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LaFleur needs to get Rodgers back to his elite self

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New Packers head coach Matt LaFleur

Green Bay Packers President & CEO Mark Murphy said several weeks ago that the teams search for a new head coach wouldn’t center around quarterback Aaron Rodgers approval, but they would welcome the quarterback’s input.

But who was Murphy kidding.  The number one job for new 39-year-old head coach Matt LaFleur is to get the Packers back into the playoffs with a chance to win championships.  To do that, LaFleur needs to figure out how to get Rodgers to return to the elite form that he possessed not to long ago.

Murphy and his management team know that as well.  Even before he offered the job to LaFleur on Monday, general manager Brian Gutekunst was told to call LaFleur to have a discussion.  That phone call was the start of the relationship building process between the two and it will need to grow leaps and bounds in the coming months as the Packers push towards the 2019 season.

At his introductory press conference on Wednesday, LaFleur acknowledged that it’ll be important to build a relationship with every player on the team.  But he also knows it starts with Rodgers. [Read more…]

Packers mail it in, crushed by Lions 31-0

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DeShone Kizer

With nothing left to play for, the Green Bay Packers capped off the 2018 season with a 31-0 loss to the Detroit Lions in the season finale at Lambeau Field.

The Packers lost quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a concussion early in the second quarter and any hopes of pulling off a comeback came to a quick end.

Concerning though is the fact that the Lions entered the game with just as many injuries as the Packers and just five wins.  Yet they didn’t lay down, sweeping the season series with the Packers for the second straight year.

The Lions totaled 402 yards of offense, while the Packers were able to muster just 175.  The Lions converted 7 of 13 third downs against the Packers defense and scored a touchdown on a fake field goal, adding to the Packers season-long issues on special teams. [Read more…]

Packers begin search for their next coach

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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

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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

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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 stay in house, selecting Brian Gutekunst as next GM

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Brian Gutekunst

The Green Bay Packers didn’t take long to find their new General Manager.  Team President Mark Murphy has decided on long-time scout Brian Gutekunst to replace former G.M. Ted Thompson.  The Packers are expected to make the announcement official today.

Gutekunst was chosen over fellow in-house candidates Russ Ball and Eliot Wolf.

The 44-year-old Gutekunst gets a five-year contract with the Packers and presumably will suit head coach Mike McCarthy just fine.  Last week, McCarthy repeatedly sent the message that Thompson’s successor needed to be a good fit with the coach.  It is likely that McCarthy’s comments last week at least had some influence on hiring Gutekunst, not to mention contacting the Seattle Seahawks about the availability of their general manager John Schneider.

Gutekunst becomes the sixth scout hired by Ron wolf to go on to become a general manager in the NFL.

Now the pressure is on McCarthy, who still needs to hire coaching staff replacements in a number of areas, including coordinators on both sides of the ball.  McCarthy has two years left on his contract. [Read more…]

The search is on for a new GM in Green Bay

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Mark Murphy

The Green Bay Packers made it official today, announcing Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson will transition to a role as senior advisor to football operations.

Packers team President/CEO Mark Murphy addressed the media on Tuesday afternoon regarding the move.

“I want to thank Ted for his tireless efforts as the general manager of the Green Bay Packers for these past 13 seasons.  Under his guidance, the Packers enjoyed a remarkable run of success, one that included our 13th world championship, four NFC Championship appearances and eight consecutive postseason berths,” said Murphy. “The organization, our fans and our community were fortunate to have had one of the NFL’s all-time great general managers leading our football operations.”

During the press conference, Murphy revealed that he will use a consultant, Jed Hughes from Korn Ferry, to help him, but stressed that “I will make the decision” on the GM hire.

Murphy said he’ll begin the interview process for GM “very quickly” and that the hire would be made “as soon as possible”. [Read more…]

Thompson steps down from GM post

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Ted Thompson

It would appear that the Green Bay Packers are serious about shaking things up after a disappointing 7-9 season that saw them miss the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

The NFL Network first reported that GM Ted Thompson would step down and a search for his replacement would begin immediately.  Thompson’s contract is set to expire after next season and he’s expected to move into an advisory position within the personnel department.

The search won’t be limited to just in-house candidates.  That list includes director of football operations Eliot Wolf, director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst, senior personnel advisor Alonzo Highsmith and vice president of football administration/player finance Russ Ball.

Among the top candidates outside of the organization are Minnesota assistant general manager George Paton, Eagles vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas and Baltimore Ravens assistant general manager Eric DeCosta.

Also to be considered is what to do with head coach Mike McCarthy, who is entering the final year of his contract.  Team president Mark Murphy must decide whether to extend McCarthy’s contract regardless of who the new GM is, or he can leave McCarthy’s fate in the hands of the new GM.

Thompson was hired by Ron Wolf in 1992 and stayed with the Packers until 2000, when he left to join former Packers coach Mike Holmgren with the Seattle Seahawks.  Thompson served as Seattle’s vice president of football operations until 2005 when he was hired to take over the general manager position in Green Bay.

Mark Murphy is expected to meet with reporters to discuss the latest move on Tuesday.

 

 

Former Packers president Parins dies

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Robert Parins – Photo Courtesy of the Green Bay Packers

The first full-time president of the Green Bay Packers, Judge Robert J. Parins, died on Friday at the age of 98.

Parins was elected team president in 1982, 16 years after he was voted to the Packers’ board of directors.  He was named a director emeritus in 1994 after serving on the board of directors for 28 years and was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1998.

“Judge Parins was an excellent leader of the Packers, creating a foundation for the team’s successful organizational structure,” Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy said in a statement.

“His contributions during his time as president, board member and director emeritus over the course of 50 years were transformative, and we are extremely grateful for his dedication.”

Parins retired as team president in 1989 and was elected honorary chairman of the board.  Bob Harlan was elected to succeed him.

Parins graduated from Green Bay East High School in 1936 and attended law school at Wisconsin.  He served as a Brown County circuit judge from 1968 to 1982.

 

Ticket prices on the rise in Green Bay

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Green Bay Packers season ticket holders will have to dig a little deeper again this season.  The Packers announced they are increasing ticket prices by $7 across the board.

This is the eighth straight season the prices have gone up at Lambeau Field.

Packers President and CEO mark Murphy said the team wants to keep prices in the middle of the NFL.

For Green Package holders with six regular-season games and one preseason, it means an increase of $49 per seat for the season.  For Gold Package buyers with two regular-season games and one preseason, the total will be $21 for the season.