Packers CEO Mark Murphy realizes that a gap currently exists between the his team and the 49ers. But that hasn’t prompted the Packers to make bold moves in free agency, even as the Niners have traded for receiver Anquan Boldin and signed cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.
“Look at the teams who have done that,” Murphy tells the Racine (Wisc.) Journal Times regarding franchises that have been active in free agency. “Two years ago, the Philadelphia Eagles were anointed the Dream Team and NFL champions. It’s not that we can’t afford it. It’s really just that we think the best way to spend money is to identify your core players and reach long-term extensions with them rather than taking other people’s players.”
One of those players will be quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But it doesn’t sound like a new deal for the 2011 NFL MVP is as imminent as some believe.
“It’s a priority for the organization,” Murphy said. “I’ve kept in touch and we’re hopeful it will be soon, but these things have a life of their own sometimes.”
And so Murphy envisions closing the divide with the 49ers via the draft.
“We played them two times last year, the first game of the year and the last game of the year, and they beat us pretty soundly both times,” Murphy said. “But I’ve been around the league long enough to know that can change pretty quickly. And I think we’ll be better this year. I think getting back a number of injured players will make a huge difference. I think in the draft, we’ll be able to address some areas of concern and we have a great core of young players who are only going to get better.”
The 49ers likely think the same thing, too. Along with the Seahawks. And the Falcons. And the Redskins. And the Vikings. And the 10 NFC teams that didn’t make the playoffs in 2012.
Which only will make the next NFL season even more compelling.