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Andrew Brandt has left his front office position. This is not good news. He's been there for 9 years and is our salary cap expert. He was a finalist for Harlans job and had some support on the board but was bypassed. Many felt he was too young and he would be the next president but apparently he didn't like being bypassed.

This is a significant loss. He is well regarded in the NFL. He is a former agent so he was great at negotiating.

Brandt sure did work his tail off. He did a good job in bringing some free agents here. I remember how hard it was for him to sign Charles Woodson, but he did it.

He'll find a good position somewhere around the league shortly.

This is a huge loss for our organization

They will be fine without Brandt. In fact it is probably to the Packers benefit that there is a new face going to take that position.

Mark Murphy's speciality is negotiating and he also has a solid legal background. He could be heading up his own negotiating. Bob Harlan was more of a PR man with no legal background and needed people for legal details in contracts.

New blood with a different attitude toward negotiations might be a real good thing. Agents are no longer dealing with the same guy year after year. I think this is a good thing.

That doesn't make sense. Brandt was regarded as one of the top salary cap guys in the league. And as an ex agent he knew how they negotiate.

If Murphy has time to do that then he isn't doing the rest of his job.

And having a "different" attitude doesn't make sense either. Brandt has done a good job keeping players happy. We have had very few whiners (such as McKenzie).

Whoever is our new cap guy may do a great job but it's a risk. And as I said before if Murphy has the time to be the cap expert and do contracts then something isn't right.

I'm sad to see Brandt leave but reasonably confident TT-Murphy can hire good replacement.

Basic successful contrqct philosophy / strategy has been set and its not like only Brandt knows it. TT has seen it. So get a competent negotiator that understands and buys into existing strategy and we're good to go.

Some elements of our current "contract" strategy that TT-Brandt have shown. They are not original to GB but practiced (invented?) by NE.
1. Pay as you go - no pushing out liabilities to future years.
2. Reward your own successful guys.
3. Do not overpay what you feel is value
4. Front load when feasible
5. Go for it IF its right - Woodson Pickett

#2 TT only just learned/ adopted this since his current time with Pack from JW fiasco. Exciting to see a pro like TT can learn and change. That is impressive.