Mike McCarthy on NFC Championship Game Win

by Brandon on Jan 24, 2011 7:01 AM CST in Green Bay Packers News

Mike McCarthy obviously had a lot to talk about after the Green Bay Packers won the NFC Championship game. But I noted a few items in particular. The complete transcript is at Packers.com.

"Rodgers' big tackle - you would hope that wouldn't be in the "big play" category." I had thought about that play at the time, but I really kept thinking back on the interception. If QB Aaron Rodgers hadn't tripped up LB Brian Urlacher, he was on his way to the end zone. The Bears did nothing after the turnover, it was one of QB Todd Collins's failed drives, but at least the Packers kept a 14-0 lead at the time.

"We lost Chad Clifton on the touchdown, and we really didn't get back into the balance and rhythm that we had on the first drive." I'd agree at least as far as the second possession, when LT T.J. Lang had some obvious trouble stopping DE Julius Peppers. I wouldn't have blamed it any further during the game, and Clifton returned by the second quarter.

"[Rodgers] took a good hit. He's fine. I was talking to him afterwards and in the locker room. He feels pretty good right now." This was my biggest concern. Rodgers didn't do anything after he took that helmet-to-helmet hit from Peppers with about 11 minutes to go. He should have been taken out if he had a concussion, but apparently he didn't have one.

"Sam [Shields], for a rookie - and I told a couple other rookies this - you have no idea what you've accomplished here in your first year." There is a question mark over this rookie class until DE Mike Neal and S Morgan Burnett return from their injuries next season. But Shields has been amazing as a rookie. Sometimes undrafted players like CB Tramon Williams emerge after a couple seasons, but not immediately. Especially a project like Shields who barely played cornerback in college.

"I guess now we have to throw [B.J. Raji] the ball, since he's shown he can catch and score." He played again on offense this week, and he came in as an eligible receiver. Maybe he can surprise us in the Super Bowl.

"LB Erik Walden had an ankle and did not return." LB Robert Francois did little as his replacement, but he was the only healthy linebacker left. I thought Walden might have aggravated his previous injury, but this is a new one. Now he's got a sore shoulder and ankle.

(On how it would feel to win against the Steelers). "Well......we will get into that tonight, maybe. We will discuss that when it comes." Mike McCarthy was born in Pittsburgh.

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I'm a man of few words

So I’ll just say:

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by salparadise23 on Jan 24, 2011 7:05 AM CST reply actions

+wooooo

"Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser." - Vince Lombardi

by AdamA on Jan 24, 2011 10:25 AM CST up reply actions

yeah,

rodgers was having a rough go in the second half even before that peppers hit. the bears really figured some things out on defense at halftime, evidently.

"You can't get a job without experience and you can't get experience until you have a job. Once you solve that problem you are home free." -Jack Buck

by threadkiller on Jan 24, 2011 7:35 AM CST reply actions

I still find it hard to believe Rodgers didn't suffer a concussion there

That hit looked worse than both of his previous concussions, and it almost knocked his helmet right off…

I thought it was supposed to get easier to get a concussion after every time you have one?

I get the feeling he got one but played it off because he didn’t wanna take a chance of being pulled out of the game by team doctors…

Personally I was begging for them to put Flynn in and take him out, they didn’t need to put anymore points up, they just needed to manage the game and run the clock… and Flynn has already shown himself to be a capable game manager.

I just don’t like taking a chance with our franchise player when it’s not ultimately important that he’s in there… but if a guy won’t admit he’s hurt then what can you do? I was mostly worried about second impact syndrome if he took another hit (if you take another really hard head shot before recovering from a concussion, the net result can be the equivalent of like 4 concussions… Hopefully he doesn’t take too bad of a beating from Pittsburgh

by Sheegan on Jan 24, 2011 7:50 AM CST reply actions

Actually, to correct myself

Second impact syndrome usually results in either death or significant brain damage

by Sheegan on Jan 24, 2011 7:53 AM CST up reply actions

There's plenty of evidence that concussions are extremely dangerous later in life.

Football players have tons of health problems because of the beatings they take.

Scientists believe that the first human being to live 150 years has already been born. I believe I am that human being.

by DCO'sfan on Jan 24, 2011 8:42 AM CST up reply actions

Just listen to Troy Aikman announce a game for proof.

by GinSlinger on Jan 24, 2011 9:19 AM CST up reply actions

Haha, so true.

My Redskins homerism makes me hate him even more than most fans.

Scientists believe that the first human being to live 150 years has already been born. I believe I am that human being.

by DCO'sfan on Jan 24, 2011 9:40 AM CST up reply actions

HA! Love it!

