The Green Bay Packers tried to bring a familiar face back to their scouting department. They were rebuffed by former scout Scot McCloughan, according to Bob McGinn.
Instead, like both Alonzo Highsmith and Eliot Wolf, McCloughan decided to join general manager John Dorsey with the Cleveland Browns.
McCloughan was originally a Ron Wolf hire with the Packers. He worked above current general manager Brian Gutekunst before leaving for Seattle and then taking general manager jobs with San Francisco from 2008-09 and later Washington, from 2015-16.
That would have potentially been a get for Gutekunst, who has kept his personnel department as is, despite the defections of Highsmith and Wolf. Gutekunst has publicly stated that it will remain that way until after the draft.
Meanwhile, Gutekunst is relying heavily on director of college scouting Jon-Eric Sullivan, director of pro personnel John Wojciechowski and senior adviser Ted Thompson.
It’s a loss for the Packers. McCloughan is a well-respected talent evaluator.
But nothing new here. When Gutekunst was hired as GM, the trail to Cleveland from Green Bay started to become a well-travelled one. Highsmith left before the interviews even began. Wolf left after Gutekunst was hired. McCloughan is just the latest to spurn the Packers.
Im telling ya, Russ Ball is a problem.
Good piece Joseph.
We get closer to the truth of why positions haven’t been filled.
We also find out that jobs at the Packers aren’t highly sought after jobs after all, the way Murphy described. As a matter of fact, the people that have turned the Packers down for interview request, is getting pretty long.
The show is over folks, move along….
This is not the time of year you can hire any quality scout. I do think McCloughan is the exception. Let us see what occurs after the draft for hiring of new scouts and front office positions.
There is a reason McCloughan was available and it has nothing to do with his ability to evaluate talent. It is my understanding that McCloughan works from his home. He has been a talent evaluator the last couple of years for multiple teams. The only difference now may be he is working exclusive for the Browns? I do think McCloughan would have been a plus for the Packers. It is possible McCloughan has already provided several evaluations of this years draft available players to the Packers while he was a hired gun.
McCloughan and his family is smart to keep McCloughan close to his support team.
So what we don’t know is when Gutenkunst went after him, i’m guessing it was awhile ago. Just yet another guy who said no to the Packers, but says yes to Dorsey.
I did not read the McGinn article. Did it say who contacted McCloughan first? I think Dorsey may have had a head start over Gutekunst on McCloughan? I would also think if a similar offer came from Dorsey and Gutekunst at the same time McCloughan would feel more comfortable with Dorsey.
I do believe McCloughan’s job is only as a consultant through the 2018 draft. If that is the case the Packers may have a better long term role and job title ($) for McCloughan after this draft.
Could be Howard, i don’t know.
But what i do know is this. This team better start hitting on some draft picks and i mean like NOW. They also better start understanding quickly you can’t have so many players making 8 figures and have a 22nd rated defense to show for it.
This team is in essence, starting over, almost from scratch. defense is starting over with a new defensive coordinator. Packers bring back Philbin and McCarthy announces that the offensive playbook will be re-written from scratch. I guess special teams will just remain bad.
That to me, is rebuilding, except without cleaning out the high salary’s. Not sure how long this team thinks Rodgers window is open.
You can call it re-building or whatever people like to call it. I like to call it trying to repair the years of damage Thompson has done setting this team back.
I’m thinking 2-3 years to fix this IF they draft really well. Keeping in mind Mathews will be gone somewhere in that time frame, Daniels will still be talking tough, and Perry will most likely still be on the injury report weekly.
Oh yeah I want to go to an 0-16 team with a dipshit owner. They will get eaten up just like Holmgren. Until that idiot sells he is the problem. They are in the business of losing and everyone who came in to “change the culture” has been a failure. Maybe someone will actually do it but they need 50 new players first. Name on Brown not named Joe Thomas, Myles Garrett, or Mr. rehab worth keeping.
You guys wanted change and you got it.
Now the Packers can’t hire anyone decent.
Rodgers will have to carry this team on his back until he retires and the Packers sink back to a sub average team.