The Packers yesterday formally introduced Brian Gutekunst as the team’s new GM and have reportedly signed him to a five-year contract, but he will "not have total authority over football operations," according to Ryan Wood of the GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE. The Packers will "continue having a football person in charge of their roster" as team President & CEO Mark Murphy announced Gutekunst will be "one of three people within football operations reporting directly to him." The other two are newly promoted Exec VP/Football Operations Russ Ball and coach Mike McCarthy. Murphy's "expanded involvement will resemble more of a traditional owner." He said that restructuring the chain of command was a "byproduct of what he learned during his search" for a new GM. Murphy: “Within football we have silos, and we’ve had some breakdowns in communication. And one of the things that I really tried to do as I looked at it, what would be the best way to improve communication, improve collaboration among people within our football operations, and how do you knock down those silos?” Wood notes if Gutekunst had "significant reservations about the restructure, he presumably wouldn’t have accepted the job." Beyond job title, it is "uncertain how much will change in practice for Ball." Murphy said that there "might be a 'few slight differences' in Ball’s role, but much will remain." Ball served as former GM Ted Thompson’s "salary cap expert the past several years, and will continue as Gutekunst’s chief negotiator on player contracts." Ball also will have "authority on non-roster areas of a traditional GM’s responsibilities, including video, training, equipment, family affairs and public relations." Gutekunst’s primary responsibility will be "player acquisition and retention, while Ball’s will be the salary cap." Meanwhile, Murphy said that he and not Gutekunst will "have the power to fire and hire a head coach" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 1/9).
SWITCHING THINGS UP: In Green Bay, Pete Dougherty writes the Packers' new front office structure "opens more possibilities for pitfalls than it closes." Murphy clearly has "confidence in his ability to make sure everyone gets along." It also is the "kind of setup he’s used to" as a former college AD where "everyone reported to him." But Dougherty writes, "All I can say is good luck" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 1/9). Meanwhile, in Milwaukee, Michael Cohen writes Gutekunst's "warm demeanor and deferential fondness toward Thompson, whom he described as a mentor and close friend, provided requisite cushion to unveil an approach to player acquisition and roster management that aligned more closely with [former Packers GM] Ron Wolf than his immediate predecessor." With Gutekunst in charge, "aggression should follow" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENITNEL, 1/9).
