[img_r]http://packershome.com/uploads/forums/legacy.jpg[/img_r]When backup wide receiver Bob Long (1964-67) went in to negotiate his contract with Lombardi for the 66 season it went like this:
I told him, Considering I only made ($11,500), I think I deserve a two thousand-dollar raise to thirteen-five. And this is his response, Well, Im gonna give you a one thousand-dollar raise. However, if you want a two thousand-dollar raise, I think New Orleans will pay it to you on Monday. In other words, if you dont accept, Im going to trade you on Monday. I said, Well, considering everything, I think Ill keep the one thousand. Thats how it was; thats how he negotiated.
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Defensive end Willie Davis (1960-69) explained how he was able to squeeze some extra money out of Lombardi.
You know, you could hit that moment with him when you went silent and he went silent, said Davis. Its like, Whos going to speak next? Im checking the walls and finally, he said, Well, you probably want to get on the road back to Chicago.
Funny thing, and to this day I was proud that I formed those few words, explained Davis. I said, Right Coach, but you know, I was just thinking, the difference in my driving back to Chicago and wanting to stay on the right side of traffic, versus turning into oncoming traffic is the difference in that amount.
It was fifteen hundred bucks; and he looked at me and you could always see him reflect. He was one of the most interesting guys that Id ever been around. You could see him literally digesting things in his mind, and he sat there for a minute and he looked at me straight in the eye. He said, Willie, if the difference between you driving back to Chicago, getting ready to come back here to training camp versus wanting to turn into oncoming traffic is fifteen hundred dollars, you got it. Now get out of here. True story I walked out of there and I was feeling good.
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Carroll Dale (1965-72) found Lombardi to be, shall we say, efficient during contract negotiation sessions. Well, they were pretty short, said Dale.
Lombardi was a devout Catholic with a knack for the unexpected. Dale recalls a surprising contract resolution where two Christians emerged as winners. One year, Coach Lombardi, being a very religious man, had to reach deep to try to give a little increase, so I told him I always tithe to my church. Green Bay wrote a check to my church for a certain amount; about 10 percent of my contract each year for several years. I got a little increase, but it didnt show up on my contract, see, so it helped him, helped me, too.
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See, you didnt sign your contract. When you reached an agreement with Vince, you stood up, you shook hands with him and then you left, explained linebacker Dave Robinson (1963-72). Then later, in about a week or two hed put the contract in your locker, you were expected to sign it, get it back to him. But, he always told you when you got done, Your contract is the most private thing youre ever gonna get, no one needs to know whats in your contract. Dont talk about it. I thought he was joking, I said, Dont worry about it coach, Im as embarrassed about it as you are. He laughed. But no one talked about their contract.