Pack93z
  • Pack93z
  • Select Member Topic Starter
14 years ago
This is one of a handful of folks I would love to sit a spell with and truly discuss football from the principles from their perspective.

Another such a guy would be our very own WarHawk.. I am pretty sure he has forgotten more football than I know.

Anyway.. I would have loved Wolf to go into more detail on the Packers players.. what he sees in them..

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/103586784.html 

Ron Wolf was in an office in Lambeau Field Tuesday watching the last two Green Bay Packers games. Later that night he had dinner with his son, Eliot Wolf, the Packers' assistant director of pro personnel.

But it's not what you might be thinking.

The former Packers general manager was watching the games because he had been traveling in Europe and had not seen a snap of NFL football yet this season. And he was asking his son to fill him in on the best players and new talent wearing green and gold.

Wolf, 71, is retired. Really.

Some folks wondered about that last year when Donald Driver mentioned that he ran into Wolf in Lambeau. Fans wondered (and maybe hoped) that Wolf might be in some kind of consultant position, advising the current GM, Ted Thompson, on personnel decisions.

But Wolf was just rehabilitating a knee after surgery.

"Torn cartilage, that's all," he said. "That's what happens when you get a little bit older, things fall apart a little bit. So you have that to look forward to."

Before the 2009 season, Wolf and his wife, Edie, came back to Green Bay. They now split their residence between here and a home in Florida. They came back in part to be around Eliot, one of their five children, and because they missed Green Bay. Edie, a former psychologist who once had her own practice, still has many friends here.

But the man who devoted every working hour to evaluating players on film or hitting the road to scout them in college didn't return to Green Bay to live and breathe Packers or second-guess the way they run things.

He had just returned from Europe, where he toured sites of the World War II Battle of the Bulge in Belgium and parts of Germany. He'll never forget visiting Ypres, where every night at 8 the Belgian town honors the people who were slain in a battle there in World War I. He gazed with awe at the Menin Gate Memorial that has the names of 54,000 whose remains were never found.

Down the road, Wolf visited a British Commonwealth cemetery where 12,000 more are buried and another wall bears the names of 34,000 whose remains were never found.

"Just think about that. It's an incredible thing," said Wolf. "All the lives that were lost in World War I. During the Bulge, 81,000 people were lost there. You look at that and you think to yourself, 'Why? Why?'

"Since I have retired, I have discovered there are so many things that I knew absolutely nothing about."

A native of New Freedom, Pa., Wolf served with Army intelligence in Europe from 1956-'59. While stationed in Berlin, he once hoped he would work in the NFL.

Wolf hardly ever watches the NFL now. He dives into these history projects and reads all about his next travel destination, whether he is visiting the Panama Canal or sites of Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign in western Virginia.

"I read about people. I'm more into people than I am into situations," Wolf said. "History fascinates me and where these people come from. I'm trying to find the answer why, and I know I never will, but I am very curious about that.

"I don't follow football that closely anymore," said Wolf. "Part of the reason is I don't know the players. That was always a fun or enjoyable part of it for me. Now I don't know the players. I understand the Packers because I'm around and I'm very fortunate that Ted and Mike let me come to practice when I want to and I can go up there and watch the tapes of the game."

Wolf laughs at the idea that he ever might advise Thompson or Packers coach Mike McCarthy.

"Oh no, absolutely not. I don't talk to Ted at all about that," Wolf said. "He's doing such a sensational job himself, he doesn't need my two cents. He gets enough from everybody else. He doesn't ask for it and I wouldn't give it to him anyway because I'm not qualified.

"There's an entirely new regime there with Mark Murphy. The executive committee has changed, everybody is brand new. Ted is a great story, the success he's had, his ability to develop teams. I had my time and what we did here was a very memorable time for me. To come to Green Bay in free agency football, when Green Bay had the worst record in football and when I left we had the best record - people said that would never happen. And it did.

"The fact that they're still going on and keeping that legacy alive is a great tribute to Ted Thompson, Mike McCarthy and the present regime."

While Wolf's presence in Green Bay doesn't cast shadows over Thompson, the GM likes having Wolf around.

"Most of the day-to-day stuff of my job I learned from him. And he's still sort of my mentor," Thompson said. "He's welcome here anytime."

Thompson also appointed Eliot Wolf to assistant director of pro personnel - the same role Ron Wolf gave to Thompson when he hired him in 1992.

"I see a lot of the similarities between Ron and Eliot. Eliot's a very gifted young man," said Thompson.

Sometimes the only way Ron could spend time with his boy, back when he was building Super Bowl teams in Green Bay, was to bring him to the office. At age 10, Eliot helped out in his first film session. The 28-year-old has attended and worked the last 18 scouting combines and NFL drafts. Eliot always gets a call from his famous dad after games.

