NFL Looking Forward With the Packers
The NFL was in the house for the Packers' annual shareholders meeting,
By PackerAaron
GREEN BAY The Green Bay Packers hosted NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell at their annual shareholders meeting today, with President Mark Murphy presiding over the proceedings. While not much was truly revealed, outside of the name of the expected development outside of Lambeau ("Titletown"), Goodell and Murphy did an admirable job of presenting not only a strong financial standing for the team, but the need for the NFL to look forward, with the Packers playing a prominent role in the move forward.
Murphy opened the proceedings with an overview of the financials that the team released a few weeks ago and then General Manager Ted Thompson ran through the roster, admitting that he would not be "giving you much" and that he would be describing every player as "pretty good". Thompson held true to this promise.
After presentations from every area of the franchise, Murphy and Goodell ran through several questions that had been pre-submitted by shareholders, ranging from player safety to whether the Commish preferred brats or burgers. (The answer? Brats...with a beer or two)
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Comments (11)
July 29, 2010 at 02:59 pm
To me the Commish seems like a regular guy.
July 29, 2010 at 05:57 pm
That's because he is a son of a politician. He was bred to act like a "regular guy".
July 29, 2010 at 03:27 pm
Sure got my vote as a "regular guy" selecting brats and beer! I set up my recorder at home in order to watch it "live".
July 29, 2010 at 04:34 pm
I dunno. He seems like a phony. What's he supposed to do? Go to Lambeau Fieldand say he prefers hamburgers?
July 29, 2010 at 08:10 pm
Only if they're from Krolls!
July 29, 2010 at 04:49 pm
I don't know if regular guy is the right term. He certainly seems "approachable" and doesn't hold himself on a pedestal above the unwashed masses even though he does seem to be high brow somewhat. At least he doesn't pretend to be 'down'...he seems to genuinely appreciate fan and player enthusiasm.
July 29, 2010 at 07:28 pm
There's quite a few people in powerful positions who are "Regular Guys", and there's quite a few people who work the blue collar grind jobs that are hoity-toity and think they're somethin' special. Who cares he's the son of a politician?
I could give a rats patooie if Goodell is a regular guy or approachable- I don't think I'll be hanging out with him shooting the breeze anytime soon. I do care if he can manage the league in a way that is both sustainable yet expansive enough to grow the sport without alienating its fans.
On a side note- sometimes I think some of us Packers fans, particularly us Wisconsinites, and even more so those from the smaller cities and towns like GB itself, have such a second-city/state inferiority complex they strike out at anyone they deem "Fancy" or "White Collar". For instance, Lord forbid the new President/CEO be an East Coaster with a big, fancy law degree and use a euphemism many don't understand like "Crossing the Rubicon". Jeesh.
End rant.
July 29, 2010 at 08:33 pm
I have never been to Wisconsin in my life, I've lived in or around New York City my entire life and I disagree with you completely. This is a kid's game. If the guy can't relate to the fans and understand their concerns he's going to fail.
And obviously despite your lack of concern, obviously his public perception is important otherwise he wouldnt be doing anything.
July 30, 2010 at 02:03 am
Obviously, you need to be in touch with your market.. But there's lots of people who are most definitely not "Regular Joes" who enjoy football, or at least, understand the market well enough to be able to make successful business decisions in the best interests of the sport. Thousands of successfully run businesses which meet the needs of their target audience (Hence why they are successful) are run by people or boards that may or may not be approachable or enjoy beer and brats, but that doesn't stop them from catering to and meeting the needs of their customers who do.
Just my personal take on it. I'd rather have a competent jerk that ensures the NFL is stable and improving than a personable bumbling fool who runs the league we all love into the ground. If we get a really cool guy who tailgates and hangs out at corner taps who also does a gangbusters job of running the NFL, that's a bonus...
July 30, 2010 at 09:04 am
So do you believe the Commissioner is not doing a good job?
July 30, 2010 at 09:34 am
I wasn't editorializing on the Commish's job performance, but to answer your question, the Jury is still out in my opinion.
However, while some think he's too strict of a disciplinarian, I salute his near zero-tolerance policy. We've all seen how the NBA's image tarnished as a thug league, fair or not. Goodell's lack of tolerance for run-ins with the law is a strong example of making changes with the long-term in mind- nip it in the butt now before it gets out of control attitude. The fact he's slowly pushing NFL to an international market is further example he's looking to make sure the NFL continues to grow and prosper.
I think that a good deal of his job evaluation will end up coming out of this next CBA and how they league and the PA relations go forward.