Tag: Mark Murphy

Packers president Mark Murphy answers questions on Aaron Rodgers situation

Packers president Mark Murphy answered a few questions on the Aaron Rodgers situation in interviews with local Green Bay media on Friday.

Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy said the team granted permission for Aaron Rodgers to speak with the New York Jets and confirmed the team would honor a trade request from Rodgers during interviews with local Green Bay media during the girl’s high school state basketball tournament.

Rodgers spoke with the Jets earlier this week, including an in-person meeting in California.

Murphy said the Packers are searching for a “resolution” that works for both sides and is a “win-win situation” during an interview with WLUK-TV FOX 11.

The big quote, on if Rodgers could still be the Packers quarterback in 2023: “Yeah, I mean, unless, if things don’t work out the way we would want them, yeah, obviously he’s a great player. Four-time MVP. It’s trying to find what he wants and what we want, and hopefully we can find a win-win situation.”

Reading between the lines, Murphy sounded as if he finally revealed the team’s preference for Rodgers to move on this offseason.

Here’s Murphy answering questions on the Rodgers situation:

Once again, Murphy said he wants a resolution before the start of the new league year next week.

Murphy told Adrianna Torres of WBAY ABC in Green Bay that the Packers are trying to get to solution that helps both sides, and the team is confident in Jorda Love as the starter:

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Packers president wants Eagles QB sneak play banned this offseason

Packers president Mark Murphy on the push-assisted QB sneak made popular by the Eagles: “I hope the play is banned.”

Green Bay Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy wants the push-assisted quarterback sneak – which was made famous by Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2022 season – to be banned by the NFL with a rule change this offseason.

In fact, Murphy has been leading the charge on a change. The Packers president wrote about the issue in his monthly Q&A column at the team’s official site.

From Murphy: “I raised this issue with the league regarding potential rule changes. I agree completely with your assessment of the play. Also, more and more teams are using it. The Eagles probably use it more than any other team, and it looked to me like it was almost automatic. Last year, teams picked up first downs 90% of the time with this play. In addition, Sean Payton said he would regularly use the play on third- and fourth-and-1. I hope the play is banned. One thought would be to prohibit pushing the runner (usually the QB on a QB sneak) between the tackles. There used to be a rule prohibiting aiding the runner, but it was too hard for the officials to officiate – so now you can push the runner but can’t pull the runner.”

The Eagles converted 29 of 32 quarterback sneaks in 2022. On most of the plays, Hurts took the snap from under center and was promptly aided upfield in his sneak attempt by one or two players positioned in the backfield.

The NFL Competition Committee is expected to address the play and/or rule change at the league meetings next month. Murphy wants a specific ruling to ban pushing the quarterback on sneaks, not pushing ball carriers in general.

Packers president Mark Murphy: No deadline on Aaron Rodgers decision

Mark Murphy says there’s no deadline on a decision from Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, but both sides would prefer something is decided before free agency.

Green Bay Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy told ESPN’s Dianna Russini that there isn’t a deadline for a decision from quarterback Aaron Rodgers on his football future but both sides would prefer something is decided before the start of free agency.

The new league year begins Tuesday, March 15.

“There hasn’t been a deadline,” Murphy told Russini on Thursday night. “We both realize, the sooner the decision is made the better. Brian Gutekunst, the GM, has been in regular contact with him. I think Aaron has expressed that he doesn’t want to drag it on.”

Murphy confirmed he thinks now to the start of free agency is a reasonable window for a decision to be made. On several occasions, Rodgers has said he won’t hold the team hostage by delaying a decision on his future.

Rodgers is attempting to determine if he wants to continue playing football for the Packers, retire from the NFL altogether or figure out a way with the Packers to orchestrate a trade out of Green Bay. Following the Super Bowl, Rodgers is embarking on a four-day, four-night darkness retreat featuring sensory deprivation that he believes will help him come to a final decision.

The Packers have 18 free agents, including several with close ties to Rodgers, so knowing the quarterback’s decision before other roster decisions must be made will be an important step in the offseason process. More than likely, the Packers have established two very different plans based on whether or not Rodgers is back in 2023.

Here’s the interview clip from Russini:

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Packers president on neutral site conference championship games: ‘Would be a big mistake’

Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy is not in favor of a future involving neutral site title games in the NFC and AFC. 

Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy is not in favor of a future involving neutral site conference championship games in the NFC and AFC.

The subject rose to prominence when the NFL used Atlanta as a neutral site location in the event of an AFC title game featuring the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs. The game never happened, but the idea took root and some wondered if the NFL would eventually angle for neutral site title games.

Murphy, who represents the team among league owners, strongly dismissed the idea in his monthly Q&A post at Packers.com.

“I have never heard the topic of neutral site championship games discussed at a league meeting and think it would be a big mistake,” Murphy wrote.

The Packers president sees the idea as hurtful to the value of the regular season and the local economies that host title games.

“Teams play the entire regular season with the goal of making the playoffs and hosting home playoff games,” Murphy said. “Playing conference championship games at the home team’s stadium is great for the home team’s local economy, the fans and the players, and obviously provides a competitive advantage to the home team.”

