GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Training camp hasn’t even begun and the Green Bay Packers sure pumped out a lot of news Friday, as rookies reported to camp.
Let’s start at the top. Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy released the annual financial numbers in advance of next Monday’s Shareholders Meeting inside Lambeau Field. With the pandemic behind them and the stadium full once again, the gluttonous NFL TV deal and a very successful stock sale, it was a record breaking year. The team is reporting a franchise record 77.7 million dollar operating profit. Revenue soared to 579 million, 347.3 million of that from national revenue, mostly the television rights split with all league clubs. Local revenue went from 61.9 million in 2021 to a whopping 231.7 million last year, thanks to the stock sale which welcomed 177,000 new “owners” of the team. Needless to say, it was a very good year.
General Manager Brian Gutekunst announced a batch of promotions in his Player Personnel Department. Jon-Eric Sullivan, entering his 19th year with the team has been promoted to the Vice-President of Player Personnel. Chris Gaines and Sean Linton are now full time college scouts. On the medical side, Bryan Engel, the head trainer for the past 8 years is now the Director of Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer. Nate Weir is now the assistant Athletic Trainer and Director of Rehab and Return. Dawson Friedland has been named the team’s senior Data Analyst and Eric Prosise is now the Manager of Football Applications and Development.
On to the football side. The Packers will open camp next week with 9 players on the Physically Unable to Perform List and three more on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list. Players can come off the PUP list whenever they’re deemed healthy and won’t count against roster limits as camp proceeds and the regular season begins. Headlining the PUP list are two key offensive players rehabbing from knee surgery, tight end Robert Tonyan and offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins. Also on the list is recently signed second round draft pick, wide receiver Christian Watson. The nature of his injury hasn’t been released. Other veterans on the list are kicker Mason Crosby, defensive lineman Dean Lowry, running backs Kylin Hill and Patrick Taylor along with linebacker Randy Ramsey and rookie defensive lineman Hauati Pututau. On the NFI list is draft choice offensive tackle Rasheed Wallace, free agent tackle Caleb Jones and free agent linebacker Caliph Brice.
After signing All USFL tight end Sal Cannella on Thursday, the Packers released another tight end, first year pro Eli Wolf.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur is also bumping up the start time of practices. The team announced the first three public practices next Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday will now begin at 10:30 AM rather than 10:45 AM. In a release, the team said that will be the tentative starting time for the rest of camp.
