 |
www.packers.com | |||
 |
||||
|
return to site | |||
Andrew Brandt, possessor of an extensive background in player representation and management of a professional football team, has been named director of player finance/football operations for the Green Bay Packers, Executive Vice President/General Manager Ron Wolf announced today.
In his role, negotiating player contracts will be one of Brandt's primary responsibilities. He also will assist Wolf in other aspects of the Packers' football operations.
In another action, Lance Lopes, previously assistant vice president, has been promoted to vice president/general counsel by President/CEO Bob Harlan and also will continue to be involved in negotiating player contracts.
Lopes, who now will report to Harlan, additionally will take on expanded responsibilities in administration.
Under the Packers' front office restructuring, John Jones, the organization's new senior vice president of administration, will oversee contract management and all non-football departments in addition to managing the salary cap. Jones, who succeeds Michael Reinfeldt, is expected to assume his new duties March 1.
Brandt, who is 38, began his professional career with ProServ, Inc., one of the nation's leading sports management and marketing firms, after graduating cum laude from both Stanford University and Georgetown University Law School. While there, he managed a number of NBA and NFL players, including Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, James Lofton, Boomer Esiason and Chris Doleman.
In 1992, Brandt was selected by the NFL to become the first general manager of the Barcelona Dragons of the World League of American Football, becoming the youngest general manager in a major professional sports league. He was responsible for all aspects of the franchise: contracts, player personnel, marketing and public relations, among others. During his tenure, the Dragons were the league's winningest and most successful franchise, with an average attendance of 30,000.
A native of Washington, D.C., Brandt subsequently taught Sports Law and Sports Business at George Washington and American Universities in Washington, and created and designed a program in Sports Management/Sports Law at the University of Illinois, a program that now serves as a model for the Big Ten Conference.
In 1996, Brandt became vice president of Bob Woolf Associates in Boston and, in that role, was responsible for the football and basketball divisions.
Over the years, Brandt has made frequent radio and television appearances as a commentator on contract and negotiating issues and currently appears on the One-On-One Sports Radio Network every Saturday in over 3,500 markets nationwide. He also is a frequent commentator on CNN, discussing business and legal issues in sports. In addition, he hosts "The Business of Sports" on the World Wide Web and is a regular columnist for Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal.
Brandt is a member of the Sports Lawyers Association and the Entertainment and Sports Committee of the American Bar Association.
A member of two NCAA champion tennis teams at Stanford, Brandt still plays competitive tennis and is an accomplished jazz pianist. He also is active with the American Heart Association. Brandt and his wife, Lisa, have one son, Samuel.