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So much discussion over Thompson, McCarthy and his staff, Aaron Rodgers, but when it comes to Murphy no one seems to have a handle on him. In the hierarchy of the Packers everything starts and ends with him. This is the person Thompson answers to even though Thompson is in charge of football side of things and Murphy runs the business side of the Packer franchise and Packer brand.
Who is Mark Murphy? Think before reaching conclusions and subjective opinion, it's important to know his background.
As a Safety at 6-4 210 (big even in today's era), he played 4 years before the legendary Joe Gibbs took over. He played with such intelligence that Gibbs didn't need to give him much direction, ultimate sign of respect.
Gibbs was quoted as saying "He's the player who was too smart for me to coach."
The Skins went 8-8 the first year of Gibbs tenure and won a Super Bowl the next. Murphy had said was one of the best things to happen to him as they went to becoming a very good team all of a sudden.
Murphy watched, learned, and listened in his time with Gibbs which he credits shaping his career in sports. Murphy was a team captain, led NFL in '83 with 9 Int and finished career with 27 INT, 2 time Pro Bowler, was a player representative, and sat on the bargaining committee.
He has been athletic director at Colgate and then Northwestern before taking over the reins at GB.
Murphy imo strikes me more of a Ron Wolf type of person. That is he's intelligent but reserved and careful with his words, not to tip his hand.
Many think no changes will come at season's end if team doesn't turn things around. Just like in Wolf's time here, think one has to look between the lines.
First, how bad have things got in GB, when Murphy has to take questions and answers on the football side of things? Murphy has his plate full with the development of what we could call Title Town.
Something found very interesting was the Skins vs Pack game. Body language sometimes tells more than words ever will. The look on Murphy's face was priceless. Also interesting was Thompson leaving the booth early where both were watching the game.
It had to be very disturbing after playing Safety at a PB level watching our Secondary getting torched. In fact the play on the field overall has been most of this season. Packers are expanding and putting a lot of money into the development. A winning team or at least a good product on the field helps promote the venture and leads to money spent on all things Packers.
Had this pretty much wrote and then held off when the article with Murphy came out.
Again while most seem to think Thompson and McCarthy are safe at season's end and only sacrificial staff maybe let go, I don't think they are safe. When Murphy said that no mid season firings, a lot of football left and so on, reminded me of almost same kind of words and stance Ron Wolf took at the same point of the season that he ended up firing Ray Rhodes. Again the point that Murphy had to even entertain and felt compelled to speak on the subject matter means smoke is rising up to the top of the organization.
In the end it might be economics that make the decision for Murphy. On a bad year sales will be down on merch and maybe everything concerning packers....HOF, tours, rentals, etc. Not making the play offs and no extra home game also has a financial impact. Be interesting to see if team is still going downhill if fans leave the rest of the home games early again and boo. Again not good for the brand that boasts the best fans in the world.
Yes salaries of McCarthy and Thompson would cost a lot of let go. But if the brand is taking a hit and more so the monies Packers take in goes down, might make the loss of paying these two easier when looking at the big picture long term.
So whether it's Murphy the player in heart or Murphy the big cheese of Packer and business, it just might be when all is considered that one or both could be gone at season's end....but using the standard line going...."There's still a lot of football left." Lol.
Credits: quotes and background from NY Times, some background from Wikipedia.
Who is Mark Murphy? Think before reaching conclusions and subjective opinion, it's important to know his background.
As a Safety at 6-4 210 (big even in today's era), he played 4 years before the legendary Joe Gibbs took over. He played with such intelligence that Gibbs didn't need to give him much direction, ultimate sign of respect.
Gibbs was quoted as saying "He's the player who was too smart for me to coach."
The Skins went 8-8 the first year of Gibbs tenure and won a Super Bowl the next. Murphy had said was one of the best things to happen to him as they went to becoming a very good team all of a sudden.
Murphy watched, learned, and listened in his time with Gibbs which he credits shaping his career in sports. Murphy was a team captain, led NFL in '83 with 9 Int and finished career with 27 INT, 2 time Pro Bowler, was a player representative, and sat on the bargaining committee.
He has been athletic director at Colgate and then Northwestern before taking over the reins at GB.
Murphy imo strikes me more of a Ron Wolf type of person. That is he's intelligent but reserved and careful with his words, not to tip his hand.
Many think no changes will come at season's end if team doesn't turn things around. Just like in Wolf's time here, think one has to look between the lines.
First, how bad have things got in GB, when Murphy has to take questions and answers on the football side of things? Murphy has his plate full with the development of what we could call Title Town.
Something found very interesting was the Skins vs Pack game. Body language sometimes tells more than words ever will. The look on Murphy's face was priceless. Also interesting was Thompson leaving the booth early where both were watching the game.
It had to be very disturbing after playing Safety at a PB level watching our Secondary getting torched. In fact the play on the field overall has been most of this season. Packers are expanding and putting a lot of money into the development. A winning team or at least a good product on the field helps promote the venture and leads to money spent on all things Packers.
Had this pretty much wrote and then held off when the article with Murphy came out.
Again while most seem to think Thompson and McCarthy are safe at season's end and only sacrificial staff maybe let go, I don't think they are safe. When Murphy said that no mid season firings, a lot of football left and so on, reminded me of almost same kind of words and stance Ron Wolf took at the same point of the season that he ended up firing Ray Rhodes. Again the point that Murphy had to even entertain and felt compelled to speak on the subject matter means smoke is rising up to the top of the organization.
In the end it might be economics that make the decision for Murphy. On a bad year sales will be down on merch and maybe everything concerning packers....HOF, tours, rentals, etc. Not making the play offs and no extra home game also has a financial impact. Be interesting to see if team is still going downhill if fans leave the rest of the home games early again and boo. Again not good for the brand that boasts the best fans in the world.
Yes salaries of McCarthy and Thompson would cost a lot of let go. But if the brand is taking a hit and more so the monies Packers take in goes down, might make the loss of paying these two easier when looking at the big picture long term.
So whether it's Murphy the player in heart or Murphy the big cheese of Packer and business, it just might be when all is considered that one or both could be gone at season's end....but using the standard line going...."There's still a lot of football left." Lol.
Credits: quotes and background from NY Times, some background from Wikipedia.
