Associated Press
Tuesday, December 4, 2007

The Green Bay Packers board of directors unanimously approved the appointment of Northwestern Athletic Director Mark Murphy as the team's new top executive yesterday, ending the search for a successor to longtime Packers leader Bob Harlan.

Murphy, a former Washington Redskins player who has a law degree and an MBA in finance, eventually will hold the titles of team president and chief executive after Harlan steps down. Harlan will stay in charge through the end of the season, including any postseason games. The transition formally will begin Jan. 1, with Murphy assuming the title of president and chief executive-elect.

"The Packers are one of the great franchises in all of professional sports," Murphy said in a statement. "These are successful times for the Packers. On the field they're performing well, and off the field, they're in great shape, too. I look forward to being a part of that continued success."

Murphy, 52, played eight years with the Redskins, then became an assistant executive director of the NFL Players Association and later a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice. He then served as athletic director at his alma mater, Colgate, before moving to Northwestern.

Running back Derrick Ward broke his leg Sunday against the Bears and will be out indefinitely. Ward fractured his left fibula, the thinner of the two bones extending from the knee to the ankle, in the fourth quarter of New York's 21-16 come-from-behind victory.

Colts Coach Tony Dungy said he doubted the chilly greeting he received from Patriots Coach Bill Belichick after their teams played last month was because Belichick was angry over Dungy's earlier comments about New England's spying.

During an interview on HBO's "Costas Now" that will air tonight, Dungy was asked whether "frosty" was the proper characterization of their brief handshake. "Well, it probably was," Dungy said. "But that's Bill. Bill has always been that way with me."

Brett Favre's standout season for the resurgent Packers has earned him the title of 2007 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, making him the fourth quarterback to win the award in its 53-year history.