Green Bay Packs Up and Goes Home
The Packers are a huge disappointment for two years in a row.
By Ed Wood
Despite all the trials and tribulations that are endemic to disappointing seasons, didn’t you believe that Aaron Rodgers would come out guns blazing in the season finale against a divisional rival…at home no less? Well, football isn’t scripted and the concussion suffered by Rodgers early in the second quarter and the 31-0 shutout at the hands of the Detroit Lions certainly wasn’t ripped from the pages of a bestseller as it simply punctuated a spectacularly underwhelming season. Some of the best online sportsbooks like BetOnline, tagged the Packers as 7 ½ point favorites over the Lions last week and, man oh man, did they get it wrong for once!
Packers’ fans regarded 2017 as an outlier, an aberration, and one that would soon be a distant, albeit unpleasant, memory once Aaron Rodgers recovered from his injury and returned to torching defenses, as only he knows how. The disenchantment Packers backers felt about the 2017 season, in which Brett Hundley led the team to a 7-9 record and mustered only 172 passing yards in the team’s 35-11 Week 17 loss to Detroit, would soon be avenged with Rodgers back in the saddle to start the 2018 campaign. A wildcard berth was expected but a division title was within reach. With a little luck and a whole lotta Aaron Rodgers, there might even be an NFC championship game in our future and it could take place right on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field!
If we only knew then what we know now some of us would never have wagered that the Packers, ranked as the No. 3 team in the conference at +600, would win the NFC. The offseason coaching changes coupled with a seismic split between Rodgers and former head coach Mike McCarthy did little to foster a healthy environment for team chemistry and all of that kumbaya commonly associated with championship teams. There was very little evidence of any of it from the very beginning of the season to its merciful end. It would have seemed impossible five months ago that the Packers would not garner at least 10 wins, never mind being unable to match the sub .500 mark from last season. It was also the first time since the 2008 season that Green Bay missed the playoffs with Aaron Rodgers available to start throughout the season.
Well the postmortem is done, the wake has ended, and now all we need to do is bury the body. It’s time to look ahead and see if Joe Philbin is the man for the big chair at the start of next season. The former Miami Dolphins head coach went 2-2 after taking over for McCarthy on an interim basis but the only vote of confidence that really counts is the one from Aaron Rodgers. The Packers quarterback has publicly stated that he hopes Philbin gets the best shake at being named the head coach for next season, which is not the same as an outright endorsement.
It’s hard to read the tea leaves so shortly after the end of the season but the reality of Brian Gutekunst’s inaugural season as the Packers general manager was far removed from the lofty expectations that fans had when he was considered the “home run” that the Packers front office needed. Not only was the season a complete and total bust under his watch but the Packers suffered their third-worst home loss since 1940 when they were blanked 31-0 last Sunday.
We will leave you with this parting shot from Packers fan @daniel_seliger who tweeted, "I call upon you Packer Nation. If we don't want to see the last years of the GOAT squandered. Then we must come together & see to it that Murphy [President and CEO Mark Murphy] resigns or is fired. Mark is looking for tools, not accountability. [Ron] Zook is proof. He should have been the first one out the door."
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Comments (76)
JonathanSpader
January 03, 2019 at 10:44 am
The Philbin led performance against the Lions was even less inspiring than the MM performance against the Cardinals that got him fired. Pholbin had his chance and blew it. I don't see him as the long term solution for GB as an OC. If he's the HC he needs a McDaniels level OC and getting a guy like that to GB would more than likely require making that guy the HC.
As for the parting shot it's yet another false narrative. Murphy has done an amazing job rebuilding Packer nation. There are surrounding hotels, more seating has been added onto Lambo to increase the audience without decreasing the historic importance of Lambeau itself. Yes Zook should be fired and more than likely still will be. The Packers have been 1 play away from multiple SBs and fans overlook that and only focus on the rings. GB has been ridiculously successful under Rodgers/Murphy just ask Viking fans.
pacman
January 03, 2019 at 11:48 am
Yes, Murphy has been successful at building playgrounds and that's where it should have stopped. He changed structure so that McCarthy reported to him either because Gute wanted to fire MM (which I agree with) and Murphy didn't want him fired or because he wanted to be more involved. So either way, this is squarely on his shoulders. Which is why I think he finally fired MM - to show that he is taking responsibility.
