CEO Mark Murphy remains vigilant, looks to future
Why, a man wanted to know, havent the Green Bay Packers installed railings along the steps in Lambeau Field?
For Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy, who recently faced about 40 people at the Howard-Suamico Optimist Club at Rivers Bend Steak and Seafood restaurant in Howard, the topic was deliverance from the usual diet of questions he has faced through his first 21 months atop the corporation ladder.
It has been a period dominated by high-profile matters the unveiling of the new practice field and the progress of a football team that has won eight of 20 games since Murphy became boss at the end of the Packers 2007-08 season.
Nothing got as much attention, however, as the spectacle of the breakup with Brett Favre.
It was Murphy, not General Manager Ted Thompson, who made the final decision to part ways with Favre 14 months ago. Murphy said that he, Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy agreed to take the high road in their public statements about Favre despite cries of protest from many fans.
It was a situation that was somewhat unprecedented in the NFL, Murphy said. Im proud of the way we handled a difficult situation.
A day after the Packers 30-23 loss to the Favre-led Minnesota Vikings, Murphy told Press-Gazette reporter Tony Walter that the decision on Favre wasnt a decision made for one game.
Murphy has also made significant moves that some team officials say will have a greater impact on the franchise. They include his prominent role in the National Football League labor negotiations, his restructuring of the upper management at team headquarters, and his steering of a master development plan that could expand the financial impact of the Packers in neighborhoods near the stadium.
Former team president Bob Harlan ran the corporation the way he could at the size that it was, said Peter Platten III, vice president of the teams Executive Committee. Now its bigger. We knew this (hiring) decision was critical to the organization, and we had to find someone who could deal with the issues and secure the Packers future.
Murphy has done that, Platten said.
Succeeding Bob Harlan
Murphy, 54, became the Packers 10th chief executive officer in January 2008 after four years as athletic director at Northwestern University. He succeeded Harlan, whose leadership guided the Packers through one of their brightest eras that included a Super Bowl title and the renovation of Lambeau Field.
I just try to be myself, to be open with people, Murphy said. Im not afraid to make the tough decisions when they have to be made.
Another tough decision was the development of the Ray Nitschke practice field at a time of economic stress locally and across the country.
He told us that there is never a bad time to invest in the future, said Jason Wied, the Packers vice president for administration and legal counsel.
Murphy knows he will be judged by many on the teams record but said its too early to draw any conclusions.
Were 2-2 now so its still premature to make final judgments, he said. Weve all seen enough positives.
Murphy, who played eight seasons for the Washington Redskins, talks to Thompson on a daily basis but says it is not his style to micromanage.
It was Murphys experience working for the NFL Players Association from 1985-88 that led Commissioner Roger Goodell to appoint him to the Management Committee Executive Council in July 2008. The eight-man council, which is the bargaining team on a potential collective bargaining agreement, includes Dallas Jerry Jones, Carolinas Jerry Richardson, New Englands Robert Kraft, Pittsburghs Art Rooney and Denvers Pat Bowlen.
Thats a big chip (in the game) for us, Platten said, noting that Goodell mentioned the advantage of having Murphy on the negotiating team before he was even hired. It really increases our presence in the league.
Goodell praised Murphy from his New York office.
Mark has a wealth of experience as a former player and administrator at both the collegiate and NFL level, Goodell told the Green Bay Press-Gazette. His experience with the NFL Players Association, and now as a member of the NFLs management team, is invaluable as we work towards securing another collective bargaining agreement.
Management changes
Murphy waited a few months last year before changing the upper management structure of the franchise. As he did at Northwestern, he created a leadership team of a handful of vice presidents so fewer people reported directly to him.
That team includes Vice President of Football Administration Russ Ball, Vice President of Finance Paul Baniel, Vice President of Organizational and Staff Development Betsy Mitchell, and Wied.
One of Murphys initial goals when he arrived was to stress the importance of marketing. He started the Tundra Tailgate Zone last year, a tent-covered area east of the stadium where fans with or without tickets can gather prior to and during home games.
He also hired marketing veteran Laura Sankey as senior vice president of marketing and sales last fall. But she resigned last week.
Murphy said, It just wasnt the right fit for either of us, and said he probably wouldnt hire her replacement until after the current football season.
Unlike Harlan, Murphy doesnt always answer his own phone.
But Murphy has been visible in the community, making more than 100 speeches to community groups since he joined the Packers and building relationships with area politicians.
The latter is vital as he leads the franchise through the development of a master plan that is aimed at increasing tourist interest in the area. He wont discuss details of the plan but said the vision includes working with the county, city of Green Bay and village of Ashwaubenon to maximize revenue possibilities from U.S. 41 to Ashland Avenue and from Lombardi Avenue south on Oneida Street.
Hes not taking his eye off the current situation, but hes looking down the road, said Larry Weyers, executive chairman of Integrys Energy Group and treasurer of the Packers Executive Committee. When we were interviewing him for the job, a criteria was, Is he going to fit into the community and this organization? Mark has surpassed that.