|
Green Bay Packers' team president Mark Murphy speaks during a press conference at Lambeau field in Green Bay, Wisc., Monday, Dec. 3, 2018. The Packers fired head coach Mike McCarthy after a loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. |
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay
Packers' head-coaching vacancy should be appealing for one big reason.
He plays quarterback and signed a four-year, $134 million contract
extension this year.
Two-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, though, will not be involved in the
process of selecting Mike McCarthy's successor, but is free to provide
input, team president Mark Murphy said on Monday.
And that seems fine with Rodgers, who said he was focused on the
Packers' final four games under interim coach Joe Philbin.
"I think there's an interest in who the next guy will be, but (Murphy
and general manager Brian Gutekunst) and I have always had good lines of
communication, their offices, like they say, are always open," Rodgers
said. "I'm not needing to be involved in that process."
Murphy said Rodgers was also not part of the decision to fire McCarthy
following the stunning 20-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday
that dropped Green Bay to 4-7-1. Chances of making the playoffs are
slim.
It appeared that most players had already left Lambeau Field by that
point, with many Packers saying they had learned of the firing on social
media or through text messages.
"Found out probably the same way you did at the same time you did,"
receiver Davante Adams said on Monday. "I was definitely surprised. But,
it's a business and business is business, and that's what it is."
Rodgers was already home to celebrate his 35th birthday when he found
out.
"I'm sure I found out the same way that most of you found out," Rodgers
said, "and was just as shocked as many of you were."
|
Green Bay Packers' general manager Brian Gutekunst, right, speaks as team president Mark Murphy looks on during a press conference at Lambeau field in Green Bay, Wisc., Monday, Dec. 3, 2018. |
He planned to reach out to McCarthy later Monday.
"I think him and I, like any relationship, we have our amazing times, we
have our times where we butt heads," Rodgers said. "But the basis, like
I said, was built on mutual respect and communication. ... We spent time
together and growing our friendship and we accomplished a lot together."
From Adams to Rodgers, nearly every player in the locker room spoke
highly of McCarthy, who overall had a successful tenure of 12-plus
seasons highlighted by a Super Bowl win in the 2010 season. The
55-year-old McCarthy led the Packers to nine playoff appearances and
four trips to the NFC title game overall.
But offensive struggles this year followed a 2017 season in which
Rodgers broke his right collarbone and the team missed the postseason.
In 2016, the Packers started 4-6 before winning eight straight to get to
the conference championship game.
Murphy said it was time to make a change after the embarrassing loss to
Arizona.
"I don't want to get into the details, but he was very professional,"
Murphy said when asked how McCarthy reacted to his dismissal. "He's a
first-class person ... and made a comment that, 'It's the coaching
profession. I know what I got into when I became a coach.'"
Gutekunst will be heavily involved, along with a committee, in hiring
the next coach, though the decision will belong to Murphy, the
highest-ranking executive in the NFL's only publicly owned franchise. He
adjusted the Packers' organizational structure in January, when
Gutekunst was promoted to replace Ted Thompson as GM, to have McCarthy
report directly to the team president.
"The structure, again, you're focused on the structure," Murphy said in
response to one of several questions about how the Packers'
organizational flow chart could be perceived by potential coaching
candidates. "The most important thing is the people and the
relationships.
"Brian and I have a great relationship," Murphy said. "I think we'll be
in good shape, and I'm confident we'll be able to hire an excellent
coach."
Murphy has more football experience than the average team president,
having played safety under Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs for the
Washington Redskins. Also a lawyer, Murphy had extensive experience in
sports administration before becoming Packers president/CEO in 2007. He
was athletic director at Northwestern, where he hired coach Pat
Fitzgerald, before coming to Green Bay.
Murphy also views Philbin as a candidate. He would like to evaluate the
veteran assistant and former Dolphins head coach over the next four
weeks.
Off the field, the move to dismiss McCarthy gave the Packers an early
start on the coaching search. Murphy and Gutekunst offered few specifics
when asked what they were looking for in the next coach, other than that
would the team would wait until after the season to make a hire.
"I think this decision was about changing our course more than
anything," Gutekunst said. "We just felt like it was a time to change
the course."
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay
Packers have fired coach Mike McCarthy and made offensive coordinator
Joe Philbin the interim head coach.
The move announced by team president Mark Murphy came after a stunning
20-17 loss on Sunday to the Arizona Cardinals, dropping Green Bay to
4-7-1.
Murphy, in a statement, said the 2018 season "has not lived up to the
expectations and standards of the Green Bay Packers. As a result, I made
the difficult decision to relieve Mike McCarthy of his role as head
coach, effective immediately."
Murphy said the process of hiring the next head coach would begin
immediately.
McCarthy was in his 13th season as coach. The Packers won the Super Bowl
under McCarthy in the 2010 season. He finishes with a record of
125-77-2.
