1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: Hi, everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford, joined alongside my trusted colleague Wes Hodkowitz, 3 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 1: were coming to you here from our studios at lambeau 4 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 1: Field and West. It is a Tuesday, and in the 5 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: last a little less than forty eight hours, I guess 6 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:35,919 Speaker 1: I would say there's been a lot going on here 7 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 1: at Si Lombardi Avenue and cut to the chase. The 8 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:44,520 Speaker 1: Packers lose at home to the Arizona Cardinals, and within 9 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:46,879 Speaker 1: a couple of hours head coach Mike McCarthy has been 10 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 1: relieved of his duties and the Packers are moving on 11 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 1: and the eyes are on the future. They are Mike, 12 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: you obviously you know Mark Murphy, Brian Goodkins, all the 13 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: primary party spoke on Monday about where things are headed 14 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: and what the eye is with the future and in 15 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 1: building over these next four weeks. You know, Murphy, I 16 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: thought was pretty candid and explained his thinking well in 17 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 1: terms of what the thought process. Was certainly a very 18 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 1: difficult loss the Arizona Cardinals, a team that Murphy go 19 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: to kunst Uh Aaron Rodgers in the locker room afterwards 20 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 1: said they need to beat that team. They didn't get 21 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 1: it done, They didn't play well in that contest, and 22 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:28,760 Speaker 1: Murphy felt like the time was right, time was needed 23 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 1: to make a change, and it now becomes on Joe 24 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: Philbin will be the interim coach here for the rest 25 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:37,119 Speaker 1: of the month, and the Packers will get a chance 26 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 1: to begin their process now of selecting will eventually be 27 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: the fifteenth head coach with the Green Bay Packers. Yeah, 28 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,680 Speaker 1: And I think one thing Mark Murphy made pretty clear 29 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 1: is that no decision had been made that in as 30 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 1: much as the Packers had been struggling through the month 31 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:56,559 Speaker 1: of November, some close losses, tough losses on the road, 32 00:01:56,720 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: tough venues, all of that kind of stuff, there was 33 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: always the hope and the support to try to turn 34 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 1: things around, like the Packers did in sixteen when they 35 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 1: were four and six and ran the table the NFC Championship, 36 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:11,519 Speaker 1: Like the Packers and Mike McCarthy did in two thousand 37 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: and nine when they lost a terrible game mid season 38 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,959 Speaker 1: to a really bad Tampa Bay Buccaneers team and were 39 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 1: four and four, and people were wondering then about Mike 40 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 1: McCarthy's job security. Aaron Rodgers, in his second year as 41 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: the starting quarterback. Where is the franchise headed? They rip 42 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 1: off seven wins in their last eight regular season games, 43 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:30,920 Speaker 1: get to the playoffs, and that became the start of 44 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: eight consecutive postseason berths. There were other obviously low moments 45 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:38,239 Speaker 1: that Mike McCarthy, his leadership Aaron Rodgers that pulled the 46 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: Packers out of it. They weren't pulling out of it 47 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: this year. And essentially, when the decision was made then 48 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 1: that Mike McCarthy would not be the head coach in 49 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen, there was no point in hanging on and 50 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 1: having any kind of a cloud over the franchise over 51 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 1: the last month of what was going to happen, and 52 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: this and that, it's the decisions made you move on. 53 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: It's Joe Philbins team for the final month. He's auditioning 54 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:03,639 Speaker 1: in some respects to potentially be the head coach in 55 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen. But it was also stated pretty emphatically that 56 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 1: there's gonna be a wide net cast here, no no 57 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:14,960 Speaker 1: doors being closed, no parameters being put on the upcoming search. 58 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 1: As far as offense, defense, college experience, pro experience, UM, 59 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: the doors are wide open here. Mark Murphy, Brian gudunts 60 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: are going to go look for the next man to 61 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:26,800 Speaker 1: lead the Green Bay package. Yeah. Murphy also said that 62 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:30,519 Speaker 1: he and Brian also were in unison and in concert 63 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 1: with each other on Sunday night to make the decision 64 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: to remove Mike McCarthy's head coach. It's still somewhat surreal, 65 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: as you said, Mike, it's been forty eight hours later. 66 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: But obviously when you've had a man that's been in 67 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: that role for as many years as he was, Uh, 68 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: it's it's different. I think you felt that in the 69 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: locker room on Monday. Brian Bulaga was effusive in his praise. 