Philbin had a 4 game interview and even though he had little to work with, he went down in flames. If Philbin is hired, it just shows Murphy hasn't learned anything and this remains just an ol' boys network.
I don't know how they do it , but they have to find someone to manage Rodgers. But based on the fact that Rodgers played, it doesn't look like anyone in GB has the balls or brains to do it.
I wonder is there are any psychologists that work with HC/QB couples?
jeremyjjbrown
January 03, 2019 at 12:02 pm
Can you imagine the "weeping and gnashing of teeth" that would occur if Murphy fired an Assistant Coach (IE Zook)?
I'd have to hide from all Packers Blogs Comments Sections and Sports Talk Radio for a long, long time.
cuervo
January 03, 2019 at 12:31 pm
No kidding...it's amazing that so many think that the CEO/President of a Football team somehow is responsible for the hiring and firing of assistant coaches. The referenced tweet in the article is proof of someone that makes themselves seem an idiot, and probably is.
The fact is, Mark Murphy has accomplished more in his lifetime than most of us could ever hope to, and if one understands what his job is (and evidently many don't) he has done a fabulous job.
Lare
January 03, 2019 at 12:48 pm
Thanks cuervo, it's kind of nice to see a factual, positive post here these days.
Rebecca
January 04, 2019 at 09:49 am
fact: there were no facts in his post, just opinion.
Rebecca
January 04, 2019 at 09:49 am
fact: there were no facts in his post, just opinion.
Rebecca
January 04, 2019 at 09:49 am
fact: there were no facts in his post, just opinion.
Rebecca
January 04, 2019 at 09:49 am
fact: there were no facts in his post, just opinion.
Rebecca
January 04, 2019 at 09:49 am
fact: there were no facts in his post, just opinion.
Rebecca
January 04, 2019 at 09:49 am
fact: there were no facts in his post, just opinion.
Rebecca
January 04, 2019 at 09:49 am
fact: there were no facts in his post, just opinion.
Rebecca
January 04, 2019 at 09:49 am
fact: there were no facts in his post, just opinion.
pacman
January 03, 2019 at 02:18 pm
That's exactly the problem! If there was a private owner of the Packers, do you think Zook would still be around? The owner might not fire him directly but he would certainly call in the GM/HC and tell them to do it - yesterday.
Team is being run like a slow slumbering government bureaucracy that abhors change.
Thegreatreynoldo
January 04, 2019 at 09:00 pm
Murphy had one football-related job: evaluate the GM annually. He failed.
TheBigCheeze
January 03, 2019 at 11:00 am
Rodgers played in a meaningless game based on "leadership", and suffered a concussion.....total ineptness by coaching and management.....Murphy is such a doofus....he makes me sick.....that is all.....
JonathanSpader
January 03, 2019 at 11:25 am
I will never understand Rodgers sitting out in preseason when he had rookie WRs to connect with because the games were "meaningless". Then insisting he had to play in the last 2 "meaningless" games for leadership reasons.
TarynsEyes
January 03, 2019 at 11:33 am
It's called...Covering one's ass, under the guise of leadership.
JonathanSpader
January 03, 2019 at 11:39 am
It's called being thick headed but not enough to not get a concussion!
jeremyjjbrown
January 03, 2019 at 11:58 am
Or a sprained MCL.
Skip greenBayless
January 03, 2019 at 04:13 pm
Excellent Taryn12!! You hit it on the head. That's exactly what it was.
Packerpasty
January 04, 2019 at 09:07 am
why would he play to "cover his ass" when he knew the potential for injury with this horrible O line in front of him and a bunch of JAGS for WR when Adams isn't playing??? What does he have to cover his ass from anyway, he doesn't care about gossip and rumors on football blogs....Danica and Arod sitting in a hot tub in the Cali sun reading football blogs...haha...
lou
January 03, 2019 at 11:46 am
Not only sitting Rodgers most of the pre-season but also many regulars now matter how much the team wants to open the season healthy I believe is a factor to our "annual slow starts". Once getting into a rhythm during not before the season starts means "running the table" again and again. The net result is even if you get to the playoffs the early season losses while building cohesiveness generally means you missed chances for home field advantage in the playoffs. I can't believe this has been ignored.
