Romeo, Romeo Wherefore Art Thou, Romeo?

[ThunderDan]

Yep. Long before Maraniss wrote his book, I believe it was Jerry Kramer who said Lombardi was a master at knowing when a guy need a pat on the back and when he needed a kick in the ass.

Bart Starr told a story about that. Lombardi ripped him a new one in front of the team. He went to Lombardi's office and told him never to do that again to him. He said just bring me into your office and tell me what is wrong. Lombardi never did it again.

[red]

Perhaps I didn't state it well, because you both seem to have misunderstood what I meant. I agree that MLF needs to go to Doubs and try to get Doubs back onboard. I did not mean Doubs was on his own to come back or be traded.

My comment was in response to Red writing:



which I thought implied that there is a management problem with the Packers and/or a problem with team discipline, evidenced by what Doubs has done. I don't think there is evidence that either exists. I think the problem is specific to Doubs, not the result of a team problem or something wrong in the organization.

Doubs' problem BECOMES a team problem, but it's a "Doubs problem" not the result of or caused by a management problem or team discipline issue (i.e. "team problem").

there was also the weird jaire going rogue thing last year

there was the odd trading of rasul douglas last year who by all accounts was a locker room leader at the time

no preseason= another sloppy start to the season

there was the rodgers drama

the adams drama before that

dumping fan favorite and ultra packer aaron jones to save about 1 million against the cap

all the stupid penalties made over and over again by the same players

the odd kicking battle this preseason, where no one won

watson and stokes having to go out of network to get the hamsting issues figured out

yeah, theres some odd shit going on in the building, and i'm sure i'm forgetting some or not even hearing about some. don't know if its the front office, or coaches, or players or what, but the last few years, things seem to be a bit off to me

[Joemailman]

Jeremy Fowler
@JFowlerESPN

#Packers WR Romeo Doubs plans to attend Wednesday’s practice coming out of his meeting with the team today, per source. The meeting ‘went well,’ the source added.

[run pMc]

I don't really have much to say about it since I don't know the facts. We may never.

Doubs would have helped yesterday vs. the Rams.

Until this week the perception was these guys all cheered each other on, and that seemed to be the case. Not sure what changed, if someone got in Doubs' ear or if Tank's suggestion of dodging LA gangs has any legs. Nobody outside the building knows.

If MLF has a game plan and one player doesn't like it, I don't think there's a lot MLF can do about it if the player doesn't say anything and just skips practice. There has to be something else going on.
Either way, the team has publicly made it seem they are open to conversation and welcoming Doubs back, and it would seem both sides are in the process of moving forward in a positive way. That's encouraging.

Every team has weird shit going on in the building, it's a matter of whether you can keep the team together and not have your season go off the rails. I'm confident they can do that.

[Fritz]

I don't really have much to say about it since I don't know the facts. We may never.

Doubs would have helped yesterday vs. the Rams.

Until this week the perception was these guys all cheered each other on, and that seemed to be the case. Not sure what changed, if someone got in Doubs' ear or if Tank's suggestion of dodging LA gangs has any legs. Nobody outside the building knows.

If MLF has a game plan and one player doesn't like it, I don't think there's a lot MLF can do about it if the player doesn't say anything and just skips practice. There has to be something else going on.
Either way, the team has publicly made it seem they are open to conversation and welcoming Doubs back, and it would seem both sides are in the process of moving forward in a positive way. That's encouraging.

Every team has weird shit going on in the building, it's a matter of whether you can keep the team together and not have your season go off the rails. I'm confident they can do that.

To me, this is the real key to being a successful coach, moreso than the X's and O's. Think about it: You've got seventy players (53 active, 17 PS) spending months and months and months of pretty intense time together. It's more than just show up at work five days a week at nine, and leave at five or six. They travel together, they live together, and it's all under a spotlight. Or think about baseball. Fewer guys, but 162 games together. Wow. Forget that it's sports, that's a lot of time with other humans. Managing that, and getting guys to buy in and play hard and practice hard and eat right - holy smokes, that would be tough.

