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Packers end three-game slide

By

Joe Philbin

The Green Bay Packers’ three-game losing streak is history.  Aaron Rodgers threw a pair of touchdown passes as the Packers build a 34-7 lead and held on for a 34-20 victory on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Aaron Jones also added 78 yards rushing and a touchdown for the Packers, while Bashaud Breeland returned an interception 22 yards for a touchdown.  The Packers improved to 5-7-1 with the victory, giving coach Joe Philbin his first victory as interim head coach.

Matt Ryan passed for three touchdowns for Atlanta, but two of them came in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach.

Julio Jones finished with eight receptions for 106 yards and two scores for the Falcons, who have now dropped five-straight games.

The Packers improved to 5-1-1 at home this season and will travel to Chicago on Sunday to face the Bears.

Rodgers breaks passing record

Aaron Rodgers has now thrown more consecutive passes without an interception than any quarterback in NFL history.  Rodgers finished 21-of-32, breaking Tom Brady’s record of 358 passes without a pick from 2010 to 2011.

Packers begin search for their next coach

By

Packers President Mark Murphy

Whether or not Green Bay Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy should have waited until the end of the season to fire Mike McCarthy as opposed to his doing so after last Sunday’s 20-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals is still being debated.  But Murphy admitted during a news conference on Monday that Sunday’s listless performance was the last straw and a move had to be made.

“In evaluating the season, I really felt that change was needed and kind of Mike’s tenure had run its course,” Murphy said.  “And quite honestly the performance on Sunday night to me made it very clear that a coaching change was needed.”

Contrary to what has been widely reported over the last several weeks, Mark Murphy said quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn’t get Mike McCarthy fired.

Rodgers was asked on Monday if he was the reason for Mike McCarthy’s dismissal. [Read more…]

Philbin isn’t concerned with Packers job candidacy

By

Joe Philbin

Joe Philbin was emotional during his press conference Monday, discussing his role as Interim Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers,  He choked up when discussing the dismissal of his long-time friend, Mike McCarthy.

A short time earlier, team President and CEO Mark Murphy said he would keep an eye on Philbin over the final four weeks of the season and considered the 57-year-old to be a candidate for the team’s head coaching vacancy.

When asked about the possibility of this being an audition for the permanent head coach, Philbin dismissed the notion.

“My ambition in 2018 right now is to help this team play its best football of the year.  Period,” Philbin said.  “And the future’s the future.  We’ll deal with that as it comes.” [Read more…]

Packers make coaching change, fire McCarthy

By

Mike McCarthy fired as head coach of the Packers.

Following Sunday’s 20-17 Packers loss to the Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field, Green Bay President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Murphy announced the immediate firing of head coach Mike McCarthy.  He named offensive coordinator Joe Philbin as the teams interim head coach.

In a statement from the Packers, Murphy 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.  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.  We want to thank Mike, his wife, Jessica, and the rest of the McCarthy family for all that they have done for the Packers and the Green Bay and Wisconsin communities.  We will immediately begin the process of selecting the next head coach of the Green Bay Packers.”

McCarthy is the first Packers coach to be fired in-season since Gene Ronzani departed with two games left in the 1953 season.

McCarthy led the Packers to a Super Bowl title in 2010.  He departs with a 125-77-2 record in Green Bay, the second-best win total in franchise history behind Curly Lambeau (209-104-21).  Under McCarthy, the Packers also won six NFC North division titles and advanced to four NFC championship games.

Mark Murphy is scheduled to meet with reporters at 1:45 p.m. on Monday.

Packers playoff hopes hanging by a thread

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Aaron Rodgers File Photo – UPI/Bill Greenblatt

The Green Bay Packers dropped their sixth straight road game this season, falling to the Minnesota Vikings 24-17 at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday night.  The Packers (4-6-1) now need to win all five of their remaining games and get help to find a spot into the post season playoffs.

The Packers were quick to start again, jumping out to 7-0 and 14-7 leads, but like previous games, the Packers fell apart.  Nothing seemed to go right for the Packers the rest of the way.

