Mark Murphy stood at the podium on Monday afternoon unlike any Packers chairman in recent memory. The head of the Packers wanted you to know that he’s the head of the Packers and making all of decisions moving forward with this team. Was it weird? Somewhat, why did he feel the need, but it’s clear that having Ted Thompson run the show left things unchecked for Murphy. He wants some of that control back. And while some might see Brian Gutekunst as micromanaged, he said all the right things on Monday.

This Packers front office is trying to gain the trust of the fans. It’s not easy. People need someone to point their arrows at after Mike McCarthy, Ted Thompson and Dom Capers have all left. Ron Zook is too small of a person in the Packers story to express disdain. Murphy knows he’s under an extreme amount of pressure, and the fact, he’s making the decision almost speaks volumes. He wants to be the one to save the Packers and bring them back with more influence than Bob Harlan.

There are differences with Harlan and Murphy when it comes to football. Harlan is much more of a businessman. Murphy was a former player, and that does provide him with some leverage. He made a hire before in the college coaching realm tagging Pat Fitzgerald at Northwestern. Some Packers fans lost their lunch when Murphy called Joe Philbin ‘a candidate.’ That’s pure nice guy speak with Philbin in the room. He’s not going to dismiss him right there. While we all can be nervous about how big of a stick Murphy holds in the front office, there is at least some proof of being successful in the past.

What does Gutekunst think about all of this? Is this why Russ Ball didn’t want the job? Gutekunst is obviously okay with it at this point. If he leaves in the next one or two years, it’s right to have to a new conversation about Murphy. My assumption is Murphy and Gutekust are making joint decisions, and at some point, there’s a plan in place for the Packers Chairman to take a backseat.

This could be ugly, but let’s not overreact…. yet