'a Fresh Start With Bart'

"When I got over the shock of being traded by the Rams, which was a total surprise to me, I was sort of flattered by the price I had brought," says Hadl.

Another problem was last year's deal for All-Pro Linebacker Ted Hendricks. At Green Bay, Hendricks' salary was jumped to $125,000 from the $48,500 he had made at Baltimore, and his option clause scratched out. This year Starr and Hendricks were "several hundred thousand dollars apart" in their negotiations, and Hendricks has moved on to Oakland. All-Pro Guard Gale Gillingham, 31, quit the Packers early in training camp, saying he had lost his desire. Cornerback Ken Ellis walked out of camp a couple of times over contract disputes, embarrassing Starr by leaving the second time shortly after Bart had praised Ellis in a speech to the team.

But Starr also inherited a good defensive unit. The only coach Starr retained from the old staff was Defensive Coach Dave Hanner, who now has the unusual title of assistant head coach. General Manager Starr has handed out titles and responsibilities in a way that shows either great confidence or none at all. Bob Harlan is the corporate general manager who negotiates player contracts, and Tom Miller, the business general manager, takes care of the other administrative details. "I don't want to get deeply involved with business affairs," said Starr, "and I wonder if I could sit and haggle with a player and his agent for two hours and then be objective about that player on the field."

Green Bay players say that Starr and his staff have been associated with winners and there is no reason to think this relationship will not continue. In fact, the first time the Packers got the ball two weeks ago in Starr's exhibition game non-debut against Buffalo, rookie Willard Harrell ran back a punt 82 yards for a touchdown. A joyful Starr, showing as much emotion as a cheerleader, raced out to the hashmark to congratulate Harrell. Green Bay defeated Buffalo 23-6.

Last Saturday night in Milwaukee the Packers won again, squeaking past their traditional foes, the Chicago Bears, by a score of 13-9. But Green Bay's lack of artistry made it easy for Starr to refrain from superlatives. Bobby Douglass, the Bear quarterback, turned out to be a Packer hero when one of his passes was intercepted in the Green Bay end zone near the end of the half. Hadl then took the Packers 80 yards for seven points and a lead they never lost. His play gave Starr some satisfaction, and Harrell again turned in a creditable game, rushing for 45 yards in 12 attempts.

No great quarterback has ever been a notable success as a head coach in the pros, although Bob Waterfield, Norm Van Brocklin, Otto Graham and Sammy Baugh have tried. Starr says he has never considered the reason, but friends say he mentions it from time to time. "One thing is, those men coached in big cities, not in a community like Green Bay," says Bratkowski. " Green Bay could be a Utopia for a coach, and Bart is staying straight on the sidewalk. Just like always, he'll make it."