70 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 1: I I give Blog a lot of credit. He's he's 71 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 1: stepped up and I think at at he's played well 72 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 1: on the field, but in the locker room he's really 73 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: been a voice in there this season and had to 74 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 1: talk through some really tough moments. And he said, you know, 75 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 1: when you look at McCarthy, it wasn't just the coach 76 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 1: he was. He was a phenomenal coach, but it was 77 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 1: also the man, and it was that man that steered 78 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: them through a lot of dark times, uh, in challenging 79 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: times over the last ten you know, ten twelve years 80 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 1: that being said, there is a lot of confidence in 81 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:18,719 Speaker 1: Joe Philbin. He's been there, a lot of these veterans 82 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 1: know him. The young players have been impressed by him. 83 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:25,040 Speaker 1: And although Philbin said this isn't about his future. This 84 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: he's not thinking about that. He doesn't really care to 85 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:31,280 Speaker 1: speak about what his chances are landing this job. He 86 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:33,920 Speaker 1: wants to get the team back on track. And while 87 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: he does that, Murphy Goodkins can start looking towards trying 88 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 1: to figure out what exactly they're looking for the next 89 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 1: head coach of the Green Bay Packers. One of the 90 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 1: things I wrote an insider inbox was that when you 91 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 1: look back at I think specifically the legacy of a 92 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 1: guy like Ted Thompson. He hired one head coach and 93 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 1: he drafted Aaron Rodgers with his first pick. That's set 94 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: the future this franchise up. That foundation that they still 95 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: stand on today was solid because of that. Now, in 96 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:06,159 Speaker 1: this next phase of this thing, Murphy and Goodacounts are 97 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:08,279 Speaker 1: gonna look to do the same thing. Yeah, and it 98 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:10,720 Speaker 1: sounds like it's going to be a collaborative effort. Mike 99 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 1: Mark Murphy questioned pretty fiercely. I guess you might say 100 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 1: in terms of why he's the one in charge of 101 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 1: making this decision, not Brian Goudacounts. But he said he's 102 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:22,480 Speaker 1: not going to hire a coach that Brian Goodacounts is 103 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 1: not comfortable with. That he used the phrase actively involved. 104 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: I I took it to mean that it's going to 105 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:31,919 Speaker 1: be a collaborative effort between the two of them, but 106 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 1: somebody has to have the final say, and the final 107 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:38,719 Speaker 1: say um the contract offers, so to speak, however that materializes, 108 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 1: is going to be made by Mark Murphy as the 109 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 1: Packers move forward here and as I said before, no 110 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:48,040 Speaker 1: parameters on it at this point, except he did clarify 111 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:50,679 Speaker 1: that it's not going to be a decision or anything 112 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 1: happening before the end of the regular season. It's something 113 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: that is going to carry um at least into January, 114 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 1: and a lot of a lot of other questions obviously 115 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 1: will come up between now and then, But the Packers 116 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 1: are in no rush to do this at this moment. Yeah, 117 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:07,960 Speaker 1: and especially with how attractive this job is going to 118 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 1: because here's the thing, Mike, and and the question was 119 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 1: asked a couple of times of Murphy and then also 120 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 1: to Aaron Rodgers in the locker room about how far 121 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:18,720 Speaker 1: away this team is. Would you qualify this as a rebuild, 122 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 1: and Rogers said he really doesn't view it like that. 123 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 1: He views it as Murphy's mindset is to win now. 124 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:26,600 Speaker 1: And and with having Rogers, they're having a promising young 125 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 1: running back with with Aaron Jones Davante Adams at the 126 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 1: peak of his powers. There are a lot of good, 127 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: strong playmakers on this team. I think there are a 128 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 1: few places the Packers this offseason need to fill some holes, 129 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,039 Speaker 1: need to build some depth. But overall, when you look 130 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 1: at when you when you set out on a path 131 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 1: to start building a team, if you're completely rebuilding, you 132 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 1: want your you want your quarterback, you want your receiver, 133 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 1: you want your left tackle, you want your cornerback. Packers 134 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,159 Speaker 1: have a lot of those guys, So it's just about 135 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 1: being finding the right person to bring them along. And 136 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: I was walking around at lambeau Field this morning, Mike 137 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 1: kind of just thinking to myself and working on a 138 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 1: story on Joe Philbin and and some