The city of Green Bay would be especially hurt by neutral site title games.

The Packers last hosted an NFC title game at Lambeau Field following the 2020 season.

Title games were played in Philadelphia and Kansas City last weekend. The Eagles and Chiefs both advanced to the Super Bowl.

“It would be a huge mistake to do away with games like this that mean so much to fans, players and the league,” Murphy said.

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Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Packers president Mark Murphy hands out credit for team’s turnaround

Packers president Mark Murphy explained the reasons for his team’s turnaround in his monthly Q&A at the team’s official site. 

The Green Bay Packers dropped to 4-8 with a 40-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 27, but Matt LaFleur’s team has since rattled off four-straight wins and is now 8-8 and in a position where a win over the Detroit Lions in the regular season finale will clinch a playoff berth.

A victory on Sunday night will make the Packers just the second team in NFL history to overcome a 4-8 start and make the playoffs.

Who deserves the most credit for the turnaround?

Packers president Mark Murphy handed out some in his monthly Q&A at the team’s official site.

“I think much of the credit must go to Matt LaFleur and his coaching staff. He stayed positive and continued to look for ways to improve the team. Significantly, he never lost the players’ confidence. He showed great leadership, as have Brian Gutekunst and Russ Ball. The leadership provided by our players, especially by Aaron Rodgers, has been crucial as well.”

Murphy believes the one-score loss to the Eagles was a turning point of sorts.

“Although we lost to the Eagles, I think going toe to toe with the best team in the league at the time gave us confidence,” Murphy said.

The rise of a few unexpected playmakers, the collapse of the Washington Commanders and a defense suddenly piling up the takeaways also helped.

“The emergence of Christian Watson and Keisean Nixon has been key as well,” Murphy said. “We also had a number of other games go our way over the past month that were very helpful, including the Browns beating the Commanders last week. Finally, our defense has played much better recently, with 12 turnovers in the last four games (the same number that we had in our first 12 games).”

Murphy said he is expecting an “electric” atmosphere at Lambeau Field for Sunday night’s showdown with the Lions.

“Although we’ve come a long way since we were 4-8…we’re not done yet,” Murphy wrote. “We have a great challenge ahead of us with the Lions game tomorrow.”

The Packers and Lions kick off from Lambeau Field at 7:20 p.m. CT. Green Bay can avenge a Week 9 loss to Detroit at Ford Field and clinch the No. 7 seed in the NFC with a victory over the Lions, who have won seven of the last nine games after a 1-6 start.

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Mark Murphy speaks at Packers shareholders meeting: Here’s what you missed

All the big things to know from Mark Murphy’s appearance at the Packers annual shareholders meeting on Monday.

Green Bay Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy touched on a variety of topics at Monday’s annual shareholders meeting inside Lambeau Field. The team added shareholders during last year’s stock offering and now has 539,000 total. Here is everything you might have missed from Murphy’s appearance.

Washington one of 3 cities in contention to host NFL draft in 2024

Could Washington host the 2024 NFL draft?

Could the Washington Commanders soon be hosting an NFL draft? According to former Washington player and current Green Bay Packers president, Mark Murphy, Washington is one of three finalists to host the most popular NFL offseason event in 2024.

Murphy told Rachel Hopmayer of NBC 26 in Green Bay Monday that Washington, Green Bay and Detroit were the three finalists to host the 2024 NFL draft.

While the Commanders would likely not host the event at FedEx Field, which is in Landover, Maryland, the NFL would likely hold the event somewhere inside of Washington, D.C., but the Commanders would be the host city.

The NFL is expected to make a final decision by the end of March. The league’s annual spring meeting is scheduled for March 27-30.

Las Vegas will host the 2022 NFL draft and Kansas City will host the 2023 NFL draft.

Green Bay is probably considered the favorite to host the 2024 event. However, Washington is the nation’s capital and the Commanders should know where their new stadium will be by 2024. If it’s Washington, the District would be the perfect candidate to host the event.

Regardless of the venue, the on-location drafts have been a smashing success thus far for the host cities.

Did Washington offer to trade for Aaron Rodgers?

Did Washington make a trade proposal for Aaron Rodgers? It was another day full of Rodgers’ drama.

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Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is amazing at extending plays, finding the open receiver downfield, game after game, year after year.

No. 12 has passed for over 4,000 yards in 10 different seasons and each of the last four. While Taylor Heinicke threw 15 interceptions during the 2021 season, Rodgers played each game in 2018-2020, and 16 of 17 in 2021 to throw 15 interceptions. Oh, this while, passing for 136 touchdowns.

A 136:15 touchdown/interception ratio?

You bet, I would love to see Rodgers in Burgundy and Gold! And so would Terry McLaurin, Logan Thomas, Curtis Samuel, Cam Sims, Adam Humphries and J.D. McKissic.

