On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers gave up and hired director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst to replace Ted Thompson at the general manager position.
And I only say gave up because they could have made a play for Seattle Seahwaks general manager John Schneider if they really wanted to. That said, I felt Gutekunst was the strongest internal candidate. And also, thank god the job didn’t go to director of player finance Russ Ball.
It went to a guy Ron Wolf hired. It went to a guy who has done nothing in the league other than scout players. While that may seem logical, the Packers have done nothing logically over the past few years. This move was a departure from their typical dumbassery.
Russ Ball? Give me a break!
Coach Mike McCarthy didn’t want him and neither did quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The Packers should absolutely try to keep Ball. He’s good at what he does — negotiating contracts. Keep him there, give him a raise and a fancy new title, if you have to.
Meanwhile, the reaction to Gutekunst has been mostly positive. And we’re feeling good, too.
Free agents? You want free agents?
We all do!
Brian Gutekunst just might go get them! Remember, Ron Wolf, not Ted Thompson. While that head-scratching fairy still has a role with the Packers, this is Gutekunst’s job to own and to fuck up.
After Schneider, he was our preferred candidate. Just don’t fuck it up, hey Bri?
Get the Green Bay Packers some ballers to go with QB1!
BRIAN Gutekunst is your new @packers GM,HE WILL DO A GREAT JOB!, a real Personel guy, the Roster will still be one of the youngest but very athletic
— leroy butler (@leap36) January 7, 2018
#Packers make great hire in promoting Brian Gutekunst to GM. Has a scouting pedigree, learned from Ron Wolf and should work very well with coach Mike McCarthy. Win, win, win.
— Tom Oates (@TomOatesWSJ) January 7, 2018
New Packers GM Brian Gutekunst is as respected as it gets in NFL scouting circles. Also blew the Niners away in his GM interview there last year.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 7, 2018
Brian Gutekunst got the Bob Harlan seal of approval as #Packers next GM. “Outstanding hire,” Harlan said. “Brian is part of the Ron Wolf tree, and everybody Ron brought in was so outstanding. Brian has risen the ranks, and certainly has earned his promotion.”
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) January 7, 2018
Expectation from people who know him is new #Packers GM Brian Gutekunst will be more aggressive toward free agency than predecessor Ted Thompson. “I’d be surprised if he isn’t,” one source said. That’s both necessary, and pretty easy to do.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) January 7, 2018
Really like the hire of Packers new GM Gutekunst.
He's a scout, learned from Wolf and McCarthy respects him. +Philbin as OC… good weekend.— Bill Michaels (@Bill_Michaels) January 7, 2018
Packers fans who wanted a true scout at the head of the organization should thank the Texans. Gutekunst's interview in Houston likely pushed Green Bay to offer him the top job or risk losing him.
— Jason B. Hirschhorn (@by_JBH) January 7, 2018
Packers are hiring Brian Gutekunst as GM, ESPN's Adam Schefter confirmed. Gutekunst is the most well-rounded scout in the personnel department and knocked it out of the park in his interview. https://t.co/3uN8RcsWqm
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) January 7, 2018
Not speaking for GB fans. I can only say I give a A to the Packers for GM choice. I feel better about Murphy,too.
— Steve HomerTrue (@espnhomer) January 7, 2018
Also, there’s this.
Did you know that new #Packers GM Brian Gutekunst also starred in Lord of the Rings, Rudy, and most recently Stranger Things? @LilySZhao #Doppelganger pic.twitter.com/Rvqhx1bCYz
— Ryan Rodig (@ryanrodig) January 7, 2018