Packers Daily Links: Team Reports Record Revenue

In advance of the team's shareholders meeting Thursday, the Packers also posted an operating profit this year. That and more in today's Daily Links...

Just days before the team's annual shareholders meeting on Thursday, the Packers released their financial data. The biggest news is that they posted a record revenue of $282.6 million, up $24.6 million. "Mark Murphy, the franchise's president and CEO, said the team's Super Bowl run combined with additional revenue from Lambeau Field's Atrium and Pro Shop helped beef up the bottom line," reports Don Walker of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. No surprise there. Just imagine if the Packers had actually hosted a playoff game or two. The increase could have been astronomical.

The Packers also posted a profit in the last fiscal year, but that news is deceiving. Had there not been a lockout, they may have actually been in the red. "The $2.2 million increase in operating profit – from $9.8 million last year to $12 million this year – was almost entirely due to a $2 million drop in player costs," writes Mike Spofford of the Packers official website. "That drop was mostly a function of the work stoppage, which prevented the team from signing any players to contracts during March, the final month of the fiscal year when the normal free-agent signing period opens." Had there been free agency as normal, one premiere signing like the one by Mason Crosby, would have taken that profit away.

A few of highlights of the financial results were published at the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "National revenue increased $6 million," reports Richard Ryman. "As with the year before, much of that was because of other NFL revenue, mostly the NFL Network, which accounted for $4.2 million of the increase." That goes to show just how lucrative the NFL Network is with a mediocre product.

More on the Packers' financials comes via Bill Huber of Packer Report and Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.

Aside from financial data, some of the biggest news yesterday came regarding linebacker Nick Barnett. "The Green Bay Packers are making perfunctory phone calls to trade linebacker Nick Barnett but almost certainly will have to cut him this week for much needed salary-cap relief," writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Receiving something is always better than getting nothing. Any team that offers a late-round draft choice could probably land Barnett.

The financial impact of parting ways with Barnett is covered by Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "By releasing Barnett, the Packers will gain $5.05 million of salary-cap room (his $5.9 million salary minus $850,000 of pro-rated signing bonus from 2012)," writes Dunne. "There's little doubt Thompson will continue paring the roster to make cap room; it's just a matter of when." The cutting/trading of Barnett is only the tip of the iceberg. There will be several more cuts in the next few days.

With the Packers adding 16 undrafted free agents, Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the first feature on one of them, offensive lineman Ray Dominguez of Arkansas. "The Packers agreed to terms with at least 16 rookie free agents Monday night and Tuesday, and Dominguez probably is as well thought of as any of them," writes McGinn. "His agent, Kevin Poston, said 17 or 18 teams made offers." McGinn also notes how the Packers have taken college tackles and turned them into guards in the NFL, which is a unique phenomenon.

From a local perspective, the Arkansas News got a brief reaction from Ray Dominguez. "Dominguez said later in a text message it was a tough decision, but he chose the Packers over the New York Jets and Dallas," writes Robbie Nieswanger. There's a possibility of an open spot at left guard, but Dominguez would be a longshot to win it this year.

Profiles on the undrafted rookies come from Bob McGinn, Rob Demovsky and two separate posts by Bill Huber.

The Lombardi play made its first of two appearances at the Lambeau Field Atrium yesterday, and Packers.com spoke to actor Dan Lauria.

A feature on how the Packers spent their offseason is written by Tyler Dunne. John Kuhn played basketball at the YMCA.

Packers president Mark Murphy's role in the CBA is covered by Don Walker.

Safety Charlie Peprah talked about retaining a starting job with Tyler Dunne.

Offensive lineman Jason Spitz's future with the Packers is covered by Pete Dougherty.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers' endorsement deals are covered by Don Walker.

Position previews appear by Bob McGinn on the tight ends, Jason Wilde on the offensive line and Pete Dougerty on the defensive line.

Draft choices and their impact on the salary cap are written about by Bill Huber (subscription required).

Stories on Nick Barnett and the Packers' financial data are covered by Chris Jenkins of the Associated Press.

A column about the new CBA is written by Tom Oates of the Wisconsin State Journal.

Video interviews with wide receivers Randall Cobb and Brett Swain appear at the Journal Sentinel.

Video: Pete Dougherty and Mike Vandermause discuss the defensive line...

Brian Carriveau is the editor of the Maple Street Press Packers Annual. To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (3)

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packsmack25's picture

July 27, 2011 at 09:44 am

So, did Barnett's Twitter announcement essentially kill any trade scenario? You gotta think Ted would have remained mum.

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bomdad's picture

July 27, 2011 at 11:10 am

I bet it kills his chances of making what he would have made under his current contract.

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Ruppert's picture

July 27, 2011 at 11:06 pm

I would be curious to see a breakdown of NFL Network's revenue. I'd like to see how much comes from the NFL games they air, and how much comes from subscription fees. The games carried by NFLN would otherwise be carried by another network that would pay for the right to televise them, so the league "loses" revenue for that game by not having Fox/ESPN pay for it before it "gains" back the revenue that NFLN makes on it.

To make a long, boring post even more long and boring, I'm wondering how much of the NFL Network profits would otherwise still be profits for the league had NFL Network not been hatched.

End.

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