Brian Gutekunst addresses ‘Moneyball’ comparison on GM approach

Moneyball the movie debuted 11 years ago, starring Brad Pitt as Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane, who revolutionized professional roster-building in the early 2000’s by calculating players as a set of numbers rather than human performers. Ever since his analytically-driven system wrecked through the MLB like a sledgehammer, executives in other pro sports have tried the same strategies.

Instead of trying to accumulate merely the best players, GM’s nowadays are in an earnest search for the best value. Players whose production outperforms their salary. Of course, this epidemic hit football too. But the question for bloodthirsty GM’s in the NFL is: can you still connect emotionally to a player when, on the field, he’s just a number?

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst believes there’s a line to be walked. He expressed at a recent press conference that communicating with players is still key. Especially among the team’s star players.

Here were some of his comments on the issue when asked:

“I think communication is a good thing. I think that’s probably what, from my view, has changed the most — is just communication with the player. When I first came in here, that wasn’t necessarily, you know, part of it. I think different players require, have earned certain kinds of communication. That’s part of it. Certainly something Matt [LeFleur] and I talk about all the time. It’s a fine line. But I think it’s important that the leaders of our football team are in tune with what Matt and I are thinking.

According to the Green Bay decision maker, having a back and forth with players is still important, even when he has to treat them like business assets sometimes. And also, that star players, star quarterbacks in particular, are still above the pure numbers and need to be respected as such.

Then, one reporter asked if players are different because of the evolving mindsets of the front office people that control where they play.

“Yes and no,” Brian Gutekunst answereed. “They’re different — when I walk in the locker room, they’re not playing cards and dominos and things like that. They’re all sitting on their phones and going through social media. So from that perspective, yes. But they’re still football players, first and foremost. Most all these guys love to play. They’re passionate about the game. And they want to win. None of that has changed. The game hasn’t changed all that much. I do think it’s like anything, they’re growing up in a different world with how to communicate and it’s on us to adjust to that to a certain degree.”