? Could the other silos muck this up? Was budget the primary consideration? Did anyone tell La Fleur, the first time coach?

3. McCarthyism: This system exists because the coach, on a then 2 year deal, wanted Free Agents. Why does this system exist now? Murphy said at on point a dozen other teams were set up like this, but other than Pittsburgh, which is imploding, I don't remember being impressed with the list.

[Fritz]

There is a very Brownsian and Wolfian tinge to the comments. Silverstein states plainly that Wolf the Older is no longer on speaking terms with Murphy and it could all be coming from that camp. Wolf has spoken about not ever coming back to day to day football unless he gets a stake, and those comments are years old. But perhaps he is eyeing the Exec Committee.

But it reinforces my concerns in three ways:

1. Lack of support for the core mission: Something spooked ST Coach Rizzi and even Murphy's spin seems to indicate they offered him less that he was seeking after LaFleur agreed to his terms prior to scheduling an interview. This could be the HC who thought control over the coaching staff also meant unlimited budget and no one else chiming in. He may have misjudged. But the result is you end up with a lesser candidate after deciding it was in your budget. Unforced error. You hire a first time coach and you should make it as easy as possible for them. Once again, when it came time to support a coach, they just mucked it up.

2. Silos: As the coach search may have demonstarted, not having clear lines of authority makes could make things difficult. Who was in charge of approving coaching contracts? When Capers had a set price, everyone went to Thompson to make the case. Who did they need to convince this time? Could the other silos muck this up? Was budget the primary consideration? Did anyone tell La Fleur, the first time coach?

3. McCarthyism: This system exists because the coach, on a then 2 year deal, wanted Free Agents. Why does this system exist now? Murphy said at on point a dozen other teams were set up like this, but other than Pittsburgh, which is imploding, I don't remember being impressed with the list.

[QBME]

It is was it is. Nothing is going to fundamentally change.
Wring your hands, beat your brow's.
Nothing is structurally going to change.

[RashanGary]

I think the setup is fine. Murphy needs a super bowl though. But he might as well do what he thinks is right regardless of what either Wolf or McCarthy think of it. I credit him for taking control of the situation. Everyone will shut up if the Pack win a SB soon. Let’s let Murphy shoot his shot. See what he’s got.

[RashanGary]

Gutey seems like a really confident GM, honestly. Let’s hope Lafleur pans out. It’s really just wait and see.

[pbmax]

Silverstein
Not a single member of the Cleveland Browns organization was interviewed for my story other than Wolf telling me when he left that he didn't want to talk about his departure.

So much for that theory.

[Bretsky]

Silverstein
Not a single member of the Cleveland Browns organization was interviewed for my story other than Wolf telling me when he left that he didn't want to talk about his departure.

So much for that theory.

Not a surprise

I was listening to ESPN 1070 interview Silverstein and another Packer Beat Writer. A couple observations


1. It's absolutely Mind Blowing to think Gootey thought he was interviewing for TT's old position but when offered the job he found out about the new structure

2. Sounds like the interviewing team decided as a group to head to bed and reconvene the next day and most likely bring Matty Ice back for a second interview but Marcia decided to just hire him w/o executing that plan

3. Marcia was going to the press conference by himself to introduce Matty Ice as the head coach. Gootey was added to the press conference at the last minute because GB thought it would be good for him to be seated there and part of it

4. It's mind blowing the GB was going to hire an elite Special Teams coach, and then Marcia offered him less that he was told he was being offered as a salary and he left GB without a job. Sounds like we then tried to offer more and Marcia Marcia Marcia looked like an incompetent schmuck when it was all said and done

5. Gootey comes off as a down to earth mellow guy who is a good human being.
Marcia comes off as a power hungry egomaniac who some have questions about
Russ Ball comes accross as an unappreciative asskissing political climber

Who knows which part of this is accurate. But to me all of it is concerning.

And as Patler noted all of this might work great. But shame on the Packers for letting Marcia change the organizational structure from one that brought us two SuperBowls to a show that resembles the Jerry Jones like Dallas Structure

[Bretsky]

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2019/05/10/mark-murphy-changes-packers-power-structure-timeline-events/1168248001/

[pbmax]

Its going to have to work quickly because I sense the Murphy did not run this by the Executive Committee and did this on the fly. So he did not waltz into this with a plan and backing.

Three silos is just 3x1 opportunities for leaks to the public, so its going to play out much differently than Ted World. Scoops McGinn might have left 2 years too early.

[red]

starting to sounds like it was murphy going for the power grab

this whole thing is sounding like the exact shit show that i figured its been for awhile now