other things that 139 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 1: I've been assigned, and I was thinking about this and 140 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 1: it really did hit me in that the Packers in 141 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: in the situation that they're in right now, Yes, it's 142 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 1: difficult and it's a tumultuous time. You don't like upheaval, 143 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: especially in season. But at the same time, this is 144 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: the first time they've really been able to press reset 145 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: in quite a while. And it is a it's a 146 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: year to year league. This wasn't the Packers year, But 147 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: I don't know if that necessarily means that next year 148 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 1: can't be. I think Mike McCarthy coming in two thousand 149 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 1: and six and you know, a year after that being 150 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 1: able to lead them the NFC Championship Games shows you 151 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 1: how quickly these things can turn around. But it is 152 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: all at this time about finding the right fit to 153 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: make that happen. Yeah, and I want to talk a 154 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: little bit more about what you said about about next year, 155 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 1: but to take care of some sponsor business. 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Try the delicious classic chicken noodle soup. Just 166 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: visit your local supermarket and ask for Campbell's Chunky Soup. 167 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 1: Official sup partner of the Green Bay Packers. I am 168 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 1: totally on board with you West with regards to the 169 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: fact that and what Aaron Rodgers said that this is 170 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 1: not a rebuild. There are pieces in place, and in 171 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 1: this league, things can turn around very, very quickly. The 172 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:40,679 Speaker 1: Packers are going to be going into an off season. 173 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 1: It will be Brian Goodakun's second offseason as general manager. 174 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:47,680 Speaker 1: We saw him make some aggressive moves in free agency. 175 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 1: Those will be obviously evaluated. Unfortunately one of those ended 176 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:56,560 Speaker 1: an injury with Mohammed Wilkerson. You know, Um, But the 177 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: approach in the off season is going to we already 178 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 1: aw in Goudacum's first offseason it was a very different 179 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:06,440 Speaker 1: approach and he's going to He's also going to be 180 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 1: going into this next draft with two first round picks, 181 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 1: both the Packers and the New Orleans Saints. Um, so 182 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 1: as it looks right now, one of those will be 183 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 1: in the top half of the first round, the other 184 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 1: one obviously in the bottom half of the first round. 185 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 1: But at the end of the day, it's two first 186 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 1: round picks. It's two of the first you know, two 187 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 1: and a half dozen players to come off the board. 188 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:33,199 Speaker 1: The opportunity, the opportunity is here to makeen the anomaly. 189 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:36,679 Speaker 1: And I know was also a losing season, but when 190 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 1: you lose your starting quarterback games, okay, that didn't work out, 191 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 1: that that sort of falls into a different category. But 192 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 1: the opportunity is here to make um the exception not 193 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 1: the rule for the Green Bay Packers. And that's when 194 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 1: when this bad season hit rock bottom with a loss 195 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 1: to an Arizona Cardinals team that should not be able 196 00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 1: to come into Lambolefield in December and beat the Packers. 197 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 1: When you hit rock bottom, then it's like, okay, it's uh, 198 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 1: it's time to move on and and and not wait 199 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 1: around and uh. And the reason the decision is being 200 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 1: made now is because Murphy and Goudacount's believe that this 201 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:15,440 Speaker 1: team is not as far away as a four seven 202 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 1: and one record might suggest. Well, and it's not going 203 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:20,320 Speaker 1: to get a lot of headlines because of how things 204 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 1: have gone this season. I know a lot of people 205 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 1: like to bring up the two thousand fifteen draft and 206 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 1: how that didn't really work out for the Packers, but 207 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 1: you know, two thousand sixteen was a strong draft for them. 208 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,959 Speaker 1: You're seeing Kenny Clark really become his own player, one 209 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 1: of the top nosed tackles in this league. Dean Lowry 210 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,199 Speaker 1: has three sacks in the last four games. Blake Martinez 211 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 1: has turned into their every down inside linebacker. I think 212 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 1: the early returns on this eighteen draft, the first one 213 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 1: of Brian Goodacunst, have been really good. Alexander like a 214 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 1: legitimate shut down cornerback in this league. He's twenty one 215 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 1: years young, carries himself like a thirty year old All pro. Uh, 216 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: there is a lot to build around when