"But I also try to stay out of his way, because they're busy now, really busy now," Ron Wolf said. "He really enjoys it and I'm glad. And I'm glad he's doing something he really likes. I worked 41 years in the game and they actually paid me for that. I pinch myself every once in awhile, how fortunate I was."

These days, Wolf is content to watch the game as a fan.

"I root hard for the Packers because of Eliot and Ted. Of course, being a fan I certainly know a lot more than I do know," he said with a laugh.

"Clay Matthews is a really tremendous player. He's very, very skilled and athletic," Wolf said. "He's relentless. Plus, he's athletically gifted. I think Aaron Rodgers is exceptional. Greg Jennings is exceptional. That Jermichael Finley, he looks like he has rare qualities. I like watching their young players, like Bryan Bulaga had a nice game, really a nice game. That's got to make them feel good."

Wolf hasn't seen any games this year other than the two Packers wins on tape. He doesn't know how Brett Favre is doing for the Minnesota Vikings. Of course, it was Wolf who made the daring trade with Atlanta to acquire Favre shortly after he became GM for the Packers in 1991. Wolf's feelings for Favre have not faded.

"He's a very special person in my life and I have high regard for him. Always will," Wolf said. "Brett Favre and I are attached at the hip almost. It's difficult seeing him perform in that purple uniform, though."


"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
Dulak
14 years ago
ron wolf mentioned about bulage; true was nice to see bulaga get some playing time (even if it wasnt against the best pass rushers in the league) he still got his feet wet. Now when he goes against peppers and allen - that will be more interesting 😉
PackerTraxx
14 years ago
Always good to read about Ron. Nice to see he still lives in GB. Sounds like he's making up for lost time on "seeing the world", good for him.
Why is Jerry Kramer not in the Hall of Fame?
Zero2Cool
14 years ago
Ron Wolf is and was over rated. He got lucky with Brett and Brett made him look like a genius because he made the other 52 players look better than they were. What did Levens do after GB, Freeman? Brooks? Schroeder? Paup was the only guy who left who had a good career.
UserPostedImage
porky88
14 years ago

Ron Wolf is and was over rated. He got lucky with Brett and Brett made him look like a genius because he made the other 52 players look better than they were. What did Levens do after GB, Freeman? Brooks? Schroeder? Paup was the only guy who left who had a good career.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



Reggie White was pretty good too.

As was an offensive line during the Mike Sherman era, which I would argue carried the team more than Favre.

Ahman Green wasn't bad.

Wolf help build a Tampa Bay team that wound up in the NFC Championship game back in the 70s. His success with the Raiders is also well documented.

I'm not sure Favre is the player he is today if Wolf doesn't make that deal.

Personally, there is enough there to warrant Wolf as a Hall of Famer.
Pack93z
  • Pack93z
  • Select Member Topic Starter
14 years ago
Ron Wolf overrated and lucky eh... I think not. Was he perfect, nope. Did the Brett deal turn out golden, yep, but he had also done is homework on Brett the year before with the Jets.

Lets breakdown a list of players Wolf had a hand in bringing into the NFL..

Art Shell
Gene Upshaw
Ken Stabler
Jack Tatum
Howie Long
Marcus Allen
Matt Millen

With the Packers he added.. that all played important roles in the Packers SB runs.

Adam Timmerman
William Henderson
Craig Newsome
Doug Evans
Mark Tauscher
Wayne Simmons
Mark Chmura
George Teague
Brian Williams
Antonio Freeman
Marco Rivera
Robert Brooks
Edgar Bennett - Still with the Pack

Guys he brought to Green Bay and fit into Holmgren's plans..

Frank Winters
Gilbert Brown
Santana Dotson
Andre Rison
Desmond Howard
Sean Jones
Eugene Robinson
Keith Jackson
Brett Favre
Reggie White

He correctly shit canned Infante and inserted Holmgren

I would say that he was more good than lucky..
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
Greg C.
14 years ago

Ron Wolf is and was over rated. He got lucky with Brett and Brett made him look like a genius because he made the other 52 players look better than they were. What did Levens do after GB, Freeman? Brooks? Schroeder? Paup was the only guy who left who had a good career.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



Um, you're kidding right?

If not, I'll just say for now that the reason most of the players who left didn't do much was because Wolf held onto them until they began to decline. If they were good after they left, that would mean he made bad moves by letting them get away.
blank
go.pack.go.
14 years ago

Ron Wolf is and was over rated. He got lucky with Brett and Brett made him look like a genius because he made the other 52 players look better than they were. What did Levens do after GB, Freeman? Brooks? Schroeder? Paup was the only guy who left who had a good career.