Tundraboy
January 03, 2019 at 11:53 am
Exactly. one thing I hope they learned was that Rodgers needs to get as much practice in with the newer players as possible, and Aaron needs to take the lead on that as well. Leadership takes many forms and everybody has to be all in.
ILPackerBacker
January 03, 2019 at 02:54 pm
You are exactly right. We need a 'more smarter' guy to cuvera to come and explain it to us
Handsback
January 03, 2019 at 11:23 am
Last year is done. Water over the dam and never to be seen again. The key is not to have another performance like that again. If I had a preference...I would hire Lafleur as HC with Richards, as DC from Dallas, or Tom Coughlin as HC and let him put his team together. That comes from a guy who has no idea how good/bad these guys are except Coughlin did win two SBs. I wouldn't like anyone from NE because of the track record of coaches from that team.
I don't know how good or bad Murphy is so I have no comment, but the Packers need a house cleaning and many good coaches will be swept away in the change-over.
JonathanSpader
January 03, 2019 at 11:27 am
Is water over the dam similar to water under the bridge? Not trying to be a grammar nazi I just haven't heard the expression.
egbertsouse
January 03, 2019 at 02:17 pm
Yup. It used to be a common expression but I haven’t heard it much lately.
TKWorldWide
January 03, 2019 at 04:22 pm
Yes!
Similar to the old favorite “like the mustard you put on your scrambled eggs in the morning”. Always makes me smile.
Doug Niemczynski
January 03, 2019 at 08:15 pm
What about "A Bridge over troubled water?"
dobber
January 03, 2019 at 12:31 pm
I actually, for whatever reason, like the idea of Flores running the Packers more than McDaniels. I'm not thrilled about either...but, hey, every failed Belichick protege brings you one coach closer to the first one who succeeds, right? (Bill O'Brien only spent 4 of his 20+ seasons in coaching in NE prior to going to Houston)
...that's what I'll be telling myself if either guy gets the gig.
Doug Niemczynski
January 03, 2019 at 08:17 pm
"Water off the ducks back"?
TarynsEyes
January 03, 2019 at 11:30 am
"I call upon you Packer Nation. If we don't want to see the last years of the GOAT squandered."......
Rodgers chance of rightfully being called the GOAT has long passed. The only chance of him coming close to that designation is for him to win two SB's in his four remaining years with GB. But if Brady wins another or even plays in another SB...he'll never be the GOAT...period.
jeremyjjbrown
January 03, 2019 at 11:59 am
GOAT
Greatest
Of
Another
Time
TKWorldWide
January 03, 2019 at 04:24 pm
GOAT
Gonna
Owe
Another
Tax
HankScorpio
January 03, 2019 at 06:00 pm
That's cute. You think championships are a QB stat. Bless your heart.
TarynsEyes
January 03, 2019 at 06:08 pm
That's adorable. You think QB stats are obtained by the QB alone. Bless your heart.
HankScorpio
January 03, 2019 at 07:04 pm
Aside from the desire to mimic in a less than clever way, what makes you say that?
You're the one takes it two steps further and ignores not only his offensive teammate but the ones on defense and ST, as well. I'm the one ridiculing the point of view that QB performances are solo jobs.
I'm also the one saying they need to take a big swing at improving the offense for the last month, That's because I know Rodgers cannot do it alone.
It just makes no sense. But man you sure did prove you can change a few words around. Nice job with that!
TarynsEyes
January 03, 2019 at 10:20 pm
" Aside from the desire to mimic in a less than clever way".......
You sound as though you don't like the taste of what you spew out.
I was just making my point about the authors statement and made no mention about other players and what they contribute. Just about the designation of GOAT.
Try a different medicinal approach or at least something you'll like when it comes back at you. : )
HankScorpio
January 03, 2019 at 11:26 pm
Nice job of avoiding the actual point to go with the "i'm rubber and you're glue" defense, Taryn.
PackersTommy3
January 03, 2019 at 08:09 pm
Even if Rodgers did win two more Super Bowls, he still wouldn't be the "GOAT." It's ridiculous that this is still even an argument. By what metric is Aaron Rodgers the "greatest"? The only statistic that puts Rodgers at #1 in anything is passer rating, which is a convoluted stat that doesn't mean much.
Moreover, the main culprit in the collapse of the Green Bay Packers is Rodgers himself. He's the biggest reason why the team only won 6 games this year. I never want to hear the "GOAT" thing again, or at least until he's back holding another Lombardi Trophy.
