BYE BYE Bushofsky

[TOTALPACKAGE]

Bushofsky set to retire after 24 years in the NFL

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By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com


Longtime league talent scout Jack Bushofsky, whose near-quarter century in the NFL includes the past eight seasons with the Carolina Panthers, will retire when his contract expires in June, ESPN.com has learned.

The departure of Bushofsky, which was not unexpected, continues a series of changes in the front offices and personnel departments of NFL teams over the past few weeks.

Bushofsky, 65, apprised Panthers officials of his decision on Tuesday morning. But it is a move he has been considering for more than a year and, following the 2003 draft, hinted at even more strongly in conversations with close friends and league confidants. Typical of Bushofsky, he wanted to wait until after the Panthers concluded a weekend minicamp before informing ownership, so the move would not be a distraction.

"I'd prefer to just kind of slip away," Bushofsky told ESPN.com on Tuesday morning. "You know, you look out the window one morning, and there's snow on the ground. The next day, you look out, it's gone. That's the way to exit. No big (fanfare), you know?"

His home in the Charlotte area is already on the market and Bushofsky and his wife likely probably will settle in Florida, probably around Tampa. He should be able there to pursue his newest passion, golf, which has replaced racquetball as his avocation of choice.

A 24-year NFL veteran, Bushofsky wasn't one of the league's best-known evaluators, in large part because he frequently shunned the media and did not like his name in print. But he certainly was one of the hardest-working scouts and, given his "old school" training, Bushofsky still preferred going on the road to see a prospect in person, rather than simply sitting in an office and viewing videotape.

A Pittsburgh native, Bushofsky was a local high school star before heading off to the University of Tennessee for two years, interrupting his education for a stint in the U.S. Marines, and then earning a degree from Austin Peay University.

Bushofsky began his coaching career in Pittsburgh-area high schools, served on the staff at Villanova for five seasons, then returned to Austin Peay as head coach. He moved to the NFL in 1979 as scout for the Blesto combine, later joined the Tampa Bay scouting staff, and was named Indianapolis Colts personnel director in 1983.

He was hired by the Panthers in 1995 and promoted to personnel director four years ago. It remains uncertain if Carolina will fill the position or, perhaps, split the duties between its college and pro scouting directors.


Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.




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[magnus]

Jack Bushofsky was a good talent evaluator, he'll be missed.

 

[bigcatjc]

Just read a rumor at PFW listing Dwight Clark as a candidate to replace Bushofsky. Talk about going from the penthouse to the outhouse....

Whoever makes this decision, Jerry Richardson or Marty Hurney, JUST SAY NO to Clark!

Or please let this be a wild rumor on a slow news day.

 

[lde]

Originally posted by bigcatjc
Whoever makes this decision, Jerry Richardson or Marty Hurney, JUST SAY NO to Clark!

Amen. I read the speculation last year. Given Bushovshy's age, his retirement is not a surprise. I think the speculation came from other NFL teams and was based on the fact that Clark is from here.

Maybe the fact that that he's a cheater (cap in SF) will keep him out of here. Anyone got any scoop?

 

[magnus]

I don't keep much of anything together the way I used to, but supposedly the inside is that they're leaning toward not bringing anyone in.
Hurney was promoted even though he has less resume' because he was younger, and at that point we had a full staff (from the Seifert days, Bushofsky was de facto GM under him, they had both pro and college scouting directors, and Hurney who was basically an administrative executive). So from what my conversation was leading toward, though it was a speculation deal toward when Bushofsky would eventually go, was that the "three headed monster" was basically geared so that, long term, it would split back down to two, and that Hurney would be in charge of everything. Bushofsky was "extra" and a luxury.

I'd like to have somebody in here, another good young guy that's somebody's college scouting director, but not Clark. He's never fully shown to have control of the idea of football ops.

 

[lde]

Thanks Chris. There's an article on the officical site, and it certainly sounds like no one will be brought in. Of course, they don't always say everything.

Do you like the college and pro personnel directors?

 

[magnus]

I really like Tony Softli. I don't know Koncz (pro) at all. You can ask Tony at TFY about Softli, I'm under the impression they talk occasionally at Senior Bowl and such events. I believe Tony's our highest ranking minority in the organization.

 

[McFly41]

Hey Mags, drop a name for me, Marc Lillibridge.

I know he had contact with the Panthers a few years ago and he thought his interview went really well. Also interviewed with Cleveland, Jacksonville and GB among others...he's been with the Packers scouting dept for 3 or 4 years now and worked closely with Ron Wolf before Wolf retirement. Some people around here say he is REALLY building a name for himself in NFL circles...see what your guy knows of him?

Lilly's been real busy the last few years and I haven't had a chance to talk to him when he's been in town...hopefully the Panthers will bring him in, in some capacity...I'd be gettin' some COMPS!

 

[lde]

Originally posted by magnus
I really like Tony Softli. I don't know Koncz (pro) at all. You can ask Tony at TFY about Softli, I'm under the impression they talk occasionally at Senior Bowl and such events. I believe Tony's our highest ranking minority in the organization.

I didn't even know he was a minority. If it hadnt been for you mentioning him now and again, I wouldnt even know who he was.

They have to add someone. They're a man short. If they don't add at the bottom, they surely will add in the middle or at the bottom.

 

[magnus]

better contact there is meat. He's more of the sort to have access to that side of the operation.

Yeah, Linda, I've figured that might be the case, a man short. But tell the truth, they're more likely to add from the bottom, and they should do it. I don't think Jack's brother Joe, who can't be much younger, will be an area scout forever, and might not want to work more than another year or so. He'll be missed too...he's another old-school scouting guy who came from that Rooney farm system and through Blesto.
... so at the least they should bring someone in to help cover for the missing manpower and eventually take up an area in the future. Personally I'd love to go be an overall administrative assistant to the scouting staff - organizing information, digitizing it, compiling it and working with them to summarize. I'm sure there's advancement in it, too.

Softli seems to have his stuff together and should be able to handle the "promotion", and his job performance becomes more important now. I think he'll do well, and we'll probably see more of what Hurney's made of now that he's not got a GM-talent under him.