The Green Bay defense couldn’t get a take/away, while Tramon Williams turned it over on a punt return which gave the ball back to the Vikings.  Minnesota wouldn’t score after going for it on fourth and short, but they did take more time off the clock. [Read more…]

Perry to I.R., out for the year

By

Nick Perry

The Green Bay Packers placed outside linebacker Nick Perry on injured reserve, ending his season.  Perry missed the last game against Seattle with a knee injury.  He finishes the season with just 1 1/2 sacks and 15 tackles.

The Packers promoted their seventh-round draft pick out of Californian, defensive lineman James Looney to the active roster from the practice squad.

Looney gives the Packers a little help on the defensive line after Mike Daniels went down with a foot injury and could be out for the remainder of the season.

The Packers will face the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday night.

 

Packers activate Kumerow from I.R.

By

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jake Kumerow, who was placed on injured reserve September 3 with a chest injury, practiced for the first time on Wednesday.  He becomes the second player to return via the designated-to-return option with Trevor Davis being the other.  It puts the Packers out of return moves, meaning even if they make the playoffs, Geronimo Allison would not be able to rejoin the team.

Kumerow would become the seventh wide receiver on the roster if activated in time for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Kumerow said he is good to go for Sunday, although it might be a stretch for the Packers to activate him after just three days of practice.  If the Packers do make a move with Kumerow, they’ll have to clear a spot on the 53-man roster for him.

The Packers will practice early on Thursday and then again on Saturday, before departing for Minneapolis for Sunday nights game against the Vikings.

Packers dealing with more injuries as they prepare for Vikings

By

Mike Daniels

As the Green Bay Packers get ready to face the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night at U.S. Bank Stadium, they may have to add some defensive line help.

Defensive tackle Mike Daniels left Thursday’s game at Seattle with a foot injury and Monday, coach Mike McCarthy said Daniels would likely miss a couple of weeks.  Down to four healthy defensive lineman, McCarthy said he and GM Brian Gutekunst were already discussing their options to potentially add another lineman.

Tight end Jimmy Graham also left that game with a broken thumb.  Coach Mike McCarthy said Graham plans to try to play on Sunday against the Vikings and will use the week to experiment with different splints to find out what works best for the game.

The Packers also lost backups Raven Greene and Bashaud Breeland to injury during last Thursday’s game.  McCarthy said the week will offer more clarity on who may be able to go Sunday night in Minnesota. [Read more…]

Packers lose in Seattle with another second half disappearing act

By

Aaron Rodgers (File Photo)

The Seattle Seahawks fumbled the football away on their very first play from scrimmage.  The Packers recovered and jumped out to a 14-3 lead.  Green Bay would lead 21-17 at halftime, then came the disappearing act.

The Packers managed just three points and three first downs in the second half and fell to the Seahawks 27-24 at CenturyLink Field.  After a Mason Crosby field goal, the Packers punted five straight times and walked away with their 5th (0-5) road loss this season.

Aaron Rodgers threw short at the feet of Marquez Valdes-Scantling on third-and-2 near their own 30-yard-line.  The Packers opted to punt the ball away more than four minutes to play and never got it back.

Aaron Rodgers completed 21 of 30 for 332 yards and two touchdowns, but both of the scoring strikes came in the first half.

Rodgers body language in the second half was that of a frustrated quarterback.  He sulked throughout and the once high-powered Packers offense resigned itself to another meltdown. [Read more…]

Packers Hall of Fame to induct Ted Thompson

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Ted Thompson (right)

The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Inc. announced today that it will induct former Packers executive vice president, general manager and director of football operations Ted Thompson at the 49th Hall of Fame Induction Banquet.  The banquet will be held in the Lambeau Field Atrium Saturday, May 4, 2019.

“I think it’s one of those things that’s too big to think about, really, for one person.  You just don’t think in those large of terms.  I had trouble believing it was true,” Thompson said on being selected for induction.  “You think about all the great players that have come through here and done great things, and you’re not one of those people.  These are great idols, and I’m just a scout. But anyway, I was very fired up about it though.  I mean it surprised me, but I was very, very excited.

“I’m proud of this team.  I’m proud of the contributions we made, and it’s a big thing in my opinion…It’s a neat thing to be part of the Green Bay Packers, to be a little part of what made this a great place.”

The banquet, which had previously taken place in July for many years, now will be held annually in May to better accommodate the football and summer schedules.