John Ramble Kirk
January 03, 2019 at 09:54 pm
He was the most talented QB ever until Mahomes came along.
Aaron is his own worst enemy. Finley and Jennings said he wasn't a leader. Perhaps, they were right. What we saw from him this year was beyond disgraceful for any player much less one who just got the richest contract in the NFL from the Packers. He owed at the very least to be a real leader and he couldn't do it except when the season was over in NY and that show cost us the 8th overall selection.
The day Aaron was drafted I was out of my mind ecstatic. He was my all-time favorite college quarterback. Much like with Favre, I've developed a distaste for him and his antics. Aaron was out of this world cocky and arrogant when he got here and I can't imagine what levels he's pegging now.
McDaniels/Rodgers is a curiosity but I'd be just as happy drafting a kid like Daniel Jones and starting over.
Doug Niemczynski
January 03, 2019 at 08:18 pm
Dam Water?
Thegreatreynoldo
January 04, 2019 at 09:12 pm
Winning super bowls or not, if AR puts a couple more seasons like 2018 on tape, he might drop out of the top 5 QBs of all time. So fix him/it/the team.
Skip greenBayless
January 04, 2019 at 09:38 pm
How does one "fix" a person especially the great Aaron Rodgers who believes it's everyone else that "needs a fixin'" to quote an old friend of mine from Beverly Hills. I don't see Aaron Rodgers changing anything except digging in deeper and forcing others to cater to him. I just don't see him buying into, fixing, mending, unifying etc at this point in his career. He's been infected with too much money and power to go back. I guess bankruptcy might fix him. With the Bucks having the best record in the NBA that's also not happening. Prayer is the most likely option. We all pray Rodgers can save himself from himself. The honestly is all we as fans can do. Simply pray.
Dash
Lphill
January 03, 2019 at 11:35 am
we could blame the injuries I mean how many teams lose their entire interior D line plus having multiple inexperienced receivers , maybe they should have brought in some veteran receiver help, instability at safety , injuries at corner, Nick Perry , the list goes on I don't know where to point my finger ,plus we don't know how injured Rodgers really was but he showed heart in the Jets game, lets just wait and see the changes coming but I would bet the Packers will be back in the post season next season. go Pack go !
Tundraboy
January 03, 2019 at 11:56 am
And how exactly does someone dislike this? All this negativity lately is making me long for the days of Cow. Not that he was exactly the beacon of positivity but it seemed like a kinder gentler time around here.
jeremyjjbrown
January 03, 2019 at 12:02 pm
Yeah, but the "Downvote Feature" is basically a result of cow42. Aaron and Cory being fed up with his whining.
Lare
January 03, 2019 at 12:50 pm
If you're talking about Nagler and Behnke I find that pretty ironic.
stockholder
January 03, 2019 at 12:02 pm
The packers still have talent on this team. WE put to much on Rodgers. He is a china doll. The Packers must keep on shielding Rodgers. 1. Fix the OL. You can't bring in an offensive genius, if they won't fix the Line. These guys scream Nurse all the time. Killing two birds with one stone here is a must. 2. People have been crying for a edge rusher. But the problem with the packers has always been the secondary. It's still a revolving door. @12 The draft isn't going to bring you a Blue Chip prospect. And any Blue chip prospect should be drafted regardless of his position. Please fix the safeties! 3. We saw Pettine work wonders when his players weren't hurt. Yes their coming back. But the Emergency door is at LB. Ryan, Morrison, and Burks are not the answer. Gute's hardest Fix is here. It's time the packers stock pile this position. They lack speed. The bears drafted Smith and got Mack. It wasn't hard to make the playoffs then. The packers need to take notice. Every time the bears got a good ILB, they won on defense. Why can't the packers? 4. I have no doubt the packers can find bodies, and over-pay them. But are we trying to just compete, or Win? The challenge just isn't a new coach. It's getting players that stay in the game.
JonathanSpader
January 03, 2019 at 12:23 pm
Stockholder a good EDGE is another form of pass protection. It forces the QB to get the ball out of his hands before he is ready. Otherwise it can result in sacks, strips, etc. Good CB play is really important but it isn't enough. Given enough time someone WILL get open. Pettine overcame this through scheme. Let's help out Pettine or whoever the next DC is and give them an actual weapon like CM3 in his prime 9 years ago.