"Mike has been a terrific head coach and leader of the Packers for 13
seasons, during which time we experienced a great deal of success on and
off the field," Murphy said.
But this is a third straight year in which Green Bay has had extended
struggles.
In 2016, the Packers started 4-6, then won eight straight games to get
to the NFC title game, losing to the Atlanta Falcons. Green Bay finished
7-9 and missed the playoffs in 2017, when Aaron Rodgers missed extensive
time with a broken collarbone.
|
Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy reacts to a call made on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Green Bay, Wis. McCarthy was fired as head coach following the game. |
McCarthy shook up his coaching staff,
including bringing Philbin back as offensive coordinator and hiring Mike
Pettine to replace Dom Capers as defensive coordinator. Different
problems emerged.
This year, Rodgers hurt his left knee in the season opener, though he is
feeling better now. Receivers Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison have
missed time with injuries. The same issues kept popping up for the
offense, most glaringly, empty third downs and a lack of explosive
plays.
Rodgers was asked after the game — but before McCarthy's firing was
announced — how much blame offensive players should get if the Packers
made a coaching change after the season.
"Yeah, a lot probably. We haven't played very well," Rodgers said. "We
all take part in the disappointments and the failures that we've had
this season. We've had a number of opportunities. It's not like we're
getting blown out in a bunch of games. We're in games."
Cobb's return on Sunday didn't help, with the Packers just 3 of 14 on
third downs.
"I hate to repeat myself, but it's applicable. ... We're not executing
the right way," Rodgers said.
"It's poor throws, not on the same page with receivers, wrong depth,
protection," he added. "We all have a part in that and we've all picked
our time to mess up a third down."
The opening play of the fourth quarter was a perfect example of Green
Bay's offensive struggles. Rodgers found Cobb for a 36-yard completion
on third-and-11, but the play was wiped out by a holding penalty on
right tackle Jason Spriggs.
Rodgers said his focus was getting his teammates to "play with that
pride" and focus on the next four games.
"Yeah, I mean I'm not even thinking about that right now," Rodgers said
when asked if he would have any role after the season with general
manager Brian Gutekunst or Murphy about what direction they should go
with the coaching staff.
The offensive players, Rodgers said, bear blame for whatever happens in
the future.
"Yeah, a lot probably," he said. "We haven't played very well."
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Zane Gonzalez
kicked a 44-yard field goal for Arizona with 1:41 left, Green Bay's
Mason Crosby missed a 49-yard attempt as time expired and the Cardinals
braved wintry conditions to hold on for a 20-17 win on Sunday.
Crosby pushed his kick wide right, with the flags atop Lambeau Field
blowing in toward the field at the time of the play.
The stunned Packers suffered another blow to their fading playoff hopes.
"It was clearly a very disappointing loss, it was a game we needed to
win," coach Mike McCarthy said.
Cardinals rookie Josh Rosen struggled for much of the afternoon, but hit
veteran wideout Larry Fitzgerald for a sliding 32-yard completion on
third-and-23 to help set up Gonzalez's winning kick.
Arizona (3-9) won on the road for the first time since Oct. 7 at San
Francisco.
"All the things that were said on the outside, these guys circled the
wagons and came together," coach Steve Wilks sad.
Sputtering Green Bay (4-7-1) has lost three straight and five of six.
Aaron Rodgers was 31 of 50 for 233 yards
and a touchdown. A couple throws looked off, especially in the first
half, and receivers had a few drops.
The offense regained some swagger after Rodgers orchestrated a 95-yard
drive that led to Aaron Jones' 8-yard touchdown run with 5:26 left,
tying it at 17. Davante Adams tip-toed the sideline for a 19-yard catch
to extend that drive.
But too many missed opportunities and drops caught up with the Packers
in the end. They also struggled on third down, a season-long theme,
going just 3 of 14.
"We're just not executing well, it's the same things over and over,"
Rodgers said.
Rookie Chase Edmonds ran for two touchdowns for Arizona. Rosen was 11 of
26 for 149 yards, making just enough plays in front of a makeshift
offensive line.
"Other than (center Mason Cole), I don't think a single one of those
guys start the season," Rosen said. "They're doing a hell of a job."
|
Equipment managers test out audio in helmets on Lambeau Field before an NFL football game between the Green Bay Packers and the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Green Bay. |
RODGERS RECORD
A 16-yard completion to Adams with 13:42 left in the second quarter gave
Rodgers the team record for attempts without an interception. Hall of
Famer Bart Starr set the previous mark of 294 from 1964-65.
INJURY REPORT
Cardinals: LG Mike Iupati was carted off the field in the third quarter
with a knee injury. Arizona was already starting rookies at center and
right tackle.
Packers: RG Byron Bell and RT Bryan Bulaga each left in the second
quarter with knee injuries.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: Host the Detroit Lions on Dec. 9.
Packers: Host the Atlanta Falcons on Dec. 9.