Packers’ Sherman to make best of situation

By Hugo Guzman  |   Thursday, January 20, 2005  |  Comments( 1 )

Green Bay Packers
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
Mike Sherman plans to make the best of his diminished role with the Green Bay Packers.

Sherman will stay on as coach after being stripped of his general manager duties over the weekend. He said Jan. 17 that he'd like to remain in Green Bay beyond 2005, when his contract expires, but stressed that was up to new boss Ted Thompson.

Sherman said he never considered quitting after losing him GM title.

"I've never resigned from anything in my life. I'm not about to do it over this. I still have the best job in the National Football League," Sherman said.

Sherman is due $3.2 million in 2005, and team president Bob Harlan said that salary won't be slashed with his decreased duties.

In his first public comments since the front-office shake-up, Sherman said he was proud of the job he did as GM but refused to criticize Harlan's decision to demote him.

"I think as any competitor, you hate to let go of anything," Sherman said. "I would be lying to say that that was an easy thing for me. But after you digest everything and you understand the reasons for why things are done, it is what it is and you move forward."

Harlan said he was looking out for the best interests of the team and Sherman, whom he felt was spreading himself too thin. He suggested this move should prolong Sherman's coaching career.

"It doesn't matter whether I agree or disagree," Sherman said. "My boss made a decision, just like I make decisions that affect my staff that are for the best of the staff. They may not agree or disagree, but I'm their boss. Bob is my boss and he made his decision. I admire him for being concerned about me."

Sherman was given the GM duties upon Ron Wolf's retirement in 2001, but he had more misses than hits in the draft and free agency. Harlan said he grew concerned that Sherman was neglecting his coaching duties by being so wrapped up in personnel matters such as the Mike McKenzie mess that dogged him last season before the recalcitrant cornerback was finally traded to New Orleans in October.

Harlan hopes Sherman can devote more time to football and his family.

"I don't see my passion or desire or my work ethic changing. I mean, you are who you are, and I'm going to put everything I have into this job as I have in the past," Sherman said. "I've said before when I was the tight end coach, I worked just as hard as I do today. And that won't change."

He acknowledged, however, that he won't take his work home with him quite as much and won't work through his vacations like he used to. Instead of leaving his daughter's high school basketball game at halftime, maybe he'll stick around for the whole thing now.

It's widely anticipated that Sherman will shake up his defensive coaching staff after coordinator Bob Slowik's group allowed a franchise-record 37 touchdown passes and managed a measly eight interceptions.

Sherman, however, said he had no deadline even though qualified potential replacements could go elsewhere in the meantime: "I think the urgency is you make the right decision for the right reasons."

Plus, he said there's never a shortage of assistants who want to come to Green Bay.

Sherman declined to discuss in detail any personnel needs because he hadn't yet conveyed them to his new boss.

"As the general manager, I at the end of the season wrote down my personnel thoughts. And as soon as I share them with the general manager, he can share them with you guys," he said.

The Packers enter the offseason with more question marks than they've had in a decade. Brett Favre is mulling retirement and the team needs an answer from him by the start of free agency March 2. Guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle are going to be unrestricted free agents, and safety Darren Sharper will need to restructure his contract to return.
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (1)

About Hugo Guzman

Trying to bring an objective approach to NFL analysis.
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report