TarynsEyes
January 03, 2019 at 12:37 pm
" an actual weapon like CM3 in his prime 9 years ago."
Matthews drafted in 09' ten years ago.....fastest rise to and fall of ' prime years ' or simply a one year wonder.
JonathanSpader
January 03, 2019 at 01:56 pm
Do you think that's what attributed to the steroid usage rumors surrounding CM3?
TarynsEyes
January 03, 2019 at 03:06 pm
He was a walk on at USC and grew in size in a year to make the team. His play in the first couple of seasons and then comparing him getting dominated by much lesser LT's a couple of seasons later cannot but make a strong lean to believing he was HGH'ing.
Manderich was steroiding and everyone knew it but turned a blind eye. The speed in which he lost his strength etc was incredible when he couldn't any more. It's not as drastic with Matthews likely due to a better drug and a slower decease rate in effects but the same results are compatible though not as equal.
stockholder
January 03, 2019 at 02:06 pm
Edge rusher- Most people think Mathews. But thats not what you can think this draft. The packers will not trade up for Bosa, or Ferrel. The packers have to select from Gary 4.65 maybe Josh Allen 4.70, or More than likely = Sweat 4.75. Polite 4.65. - Nobody is Mathews. Next choice = Wilkerson was considered a slower Wilkins. (Wilkins was your rush with Raji and Pickett.) @Mathews. How does that line Compare to Daniels, Clark ,Wilkerson? We pick @12. The true Blue chips in this draft J. Williams Ot. and Oliver DT. The next Wilkerson is Simmons. As I read more scouting reports on Sweat- Stiff but productive. Polite - Lazy and has ?s. @Time ( Must see workout numbers now) I don't believe the packers get a Mathews. One trick ponies. The next player is Deiontie Thompson FS 4.50. But I like Rapp 4.55 ,- Nasir . Adderley 4.4 better later.
JonathanSpader
January 03, 2019 at 08:06 pm
@stockholder I'm looking forward to the next CHTV draft guide. I really wish the Packers could put together 2 1sts to get Bosa the guy could be a generational talent. I've heard Sweat's name thrown around a lot. Not farmilar with any of the other names on your list yet.
TKWorldWide
January 03, 2019 at 04:26 pm
I never “put to much on Rodgers”.
I just watch the games and hope to enjoy them.
John Ramble Kirk
January 03, 2019 at 12:19 pm
How can anyone in good conscience type a line about waiting to see if Joe Philbin gets the big chair?
It's times like this that I really, really dislike the milquetoast Packers media. The only thing softer than the team in Green Bay is those who cover it. You think the FO is run like a buddy club?
This media should be HAMMERING Mark Murphy MERCILESSLY. Have you ever seen anyone actually do that? Nope. Not in Green Bay. Oh, and if you do, you'll be running a pay site and have your credential revoked.
I love this team. I HATE this management. I HATE the media. I HATE the culture that surrounds it. It's a LOSING culture all the way around headed by Magic Mark Murphy.
Silence gives consent. Raise your voices, fans, media, players, etc. Enough of this pathetic mindset in Green Bay. Don't speak about winning Super Bowls, be about winning Super Bowls.
Many times I've wished the Philly or NY media was in Green Bay to cover this team. I've wanted that for years and no more than right now.
egbertsouse
January 03, 2019 at 02:23 pm
The local media is basically a shill for the team because the Packers are the only game in town, kind of like Bama owns the Tuscaloosa media. If you piss off Saban, you’re frozen out and have no where to go. This happens less in the major markets where there are multiple teams.
John Ramble Kirk
January 03, 2019 at 02:54 pm
Oh, I get it. I worked in national sports media and even got to come cover a scrimmage. Sat down with Vandermausse and the boys. Listened to Favre, Holmgren, etc. down in the media room. A fun experience for me.
I've worked other markets and I'm sickened by a lot of what goes on in those, but Green Bay is in a class by itself.
When you have a shilling media...you create a _________ fanbase? I can't tell you how dumbed down our media has made our base. It's truly a neutering experience.
We see many of that ilk right here. It comes off as insulting but it really does create a bunch of mindless drones.
