The best bosses a player can have

Sporting News, The, July 8, 2002 by Dan Pompei

When Reggie White was a free agent in 1993, he could have played for any team in the NFL. He chose to play for the Packers, and it's easy to understand why.

If I were an NFL player, the owner I'd most like to play for is the owner of the Packers. Of course, the Packers, who are publicly held, technically don't have an owner. That's what makes them special. It's as if a fan club were in charge.

"They say the Packers are owned by the city," says Packers free safety Darren Sharper. "The stockholders make the decisions, and that's great because it's better to have five or six heads making a decision rather than one. It also makes everyone in the organization feel they have more of a say. You see a lot more compromise and people working together.... There are no owner's favorites in the locker room. You can't go running to the owner."

There is no better situation. The Packers' leadership has no hidden agendas, no other concerns. It's all about football. The bottom line in Green Bay is the one that separates the end zone from the rest of the field.

The man who runs the Packers, team president Bob Harlan, is one of the most evenhanded and rational people in all of sports. "With most teams, you see a lot of general managers and coaches coming and going," Sharper says. "But with the way the Packers are owned, we have more consistency, and they allow people to build a team."

As White discovered, the Packers treat players like kings, from their first-class players' lounge, to extra shoes, to travel accommodations, to locker room amenities.

Here, in alphabetical order, are some other owners I'd like to play for.

Paul Allen, Seahawks. Publicly, Allen is visible as a ghost. But he knows everything that happens with the Seahawks. "I can't imagine anyone being any better than Paul," Seattle coach/general manager Mike Holmgren says. "He's very supportive with his financial commitment to the team, and emotionally with me."

Allen, who among other things also owns the Portland Trail Blazers and THE SPORTING NEWS, sometimes e-mails or sends encouraging notes to Holmgren and other Seahawks employees. "He does little things that keep you going," Holmgren says.

I don't get e-mails, but he also isn't bad to work for if you're a writer.

Pat Bowlen, Broncos. He finds just the right blend of getting involved and allowing employees to do their jobs. During the season, Bowlen spends time in the training room talking with players to gauge the mood of the team. But he won't get in the way.

"He doesn't meddle," says Denver coach Mike Shanahan, whose previous experience as a coach was a control war with owner Al Davis, who was very involved at the time. "He lets you do your job.... (Davis) was the opposite."

Bowlen doesn't need to be coaxed into re-investing in his team. "He gives you the resources to compete with any team in the league" Shanahan says. "He has a passion to win the Super Bowl, and anything less he's not interested in. He wants to have the best organization in the NFL."

Al Davis, Raiders. You've heard of players' coaches. Davis is a players' owner. He treats veterans with great respect, allowing them to take it easy in training camp and seeking out their opinions on everything from game plans to league issues. "It's unusual for an owner to approach players like that," says one Raider who has bounced around the league.

No owner treats former players better. Davis has nine former Raiders on the payroll. What's more, he helps a lot of other former Raiders behind the scenes with finances and life problems.

William Clay Ford, Lions. There isn't a more caring, unassuming and decent owner. What stands out about Ford is his fierce loyalty and unwavering patience. When he hires someone, he commits to them completely, for better or worse.

He consistently ensures that the Lions are a first-class organization, even if the on-field results aren't always positive. "People who work for him want to win a Super Bowl for him more than they want to win for themselves" says senior vice president Bill Keenist, who is in his 18th season working for Ford.

The perception Ford, 77, no longer is in touch with the team is misguided. Nearly every Tuesday last season, he could be found at the Silverdome, watching game tape with team president Matt Millen.

Wayne Huizenga, Dolphins. He interferes with nothing, simply providing the best possible work environment for his team. He does show his appreciation, however. When Dan Marino retired, Huizenga hosted a party attended by about 50,000 people at an expense of about $2 million. He flew in all of Marino's fellow quarterbacks from the draft class of 1983 and had Hootie and the Blowfish perform. He also spent about $1 million for a private black-tie party for Don Shula when the legendary coach retired.

Jerry Jones, Cowboys. This is a leader. No owner has more passion for the NFL. Sometimes, he might have too much passion, which has led to some mistakes. But he risked everything he owned to purchase the Cowboys, and they mean the world to him. He attends every practice.