Green Bay Packers: New GM Not Liking the Limited Power

The Green Bay Packers almost always have the right answers when it comes to arranging the proper power structure. That’s being questioned now.

Team president Mark Murphy made an interesting and controversial decision when he stated that the power to fire head coach Mike McCarthy would remain with him. This after initially saying new GM Brian Gutekunst would have that right. Suddenly the Packers have marginalized the man who’s supposed to make all the big football decisions and have muddied the waters as to who is in charge.

McCarthy now knows that he doesn’t have to answer to Gutekunst in the even the two have a difference of opinion. The man who holds his job at stake is Murphy, thus he’s free to go over the new GM’s head if he wants something. This can create a potentially toxic situation if disagreements start to become a regularity.

While Gutekunst is confident that won’t happen, he found it hard to admit that he too was surprised he wasn’t granted that authority. It’s not something he’s ever encountered before.

"“It was certainly different than what I’ve been exposed to here in Green Bay. I needed some time to kind of process it. I think the thing to me that made it OK with me was the people. The relationships I already had with Mark [Murphy] and Mike McCarthy and Russ Ball. I think that’s what made it OK and made it easier for me. But it was certainly something I hadn’t seen or been a part of in my professional career.”"

Gutekunst will determine this course by how diplomatic he is

He’s not wrong. It’s exceedingly rare for a GM to be on equal footing with the head coach or even a subordinate in some cases. This can be disastrous in a sports setting. These men are generally alpha types. They view themselves as the best at what they do. It’s just how it has to be. That’s how they got to where they are. Hard work, talent, and confidence. The problem is without a clear power structure this can lead to inevitable infighting.

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Military infrastructures try to avoid this problem like it’s the plague. Nothing is worse than not knowing “where the buck stops” as President Truman once said. This is the situation the Packers have created for themselves. Whether it works out will depend on Gutekunst’s willingness to be diplomatic and make concessions when there are disagreements. The problem is this could backfire, putting him in a position of weakness.

Is he okay with that? Few men in his position ever are.