Green Bay Packers: Former GM Warns Against New Power Structure
By Erik Lambert
The Green Bay Packers finally made significant changes to their organization this off-season after failing to make the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
It seems like a bit of an overreaction considering most of that was due to losing Aaron Rodgers for much of the season from a broken collarbone. At the same time it felt like those changes were a longtime coming. The recent downturn in fortunes was merely a good excuse to make them. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers was fired along with his staff as was offensive coordinator Edgar Bennett. It didn’t stop there though.
GM Ted Thompson, in charge of the front office since 2005, stepped aside to assume a more senior advisory role. This allowed head coach Mike McCarthy seize a great position in the personnel department, sharing power with Thompson’s replacement Brian Gutenkunst. Both of them now report directly to team preside Mark Murphy. It’s an unusual setup that differs from the norm, and one that a former GM cautions against.
Jerry Angelo believes new Packers structure is wide open for division
People will scoff that Jerry Angelo was GM of the Chicago Bears so he’s biased in this situation, but the fact is the man has been around the NFL for three decades. He’s seen what works and what doesn’t in an NFL front office. That’s why it was interesting to hear his thoughts on the Packers restructure during an interview with Dan Pompei of The Athletic.
"“I personally am not a big fan of that type of troika running an organization. The sharing of power is a very delicate balance. When you bring in more than two, it can get nebulous and loyalties can become divided. I’m not saying it can’t work. I’m saying I wouldn’t structure it that way given Murphy’s background. If he were a former general manager and had years of experience, I might have a different attitude. But to have him sitting in the judge’s seat without ever being in the fire makes it very difficult in my opinion for all of them. The relationship of the GM and head coach is everything to a franchise. To potentially muddle it up with another opinion, particularly of someone in charge, makes it a little dicey.”"
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Indeed it feels like in order for the alignment to function McCarthy and Gutenkunst will have to be on the same page at all times. Things could get rough if they start to have disagreements. Given the rumors of years past about McCarthy constantly budding heads with Thompson, this presents a major risk. It will be interesting to see if this experiment will go the way they hope.