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For the Green Bay Packers, survival as the smallest market in the National Football League means being an active participant in league business, something the team made a point of from the beginning.
Former Packers President and CEO Bob Harlan and former treasurer John Underwood always stressed that to remain competitive with the well-healed millionaire —and now billionaire — owners, the Packers needed revenue sharing, a salary cap and stadium revenue. In the early 2000s, when the salary cap and revenue sharing were at risk, it was key that Underwood was a member of the league's special committee on economics, giving the team an important voice at the table.
Being the smallest team in the league is a position the Packers have been familiar with since they joined the American Professional Football Association in 1920. Even when the soon-to-be-renamed National Football League was made up of small cities, such as Canton, Columbus and Akron in Ohio, Rock Island in Illinois and Hammond in Indiana and others, Green Bay was among the smallest.
When the NFL eliminated most of its small-market teams in the 1920s, it retained Green Bay, which, relatively speaking, got even smaller compared to its peers, but Packers representatives maintained respect and influential positions with the league.
Andrew Turnbull, Packers president and publisher of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, served on the NFL executive committee. Dr. William Webber Kelly was member of the NFL executive committee from 1930-33. And, of course, Packers coach and co-founder Curly Lambeau, was an influential member of the NFL fraternity, especially in the early years.
Pittsburgh owner Art Rooney pushed for Frederick Trowbridge, Packers treasurer and general counsel, to be named NFL commissioner in 1960. Chicago Bears owner George Halas spoke well of Trowbridge's contributions to the league, but the job went to Pete Rozelle, who, as it happened, was a Packers supporter.
Harlan said the Packers were considered an honest broker by other NFL owners. Because the Packers don't have a profit motive — they don't pay dividends to owners and can't be sold — their interest is focused on the health of the game, not their own bank account.
"I can’t really speak for the owners on how they view us, but I think we’re respected because we had success on the field," Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy said. "I think they like that we’ve done well financially. We are viewed a little differently just because there’s not another team that has the same structure."
Murphy and president-elect Ed Policy have deep ties with the league. Murphy, who will retire in July after 17 years leading the team, was a player and NFL Players Association team representative, and then worked for the association after his playing days. He's now is on the other side of the table, but with experience none of the owners have had.
He is a member of the college relations committee, player safety committee, health and safety committee, NFL Foundation and the Management Council executive committee, and was previously on the competition committee.
[IMG alt="Ed Policy, Green Bay Packers Chief Operating Officer talks about plans for TitletownTech, a 46,000-square-foot building with an innovation center and space for commercial businesses, across from Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Gpg Titletowntech 091918 Sk117"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/green-bay-press-gazette/5af7d1ee8568cbc7f4ab3cb894062006[/IMG]
Policy worked with the league for a decade, including being the last commissioner of the Arena Football League, before coming to Green Bay as the Packers' general counsel in 2012. He is on the audit committee and fan engagement & major events committee, which oversees the Super Bowl and international market development.
Both Murphy and Policy are well-acquainted with Commissioner Roger Goodell and league executives, as well as the owners of the 31 other franchises.
In working to bring the 2025 NFL Draft to Green Bay, the Packers leaned heavily on their place in league history for more than 100 years. Green Bay has more NFL championships at 13, including four Super Bowl victories, than any team, and has 29 members selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, second only to the Chicago Bears.
The NFL is proud of its history, and Packers such as Bart Starr, Brett Favre, Reggie White, Curly Lambeau and Vince Lombardi are known even by non-Packers fans.
To understand the place Lombardi held in the NFL universe, you need only know that they named the trophy of their most important event, the Super Bowl, after him. Lombardi died in September 1969 and by the time of Super Bowl V on Jan. 17, it was the Lombardi Trophy.
Contact Richard Ryman at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay Packers' seat at the table critical to team thriving in NFL
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Former Packers President and CEO Bob Harlan and former treasurer John Underwood always stressed that to remain competitive with the well-healed millionaire —and now billionaire — owners, the Packers needed revenue sharing, a salary cap and stadium revenue. In the early 2000s, when the salary cap and revenue sharing were at risk, it was key that Underwood was a member of the league's special committee on economics, giving the team an important voice at the table.
Being the smallest team in the league is a position the Packers have been familiar with since they joined the American Professional Football Association in 1920. Even when the soon-to-be-renamed National Football League was made up of small cities, such as Canton, Columbus and Akron in Ohio, Rock Island in Illinois and Hammond in Indiana and others, Green Bay was among the smallest.
When the NFL eliminated most of its small-market teams in the 1920s, it retained Green Bay, which, relatively speaking, got even smaller compared to its peers, but Packers representatives maintained respect and influential positions with the league.
Andrew Turnbull, Packers president and publisher of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, served on the NFL executive committee. Dr. William Webber Kelly was member of the NFL executive committee from 1930-33. And, of course, Packers coach and co-founder Curly Lambeau, was an influential member of the NFL fraternity, especially in the early years.
Pittsburgh owner Art Rooney pushed for Frederick Trowbridge, Packers treasurer and general counsel, to be named NFL commissioner in 1960. Chicago Bears owner George Halas spoke well of Trowbridge's contributions to the league, but the job went to Pete Rozelle, who, as it happened, was a Packers supporter.
Harlan said the Packers were considered an honest broker by other NFL owners. Because the Packers don't have a profit motive — they don't pay dividends to owners and can't be sold — their interest is focused on the health of the game, not their own bank account.
"I can’t really speak for the owners on how they view us, but I think we’re respected because we had success on the field," Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy said. "I think they like that we’ve done well financially. We are viewed a little differently just because there’s not another team that has the same structure."
Murphy and president-elect Ed Policy have deep ties with the league. Murphy, who will retire in July after 17 years leading the team, was a player and NFL Players Association team representative, and then worked for the association after his playing days. He's now is on the other side of the table, but with experience none of the owners have had.
He is a member of the college relations committee, player safety committee, health and safety committee, NFL Foundation and the Management Council executive committee, and was previously on the competition committee.
[IMG alt="Ed Policy, Green Bay Packers Chief Operating Officer talks about plans for TitletownTech, a 46,000-square-foot building with an innovation center and space for commercial businesses, across from Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Gpg Titletowntech 091918 Sk117"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/green-bay-press-gazette/5af7d1ee8568cbc7f4ab3cb894062006[/IMG]
Policy worked with the league for a decade, including being the last commissioner of the Arena Football League, before coming to Green Bay as the Packers' general counsel in 2012. He is on the audit committee and fan engagement & major events committee, which oversees the Super Bowl and international market development.
Both Murphy and Policy are well-acquainted with Commissioner Roger Goodell and league executives, as well as the owners of the 31 other franchises.
In working to bring the 2025 NFL Draft to Green Bay, the Packers leaned heavily on their place in league history for more than 100 years. Green Bay has more NFL championships at 13, including four Super Bowl victories, than any team, and has 29 members selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, second only to the Chicago Bears.
The NFL is proud of its history, and Packers such as Bart Starr, Brett Favre, Reggie White, Curly Lambeau and Vince Lombardi are known even by non-Packers fans.
To understand the place Lombardi held in the NFL universe, you need only know that they named the trophy of their most important event, the Super Bowl, after him. Lombardi died in September 1969 and by the time of Super Bowl V on Jan. 17, it was the Lombardi Trophy.
Contact Richard Ryman at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay Packers' seat at the table critical to team thriving in NFL
Continue reading...
