Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, at his Monday press conference to explain the organization’s move to release Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton. McCarthy said, “There’s a lot of things that go into this decision.”
The problem between Sitton and the Packers organization may have come late last season when the guard was critical of the offensive game plan in a regular season game against Arizona. A short time later, McCarthy told reporters that Sitton needs to play guard, instead of bellyaching about play calling.
When asked how cutting a veteran player like Sitton could impact the locker room, McCarthy said: I’m not going to sit here and go through every variable, every component of our program, but each player is evaluated. Every person that touches the locker room has always been evaluated because the locker room is the most important room in our building, frankly, in my opinion. Decisions are made all the time about trying to improve and continue the flow of growth for our football program.
AUDIO: Mike McCarthy on how locker room chemistry comes into play :24
McCarthy said backup Lane Taylor would take over as the starting left guard in place of Sitton. Taylor has just two NFL starts to his credit.
McCarthy was asked if the Packers are better without Sitton.
“to sit there and say, are you a better team or not a better team because of one player, we haven’t even played a game yet. So this is about growth of our football program. Every decision we make is in the best interest of improving all aspects of our program. This is not about one player. This is about our football team.”
Sitton’s departure does create $6.55 million in additional salary cap space, which will give the Packers more money to extend player contracts for those players set to become free agents at the end of the season.
Packers roster moves
The Packers signed long snapper Brett Goode and claimed RB Jhurell Pressley off waivers from the Vikings. To make room, they place CB Makinton Dorleant on injured reserve and released RB Brandon Burks.
The Packers also signed WR Geronimo Allison, LB Carl Bradford, LB Beniquez Brown, LB Reggie Gilbert, RB Don Jackson, G Blake Muir, G Lucas Patrick, DT Brian Price, WR Herb Waters and S Jermaine Whitehead to their practice squad.