Packers VP/Administration & General Counsel Jason Wied “resigned Friday,” according to Rob Demovsky of the GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE. Wied had been “on a leave of absence for what was described as personal reasons since early November.” He said that he “entered a treatment center on Nov. 7 after he developed an addiction to one of the herbal remedies he had been using to treat sleep apnea and insomnia, something he has dealt with for several years.” The herbal remedy “was believed to be a legal but addictive substance.” After spending “40 days in a treatment center, Wied decided to resign but waited until after the regular season ended to inform” team President & CEO Mark Murphy. Demovsky noted in April '07, then-team president & CEO Bob Harlan “promoted Wied to vice president of administration/corporate counsel” and later that year, Wied “was a finalist to replace Harlan, although the job went to Murphy” (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZZETTE, 1/7). In Milwaukee, Don Walker noted Wied was involved with the NFL “during negotiations on a new contract with players and during the lockout.” Wied aided in the efforts “to develop Lambeau Field and to purchase property near the stadium.” The Packers organization has been working on a “possible new development west and south of the stadium and Wied was a key player behind the scenes.” He also “served as point man in the organization’s dealings with the Green Bay/Brown County Professional Football Stadium District” (JSONLINE.com 1/6).
MORE MOVES: In Green Bay, Pete Dougherty noted Packers Dir of Football Operations Reggie McKenzie’s decision to leave the team to become the Raiders GM will “disrupt the stability that has marked the Green Bay Packers’ front office the last several years.” He had been with the Packers “since 1994, and as their lone director-football operations the last two years as General Manager Ted Thompson’s top personnel adviser.” The move leaves “a temporary void near the top of the Packers’ front office and raises questions about which scouts McKenzie might take with him to the Raiders.” Several media reports have “mentioned Eliot Wolf, who is a Packers assistant director of player personnel, but there’s a good chance Thompson will promote Wolf to replace McKenzie.” A source said that McKenzie was believed to be “among or possibly even the highest-paid personnel executive in the league who’s not a GM, with a salary estimated between $500,000 and $700,000” (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 1/7).
