Zero2Cool
15 years ago
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Retired Green Bay Packers President Bob Harlan has missed just two home games at Lambeau Field in the past 37 years.

The first came in 2003 when he underwent cancer surgery. The second was earlier this month when Harlan couldnt bear to see Brett Favre face the Packers.

I just didnt want to watch him coming out of that tunnel in a Minnesota uniform, said Harlan, who was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame Friday in Milwaukee.

Hes probably still going to go down as the greatest player we ever had, and I will forever appreciate the 16 years he gave us. So Id just rather not watch him play against us. Thats the easiest way for me to handle it.

Count Harlan among the many Packers backers struggling with the idea of Favre joining forces with the bitter NFC North rivals from Minnesota. But Harlan hasnt resorted to finger pointing.

I talk to people who went to the game at Lambeau and they said you were probably smart not to go because the booing got pretty loud and it probably would have gotten to you, and it probably would have, Harlan said. So I just made up my mind. I told my wife when the schedule came out, I said those are two games Im just not going to watch, and I havent.

Harlan and his wife, Madeline, went to Door County during both Packers-Vikings games this season and didnt watch or listen to the broadcasts.

Harlan is indebted to Favre for the role he played in turning the Packers franchise around in the 1990s. But he also feels the tug of loyalty toward the organization and refuses to blame the Packers leadership team for trading Favre last year.

Some believe the parting of Favre and the Packers never would have occurred under Harlan, who retired in January 2008, or at the very least, would have been handled better.

Ive always said, since I wasnt a part of it, I just dont feel its fair to the other people to make any comment, Harlan said. I dont think its fair to Ted (Thompson) or to Mike (McCarthy) or to Mark Murphy. They did what they felt was best for the Green Bay Packers. Youve got to honor that. And for me to get into that discussion just isnt a fair thing to do.

This isnt the first time Harlan has seen a former beloved player or coach come back to haunt the Packers.

I had a little bit of trouble the first time we faced Mike Holmgren when he was coaching in Seattle, and even seeing Reggie White at Carolina, I wasnt real fond of it, Harlan said.

But Favre is different, perhaps because he was the face of the franchise for so long, or because of the bitter rivalry between Green Bay and Minnesota.

I handled (Favre playing for) the Jets a lot better than I handled the Vikings, Harlan said. I can watch a Jets game. I can watch Brett play against anybody else. I just dont want to watch him play against us.

When Favre announced his retirement at a tearful press conference in March 2008, Harlan was convinced the quarterbacks playing days were over.

You know what, I sat with Brett and Deanna in a back room for about 15 minutes just before they went out for that press conference at Lambeau Field, Harlan recalled. I got the feeling about both of them, they were both very tired and very tense. It was almost like Brett didnt want to be Brett Favre anymore. He wanted to go off and live a quiet life and that was it. So when he broke down so early in the press conference, I wasnt surprised because I thought he was very sincere about retiring.

The two previous years when he pondered it, I kept telling people Im sure hes going to come back because hes such a great competitor, but sitting with him in that room that day, I was convinced he was finished. Its turned out differently obviously. I dont wish him ill will or anything, but I love this franchise too much to be able to sit and watch him in a Minnesota uniform against us.

Harlan maintains an office at Lambeau Field just down the hall from the one he used to occupy during his days as head of the organization. As chairman emeritus, he makes occasional appearances for the organization and spends most Saturdays at Lambeau answering mail and returning phone calls.

Harlan has made a point of not showing up at the stadium during normal business hours. I just dont think its right to be in the hallways at that time, he said. I just think it sends a bad message. I felt that way before I ever retired and Ive never changed my feeling. I just think theres a time and place for me to be there, and I think thats on the weekends when its quiet.

Harlan has offered advice to his successor, Murphy, but only when Murphy has asked for it. I think Marks done a very good job leading us, he said.

Harlans faith in Thompson as general manager hasnt wavered.

Im sure Ted went through extra strain because of what happened with Brett, Harlan said.

A couple years ago when we were 13-3, he was the NFL executive of the year. He hasnt fallen off a cliff since that happened. Hes a talented evaluator. Hes surrounded by a very capable staff. Its a tough league, its a tough job, but I think both he and Mike are capable people. Im very comfortable with that leadership and I have great faith that theyre going to get it done.

Harlan will continue to watch home games in a team suite at Lambeau with Packers front office executives John Dorsey, Reggie McKenzie and John Schneider, and road games on television.

That is, unless the Packers and Vikings meet again in the playoffs. Then the best place to find Harlan will be somewhere in Door County, with the radio and television turned off.


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Zero2Cool (48m) : Harrisburg Packers
Mucky Tundra (1h) : Yes
Zero2Cool (1h) : No.
dfosterf (2h) : The man carried us a lot of the time
dfosterf (2h) : I think a Kenny Clark tribute is in order
Zero2Cool (10h) : new site, text editor gooder even on phone
beast (10h) : Oh yes, sometimes they make using a cellphone tough. I just wanted to make sure it was the correct article, & thank you for pointing it out.
jdlax (12h) : I can't believe one of my teams went out and wablammo just up and acquired one of the best players in the world overnight
dfosterf (16h) : I do very much appreciate when Beast and others pick up my slack 😊
dfosterf (16h) : I accept Beast's admonishment regarding my failure to link stuff I reference. I simply never learned to link from my cell phone.
beast (17h) : That's not what your she said 😌, she said keep going 😏
Mucky Tundra (20h) : Anything over 4 hours means he needs to get to the hospital
Mucky Tundra (20h) : Someone might want to check on Hafley and make sure his erection has gone down
Zero2Cool (21h) : LaFleur texts "bleep me I cannot sit down"
Zero2Cool (22h) : YouTube has had me last hour or two lol
Mucky Tundra (22h) : Ugh this trade happened right as my shift started and it's killing me
Zero2Cool (22h) : Parsons wore 23 in high school.
Zero2Cool (22h) : Packers just cost Lions more money with Hutchinson too huh
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : That is fair by me.
buckeyepackfan (28-Aug) : Kenny Clark is the player, 2 1st rnd picks
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : umm... what?
wpr (28-Aug) : I am stunned
Mucky Tundra (28-Aug) : RICKEY SCOOPS WAS RIGHT AGAIN!!!
Mucky Tundra (28-Aug) : ITS HAPPENING
buckeyepackfan (28-Aug) : DEAL IS DONE
buckeyepackfan (28-Aug) : MICAH IS COMING TO GREEN BAY!!!!!!!!!
wpr (28-Aug) : 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
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