Lare
January 03, 2019 at 03:05 pm
Sorry if us "dumbed down" "mindless drones" fans are insulting to you. I can only imagine what a "neutering experience" it is for you (not that I want to know).
That said, next time you sit down with Mike Vandermause and the boys you may want to ask him how to correctly spell his last name.
John Ramble Kirk
January 03, 2019 at 03:13 pm
LOL. It was years ago and I typed from memory.
It is insulting to see a dumbed down fanbase created by our incredibly weak media. What kind of culture does that create?
Would a tougher smarter media create a smarter fanbase? It's a fair question.
When your media is neither, what do you think it creates? Mindless drones who regurgitate the company line. It's everywhere and not unique to here.
Sorry, that I like smart people running my favorite franchise and wish the media that covered them was tougher and smarter. What a horrible thing to want.
There's more good stuff that will come from some posters here than will EVER come from Packers media.
LeotisHarris
January 03, 2019 at 03:33 pm
John, respectfully, all your time in national sports media should have enabled you to spot a paid post when you see one. This is "Ed Wood", bud. Ed saunters in and out periodically to make sure we know about sports betting. Hence, the first paragraph nod to "the best online sportsbooks like BetOnline."
If you would, please go ahead and tell us how dumbed down our media has made our base. I'm interested in your expert perspective. Cite specifics, please. I'm interested.
John Ramble Kirk
January 03, 2019 at 06:06 pm
I never saw anything about betting. I'm not even sure I read the posting at all. I do have an ad blocker so did that hide what you're referring to?
This tweet came immediately to mind:
A couple tremendous plays from Geronimo Allison on opening drive. Don't get the sense #Packers have any reservations about him being their third receiver. He's showing exactly why.
---This was tweeted about Allison who ran, slowly, in a straight line and had a Raiders CB slip and caught a long pass. Is that mentioned in the tweet? There wasn't a single impressive thing here and Allison bobbled the ball after the slip almost making the play incomplete.
Joe Whitt is a good example. He's been sold and sold and sold to this fanbase as some incredible position coach who has a bright future in coaching. This has been ongoing for YEARS. How many interviews for Whitt?
How many more secondary picks within Rounds 1 and 2 is he going to get before it's finally figured out he's the problem? 7 high picks in secondary since 2014 and it's not even close to fixed. Yeah, Joe Whitt is tremendous.
Dom Capers. The guy was mailing it in year after year even falling asleep during a game at Dallas. Did the media ever ask any tough questions about Dom until the very very end?
Do you recall the media calling for McCarthy's head after Seattle? Nope. Neither do I.
Aaron Rodgers was awful in a lot of ways this season. Did you see a lot of stories on his ridiculous body language? Same goes for that 1.5 year stint that preceded his RUN THE TABLE comment. The guy came off like the biggest baby on this planet and nothing but stories about his greatnness over and over. The guy was a literal embarrassment this season. Jason LaCanfora was on a pod with Will Brinson. You should listen to that and get some real info as to what was happening this season. Aaron supposedly tanked it purposely in the AZ game. It was pre-decided they were axing MM.
Do we EVER hear a scoop out of Green Bay?
When Ted was CLEARLY in distress mentally did we see a story? I asked Bill Huber of Packer Report about it and he said EVERYONE was AWARE something was wrong but NOBODY would talk about it so he just never did a story. Your Packers were run by a guy who should be in a home somewhere and NOBODY did diddly until the embarassing TV shot.
The Packers control the narrative as Jim Owczarski conceded to me on Twitter.
Wilde admitted he heard the same stuff about Ted's health as Bob but was "Maybe, too chicken" to write it. That's what we have here. Spinless chickens.
The Ted story was HUGE. I mean HUGE. He was compromised the entire season and before that and NOBODY did a thing.
Winston Moss was MENTALLY ILL. Did you see a story on that? Anyone question how Mike McCarthy had him as his right hand man? An INSANE guy was McCarthy's 2nd in command. Think about that. I
If the Ted thing happened in Chicago or Minnesota and same with Winston you guys would be HAMMERING them for their incompetency and so woudl their local media, but not ours.
I can't even count the number of stories I see on Twitter that I just cringe when I see them tweeted out by Gannett.
