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The message may have grown stale, but the man still held the respect of his players in the locker room. That is the story of Mike McCarthy, whom the Green Bay Packers fired on Sunday night following an abysmal loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Monday was the media’s first chance to touch base with the players, most of whom found out about McCarthy’s firing like everyone else — through Twitter or television reports. That’s even how Aaron Rodgers heard about it, as he explained.
The timeline is understandable, as is the inability for McCarthy to address his team after learning the news himself. The Packers lost their noon game at home, prompting team president Mark Murphy and general manager Brian Gutekunst to meet to discuss the move before informing McCarthy of their decision. By that time, most of the players would have already left the facility for their homes. News broke quickly after the move, meaning there was little or no opportunity to call the team back in for a meeting.
It’s tough to see a coach fired, especially one who has been in Green Bay for 13 years. Rodgers is the only player still around from the last time a Packers coach got the axe, and while a few of the other veterans have seen coaches dismissed at their other stops, it’s still a shock — particularly before the end of the season.
Packers players react: 'Lot of respect' for dismissed Mike McCarthy | Packersnews.com
The beat writers gathered quotes from six Packers, five of whom have been with the team for at least five years, to get their feelings about how McCarthy was let go and their feelings towards him as a person.
Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy ‘accomplished a lot together’ | Packers.com
Those are Rodgers' words as he discussed McCarthy's firing on Monday afternoon at his locker. If there was truly any distrust or angst between the two, it didn't show in Rodgers' public comments. That is notable, since the first head coach fired this year -- Hue Jackson -- was thrown under the bus by his rookie quarterback afterwards.
Green Bay Packers say Aaron Rodgers won't help pick new coach | ESPN
It's clear from Mark Murphy's words on Monday that a supposed rift with Rodgers was not the reason for McCarthy's firing -- it was the team's performance, which he referred to multiple times as "unacceptable." Neither will Rodgers be a major part of the search for a replacement, however.
2019 NFL Draft order and team needs: Packers slip into top 10 - NFL.com
Green Bay now sits at 10th in the current draft order, as Tampa Bay's win over Carolina moved them down a handful of spots.
Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers both have to change -- for their own NFL futures - SBNation.com
This article mostly deals in abstracts, but Geoff Schwartz is right about one thing in particular regarding Rodgers: he must clean up his mechanics.
NFL Coaching Candidates: McDaniels, McCarthy top lists | SI.com
The NFL loves people who have substantial experience as play-callers, and a lack of those this year is one reason why these two men will more than likely have head coaching jobs next season.
Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy ‘accomplished a lot together’ | Packers.com
Those are Rodgers' words as he discussed McCarthy's firing on Monday afternoon at his locker. If there was truly any distrust or angst between the two, it didn't show in Rodgers' public comments. That is notable, since the first head coach fired this year -- Hue Jackson -- was thrown under the bus by his rookie quarterback afterwards.
Green Bay Packers say Aaron Rodgers won't help pick new coach | ESPN
It's clear from Mark Murphy's words on Monday that a supposed rift with Rodgers was not the reason for McCarthy's firing -- it was the team's performance, which he referred to multiple times as "unacceptable." Neither will Rodgers be a major part of the search for a replacement, however.
2019 NFL Draft order and team needs: Packers slip into top 10 - NFL.com
Green Bay now sits at 10th in the current draft order, as Tampa Bay's win over Carolina moved them down a handful of spots.
Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers both have to change -- for their own NFL futures - SBNation.com
This article mostly deals in abstracts, but Geoff Schwartz is right about one thing in particular regarding Rodgers: he must clean up his mechanics.
NFL Coaching Candidates: McDaniels, McCarthy top lists | SI.com
The NFL loves people who have substantial experience as play-callers, and a lack of those this year is one reason why these two men will more than likely have head coaching jobs next season.