[texaspackerbacker]

Whether this is much ado about nothing or something significant still depends on facts that we don't know, and the media pukes also don't know.

It seems to me like LaFleur handled things pretty well. The people who probably do know what's going on, of course, are the players and coaching staff. If there is discontent there, then LaFleur didn't do a very good job and has a problem. I tend to doubt that is the case, though. I'm thinking Doubs is back playing this week and doing good.

[Patler]

Just for the heck of it, I'm going to throw out another thought. Every now and then, players comment about how little direct contact they really have with the HC. That's understandable. Just in direct game planning and prep, MLF has 28 coaches and 70+ players to deal with.

IF, and this is a big IF, because maybe Doubs action came out of the blue, the guy who should have sensed the problem and dealt with it from the start is the WR Coach, Ryan Mahaffey. Did he fail to deal effectively with an issue he knew existed; did he fail to see a problem he should have seen growing, or was he blind-sided by Doubs actions? We'll never know, but these are questions LaFleur has to be asking.

[Joemailman]

Just for the heck of it, I'm going to throw out another thought. Every now and then, players comment about how little direct contact they really have with the HC. That's understandable. Just in direct game planning and prep, MLF has 28 coaches and 70+ players to deal with.

IF, and this is a big IF, because maybe Doubs action came out of the blue, the guy who should have sensed the problem and dealt with it from the start is the WR Coach, Ryan Mahaffey. Did he fail to deal effectively with an issue he knew existed; did he fail to see a problem he should have seen growing, or was he blind-sided by Doubs actions? We'll never know, but these are questions LaFleur has to be asking.

Both Mahaffey and passing game coordinator Jason Vrable are guys receivers should be able to communicate with. Mahaffey is new this year, so Doubs would know Vrable better.

[Patler]

Both Mahaffey and passing game coordinator Jason Vrable are guys receivers should be able to communicate with. Mahaffey is new this year, so Doubs would know Vrable better.

Agreed, from Doubs perspective. Vrable was more directly with Doubs for Doubs' first two years; and Mahaffey came from the o-line room to the receivers this past offseason. But, Mahaffey is now the one directly with Doubs in every meeting and on the field throughout all of the practices. MLF has to ask if Mahaffey has control of the WR room, the respect and confidence of his players and an understanding of his player concerns, moods and attitudes. Something went wrong. Mahaffey may have no blame for it, but MLF has to find out, because Mahaffey is new in this job.

[call_me_ishmael]

I think it's highly unlikely Romeo will be on the team next year. Do you agree, or disagree, and why?

[texaspackerbacker]

Put me on record as disagreeing. Why? Because he is a good player, and he will still be cheap - rookie contract (I think) next season.

[King Friday]

I would expect him to be on the team next year. This was a major screwup, but as long as he comes back and doesn’t have a relapse, this incident will be forgotten rather quickly…at least until contract negotiations come up.

[MadtownPacker]

Yeah if he goes back to doing his thing on the field and doesn’t pull this shit again all is forgiven. For it to all get wrapped up in one week is interesting. At least he didn’t go to the media and start talking shit.

[Fritz]

Yeah if he goes back to doing his thing on the field and doesn’t pull this shit again all is forgiven. For it to all get wrapped up in one week is interesting. At least he didn’t go to the media and start talking shit.

When you read this, it sure sounds like Doubs might have some mental health challenges right now - he says it wasn't about the team or the organization, just his own issues that he did not handle well.

So yes, he can come back from this.

https://lombardiave.com/matt-lafleur-sends-blunt-message-packers-players-after-romeo-doubs-suspension-01j9t0yd6js6

[texaspackerbacker]

I said it halfway sarcastically before, but based on his saying that, maybe it really did have to do with a gang thing, the game being in L.A. where he came from and his family still lives and could be threatened.