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Jan 24, 2011 9:41 AM CST up reply actions

Rodgers has a new helmet designed to limit concussions

Brian Westbrook has a vaunted history of concussions, but that doesn’t mean every hit in the head he receives results in one. Not all hits to the head are created equal, and not every hit to the head results in a concussion.

by Danwood on Jan 24, 2011 7:54 AM CST up reply actions

Concussion

I too was worried about a concussion. a 3rd would have kept him out of the Super Bowl. But, after watching replays, the hit came to the cheek part of the helmet and was’nt high enough to hit his head. Rattled him a good one and nearly took his helmet off but since the hit was on the lower part of the helmet he’ll be fine.
What I didn’t get is why Peppers was crying about the flag as was the bears coaching staff and Urlacher thinking it should not have been flagged. That was clearly a penalty and will probably result in a fine for Peppers.

by GBWISFAN on Jan 24, 2011 8:19 AM CST up reply actions

Not only that

But there was also a facemask on the same play.

by drezdn on Jan 24, 2011 8:31 AM CST up reply actions

Agreed...

and you know he did that crap on purpose. He knew what he was doing. You never saw him try to lower his head. That said. Im glad hes alright and…
WOOOOOOOO! We’re in the Super Bowl!!!

by RaY210 on Jan 24, 2011 8:36 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

Should have been ejected

isnt that a textbook example of what to do to get yourself ejected according to the NFL? He had a direct line to the blind side of an unprotected QB, he lead with his helmet, with his face down, and boom. Helmet to Helmet, should have been an ejection in my opinion. Then again there probably would have been a riot since the bear and their fans, and coaches seemed to think it was a great play. The fact that they where so pissed about even getting a penalty on the play was sickning.

by MikeyG76 on Jan 24, 2011 10:34 AM CST up reply actions

Short of a decapitation

No NFL Ref is going to eject a player in the *FC Championship Game or Superbowl.

by Danwood on Jan 24, 2011 10:58 AM CST up reply actions

No ejection needed

But it probably merits a fine of some sort.

And as for the complaining on that drive, the Bears have got to be the whiniest team in the NFL (the Vikings, of course, have the whiniest fans). Can you imagine how hard they’d be crying if they had 18 penalties called on them against the Packers?

by Cheeseandcorn on Jan 24, 2011 11:28 AM CST up reply actions

There were a couple other helmet to helmet hits out there

I remember it was one of our WR on one of the first drives, he caught it near the endzone and got hit pretty squarly on the head… needless to say, Troy and Joe said nothing.

by Chief Oshkosh on Jan 24, 2011 1:07 PM CST up reply actions

If I'm McCarthy or a Packers linemen

After that hit on Rodgers, I would have sent a scrub in on the next play to take a shot at Peppers’ knee. Send a message to future opponents (like say, James Harrison) that if you are thinking about a cheap shot that could end our QB’s season/career you WILL pay for it.

You can’t let them get away with that crap and you can’t expect the officials or the NFL will protect you. You think Wayne Gretzky could have played as long as he did without some goons making sure no one took too many cheap shots at him?

53 Bears, 1 Cup

by I voted for Kodos on Jan 24, 2011 12:02 PM CST up reply actions

That was one knock against Gretzky

That he wasn’t a “complete player” since he never had to mix it up on his own. So it was amusing to see him (in one of his last playoff appearances) take a cheap shot and get pissed off. He dropped the stick and gloves and started advancing on the poor defenseman who held onto his stick, slowly backing away from Wayne. The look in the d-man’s eyes was awesome, he seemed to be thinking, “That’s Gretzky – I can’t hit him! What’ll my kids think?”

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Jan 24, 2011 12:42 PM CST up reply actions

Can you imagine the records Gretzky would have put up in today's NHL where the goons have been effectively legislated out of the game?

"Football - For the Touchdowns; Playbook - Full of Touchdowns; PIRATE HAT and BACKUP PIRATE HAT" ~ WR Emeritus Golden Tate

by stempke on Jan 24, 2011 12:43 PM CST up reply actions

Yea that would be a sight to behold but we don’t have to stoop to that level. We got him where it matters. We’re in the Super Bowl!!

by RaY210 on Jan 24, 2011 4:25 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

…and Flynn has already shown himself to be a capable game manager.

Err, not so much at the end of the New England game…

2010 NFC Champions, the Green Bay Packers!
B.J. Raji is My Hero.

by mike_o on Jan 24, 2011 9:36 AM CST up reply actions

Managing a game with a 14 point lead is completely different than trying to manage a game winning drive in the final minute of the game.

by JDub37 on Jan 24, 2011 11:51 AM CST up reply actions

agreed, and Flynn wasn't to blame for the NE game.

by Chief Oshkosh on Jan 24, 2011 1:03 PM CST up reply actions

Flynn wasn't enitrely to blame for the NE game.

fixed that for you.

by Wiedmann on Jan 27, 2011 2:16 AM CST up reply actions

It didn't look to me like he had a concussion

Although I definitely agree that it was a hard-enough hit so that he could’ve and maybe even should’ve gotten one.

