Packers Morning Buzz: GM search will be wide open

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a strong cup of coffee and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.

We’ll start with Tom Silverstein’s column on what the Packers are looking for in their new general manager.

From Tom:

Saying he will keep an open mind while selecting Ted Thompson’s replacement as Green Bay Packers general manager, president Mark Murphy made it clear Tuesday that candidates don’t need to have a scouting background to be considered.

It was a public acknowledgment that Russ Ball, the Packers’ vice president of football operations/finance — whom many people in the organization expect to get the job — won’t be hindered by the fact he has held only administrative positions.

The Packers have never had a general manager who wasn’t a player, on-field coach or scout and their last two, Thompson and Ron Wolf, had decades of experience evaluating talent before taking over the job.

The only thing Murphy will require of his hire is that he accept Mike McCarthy as his head coach.

On the same day Murphy addressed reporters on his decision to move Thompson to an advisory position and begin the search for a successor, he confirmed McCarthy had been signed to a one-year contract extension during the season.

Mike McCarthy is still in the Packers plans:

Pete Dougherty writes that Reggie McKenzie could be a possibility:

Ryan Wood looks at eight potential GM candidates:

A look at 5 hits and 5 misses from Ted Thompson’s drafts:

Mark Murphy won’t box in a new GM with ideas on how the job should be done:

Players indicated a lack of accountability played into Dom Capers’ firing:

Long time Packers scout Alonzo Highsmith is headed to Cleveland:

Elsewhere, Charles Woodson gave Thompson some love:

Rob Demovsky spoke with Highsmith about his jump to Cleveland:

Michelle Bruton writes that you can’t always get what you want:

Adam Schein gives his take on the Thompson move:

LeRoy Butler did not make the latest cut for the Hall of Fame:

Bob McGinn goes in on Ha Ha Clinton-Dix’ performance in Detroit:

The Packers could change things up on offense as well:

Someone thinks the Packers are underachieving: