What a weekend for the Chicago Packers! Fans of the team were utterly shocked to hear that new general manager Larry Link dismissed third year manager Ronnie Arrington so quickly after taking the reins of the franchise.
Ronnie Arrington was viewed as a highly successful coach from Philadelphia when he was brought in to lead the Packers in 1913 following a stint in Baltimore as well. He is known as a steady hand at the helm of his team with even some players jokingly referring to him with the moniker “Steady Eddie”. He may have been a little unorthodox at times but with 920 wins under his belt the Packers players felt he was a positive influence in the clubhouse and on the field.
“We’re going to miss our Eddie,” 3B Gilbert Page told the press, “I’m not sure what happens now.” Page has been with the team since Arrington was named manager in the 1913 season. Page’s sentiment can be heard from others on the field as well. “Does this happen all the time here?” first year 1B Booker Hooley wondered.
New general manager would not go into specifics but stated there was a difference of opinion on how to manage the Packers players this season. “You never really want to change course midseason,” Link declared, “but I felt now is the time. Ronnie was an asset to the Packers on the field and he will be missed, but boy he sure has an opinion when he wants to,” Link continued. The fact that Link eluded to Arrington having an opinion lends the public to think his opinion did not match Link’s opinion and that led to the dismissal.
As for what’s coming next for the Packers Link offered, “We’ve already extended an offer to a coach that I feel is best to lead these guys. As soon as we get an acceptance, we will have more to comment.” In the mean time the team’s daily lineups and on field decisions will be submitted by general manager Larry Link. “We expect the new manager to be on the field very soon,” Link declared.
The winds of change are never easy, especially for a team that had seen a somewhat long season of stability. In the last week a tenacious new general manager has been found and now a new manager is on the horizon. Will the Packers remain competitive during this transition? Can this new formula of manager and general manager finally lead this team to the playoffs? Fans of the team can only hope.
