NFL teams have evolved in their treatment of players, on and off the field.
Green Bay Press-Gazette reporter Richard Ryman responds to fans' questions about the Green Bay Packers. This is a regular feature published weekly as long as there are questions to answer.
You can send questions to [email protected].
Michael: Do the Packers players stay in a hotel the night before home games?
Richard Ryman: Michael, some players do, yes. The Packers said younger players are required to stay at the team hotel. Veteran players have the option to stay at their homes.
The Packers said that's not unusual in the ever-evolving NFL. For most of the NFL's history, many teams did stay together on the nights before games; it is said because coaches worried about players having a night on the town and showing up not in the best shape to play. Not every player could rise to the Max McGee level and party the night before and then score two touchdowns in the Super Bowl.
Just as teams no longer have (or are allowed to have) two-a-day, gut-busting practices during training camp, they've also implemented more player-friendly practices in other areas. Many of those changes have to do with treating players like adults and professionals, rather than oversized, immature kids.
During an Oct. 24, 2021, postgame press conference, then Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers complained about the requirement for players to stay in hotels. He said he had a sore back because of hotel beds.
“I woke up this morning and my back was killing me,” Rodgers said. “It was all locked up and I came in here early, and I’m thankful for those guys taking care of me in order to go out and play today.”
The Packers defeated Washington 24-10 and Rodgers completed 27 of 35 passing attempts for 274 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. The training staff apparently rose to the occasion, but Rodgers remained annoyed.
"There's an antiquated procedural thing in our league where the most important night of sleep we stay at a hotel," Rodgers said. "I don't want to blame it on the hotel. It's a nice hotel. But my bed at the house that I'm sleeping in every other night of my time here in Green Bay would probably be a little better option, I think."
For that season, at least, Rodgers didn't get his way because the NFL was in its not-quite-post-COVID phase and for the first time required players to stay in pregame hotels.
Teams do stay together on the road, of course.
Tom: Do you anticipate the Packers will once again issue stock, and what would be the long-range improvements?
Richard Ryman: I would venture to say you can count on another stock sale, but probably not for seven or so years. President and CEO Ed Policy has said stock sales every 10 years or so make sense. The last sale was in 2021-22 and raised more than $65 million.
The NFL requires the money raised be used on non-football improvements that will benefit fans, such as new scoreboards or concourse improvements.
The Packers have not committed to a specific new project, but they've mentioned the possibility of an expansion on the west side of the stadium, between Lambeau Field and South Ridge Road. The Packers have not disclosed a timeline or other details on that or any other proposed improvements.
The Packers are the only team directly owned by fans in U.S. professional sports. Their stock pays no dividends, doesn't appreciate in value and can't be traded. Shares can be transferred to family members.
The team has had six stock sales in its 106-year history. The first 3½ were to rescue the team's finances and the rest were applied to improvements to Lambeau Field. Stock sales were in 1923, 1935, 1950, 1997, 2011 and 2022.
As mentioned, the most recent sales raised a little more than $65 million.
The organization has 538,967 shareholders owning 5,204,625 shares. Shareholders are limited to 200,000 or fewer shares to ensure that no one person or entity can control the Packers. That equals just under 4% of total shares outstanding. The average is a little more than 9.6 shares each. The majority own one share.
Contact Richard Ryman at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Reader wants to know if Packers stay in hotel nights before games
Category: Football