you're just 217 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 1: talking about trying to find more playmakers, find guys to 218 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:02,199 Speaker 1: build a defense around, find players to potentially be able 219 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: to put around Aaron Rodgers. It's all right in front 220 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:07,560 Speaker 1: of them in that regard. So yeah, I think getting 221 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:10,439 Speaker 1: two picks in the first round, I've said it since 222 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 1: Goodkin's made the trade. You go back to the last 223 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 1: time the Packers did. It was two thousand nine. Now, 224 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:18,200 Speaker 1: mind you what happened on the day of the draft 225 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:20,360 Speaker 1: when they moved up to get Clay Matthews. But when 226 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 1: they took two stabs at it, Ted Thompson set the 227 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 1: foundation there for a couple of top five, top ten 228 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 1: defenses for a couple of seasons with Clay Matthews and 229 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 1: b J. Rogie. So yeah, I don't I don't think 230 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 1: it's that far away. The bigger thing for the Packers. 231 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:37,559 Speaker 1: I think, looking more at the immediate what's in front 232 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:40,200 Speaker 1: of us as it stands is, and I wrote about 233 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 1: this an inbox, it's a matter of pride right now. 234 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 1: There's a lot of prideful people in there that have 235 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 1: been to the top of the mountain, that know what 236 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:49,960 Speaker 1: it feels like to be a world champion, that now 237 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:52,320 Speaker 1: for the first time, are going to be challenged here 238 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:54,680 Speaker 1: for four or three or four games to play the 239 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:58,199 Speaker 1: string out too, to not be in quote unquote playoff 240 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 1: company contention. I understand there's a percentage chance right now, 241 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:03,960 Speaker 1: but but that I think is gonna be the biggest thing. 242 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 1: And that's where a guy like Joe Philbin, the way 243 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 1: he carries himself, I said, he's the epitome of class. 244 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 1: It's gonna be up to him. Mike Petton runs up 245 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 1: to be able to rally the troops here, finish this 246 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 1: season strong, and then, you know, maybe try to find 247 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: some momentum to be able to build into this offseason. Well, 248 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 1: let's be honest, your west. If you're a player in 249 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 1: the Packers locker room and you're not a veteran player 250 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: with a secure contract so to speak, just to put 251 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 1: guys in a certain category, these last these last four games, 252 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:36,560 Speaker 1: there's nothing more competitive than NFL football and roster spots 253 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 1: and anybody's future in this league. You're talking about a 254 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:42,440 Speaker 1: new draft class that comes in every year, undrafted rookies, 255 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 1: free agent signings, everything else. The guys in that locker room, 256 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:49,199 Speaker 1: you know, it's what you put on video. Now these 257 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 1: last four games, there's gonna be there's gonna be new leadership. 258 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:55,480 Speaker 1: There's been change, but how you finished this season, both 259 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 1: individually and collectively, is going to go a long way 260 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,320 Speaker 1: towards some of the decisions that are made in the 261 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 1: off season. And and these players are not are not 262 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: naive to that fact. So while some people out there 263 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 1: maybe wondering, well, you know, do you just do you 264 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: just sit Aaron Rodgers and you know, play all these 265 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 1: young guys you know, and and look towards the future 266 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:18,560 Speaker 1: and play it like preseason games. I'm not saying those 267 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 1: young guys aren't going to get a certain amount of 268 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:23,600 Speaker 1: reps and snaps and stuff, but you also have to 269 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:26,360 Speaker 1: find out if the players that you have in that 270 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: locker room right now, if under some different leadership, if 271 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 1: there is more to get out of them, and if 272 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:34,559 Speaker 1: there is and if they are going to be part 273 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:37,720 Speaker 1: of the future. And that's what Brian Goodakutsen his personnel 274 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 1: staff are going to be watching over these final four games. Absolutely, 275 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 1: it's a great point you make, and in looking at 276 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers specifically, Joe Witt said it, to the best 277 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 1: of his knowledge, he's not in any increased danger right 278 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:50,560 Speaker 1: now playing through that knee injury that hurt him, you know, 279 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:53,080 Speaker 1: bothered him early in the season. He even said he 280 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:55,640 Speaker 1: looked as mobile, as active in the pocket as he's 281 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 1: been all season in that game against Arizona. So if 282 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:01,840 Speaker 1: there's no ad at injury concerned there with Rogers for 283 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:04,439 Speaker 1: the long term, he's going to play, and he's gonna 284 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 1: play one because he's the leader of the team and 285 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 1: that's what he's paid to do. But too, I don't 286 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:10,439 Speaker 1: think it would be fair to a guy like Davante 287 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 1: Adams to sit Aaron Rodgers at the juncture the season. 