EXTRA EXTRA!! McCarthy Extended Through 2015

[vince]

The article has been trashed Guiness.

And I'll leave the corning to Skin.

[vince]

Yes, but as always with the smart ones, he is criticizing atmospherics. I bet if you corned him at one of Bedard's Tweetups, asked him to sign his Super Bowl book for you then grilled him about that first quote, he would tell you he was talking about the appearance and reputation of the franchise among his league sources. And that they were commenting strictly about the news that 8 coaches were fired and not the quality of the roster, the QB or the offensive scheme. In other words, a lot of heat signifying little.

He himself said the year prior that deciding what to do about the Bob Sanders led defense had to be one of Thompson's three offseason jobs (Farve and Special Teams or OLine were the others).

I think McGinn generally trusted Thompson more than McCarthy. And firing 8 coaches is newsworthy. But McGinn was just throwing a scare story to build up a simple fact that not since Forrest Gregg had the team had that kind of turnover in coaches. In truth, it was the step that propelled McCarthy to the next level of Head Coaching. He had to surround himself with better assistants. That Packer Update guy had it right: while the departure spoke poorly of his original hires, the fact that he was able to attract a who's who of DCs to interview the next time around meant his reputation (and Thompson) had improved immeasurably by 2009

McGinn is the best and no doubt always leaves himself an out. I don't find such spin persuasive though. Journalists write what they want the news to be and McGinn is no different.

[Tarlam!]

Link?

Widely rumored, never an official statement from the Packers. I remember it vividly.

[RashanGary]

McGinn is the best and no doubt always leaves himself an out. I don't find such spin persuasive though. Journalists write what they want the news to be and McGinn is no different.

McGinn is so persuasive though, that's why I can't stand him. He writes an article without directly saying anything false, yet at the same time you scratch your head and wonder if that false thing he never actually said is really the truth.

[Joemailman]

What I remember is Gullickson making a comment about Harrell "not being in the best shape" or something to that effect, when Harrell was injured. I don't think MM saw it that way. I believe MM talked about morale in the training room being a problem when he fired Gullickson.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Widely rumored, never an official statement from the Packers. I remember it vividly.

I'm guessing mostly speculation and conjecture.

[Iron Mike]

[Iron Mike]

Maybe he can afford to get that eye fixed now.

He should at least be able to hire someone to clean his neck for him.....

[Freak Out]

Woot.

[pbmax]

I'm guessing mostly speculation and conjecture.

Someone, McGinn (possibly Christl) I believe, had an anonymous quote from a team source that Harrell came back to the off season workouts having let himself get fat and happy and then proceeded to do something dumb while starting to lift weights.

It was pointed out that Gullickson was the logical source for the quote and that he might be engaging in CYA since his job is to prevent players from doing what was reported to have happened. Prior to Favre-A-Palooza, the team did not have a habit of releasing even mildly derogatory comments about players anonymously. I think this line of thinking has been supported by the team's continued support of Harrell and the sacking of Gullickson, though they may not be directly related at all.

Patler pointed out that Harrell supposedly fell completely apart in less than seven weeks. Again, improbable and completely preventable had Gullickson actually witnessed what was claimed to have been the case.

[Fritz]

Speaking of Harrell, looks like he's the lost guy on the roster. MM said, in reference to the d-linemen, that he hadn't really spoken with Harrell and would need to sit down with the guy to see what direction he was going in. Sounds pretty iffy.

Ever since the guy got lambasted as the 16th overall pick, I've been rooting for Harrell and still am. But it sure doesn't sound like he's an integral part of the plan. And he may not even be in the plan. Of course, if there's football, he's still under contract for one more year, so there's no reason (other than some un-healed injurty) not to bring him into training camp and let him compete. IF you draft no d-linemen, and if you get Jolly back, then basically Harrell would seem to be competing with Jarius Wynn for that last spot.

So then the question becomes, how much did Wynn improve? Because if the two duke it out in training camp and Harrell shows more ability, you've got a tough decision to make. It would seem riskier to keep Harrell, but it might be the kind of risk the Packers can afford to take. Even if Wynn did improve, it's not like he's the next Sean Jones.

[Patler]

Further regarding Gullickson, there were numerous printed articles about maximum lift competitions in the weight room. Position groups competed within themselves and against others. Several players talked about it, too, especially for various leg lifts. There was a suggestion in one blog that Harrell hurt his back in one of those "competitions". (Interesting side not - Spitz supposedly was the monster in those competitions for the O-line, and ends up with the same injury as Harrell.) After those articles appeared, the team went out and had a rash of hamstring injuries that year. Player after player missed time with hamstring problems.

Redding said when he first came, and mentions in the JSO article today, that one of his primary functions was to be certain that players didn't overdue the weights they worked with. He mentioned one time that the competitive nature of the players had to be channeled away from maximum lifts and directed toward maintaining functional strength through out a long workout, so they would have the same strength at the end of a game as at the start. I suspect the maximum lift competitions were infrequent under him.

[mraynrand]

Even if Wynn did improve, it's not like he's the next Sean Jones.

Wynn could be taking his fellow teammates to the cleaners, you just never know. And there's always a Bank out there willing to give out a big loan! Fritz, would you care for a job with Jet Landscaping?

[Fritz]

Wynn could be taking his fellow teammates to the cleaners, you just never know. And there's always a Bank out there willing to give out a big loan! Fritz, would you care for a job with Jet Landscaping?

Jet Landscaping? If it means I get to trim Jen Sterger, then sure!

[pbmax]

If I was a NFC North fan of anyone but the Packers, that would be my avatar.