*Semi-official Green Bay Packers Super Bowl Champs thread (1 Viewer)

[Eric Stratton]

BUT I HEARD HE CAN'T WIN CLOSE GAMES

no kidding. I never understood that line of thinking. The other side of that coin was always the fact that they never trailed all season by more than 7 points.

MCarthy really advanced this year and learned how to play to win instead of playing not to win. There was a great article recently about this and had some a comment from some other team's exec that stated this. His record in close games wasn't good and his actions did cost the team some victories in the last few years including this season. This was the one big area that he needed to improve and he did so it a resounding manner. He deserves the extension and I am happy for him. I have said it before and will say it again...I am glad I was wrong about him. Much like you had your doubts about him in October...

"He's obviously wrong. I put that penalty on him alone. I'm starting to think he's in over his head. The Packers have been undisciplined for years now. They have no identity at all. They are an 8-8 team."

 

[Eric Stratton]

Here is some of the content from that piece...

On Nov. 7, with the Packers sitting 5-3 at midseason, it was written here: "Should the Packers go on to win their 13th championship, it would be the ultimate triumph for a general manager and his rather unique philosophy on team-building, as well as for a coach and his refusal to bellyache in the face of misfortune."And so it was. The GM and his coach were magnificent.What eventually became a tidal wave leading to Dallas had started in East Rutherford, N.J., when fill-ins named Zombo, Walden and Green helped shut out the heretofore mighty Jets.Two supposed contenders, Dallas and Minnesota, were massacred in the next two games. The Packers lost a classic struggle in Atlanta by three points, beat San Francisco and then lost their quarterback to a concussion late in the first half at Ford Field in Detroit.Even in defeat, something telling happened late that December afternoon that set the tone for the rest of the season.Trailing by four points and facing fourth and 1 at the Lions 31 with a minute left, McCarthy disdained a run or short pass even though he had two timeouts remaining. He sent Greg Jennings on a slant-and-go against a backup cornerback, asking backup Matt Flynn to win the game with an all-or-nothing lob to the front left pylon.Flynn's pass was overthrown. Green Bay had lost. McCarthy was pilloried.At one point this season, a longtime NFL executive in personnel said of McCarthy, "I'm not sure he plays to win the game. I think he plays not to lose. I think he will become a heck of a coach when he plays to win. Then the more you win, the more you become comfortable with yourself."Well, McCarthy didn't win that one, but it didn't stop him from going bold one more time right at the feet of one Bill Belichick. An onside kick to start the game? My jaw dropped, and not just because of how easily it worked.Then McCarthy waved out five wide receivers to go with Flynn for his opening play, the one that he had thought about all week going to New England as a 14-point underdog.He didn't win that one, either, but it was probably safe to say that Joe McCarthy's son no longer was playing not to lose.Against the Giants, no McCarthy-coached team had ever played better.

 

[sho nuff]

I think a problem with the close game comments were the cutoff of 4 or 5 points.

Were there many games closer than the season finale with Chicago? But that wouldn't count because it was a 7 point win.

Same even with a 9 point win against the Jets...that was a "close" game. But not according to the stats that were thrown around.

I think a lot of people questioned McCarthy at times...and many times it was warranted.

What is hard to question is how he got the team to play after that Detroit game and how they finished. And how much the players seem to enjoy playing for the guy and wanting to win for him too. Watch the SoundFX thing on NFL Network and see Jennings after the game with McCarthy for an example of that (Journal Sentinal also did a good article on that).

 

[Eric Stratton]

I think a problem with the close game comments were the cutoff of 4 or 5 points.Were there many games closer than the season finale with Chicago? But that wouldn't count because it was a 7 point win.Same even with a 9 point win against the Jets...that was a "close" game. But not according to the stats that were thrown around.I think a lot of people questioned McCarthy at times...and many times it was warranted.What is hard to question is how he got the team to play after that Detroit game and how they finished. And how much the players seem to enjoy playing for the guy and wanting to win for him too. Watch the SoundFX thing on NFL Network and see Jennings after the game with McCarthy for an example of that (Journal Sentinal also did a good article on that).

4 or 5 point games are "close" games. Yes, a 7 point game can be a close game but those lower figures are used from a statistical standpoint. It's stilly to try and nitpick at what defines close games and it was ok to question his record in close games and OT games. He was questioned by fans and those in the media. The important thing is how he evolved and what he took away from those games to help make him a better coach. That shows a lot of character and the Packers are in a great situation with him and TT together.

 

[sho nuff]

I think a problem with the close game comments were the cutoff of 4 or 5 points.Were there many games closer than the season finale with Chicago? But that wouldn't count because it was a 7 point win.Same even with a 9 point win against the Jets...that was a "close" game. But not according to the stats that were thrown around.I think a lot of people questioned McCarthy at times...and many times it was warranted.What is hard to question is how he got the team to play after that Detroit game and how they finished. And how much the players seem to enjoy playing for the guy and wanting to win for him too. Watch the SoundFX thing on NFL Network and see Jennings after the game with McCarthy for an example of that (Journal Sentinal also did a good article on that).