LeotisHarris
January 03, 2019 at 06:57 pm
You are a prolific poster, John, I'll give you that. The first paragraph of the article contains language and a link to a sports betting site. That's Ed Wood's role here as a contributor who helps Al keep the lights on, so to speak. I mentioned that fact because you were bemoaning a state of journalism where someone could write the sentence about Philbin being ready for the big chair. Someone can write that sentence, when they pay a site for a place to do so, and people will read it.
Now, according to you, we all have been dumbed down apparently by not only lack of information, but willful misrepresentation of events EVERYBODY KNEW AND DID NOTHING ABOUT. That is probably a true statement for as long as humans have walked the earth. There are those among us who choose to remain ignorant. There are those who control and manipulate information to give the appearance things are not what they seem. Those with a financial stake in an entity may not be entirely truthful and forthcoming if they stand to lose money/status/power as a result of their actions.
I see a great deal of hyperbole and drama in your writing. The ALL CAPS. The "everybody knew." It's an interesting style, but not convincing. I guess your position is we (the base) have been dumbed down by the media not exposing what everybody knew. I suppose that's an interesting discussion topic. I didn't know what I didn't know because everybody knew and did nothing. ::shrug::
Joe Whitt. What I know is he came into the NFL with Bobby Petrino from Louisville, and landed in Green Bay. I think he's been sought after by at least 2 teams to interview for a DC position. One was Oakland, can't recall the other off the top of my head. I do remember Charles Woodson advocating for his hire as DC in Green Bay before the Pettine hire. Your position is he's a lousy coach who for whatever reason has been sold to Packers fans because...they want to sell more Joe Whitt T-shirts? Not sure why you're so tweaked on that one. I suppose it all gets better if you have someone to blame.
I'm not to qualified to make judgements about whether someone is mentally ill, much less insane. If Ted Thompson was afflicted with a type of dementia, it would take more than the brief TV shot you keep referencing make that determination. Shit, go to an Old County Buffet on a Friday night and you'll see 25 to 30 mouth-breathers with that look on their faces. Ted probably always was on the Autism Spectrum, brilliant guy, low affect, preferred solitude.
Twitter. If you're seeking journalism there, it can be found, but in general it's a vast wasteland of clickbait. I freed myself from Facebook and Twitter in 2016 and never looked back. I feel much better.
Last thought. "Spineless chickens." When millions of dollars, your livelihood, and in some cases even your life are at stake, what would you do? Ask the family of that WaPo journalist the Saudis cut up into pieces in Turkey.
John Ramble Kirk
January 03, 2019 at 08:41 pm
The "everybody knew" refers to the organization. Not you.
Let me pose it this way and see if you'll answer me straight. If the org didn't know about Ted or Winston how does that make them look? It'd be ever worse than it is that they did know.
You're blaming Ted's appearance on being on the autism spectrum? This is the stuff I just can't handle. You're presented visual evidence. There was many more instances over the year of this when it hadn't been seen 5 years previous. You don't go on the Autism spectrum in your 60's. If Ted had autism or was on the spectrum we would've seen many instances like that one vs. Minnesota on TV. He was flat out hidden from the world by the Packers after that. Some cover story is concocted and people here will fight you to the death and call you all kinds of evil for speaking to the truth about what really happened and hide behind...you weren't there...you don't know. Yeah, neither were those who say that can't possibly be known but it doesn't stop them from defending the org.
The VIkings knew Everson Griffen was mentally ill and did nothing. Vikings were fortunate Griffen didn't kill somebody at that hotel that day.
There is a level of brain shutting off that goes on to be a typical fan. Go read an Apple forum when a Samsung love shows up or vice versa. Neither a Samsung fanboy or Apple fanboy is able to see the flaws of their brand. They exist. The objective person can see the flaws with both because they're not overly invested.
Once upon a time, I was the guy I now can't stand and you can't stand now. I know what it's like to be a "mindless drone". Been there. It's very hard to get otu of that way of thinking but once you do, you will never nor could you ever go back to thinking or being like that again. You'll understand the assault on your mind to make you believe certain things and you will be offended that someone thinks so little of you as to do that to you.
To be clear, the things like Ryan Wood I don't even know what to do with. Here he was extolling Geronimo Allison. He's showing exactly why! No. A Raiders CB fell down and ANY WR in the NFL would've made that play. Not his spin. I commented on it and lamented his portrayal because it was not accurate in any sense of what happened. That matters. What happens is you start ignoring things like that and before too long the koolaid is so sweet you don't want a tasete of reality because it's not quite as sweet. Many will fight hard to keep the illusion up at all costs.
