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Packers' new president predicts Favre will return
Published February 27, 2008 - BizTimes Daily
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Mark Murphy, the new president of the Green Bay Packers, believes quarterback Brett Favre will announce later this week that he will return for at least one more season with the team.
Speaking at a Milwaukee Press Club Newsmaker Luncheon today, Murphy said he expects a decision soon from Favre.
"Probably this week. Sometime before the end of February. My guess is he's going to come back," Murphy said. "He's still playing at a very high level … If Brett Favre comes back, I do think it gives us our best chance of winning a Super Bowl this year."
Facing questions from a media panel today, Murphy also discussed a variety of business topics related to the operations of the Packers and the National Football League.
Murphy said he expects the league and the NFL Players Association to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement.
"I don't think the system is broken. I think it's a question of adjusting the system," Murphy said.
With lucrative teams such as the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants building new stadiums, the league must be careful not to destroy the NFL's "Any Given Sunday" mantra of revenue sharing, Murphy said.
He said the league continues to negotiate with the four largest cable television companies, including Time Warner Cable, as it attempts to place the NFL Network in basic cable packages. The pressure on the cable companies may increase if they continue to lose more customers to satellite systems, Murphy said.
Regarding the controversy over the lack of adequate pensions for former NFL players, Murphy said, "I think we owe it to the former players to make sure we have a pension system that works."
Murphy comes to the Packers' top job with a diverse background. He began his football career as a safety for the Washington Redskins from 1977 through 1985. He played in two Super Bowls and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1983.
Murphy holds a master's degree in business administration from American University and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He worked on his MBA in the off-seasons while he was a player for the Redskins. When he completed his playing career, Murphy served as assistant executive director of the National Football League Players Association.
After receiving his law degree, Murphy was a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice. He also served as a commentator for National Public Radio for 10 years.
Murphy became Colgate University's athletic director in 1992 and was named the athletic director of Northwestern University in 2003. He took over for Bob Harlan at the helm of the Packers in January.
Murphy said he and wife, Laurie, recently bought a house in DePere.