4 or 5 point games are "close" games. Yes, a 7 point game can be a close game but those lower figures are used from a statistical standpoint. It's stilly to try and nitpick at what defines close games and it was ok to question his record in close games and OT games. He was questioned by fans and those in the media. The important thing is how he evolved and what he took away from those games to help make him a better coach. That shows a lot of character and the Packers are in a great situation with him and TT together.

I agree that how things have changed is the important part right now.Just my disagreement with how some stats are used (and my dislike of that 4-5 points as some sort of standard for it).He definitely showed what he had during crunch time at the end of the year and deserves the contract he just got.

 

[sho nuff]

This laid out pretty much the simple reasoning as to why GB won't make a run at Asomugha

Link

Here's the thing that most fans are forgetting regarding this issue: there will be a salary cap again. If Thompson signs Asomugha, he would paying something like a quarter of his cap for his top three corners (including Woodson).

To understand what a deal like this would do to the Packers, you have to remember this: TE Jermichael Finley, OG Josh Sitton and WR Jordy Nelson are all eligible to become free agents after next season (assuming free agency eligibility returns to four seasons). That doesn't even begin to address the likely blockbuster deal LB Clay Matthews will require three years into his five-year deal.

The year after that, Thompson has to address WR Greg Jennings again.

A big-money deal to Asomugha would probably guarantee Finley would walk. He's going to require an enormous deal if he stays healthy this year and you can only have a limited amount of players with blockibuster deals. Sitton is going to get paid huge money, too. Nelson will be the No. 2 receiver before long.

 

[The Kerminator]

Packers Extend McCarthy

McCarthy and Thompson now locked up long-term

By Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel

March 4, 2011 4:41 p.m. |(18) Comments

The Packers now have their management team in place for the next five seasons.

Coach Mike McCarthy agreed to a contract extension that is believed to be for three years and will likely raise his salary from $4 million per year to about $5 million.

General manager Ted Thompson was recently given a three-year extension to his deal and McCarthy's is expected to be the same length. Both would be under contract through the 2015 season.

“We are very pleased to finalize this agreement with Mike,” Thompson said in a statement. “He’s a good football coach, a good leader, and a good man. I look forward to working with Mike into the future.”

McCarthy said last week at the combine that negotiations weren't complete, but that he didn't expect there to be any problem finishing up. He said Green Bay was where he wanted to be.

"It’s always going to be my home, and we are very happy to continue to be a part of this community.”

In addition, McCarthy signed all of his assistant coaches to one-year extensions that will carry through the 2012 season. Those signings include offensive and defensive coordinators Joe Philbin and Dom Capers.

McCarthy lost only one assistant this off-season - receivers coach Jimmy Robinson to the Dallas Cowboys - otherwise has his entire staff coming back. He recently moved running backs coach Edgar Bennett to receivers coach and assistant offensive line coach Jerry Fontenot to running backs coach.

He also moved offensive quality control coach John Rushing to assistant wide receivers and assistant special teams coach and hired Joel Hilgenberg to a quality control position.

The Packers have had a busy two days. They finished negotiations with free agents A.J. Hawk and safety Charlie Peprah on contract extensions and finalized McCarthy's deal.

In addition, the club issued restricted free agent tenders to guard Daryn Colledge (2nd round), kicker Mason Crosby (2nd) and running back John Kuhn (right of first refusal), according to a league source with access to the transaction wire. No other players were given tenders.

 

[The Kerminator]

Packers re-sign Peprah for two years

Packers re-sign Peprah for 2 years, $2.25 million

Posted by Pete Dougherty March 4th, 2011, 2:11 pm

Safety Charlie Peprah signed a two-year contract with the Packers on Thursday night worth $2.25 million total, according to his agent.

Adam Caplan of Foxsports.com first reported that Peprah had re-signed with the team.

Peprah started 13 games (playoffs included) last season after rookie Morgan Burnett had a season-ending knee injury. If the next collective bargaining agreement returns the minimum service for free-agent eligibility to four years, then Peprah would have been an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

“He likes the defensive system that he played in this year and he plans on winning a starting job again next year, (so this) was too much to pass up,” said Graylan Crain, Peprah’s agent. “The Packers wanted him back, and he wanted to be back so we decided to do what Charlie wanted to do.”

 

[sho nuff]

Good move to lock up Peprah for a few years on the cheap. Let Burnett's knee come along slowly and don't rush him back.

Also in the McCarthy article looks as if he signed Capers and Philbin to extensions through 2012 so at least 2 more years with Dom under contract is a nice thing too.

 

[Balco]

Really like the Peprah signing. And the Capers extension.

Not a fan of the Hawk contract at all. Way too much money for an average linebacker.

 

[sho nuff]

Really like the Peprah signing. And the Capers extension.Not a fan of the Hawk contract at all. Way too much money for an average linebacker.

Imo he proved this year he was more than just an average lb.