Martha Careful
a year ago
I thought this was an interesting read from Packers.com

MT5: Disappointing ending, but a pretty good ride, and the future is bright
Murphy Takes 5 is a monthly column written by President and CEO Mark Murphy
Feb 03, 2024 at 08:00 AM Murphy_Mark-2022
Mark Murphy Packers President/CEO

The season-ending loss to the 49ers in the divisional round was disappointing, especially given that we outplayed them for most of the game. We led by seven points going into the fourth quarter, but couldn't hold the lead. Give the 49ers credit, though, they made the plays in the end to win the game, as they did in the NFC Championship Game against the Lions.

As disappointing as the loss was, I still think the overall season was a success. We were a very young team (youngest in the league) and came into the season with a lot of question marks. The biggest question was how Jordan Love would perform in his first year as a starter. While Jordan (and the team) was inconsistent in the first half of the season, he finished the season playing at a very high level. We feel confident that Jordan is our quarterback of the future.

We were the youngest team to win a playoff game since the NFL-AFL merger. It was exciting to see our team come together as the season progressed. It is a real tribute to our coaches and players that we were able to turn our season around. I think Matt LaFleur did his best job coaching this year. While nothing is guaranteed, I do think the team learned a lot from our playoff experience this year, and that the future is bright.

Now on to your questions.

Jon from Beaver Dam, WI

I was surprised to see that the Packers didn't have a single player voted to the Pro Bowl. How do you explain this?

Thanks for raising this issue, Jon. I was disappointed, but not surprised that we got shut out of the Pro Bowl. As noted above, we were a very young team, and many of our players were not well known to voters. Players, in particular, often vote for other players based on their reputations. We used to say that players have to play at a Pro Bowl level for a couple years before they get voted in. There were four teams that did not have any players voted on to the Pro Bowl – the other three were the three teams with the worst records in the league. It's a tribute to our coaches that we had so much success with such a young team. Kenny Clark will play in the Pro Bowl as a replacement for San Francisco's Javon Hargrave. Also, Keisean Nixon was named as the returner on the All-Pro Team.

A question from Thomas

Since you were once an All-Pro player and Super Bowl winner, you experienced a first year as a starter on defense in the NFL. What do you think are the two or three lessons our players have learned this year, regular season or playoffs? I always enjoy your perspective as a former player who achieved great success and understands the path these players are on. Thanks for all you do!

Great question, Thomas. It was quite a few years ago, but I do remember my first year as a starter in 1979 with the Redskins. I was very fortunate to have a Hall of Famer in Kenny Houston as my fellow safety. I was able to learn so much from him, both on and off the field. Also, as a first-year starter, you are going to make mistakes. The most important thing is to learn from them and not repeat them. Finally, I learned the importance of film study. Watching film of the upcoming opponent, you can identify patterns and tips to help you anticipate plays. My position coach, Richie Petitbon, (he was also our defensive coordinator and a great safety in the league) was a big help in learning how to watch film. You often hear players say this, but I really did feel that the game slowed down for me as I became more experienced.

Justin M. from Tucson, AZ

I am emailing today to express my disappointment and dissatisfaction with the franchise and its direction during your tenure as CEO. I believe it is long overdue for you to retire and give control of the organization to someone else who is more properly prepared to take the team into the future.

Your leadership has been inept. You do not deserve to lead such a storied franchise. Please disappear into retirement ether. Nobody likes you. You have never been a good executive. I wish you the worst in your twilight years.

Thanks for sharing your opinion, Justin. I also appreciate the 11 other emails you've recently sent with similar suggestions. I get your point. You will be pleased to know that I am required to retire in July 2025 under our by-laws.

Rob P. from Allouez

I'm learning more about Jeff Hafley and excited to see how he does as DC. I'm wondering who made the final decision in the hiring of him?

Good question, Rob. While Matt LaFleur received input from Brian Gutekunst, myself and others, he has full control over his coaching staff and made the final decision. I was very impressed with the way Matt conducted the search. We interviewed many candidates, both by Zoom and in person, and Jeff rose to the top. His work both in the NFL and at Boston College was impressive. Although Matt and Jeff have never coached together, they have many mutual acquaintances who spoke highly of Jeff. Also, my roommate on the Redskins, Pete Cronan, a Boston College alumnus and the longtime radio voice of Boston College football, was very impressed with Jeff and the work he did at Boston College.

Mike from Cascade, ID

Have you or BG ever considered writing an article about what went on in the background leading up to the decision to draft Jordan Love? I would think that there were some interesting conversations going on and would suspect that not everyone involved were buying into it. I'm happy to see that all the naysayers are eating crow and singing your praises! How does it feel being a genius?

I think this may have to wait until Brian retires, Mike. We don't want to give up any trade secrets! I do give Brian (and his team) tremendous credit for having the courage of his convictions in drafting Jordan Love. They did their research on Jordan and knew that he had excellent potential. Jordan's draft year was in the middle of COVID, so things were very different. I remember Brian letting me know that we were going to trade up to pick Jordan. I knew that we had him rated highly and was impressed with the process that Brian and his staff had followed. I know we were criticized for the pick at the time, but Brian felt strongly that it would be a good pick in the long-term.

I especially like the facts that he:
1. addressed the new DC
2. put in the classy response to the naysayer.
Go Packers!!!!
Fan Shout
dfosterf (2h) : I do very much appreciate when Beast and others pick up my slack 😊
dfosterf (2h) : I accept Beast's admonishment regarding my failure to link stuff I reference. I simply never learned to link from my cell phone.
beast (3h) : That's not what your she said 😌, she said keep going 😏
Mucky Tundra (6h) : Anything over 4 hours means he needs to get to the hospital
Mucky Tundra (6h) : Someone might want to check on Hafley and make sure his erection has gone down
Zero2Cool (8h) : LaFleur texts "bleep me I cannot sit down"
Zero2Cool (8h) : YouTube has had me last hour or two lol
Mucky Tundra (8h) : Ugh this trade happened right as my shift started and it's killing me
Zero2Cool (8h) : Parsons wore 23 in high school.
Zero2Cool (8h) : Packers just cost Lions more money with Hutchinson too huh
Zero2Cool (10h) : That is fair by me.
buckeyepackfan (10h) : Kenny Clark is the player, 2 1st rnd picks
Zero2Cool (10h) : umm... what?
wpr (10h) : I am stunned
Mucky Tundra (10h) : RICKEY SCOOPS WAS RIGHT AGAIN!!!
Mucky Tundra (10h) : ITS HAPPENING
buckeyepackfan (10h) : DEAL IS DONE
buckeyepackfan (10h) : MICAH IS COMING TO GREEN BAY!!!!!!!!!
wpr (17h) : Me do-ed it gooderly,
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : Bahah, I was like WTF why isn't anyone posting on PP.com ... oops no one has permissions
dfosterf (27-Aug) : tell her I reckon
dfosterf (27-Aug) : 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
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