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Thompson, McCarthy on the Firing Line

By Dan O'Donnell

Story Created: Nov 11, 2009 at 12:46 PM CST

From my weekly column at SportsBubbler.com:

 

Embarrassing.  Demoralizing.  Possibly season-ending.   The Packers' 38-28 loss to the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers was all of those and more, since it forced even the most diehard of cheeseheads to question the direction of their beloved franchise.   

 

Just two months removed from being everyone's darkhorse Super Bowl contender, the Packers find themselves .500 at the year's midway mark and wobbling under the weight of hefty preseason predictions. 

 

This isn't a Super Bowl team.  Heck, it probably isn't a playoff team.

 

So who is to blame for the debacle that is 2009?  General Manager Ted Thompson failed to pick an offensive lineman in the first three rounds of any of his drafts, and now Aaron Rodgers spends more time on the grass than The Grateful Dead.  Head Coach Mike McCarthy looks more lost on the sidelines than his defense does trying to grasp the 3-4.  But does either deserve to pay with his job?

 

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST AT SPORTSBUBBLER.COM

 

24 Comments

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  1. Aaron Rodgers - Nov 11, 2009 2:13 PM

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    Bring Brett back! I need someone to bail me out!

  2. Jim Henderson - Nov 11, 2009 2:39 PM

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    Even if the team fails to turn it around, I would be most surprised if President Murphy actually fired both MM and TT, who by all accounts, deserve to be fired. I see Murphy as an impotent figurehead without any balls. Only way is if the board pushes him in that direction. But then I don't think they are a unified group anyway.

  3. Glenn In Florida - Nov 11, 2009 2:46 PM

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    If the Pack don't make the playoffs this season both should be gone. TT's way of building a team is great if U can hit on 80% of your draft picks & he's can't. Wolf used F.A. to bring in the key pieces to bring home a SB. TT is so inflexable in his thinking he is never going to get better. Just look at the way he has held onto Harrell who everyone else knows is a bust. If the your coach has the same excuses week in & out for 2 yrs, it is time for a change.

  4. Fire Starter - Nov 11, 2009 2:55 PM

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    If the Packers have a losing record by the end of November, Murphy has to dig around to find his shriveled raisins and fire Thompson. Five years of haphazard mediocrity is enough. To make that happen, we the fans have to not only call out the GM and Coach, but get downright PO'd at the Mad Magazine Poster Boy, Murphy. Only if he feels like his personal and professional reputation is at risk, will he take the steps necessary.

  5. Fire Starter - Nov 11, 2009 2:56 PM

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    AND IT HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE END OF THE SEASON, SO WE AREN'T INTERVIEWING 2ND TIER RE-TREADS!!!!

  6. Disappointed Packer Fan - Nov 11, 2009 3:39 PM

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    Concerned for Aaron Rodgers safty. If Rogers gets injured the season is over.Looks like the coach & GM has lost the team. Big decisions Mr. Murphy

  7. Tee J - Nov 11, 2009 4:11 PM

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    Uhhh...this team was 6-10 last year. Even if they go 9-7 and miss the playoffs that's a pretty big improvment and no reason to start firing people.

  8. Reppoc - Nov 11, 2009 5:09 PM

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    Are you kidding me? Mike McCarthy is so frickin arrogant, he thought "he" was the reason they made the playoffs two years ago. He tells a hall of fame quarterback he is not needed, and can ride the bench, then goes 6-10 last year and already 4-4 this year! Time for McCarthy to taste a "new direction"! And he can take his pal Thompson with him. Jeez... looks like the Lynn Dickey days!

  9. vince.. - Nov 11, 2009 5:53 PM

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    guess what they will not go 9-7. maybe 8-8 at best. if gb beats the cowboys ..the lions clip them on turkey day. time to think about the draft not the playoffs

  10. Rocketman53 - Nov 11, 2009 6:41 PM

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    If the coach has the same excuses week in & out for 2 yrs, it is time for a change...What if he's used them three of his four?

  11. Brickwall - Nov 11, 2009 7:37 PM

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    Murphy came from Northwestern, a Big 10 university where .500 football was considered successful. What's going to change here? As long s the stands are full, he'll do nothing to bring a winner to GB. Welcome back, 1980's.

  12. You Guys Are Clowns - Nov 11, 2009 8:44 PM

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    Get a clue before you start chastising the entire organization. The Packers aren't going to go 14-2 every year. Tough games and tough streaks happen. Thankfully there are alot of fans that still support the team through thick and thin, unlike you guys. Fire Starter = "5 years of mediocrity"? Were you gone when we were only one game away from the Super Bowl two seasons ago? Feel free to swim across the pond and become a Lions fan.

  13. Woe is Me - Nov 11, 2009 8:52 PM

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    To quote a broken record "We gotta get this thing fixed!" That often heard term around here for a couple of years from a certain source (of which nothing actually gets fixed)could be applied to a disfunctional management team (?? ??)that is runnung out of time.

  14. - Nov 11, 2009 8:53 PM

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    To quote a broken record "We gotta get this thing fixed!" That often heard term around here for a couple of years from a certain source (of which nothing actually gets fixed)could be applied to a disfunctional management team (?? ??)that is running out of time.

  15. windriverboy - Nov 11, 2009 8:57 PM

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    A five year losing record is enough for me....goodbye TT

  16. Kevin - Nov 11, 2009 9:37 PM

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    YOU GUYS ARE CLOWS "The Packers aren't going to go 14-2 every year. Tough games and tough streaks happen. Thankfully there are alot of fans that still support the team through thick and thin, unlike you guys" - What we expect are professionals, who do their job and if they may mistakes, they correct them. Accept responsibility. We want a team with DISCIPLINE and DESIRE. As I said before our 3-4 defense is pop warner compared to Blitzburgh's 3-4. Speed and blitzing. We don't have it!!!

  17. Kevin - Nov 11, 2009 9:41 PM

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    Also, Dallas -LOSS, San Fran -WIN, Detroit-WIN, Baltimore-LOSS, Pittsburgh-LOSS, Arizona-LOSS, Seattle-WIN, at Chicago-WIN/LOSS. This is 8-8 at best. Seattle and San Fran are no pushovers and a win at Chicago might be a stretch. Maybe 6-10 is more realistic. This equals TT(tella tubby) and MM(mute man) FIRED. Can we bring in THE DONALD to say "YER FIRED"!!

  18. Stop Ted Thompson Express - Nov 11, 2009 10:07 PM

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    Remember that Mike Sherman was removed after his first and only losing season,....TT hasn't done the job - Packers deserve better

  19. Greenngoldblood - Nov 12, 2009 8:03 AM

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    Many of us saw this coming when TT refused to bring in playmakers to help Favre get to the SB, as if he didn't want that to happen so he could build his own legacy w/o Favre, and I think Favre saw it coming too. Well, here we are folks. This nightmare in the history of the Packers needs to come to an end right now.The fan base needs to heal and gather their senses that haqve been widely scattered by the inept ego-driven management of this team.

  20. deadbolt - Nov 12, 2009 8:27 AM

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    After last season MM fired almost all the coaching staff...the 1st time in Packer history. He knew he is facing the end if they don't finish above .500. The Board of Directors is listening though they never speak out and fear of losing fan support is greatest in such a small market. Dumping Farve and then thrashing his reputation hurt the club unless they could have continued to win. They haven't and should pay the price. Clean house at he end of this year.
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