The Green Bay Packers, (7-9) are coming off their worst season since 2008. They finished the season with an embarrassing second loss in a season to the Detroit Lions. This was the first time since 1991 that the Packers were swept by the Lions.
What started out to be a season in which the experts had the Pack destined for another Super Bowl appearance quickly turned into disaster. A season ending injury to 2 time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers quickly diminished any chance of the Packers returning as a Playoff Contender.
“It takes more than one player to make a team!” Well, Head Coach Mike McCarthy proved that wrong. Without Rodgers on the field, the team was without leadership and guidance. The defense was pathetic. Sure, the team was riddled with injury but that’s no excuse. The Packers weren’t the only team plagued with injury. Take the Philadelphia Eagles for example. Their potential MVP quarterback Carson Wentz went out late in the season and backup quarterback Nick Foles took over the reins with little resistance. For whatever reason, McCarthy chose to keep backup quarterback Brett Hundley in for the remainder of the season. Hundley played the position poorly, indecisive decisions, interceptions and fumbles were abundant. In his last performance against the Lions, Hundley had only had 6 pass completions deep into the 3rd quarter, but McCarthy played him up until the final 2-minute warning. Finally, McCarthy dropped his ego and put in Joe Callahan. Joe threw for 5/7 in just 2 minutes. Think back to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Lambeau when the Packers were shutout. I shake my head as to why McCarthy didn’t replace Hundley for the 2nd half.
There is now change upcoming in the Packer Organization. As of this writing longtime Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers and two of his assistant coaches were fired. General Manager Ted Thompson has been relieved of his duties as GM and will now become a Senior Advisor. I’m sure as time goes on, we’ll see more change to come. There’s been some gable that McCarthy and Murphy are on the chopping block as well. After a season like we had, with the potential going into this season one player shouldn’t have brought the entire team to a standstill.
The Packers are starting to come forward by signing potential stars such as Davante Adams and Corey Lindsey to new contracts. The future of Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Aaron Rodgers is up in the air awaiting contract offers. Clay Matthews in my opinion can take the door. He’s a lot of money, injury prone and needs a haircut.
As this is my last article until August. I wish you all a Happy New Year and like most of you, I’m looking to get back to cheering on a successful Packer team in 2018.
#DHPF @DieHardPackrFan #WayneSargent @theultimatepakr