Yet, isn’t there another side to Rodgers? Last year during the offseason, we heard and read ad nauseam how Rodgers was feeling like the victim, not respected, not loved by the Packers front office.  Am I the only one that doesn’t want to hear again this offseason how he is leaning to retirement one day, wants to be traded another day, is unhappy the next?

Two days ago Rodgers felt the need to inform Pat McAfee that he had just completed a 12-day cleanse.  12 days of cleansing the body, eliminating unwanted waste, removing toxins from your body? Not exactly the 12 Days of Christmas, huh? Sounds somewhat private to me, but Rodgers then continued, “I was going through some pictures from the last year and felt an intense amount of gratitude for the life that I have and the lessons I’ve learned.”

Would that gratitude include Mark Murphy and the Green Bay Packers management who signed Rodgers to that $134 million deal? Or that this upcoming 2022 season (according to Spotrac.com) Rodgers is set to count $46.1 million against the Packers salary cap?

That puts the Packers over the cap; so, how will the Packers respond? Rework a few contracts, release a few players, threaten a few with pay cuts or they will simply be released?

If ESPN’s Dianna Russini is accurate, she reported today that Rodgers wants to be the highest-paid player in the NFL. Not only does he want to be the highest-paid player, but she added, “by a wide margin.”  Yet, Russini said teams have already offered the Packers trades for Rodgers.

I wonder if the most endearing factor attracting these teams to Rodgers is his “intense amount of gratitude?”

Russell Wilson ‘not against’ being traded to Washington’

Russell Wilson “not against” playing in Washington?

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Did you see the photo from the Pro Bowl this weekend of Jonathan Allen and Russell Wilson?

On Monday morning, Kevin Sheehan, in the first and third hours of his daily show on the Team 980, stated because of the sources he talked to that were in Las Vegas this past week, he is confident that “Russell Wilson is not against being traded to Washington.”

Would Seattle trade Wilson? He is under contract, and would Washington be willing to pay enough to outbid other NFL teams desiring an elite starting quarterback?

Sheehan proposed that if Wilson were to assemble a list of teams to whom he was willing to be traded, he now believes Wilson would include Washington on the list.

Sheehan did not rule out Aaron Rogers, stating he believes Rodgers is better than Wilson and would instantly make the Commanders a contender. He also added that Deshaun Watson is the youngest of the three and would be the ideal choice if Washington’s primary interest were how long they could have one of the three under center. Sheehan did acknowledge no one knows if Washington would even pursue Watson with his current legal issues.

Sheehan said he would choose Rodgers over Wilson if he had a choice for three seasons. Former Washington Redskins safety Mark Murphy the current Chief Executive Officer for the Packers, made it clear over the weekend that the Packers desire Rodgers to return to Green Bay.

Wilson has two years remaining on his contract and would become a free agent following the 2023 NFL season.

Sheehan warned Commanders fans that the franchise would be “mortgaging their future” to trade for either Wilson or Rodgers (five years older than Wilson), and then he took calls from listeners.

 

Packers president confirms team wants Aaron Rodgers back in 2022

Packers president Mark Murphy reiterated the team’s stance on Aaron Rodgers. They all want him back in Green Bay in 2022.

Green Bay Packers team president Mark Murphy confirmed what coach Matt LaFleur has already stated: The team wants quarterback Aaron Rodgers back in Green Bay for the 2022 season.

In his monthly column at the team’s official site, Murphy reiterated the team’s unified desire to have Rodgers back.

“A key factor will be whether Aaron Rodgers comes back for the 2022 season. Matt, Brian, executive vice president/director of football operations Russ Ball and I are all in agreement that we want Aaron to come back,” Murphy wrote. “He is likely to win his fourth league MVP, is the unquestioned leader of our team and is still playing at a high level at 38.”

The comment solidifies the team’s stance while Rodgers ponders his own future. The 38-year-old quarterback has three options: return to Green Bay, request a trade, or retire.

Last month, Rodgers said all options are on the table, but he’s expecting to make a decision before the start of free agency and the new league year in mid-March.

Following the Packers’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round last month, LaFleur said the team was “all on the same page” about wanting Rodgers back.

“Every conversation I’ve been involved with Gute and Russ and Mark, we’re all on the same page here, so there is no debate,” LaFleur said.

LaFleur went as far as to say the team wants Rodgers to be a Packer until he retires.

In 2021, Rodgers threw 37 touchdown passes and four interceptions and led the NFL in passer rating. He is expected to win his second straight NFL MVP award next week.

If Rodgers decides to return to Green Bay, the team and player would negotiate some kind of new or restructured deal to help the salary cap in 2022. The Packers have several reasonable options for clearing cap space, but Rodgers’ contract is the biggest piece of the puzzle.

Murphy said he wasn’t worried about the cap situation because of his tremendous confidence in Ball, who helped the Packers get out of a cap hole last offseason while still giving Gutekunst a chance to build a successful roster.

“Although we will face many challenges this offseason, I have tremendous confidence in Matt, Brian and Russ,” Murphy wrote. “I don’t think anyone in the league knows the rules regarding the salary cap better than Russ. He will be our most valuable employee this offseason.”

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