But you can usually tell by the way a guy moves right after being hit. His movements (especially with his hands) will be really herky-jerky and random. Rodgers wasn’t like that at all.

…although… the last thing I’ll say is “who knows?” Those things can be a little mysterious.

by Curly Lambeau on Jan 24, 2011 9:42 AM CST up reply actions

the hit was brutal but he didn’t look like a guy that got concussed and he seemed totally fine after the game.

by Puddleglumed on Jan 24, 2011 10:11 AM CST up reply actions

Hey guys

Redskins fan here, although the Packers are my second favorite team. Congratulations, I’m rooting for them all the way! It would be so delicious if the Packers could beat the Steelers and their thug of a QB. Here’s to a great game!

Scientists believe that the first human being to live 150 years has already been born. I believe I am that human being.

by DCO'sfan on Jan 24, 2011 7:55 AM CST reply actions

Oh man, I'm so sick of the Steelers

Lets hope they can knock em out

by Pack Man on Jan 24, 2011 9:26 AM CST up reply actions

I'm pretty sure everyone hates the Steelers except Steelers fans.

I think you have most of America on your side.

Scientists believe that the first human being to live 150 years has already been born. I believe I am that human being.

by DCO'sfan on Jan 24, 2011 9:41 AM CST up reply actions

minus MN and IL lol

by Chief Oshkosh on Jan 24, 2011 1:04 PM CST up reply actions

Well, that's true.

Everyone ELSE likes the Packers story. Great season guys. I’m rooting for you all the way. I think I read that Pouncey is out. Raji is going to have a field day with Pouncey out.

Scientists believe that the first human being to live 150 years has already been born. I believe I am that human being.

by DCO'sfan on Jan 24, 2011 6:55 PM CST up reply actions

I was a Steelers fan for one game

Sunday, November 14, 2004 @ Cleveland. I was hanging at my favorite bar in San Fran, and it happened to be a Steelers bar. The place was frickin’ packed with Steelers fans, and I made a sort of arrangement with them that I’d cheer for their team if they cheered for the Pack in the late afternoon game. Enough GB love remained in the bar after most of them cleared out that they put GB-MIN on the big screen and relegated the CAR-SF game to one of the smaller ones. Good times there.

/cool story bro

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Jan 24, 2011 1:12 PM CST up reply actions

Back again with congrats on the victory!!

It seems like a new guy on this team steps up HUGE each week. Shields…ridiculous. Raji…are you F’ing serious?!! Awesome…15 kids on IR and still on a tear…wow.

Now, I’ve been praising you guys all year but yesterday I realized how young this team is and then I realized that they will be a problem in this league for some time. I think fans in other cities are voicing a collective “uh oh” right now.

sigh...

by nywins42 on Jan 24, 2011 8:14 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

Thanks man!

I think the team is built to stick around for awhile. Which NY team are you a fan of? Either way pretty promising for you too.

by Pack Man on Jan 24, 2011 9:26 AM CST up reply actions

So how meaningless is the title

NFC North Champion Now

by Farveuless Pack on Jan 24, 2011 8:41 AM CST reply actions

It's all they have

"Believe me Delmar, woman is the most fiendish instrument of torture ever devised to bedevil the days of man."

by Ben T on Jan 24, 2011 9:08 AM CST up reply actions

Raji's hands

Man he had some soft hands on that INT…looked GREAT! I HATED seeing him holding the ball out though. Even though it was in front of him, its just too risky, tuck it an run.

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Jan 24, 2011 9:42 AM CST reply actions

And here it is, ladies and gentlemen... THE B.J. RAJI BELT!!!

GIFSoup

2010 NFC Champions, the Green Bay Packers!
B.J. Raji is My Hero.

by mike_o on Jan 24, 2011 10:14 AM CST reply actions 6 recs

Rec'd for the greatest thing since sliced bread

The Artist Formerly known as Speedingtime/Speedy

by Jacob Grinyer on Jan 24, 2011 10:21 AM CST up reply actions

lots to coach on fro this game...

Offense was gone w/ten minutes left in the second qtr. D saved us. muffed punts. dropped balls by Quarl.Lots to improve upon for the Superbowl. The end game heroics of Hanie i am not worried about. Just stupid mistakes by the Packers. Hanging on to punts=huge. Catching the pass should be easier for the whole team in the dome. In fact, I think our chances in dome are GREAT! An Atlanta game part 2? Got to convert 3rd downs. Lots for the coaches to talk about. Either way, Superbowl baby!!!

by Jeigh AK on Jan 24, 2011 11:46 AM CST reply actions