288 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:15,199 Speaker 1: Davante Adams has laid it on the line for you 289 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:18,079 Speaker 1: every single week, and yeah, he wants to win, Yes 290 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 1: he wants to be in the playoffs. Yes he wants 291 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 1: to be able to get a Super Bowl ring. But 292 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 1: the fact of the matter is Davante Adams put together 293 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:27,200 Speaker 1: a pretty special season. We talked about it as recently 294 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: as last week, where he's lined up right now a 295 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: hundred yards season, potentially setting new franchise records. You want 296 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: to give him the opportunity to do that, to finish strong, 297 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: to put together that complete season that kind of has 298 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: eluded him in the past for one reason or another. 299 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 1: You also want to get guys like Jake Kumero some 300 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 1: snaps here. Listen, Mike, and I said this to you 301 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 1: earlier this week. It's a great story. It's phenomenal what 302 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 1: he's been able to do and get to this level. 303 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 1: We gotta see if he can do it in the 304 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 1: NFL regular season. Now, you need to give him that chance. 305 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 1: You need to be able to see exactly what you 306 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:00,520 Speaker 1: have going into the preseason next year. Robert Tany and 307 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 1: some of these guys on the defensive side of the ball. 308 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 1: Tyler Lancaster, how does he fit into a potential rotation 309 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: moving forward. All those things are so critical right now 310 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 1: because here's the reality of it, Mike, the Packers playoff 311 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 1: chances could go to zero depending on a couple of 312 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:17,520 Speaker 1: scenarios after this weekend, and there aren't a whole lot 313 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 1: of play the teams on this list coming up that 314 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 1: you're gonna be able to play spoiler For the Jets 315 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 1: and in Lions, their seasons are pretty much are what 316 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 1: they are. So it's a matter of being able to 317 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 1: get up for those contests and show what your metal, 318 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 1: show what you're made of, and being able to to 319 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:34,640 Speaker 1: prove to Brian Goodickun's and the guys in that locker 320 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 1: room that I deserve to be a part of the 321 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 1: long term pans of the Green Bay Packers. Yeah, I 322 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 1: totally agree with you. One thing I want to do 323 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 1: before we go today, though, is just to reflect for 324 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 1: a few moments on the Mike McCarthy tenure here in 325 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 1: Green Bay, because there aren't a lot of guys in 326 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: this league who get their first head coaching job as 327 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 1: Mike McCarthy did in two thousand six. And last, this 328 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:59,280 Speaker 1: is a guy. This is a guy who is the 329 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 1: second long is tenured coach in Packers history. Second most 330 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 1: victories are five in the regular season plus ten in 331 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 1: the postseason, obviously a Super Bowl championship, mentioned the eight 332 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 1: straight playoff berths, four trips to the NFC Championship Game. 333 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 1: But even all that said, West, what I'm going to 334 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 1: remember about Mike McCarthy are the times that his leadership 335 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 1: was so sorely needed and he came through to lead 336 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 1: this team through some tough times. And I'm talking about 337 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 1: not just four and six and run the table in 338 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 1: but the failed Merry Game in two thousand twelve, when 339 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 1: everything could have completely fallen apart um from um, from 340 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: just an attitude and leadership standpoint, amongst many people in 341 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 1: the organization, Mike McCarthy was the one who stood there 342 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 1: and gave the most dignified response to the whole thing. 343 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 1: And what ends up happening, the Packers still go to 344 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 1: the playoffs. In two thousand twelve, they put they put 345 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 1: that behind him. I mentioned the Tampa Bay loss in 346 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 1: in two thousand and nine when Tampa Bay was winless 347 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 1: and they were having a first year of first start 348 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: for a rookie quarterback, and the Packers went down and 349 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 1: lost that game, and everybody wondered where that was going. 