"Offseason update, Tuesday 2/6"
Greetings from Green Bay on a damp, overcast morning that suggests some more
snow for us:
-- Just when we thought it was going to be a quiet winter, Ron Wolf decided
to retire after 9 years as the Packers' general manager. It was the
best-kept secret in Green Bay. Wolf, 62, will run the April 21-22 draft,
then leave June 1 and get away from football for a few months.
Wolf agreed to spend the next 3 years as a consultant to the Packers, but
will move away, probably to the East, where he and his wife Edie have homes
in Bethany Beach, Del., and Jupiter, Fla. A quote from Wolf: "I don't want
to be in the way here. I think it will be too tough to be around here and
not be a part, so I'm moving."
Wolf decided last August that he'd hit the wall and needed to retire. He
told team president Bob Harlan, who urged him to go through the season. Wolf
did so, but didn't change his mind. On Jan. 8, he told Harlan and the team's
executive committee that he was retiring. A quote from Wolf: "You realize
you've given an awful lot and you have no more to give. It's one of those
things where each and every one of us has a time clock and when that clock
stops, you honestly know it. A person honestly knows."
Even so, there was speculation that Wolf wasn't getting along with senior VP
of administration John Jones, who oversees the salary cap, and that he felt
restricted in making moves because of the cap. A quote from Harlan: "I don't
think he's had any more problem (with Jones) than he had with the people who
preceded him. I think the cap is a factor. I think it's the system. It's
like college football; after four years, they're gone. I think that bothered
him, the cap and free agency. He loves the old football."
Harlan said Wolf's retirement won't affect his retirement plans. Harlan, 64,
plans to keep working until the Lambeau Field renovation is done in 2003,
but isn't likely to stay until he's 70, as he once hoped to do.
-- Coach Mike Sherman will take over as GM, as recommended by Wolf. Sherman,
46, will work closely with Wolf over the next 4 months. On Jan. 10, Harlan
and Wolf went into Sherman's office and told him that Wolf would be retiring
after the draft. Sherman asked Wolf whether he'd reconsider. When Wolf said
no, Harlan offered Sherman the job, and he accepted. The remaining 4 years
on Sherman's contract will be redone to give him a pay raise from $800,000 a
year to perhaps $2.5 million a year or more.
Harlan never looked at another candidate, even though he knew since August
that he'd have to replace Wolf. Both men quickly realized Sherman was
qualified for the job even though he has only 4 years of NFL experience. A
quote from Harlan: "I wasn't really fond of bringing in a new boss for Mike.
It's much easier to get the GM and then let him pick the new coach. We also
talked about a 2-headed deal and I really wasn't fond of that. Finally, when
I turned to Ron and said, 'What if we just go with Mike in both jobs right
now?' he said 'That's the way to go.' It seemed to me that it made the most
sense."
For now, Sherman doesn't plan to give up any of his duties as coach, nor
does he plan to name an assistant head coach. He'll be trained on the salary
cap by chief negotiator Andrew Brandt. Sherman also will rely heavily on VP
of personnel Ken Herock, college scouting director John Dorsey and pro
scouting director Reggie McKenzie, all of whom seem likely to get more
responsibilities. Herock, whom many thought would succeed his close friend
Wolf, was surprised that Sherman was named GM, but insisted he wasn't
disappointed and said he planned to stay with the Packers.
A quote from Sherman: "How I structure things will be determined after the
draft. If you surround yourself with good people, and I think I have a knack
for picking good people, I feel very confident in my capacity to learn at a
very fast pace. How I will organize my week will be an issue that I will
have to come to grips with."
Sherman, who already works from 5 a.m. to past 11 p.m. during the season,
also said: "In some regard, I may have to cut back a little bit and be
well-rested and sharper because of the decisions that I've got to make. I
think this whole position is just about making decisions."
And, yes, Sherman plans to talk later this month with his mentor, Seahawks
GM-coach Mike Holmgren, to get ideas on managing his time and setting up his
coaching and scouting staffs.
-- The Packers seem increasingly optimistic that they'll be able to re-sign
both K Ryan Longwell and FS Darren Sharper.
On Saturday, Sherman said keeping Longwell was a priority. A quote from
Sherman: "I'm fairly confident we're prepared to spend. We want to sign Ryan
Longwell, no question. I believe we're in strong negotiations with him.
We've been aggressive and we'll continue to be aggressive there. Someone who
scores points is a valuable part of the team, and he's been fairly
consistent doing that."
Sherman also wouldn't say whether the Packers would use the franchise tag on
Sharper, which would cost them $3.22 million. At the Super Bowl, Ravens LB
Jamie Sharper said he thought his brother would stay with the Packers if he
got a good offer. As for speculation the Packers might pursue Jamie Sharper
as a free agent -- the brothers would love to play together -- it seems
unlikely. The Packers already have re-signed Nate Wayne and would have to
release Brian Williams to free up salary-cap room.
-- Sherman didn't comment on his plans for some of the Packers' other
high-priced veterans, particularly RB Dorsey Levens, RT Earl Dotson or C
Frank Winters. The Packers must be at or below the $67.4 million salary cap
by March 2.
