NEWSLETTER
The Green Bay Packers entered the year among the favorites to hoist the Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl LIII. They brought in a new GM who signed a premier free agent tight end (Jimmy Graham), re-worked the coaching staff to add on a highly respected defensive coordinator (Mike Pettine), drafted well (and added future draft assets), and were bringing back a healthy Aaron Rodgers.
But after 11 games, the Packers are 4-6-1 and their organization seems like it’s in a bit of a mess.
SI.com’s Kalyn Kahler writes a piece titled “How It All Went Wrong in Packerland” that highlights an organization going through a disappointing season. Drama between the head coach and quarterback? You got it. A failed approach by the previous front office? It’s in there, too. A roster with more questions than answers? Oh, baby, you better believe it.
At the same time the Packers are a team in turmoil, the Bears are a squad on the rise. It’s the stuff you wish you were bold enough to dream of, but wouldn’t dare because things like this simply don’t happen to organizations like the Packers. Except it’s happening. It’s all happening. So you’ll want to read Kahler’s piece because it’s a window into the turbulent times happening for That Team In Wisconsin.
It feels like the winds of change will be blowing through Green Bay soon, with the general consensus being Head Coach Mike McCarthy will be heading out the door at season’s end unless the Packers do something wild like win out, get some help, and make the playoffs. Even if McCarthy is given his exit papers, the belief nationally is that he’ll land on his feet. It’s a reasonable thought for a coach with a .621 winning percentage, nine playoff appearances under his belt, and one Super Bowl title to his name. That’s the kind of résumé that could catch the eye of a rebuilding team looking for stability and experience, particularly with quarterback building in mind.
Perhaps the Cleveland Browns are that team:
I have a "hunch" #Browns fans will want to start watching #Packers games for the rest of the season.
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) November 27, 2018
NFL insider Benjamin Allbright’s hunch suggests McCarthy as the head-coaching solution in Cleveland. It’s not too crazy to think that could happen. Dorsey was Green Bay’s Director of College Scouting from 2000 until 2001 and the team’s Director of Football Operations in 2012. It’s safe to say Dorsey is quite familiar with McCarthy seeing that their time in Packerland overlapped.
This move would leave Green Bay in the market for a new head coach, leaving Allbright to suggest one leading candidate:
McDaniels
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) November 27, 2018
New England Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels (who interviewed for the Bears gig last offseason) is going to be at the top of every coaching list. Even after he spurned the Indianapolis Colts after a deal seemed to be agreed on in principle, McDaniels’ time under Bill Belichick and success with Tom Brady will make him an attractive candidate. And if the Packers have an opening, it’s not difficult to envision McDaniels being interested in moving from one all-time great QB to another.
The Packers have wasted the last two seasons of Rodgers’ prime and could try to get things going in the right direction by cleaning house on the coaching staff. Things are changing in the NFC North, but not before we enjoy the possibility of the Packers bottoming out this season.