350 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 1: And this is the head coach who had insisted on 351 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:18,879 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers was ready in two thousand and eight. This 352 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:21,160 Speaker 1: was the guy a year and a half into that 353 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 1: two thousand and eight and half of two thousand nine, 354 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 1: everybody was wondering where this was going. And then we 355 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 1: saw where it was going after that. So and I 356 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 1: could go on and on about the list, but those 357 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 1: are the things that I'm going to remember about Mike McCarthy. Yes, 358 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 1: things went south in it happens in this league. It 359 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:40,160 Speaker 1: happens to the best coaches in this league. It doesn't 360 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:42,679 Speaker 1: mean that Mike McCarthy doesn't know how to coach. I 361 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 1: think he's going to get another job this offseason if 362 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 1: he wants one, and I would expect him to be 363 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:52,440 Speaker 1: successful again. But but there's things aren't Things don't feel 364 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:54,960 Speaker 1: good right now, but in time, there's gonna be a 365 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:58,400 Speaker 1: lot of really really neat stuff to remember about these 366 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:00,960 Speaker 1: thirteen seasons with Mike McCarthy and Mark Murphy said it 367 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:02,479 Speaker 1: to and when you look at what Andy Reid has 368 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: done now going to Kansas City, these guys, you know, 369 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:08,920 Speaker 1: the truly elite coaches find ways to make it work 370 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 1: in other locations. And Mike McCarthy again, if he wants 371 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 1: to do that, we'll see exactly where his heart lies 372 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 1: and what he wants to do. As far as his 373 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 1: next step, that's certainly available to him. And you you 374 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 1: raise a great point. I think two thousand eight is 375 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 1: something that always is going to stand out to me. 376 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 1: The conviction he had in his system in the development 377 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:27,960 Speaker 1: of Aaron Rodgers to push forward with that. You know 378 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 1: what this league is like, Mike. It would have been 379 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:32,639 Speaker 1: really easy to roll over, just say yep, come back, Brett, 380 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: lose Aaron Rodgers a year or two later, and then 381 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:39,880 Speaker 1: then you gave up arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history. Um, 382 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:42,199 Speaker 1: But him and Ted Thompson stayed true to that. They 383 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:44,480 Speaker 1: stayed true to themselves in two thousand and sixteen, through 384 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:46,679 Speaker 1: the ups and downs. They did it in two thousand nine, 385 00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:50,120 Speaker 1: two thousand that regard, I give him all the credit 386 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 1: in the world. From a personal perspective, mine is a 387 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:55,800 Speaker 1: little bit different because I was on the other side 388 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 1: of this thing for a number of years, covered him 389 00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 1: critically for five years. I wrote all the story in 390 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:03,880 Speaker 1: two thousand fifteen about where is this team heading? Are 391 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 1: they lose? Is he losing it? How are they falling apart? 392 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 1: They started six and oh and now you're you're scrambling 393 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 1: and he brought him back. And the thing that's always 394 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:14,200 Speaker 1: gonna stand out to me after I got hired here 395 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:16,840 Speaker 1: at Packers dot Com, set up in his office with 396 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:22,160 Speaker 1: him and talked for a while a long time about 397 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:25,160 Speaker 1: my life, where I was at, where my family was at, 398 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 1: my decision for coming on board. And I gotta give 399 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:31,400 Speaker 1: Mike McCarthy a lot of credit for how welcoming he 400 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:34,879 Speaker 1: was too, an outsider uh that asked a lot of 401 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 1: tough questions and wrote a lot of uh interesting stories 402 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:43,680 Speaker 1: over the years. UM but yet always was incredibly welcoming 403 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 1: to me and asking me, regardless of what the win 404 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 1: loss record was or what the result had been the 405 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: night before, how I was doing, how my family was doing, 406 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 1: what my plans were for the off season. Gonna miss 407 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 1: those conversations and uh, I dealt. Mike McCarthy's a loyal 408 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:01,080 Speaker 1: viewer of Packers Unscripted. But I have yeah, I have 409 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:04,119 Speaker 1: a feeling he's not. But he's okay. I don't blame him. 410 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:09,480 Speaker 1: I got Ben Sheets to send me an autographs. It 411 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 1: has it has special power sometimes. But yeah, if he's 412 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 1: out there checking us out, big thank you to him 413 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:16,679 Speaker 1: for that, all right, and we will call it a 414 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:19,639 Speaker 1: wrap with that on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be 415 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:21,879 Speaker 1: sure to follow all of our coverage of the team 416 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 1: on Packers dot com on Twitter. He's at west Hot, 417 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:26,840 Speaker 1: I'm at Mike Spofford at Packers for the team account. 418 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 1: Thanks for tuning in, everybody. We'll see you next time.