The Change

December 5th, 2018 by

packers

I do not really watch NFL games anymore, but I do pay attention to what is going on. Most professional sports are nothing more than a boondoggle to the taxpayers, that aside, and a few other things, I really no longer see the thrill in professional sports in general.

This past Sunday, the Green Bay Packers, fired Mike McCarthy. It was a while in coming, and the only real reason Mike continued to hold onto his job was Aaron Rodgers. Even though Mike “kept” the Packers competitive in the NFL for a long time, it had more to do with the QB(s) who played the past 13 years.

This past Sunday, the Green Bay Packers, fired Mike McCarthy. It was a while in coming, and the only real reason Mike continued to hold onto his job was Aaron Rodgers. Even though Mike “kept” the Packers competitive in the NFL for a long time, it had more to do with the QB(s) who played the past 13 years.

When Mike McCarthy started his career at Green Bay, Brett Favre, was the quarterback. After Favre left, it was Rodgers. With Rodgers, it took only four years for the Packers to get to the Super Bowl under McCarthy, but it was McCarthy’s bad decision that cost the Packers a second shot at the Super Bowl.

Back in 2011, the Packers were winning every game. The only loss was to Kansas City, and it was due more to the players looking forward toward the Detroit Lions. After the whole playoff picture took shape, it turned out the Lions game was a “meaningless” game. The Packers would not only get home field throughout the playoffs, but the bye week. So, McCarthy being the genius he was, sat out most of the starters. McCarthy chose to sit out his starters, rather than risk injury. Ultimately sitting the starters took them out of game mode for nearly three weeks. Because of the lack of play, the starters were out of synch. Did he ever hear what happened to Indianapolis and Peyton Manning? Nope. Why would history repeat itself? It did. Green Bay looked like a high school team against the New York Giants.

Play very conservatively was McCarthy’s style. This was the hallmark of McCarthyism in Green Bay. That was one reason the Packers lost a few games. Second was McCarthy’s poor time management. Since 2010-2011 season, the Packers never returned to another Super Bowl. Quarterbacks of a similar character to Rodgers, have gone to multiple Super Bowls, win or lose. Brady the most outstanding.

The fire McCarthy drum was beating a long time. The injuries to Rodgers, keeping him out of the 2013 season, then the 2017 season being a bust, it was obvious that McCarthy was not a great coach. Except, he kept his job. Probably for a few more years than he should have.

With the 2018 season now a washout, the Packer loss to the Cardinals made it obvious, McCarthy must go. I cannot say that McCarthy was a bad coach, his record would prove different, but a lot of it had to do with Rodgers being QB. Why could McCarthy not get the Packers to more Super Bowls with Rodgers as QB? Some will argue it was the Packers system of drafting rookies, and not bringing in veterans to key positions. Yes, I can agree with that somewhat. Yet, when veterans were brought in, the Packers still did not produce a Super Bowl appearance.

McCarthy will more than likely find a job. There are teams out there who need a good coach whom does have the winning mentality. The question is, do they want to win or get to the Super Bowl?

Thanks for stopping by.

PS: It was Mike McCarthy’s decision to sit the starters in 2011 that cost me $1000. I was in at the start of the season, the Packers looked unstoppable, and I had won some money from a slot machine. I decided to bet on the Packers to repeat the NFC Championship and a Super Bowl win. I would have won a total of $1000 for a $150 in bets. So, maybe my jubilance in McCarthy’s firing and bitterness reflected in this post are due to some personal issues.