"Greg C." wrote:



Um, you're kidding right?

If not, I'll just say for now that the reason most of the players who left didn't do much was because Wolf held onto them until they began to decline. If they were good after they left, that would mean he made bad moves by letting them get away.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



Great point.

I don't understand the negativity from Zero...
UserPostedImage
Dexter_Sinister
14 years ago
What did Favre do after Holmgren left?
I want to go out like my Grandpa did. Peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming in terror like his passengers.
Zero2Cool
14 years ago
:D



I'm surprised it took so long to get any responses. Slackers!




I think Holmgren is why Brett was a MVP and I think mm is why Brett had such a great year in '07. Although, that's not a reach, since Brett has said several times he NEEDS a coach to reel him in, something Sherman couldn't do.


I liked Ron a lot, his son went to my High School. He also wasn't afraid to say what was on his mind, I tend to like those kind of people.
UserPostedImage
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Mucky Tundra (43m) : RICKEY SCOOPS WAS RIGHT AGAIN!!!
Mucky Tundra (44m) : ITS HAPPENING
buckeyepackfan (44m) : DEAL IS DONE
buckeyepackfan (46m) : MICAH IS COMING TO GREEN BAY!!!!!!!!!
wpr (7h) : Me do-ed it gooderly,
Zero2Cool (21h) : Bahah, I was like WTF why isn't anyone posting on PP.com ... oops no one has permissions
dfosterf (23h) : tell her I reckon
dfosterf (23h) : Micah Robinson cut. Probable PS player tomorrow. Has to call mom back and t
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : New site so much better. Might make switch and deal with it.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Mecole Hardman to our practice squad
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Nick Nieman from Texans our 5th linebacker. Special teams signing
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Looks like we signed Clayton Tune as QB3
wpr (27-Aug) : TKT people lose their minds over QB3. Point is almost none of them are ready that's why they are on the PS and other teams don't take them.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Unfortunately he doesn't seem ready to be an emergency QB.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : As a Canadian and a follower of Canadian University football. I am rooting for him
dfosterf (27-Aug) : I bet a lot of us will follow the Taylor Elgersma journey with interest. Personally, got a Kurt Warner vibe goin' on. I like him
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Not sure if either will be claimed though.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Tune or Hooker would make sense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Clayton Tune cut by the Cards? Don't know if that's the guy, we shall see
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Per Bill Huber, the Packers will not be bringing back Taylor Elgersma or Sean Clifford on the practice squad, so a new third quarterback
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Schefter must have deleted his tweet
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Hopefully Jerry reaches under the seat cushions and ashtrays of his jet and scrapes up the 45 million apr and spares us further nonsense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Have to admit the PO'd Cowboy fan videos would be fun to watch. Problem with draft picks is half their fanbase barely knows what that is
beast (27-Aug) : I think Cowboys fans are ready to get their pitch forks and burning sticks if Jerry were to trade Micah
dfosterf (27-Aug) : If Jerry traded Micah to GB, here in northern Va. they would have to quick build yet another data center to handle the internet hate traffic
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : its signing and trades that you don't hear about, other then announced
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : If you hear rumors about Packers sign or trade, won't happen. Not how they work
dfosterf (27-Aug) : 19 players in a contract year. Jones called loss to us worst loss in Cowboy history. Forget Parsons trade. Not happenin' Cap'n
packerfanoutwest (27-Aug) : The Packers, meanwhile, are the youngest team in the league for the third consecutive year.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : That it was darkest before the dawn in Bengals and Commanders before they got deals done
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : what is Schefter saying?
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He was getting Dorito infusion therapy
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He's outta shape. Why, just the other day I saw him splayed out on the trainers table
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Parsons has followed Rasheed Walker on Twitter. Quite the choice
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Kuhn is a former player who works for the team, if somethings going down, he would be close to it
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : @kuhnj30 Micah Freaking Parsons
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : A LOT of buzz on the Bird App regarding Parsons; even Schefter is saying it's serious
dfosterf (26-Aug) : *Orzech*
dfosterf (26-Aug) : Orzich long snapper 3 yr extension
Zero2Cool (26-Aug) : Packers signed someone for three year deal
Zero2Cool (26-Aug) : lol i know it's insane ... sign up for the waiver wire then you'll know
wpr (26-Aug) : YES!!!!!!
Mucky Tundra (26-Aug) : WE WANT THE LIST! WE WANT THE LIST!
Zero2Cool (26-Aug) : @JJLahey · 2m Holy crap, Packers, where the heck is the list?
Zero2Cool (26-Aug) : haha folks on Tweeter every year this time ... 'where is list Packers!!" hahaha
wpr (26-Aug) : He played pretty good.
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