If I type right now that the Packers are a heavily flawed organizatoion heading the wrong direction which is true. I'll get a ton of downvotes and criticism. The downvoters won't debate. They'll mouse the icon, maybe insult and run along. The people who are mindless drones have no real convictions they just wanna believe everything is great and lets have fun being Packers fans fellas! It doesn't matter that Aaron Rodgers and the Packers only made it to 1 Super Bowl...thats better than most. We won a lotta games. Man, isn't it great we're not Detroit?
I do understand people but I can't stand it LH. Part of my angst with the Packers comes from reading a lot of the stuff I see on Twitter and I'm talking about articles from Silverstein, Dougherty, Wilde, Wood, Demovsky, etc. I'm not talking about click bait. I'm talking about the barrage of puff pieces that fall from the sky in lieu of real reporting and not trying to prop up the Packers but to just report on what actually is.
This is big business. Gannett and others are suffering and I love it. Put out a product people would want to pay for. Puff and fluff isn't getting me to pony up. I'm encouraged there are many who think as I do out there that will never spend a nickel on these joke reporting sites. Packers.com is the all-time worst. If you get your news on this team from there you couldn't help but be a drone.
LeotisHarris
January 03, 2019 at 09:51 pm
Okay, straight up, if an organization knew of physical illnesses and/or mental health issues with employees and chose to ignore those at the expense of the organization and the health and safety of the employees, that would be a horrific thing. It would go against all HR policy.
My comments suggesting TT may have been on the Autism Spectrum are speculation, but he did have qualities many very successful people on the Spectrum have that in turn made him good at his job for many years. Highly intelligent, attention to detail, finely-tuned observational skills, stiff in appearance with low affect, preferred to work alone. I didn't in any way suggest he "developed" autism in his 60s.
I'm going to exit this thread here, John. You keep doing you. This space is for all, and I will let you be. Simmer down. Be well, friend.
John Ramble Kirk
January 03, 2019 at 11:51 pm
You be well, as well. Not close to heated up.
If he was ASD he would've exhibited the same signs we saw during the Vikings game. We didn't. Nobody ever saw Ted like that...ever. Once we saw him all of a sudden he prefers scouting? An ASD would've ALWAYS preferred scouting and wouldn't wnat to be a GM.
Skip greenBayless
January 04, 2019 at 12:33 am
Oh my God Kirk you are right about Packers.com. I actually got shadow banned from there for simply mentioning my now world famous "looks like Jesus plays like Jordy" phrase to describe Kumerow in the exhibition season with Boyle as his main qb. They actually took offense to such a fun and innocent phrase that within a day or so later nobody could read what I said after that. They shut me off completely. It was ridiculous but thank God my phrase had a dramatic immediate response from so many there shortly after posting it and now everyone is calling him "Touchdown Jesus". It totally stuck in people's heads the visual of Jesus when they saw him. The moderators there are so pro Packer and PC it's not fun if you make a joke or have a negative comment towards the Packers. My one comment changed Kumerows life. Did I get a thank you? No, they shadow ban you. Luckily for Jersey Al I came here. He now has "the guy" that started it all regarding Kumerow. I am sure he's proud.
Dash
TKWorldWide
January 04, 2019 at 06:04 am
I think Peter Pan was shadow banned for a short while too.
GoldenRetriever
January 03, 2019 at 11:34 pm
Good post.
Thegreatreynoldo
January 04, 2019 at 10:17 pm
That the Wisconsin sports media has a long history of squelching unfavorable stories about the Packers should be impossible for anyone to deny. Winters, Favre, and Chmura party you say? Favre has his own locker room? Did he build it himself when no one was looking?
TKWorldWide
January 03, 2019 at 04:28 pm
I’d never order “milquetoast”.
It sounds disgusting.
LeotisHarris
January 03, 2019 at 04:45 pm
So, you're not a dunker, TK?
TKWorldWide
January 03, 2019 at 08:48 pm
Not enough hops.
egbertsouse
January 03, 2019 at 02:26 pm
Murphy is fantastic CEO because he makes boatloads of bucks for the organization and that is what matters in the NFL.