| One week from today, Packers general manager Ron
Wolf will officially join the country’s retired populous. His last piece of football
business is Saturday, when he will attend the groundbreaking of the Lambeau Field
renovation project. Afterward, Wolf and his wife, Edie, will head for their new home in
Annapolis, Md. — and football will become a part of Wolf’s past. "I would
be disappointed in myself if I returned," Wolf said last week. "That
doesn’t mean I won’t get that fire back."
But in all likelihood, Wolf will stay retired and spend much of his time studying
military heroes, a passion of his. Head coach Mike Sherman will take over for Wolf,
marking the first time Sherman has held such a position. Lord knows, he has some mighty
big shoes to fill.
Wolf’s track record during his time in Green Bay is nearly unmatched. He was a
very adept talent evaluator and drafter. In his second draft, Wolf assembled a rookie
class that included LB Wayne Simmons, S George Teague, OT Earl Dotson, QB Mark Brunell, LB
James Willis and CB Doug Evans. In fact, 75 percent (48 of 64) of his draftees since 1993
were still playing in the NFL at the conclusion of the ’99 season. Wolf also took
advantage of the modern-day free-agency system, signing DE Reggie White from the Eagles.
But Wolf’s biggest coup came Feb. 10, 1992, when he acquired QB Brett Favre from
Atlanta for a first-round pick. Former Falcons head coach Jerry Glanville regarded Favre,
a former second-round pick, as a wasted selection. Wolf didn’t see it that way.
"He likes to say he owes me a lot," Favre said, "but I think it works
both ways. … I hate to see him go. He’ll be talked about like Vince Lombardi was
for a long time."
And whom did the Falcons take with that extra first-round pick? RB Tony Smith, who like
Favre, hailed from Southern Mississippi. But unlike Favre, Smith didn’t last long. In
three NFL seasons, Smith carried 87 times for 329 yards and two touchdowns, all coming in
’92, his rookie year. Incidentally, ’92 marked the last time Favre didn’t
start a game for the Packers.
Wolf also has been a longtime friend of Pro Football Weekly, particularly
contributing editor Joel Buchsbaum, who praised Wolf after learning of his retirement a
few months ago.
"Ron Wolf was one of the greatest personnel men, one of the best GMs football has
ever known," Buchsbaum said. "And he is an even better person and friend, with
great loyalty. Wolf built the great Raider teams along with (Al) Davis. He built the
Buccaneer team that went to the NFC championship game in their third year, and he built a
Super Bowl winner in Green Bay.
"Wolf was one of the few front-office people in the NFL who would admit a mistake,
like he did with Ray Rhodes as head coach and with some of his draft picks, and cut his
losses instead of trying to prove himself right. He overall had a keen eye for selecting
coaches and a keener eye for talent. And everyone that worked with him only has the
highest praise for him. He’s going to be sorely missed, and if the NFL ever wanted to
do something smart, they would start putting people like Ron Wolf into their Hall of
Fame."
Wolf leaves Sherman with a solid nucleus of talent, having re-signed FS Darren Sharper
and PK Ryan Longwell and persuaded SS LeRoy Butler and RB Dorsey Levens to take pay cuts.
Wolf’s final draft class also was a winner, highlighted by Florida State DE Jamal
Reynolds.
In fact, in speaking with former Seminoles DL coach Jim Gladden, a colleague of mine
remarked about how difficult it must have been to find replacements for all the great
defensive ends the school was churning out.
"I remember exactly how he answered me," my colleague said. "
‘We’ve got a kid named Jamal Reynolds who just might be better than any of
them.’ "
Reynolds could mark another shrewd move by Wolf, who traded up from No. 17 in the first
round to No. 10 to draft a player of Reynolds’ ability. Wolf’s tenure included
89 trades — 67 more than any other team.
Wolf won’t be wheeling and dealing anymore. That job will fall to Sherman, who has
spent his short time in Green Bay learning from the best. It’s unlikely that Sherman
will match Wolf’s success, but having watched the man in action, at least Sherman has
an idea of what it takes — and that already puts Sherman ahead of the game. |