-- A nice slice of life from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Bob McGinn,
who was with Sherman as the coach watched his son, Matt, in a 5th-grade
basketball game in De Pere on Friday night. A boy asked Sherman for his
autograph. McGinn tells the rest: " 'Yes, but only if I can have yours,'
Sherman replied. With that, Sherman gently took the paper, wrote him a note
above his signature and then asked the surprised lad to do the same. When
the autographs were exchanged and as the mesmerized boy took a step to walk
away, Sherman said to him, 'Remember. Make sure this signature I have of
yours is special some day.' "
-- As expected, the Packers hired former Lions offensive coordinator
Sylvester Croom as RB coach. Croom, 46, was fired by the Lions after the
season. He also interviewed for the Cardinals' offensive coordinator job and
for RB coach jobs with the Browns and another team. ... Otherwise, only
minor changes in the Packers' staff. They're seeking a defensive
quality-control aide to replace Billy Davis, who was hired as the Falcons'
LB coach. The Packers also will add a 3rd strength and conditioning coach.
-- Sherman is already planning for minicamps, which will be in late March,
late April and early June. A quote from him: "Traditionally, the 1st
minicamp has always been just basic stuff. The 1st minicamp this year will
be any new thought we want to implement into our own stuff. You give players
some stuff that's new, it keeps their attention. You can be more creative."
The 1st 2 camps usually are closed to the public. The 8-day June camp
usually is open to the public as the weather allows.
-- Planning a trip to training camp? It'll be later than usual this year.
Rookies report July 24, veterans report July 26 and the 1st full practice
isn't expected to be until Saturday, July 28. That's because the regular
season won't begin until Sunday, Sept. 9. The NFL doesn't want to open on
Labor Day weekend because the ratings are weak. Based on past years, look
for training camp to remain open to the public until roughly Thursday, Aug.
23. The Packers haven't officially announced the dates, so they may change.
The later starts mean the preseason games likely will be on the last 3
weekends of August and on Labor Day weekend. That schedule should be out in
a month to 6 weeks. ... However, I wouldn't be surprised if there is no
intrasquad game this summer, considering the Lambeau Field renovation work.
If there is one, it may be on Saturday, Aug. 4. Again, nothing has been
announced. ... The Packers again won't practice or scrimmage with another
team during training camp.
-- Former Packers TE Mark Chmura was acquitted Saturday on charges of
3rd-degree sexual assault and child enticement. Though he plans to return to
the NFL, he almost certainly won't return to the Packers, who cut him last
June to clear salary-cap room. The Packers insist they still can't afford
him, and there's some truth to that. But they also may wish to distance
themselves from him, even with the acquittal. As always, you be the judge.
For full coverage of the trial and its aftermath, go to
jsonline.com
When he spoke to reporters on Sunday: Chmura was gracious toward the
Packers: "I don't fault the Packers at all for what they did. There's been a
lot made of that. They might regret some of the things they've done and I
regret some of the things I've done. I'm not a vengeful person. I will
always be a Green Bay Packer. I cherish those Super Bowl rings I've gotten.
Ron Wolf is the one who gave me the start. I was a 22-year-old kid when I
first arrived there with a back injury and he could have cut me loose. But
he didn't."
-- Then there's the XFL. Sherman has an interesting, though not surprising
take: "I think it's a joke. I think it's bad for football. There's just no
respect for the game, in my mind. I just don't believe in some of the rules
and how they're going to incite certain things and allow certain things to
happen. The angle they take on this league, I think it's terrible. ... It's
hard enough to keep our guys from acting like idiots. Now they're paying
them to do it."
-- Former Packers playing in the XFL: QB Marcus Crandell, RB Rashaan Salaam,
WR Charles Jordan, DB Tyrone Bell and K Jeff Hall with the Memphis Maniax;
WR Roell Preston, RB LeShon Johnson and DB Kerry Cooks with the Chicago
Enforcers; and RB Michael Blair with the New York/New Jersey Hitmen.
That's it. The sun is out and it's time to go to the Y. As always, your
questions and comments are welcome at the new address: jeffash@new.rr.com
Adventures with Evan: The birthday hoopla has finally died down. Evan turned
6 last Wednesday. We took treats to school. We let him invite 2 friends to
dinner at Chuck E. Cheese's, so Rachel came from school and Thomas came from
down the street. The cousins came over on Sunday afternoon for some sledding
on the Webster School hill and a generally crazy time around the house.
This week's soundtrack: Hanging in the tropics with Jimmy Buffett, recorded
live last summer in Philadelphia and New Jersey.
(http://radiomargaritaville.com/).
This week's sources: Green Bay Press-Gazette (http://www.packersnews.com),
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (http://www.jsonline.com/packer/news/) and
Packers (http://www.packers.com) web pages. Check the Packers' current
roster at packers.com
-- If you wish to show your appreciation for these Packers updates,
volunteer or make a donation to the charity of your choice. 'Tis the season
for that, you know.
Thanks as always to Janet for saving the papers and to Scott for providing
the mail service and the web space on South End Zone.
Thanks, Jeff
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