McCarthy has bigger issues

I didn't realize the National Football Post was treading water with the likes of the Enquirer, US Weekly or TMZ. You don't even know WHAT was said yet try to make a story out of it. Be honest, if the Packers were 6-2 this wouldn't even be a local story in the greater Green Bay area. Pretty pathetic news day, uh? I"m not even a Packer fan and I"m embarrassed for you that this is a blog entry at NFP. I'll check back later this week to see if Peyton Manning's been abducted by aliens or if Tom Brady fathered a child with a mermaid.

just a note. Feeing the pressure is what a coach gets paid the high dollars for. Apparently he took it out on a underling who has been with the organization for 22 years. Coach McCarthy should be the first to welcome him back on staff, otherwise he will appear to be and prove to be a very small man.

And what kind of reaction do you think this guy would've received had he told Vince Lombardi to lay an egg? Bill Parcells? Tom Coughlin? Tom Cable (okay.......that's a cheap shot)? Maybe someone like Dave Campo would've let it slide, but an NFL coach isn't going to let that one go.

And what kind of reaction do you think this guy would've received had he told Vince Lombardi to lay an egg? Bill Parcells? Tom Coughlin? Tom Cable (okay.......that's a cheap shot)? Maybe someone like Dave Campo would've let it slide, but an NFL coach isn't going to let that one go.

There are always two sides to every story and, unfortunately, in cases like this, you are only going to hear one side of it. Since the Packers are the employer, they are subject to privacy laws and can't give their side; which was obvious when McCarthy tried to address the issue during his press conference today but really didn't give any specifics about the incident other than it wasn't his decision to fire Wood. The "laying an egg" statement comes from Wood too; not the team.
And, considering nobody ever even heard of part-time maintenance guy Mike Wood until he got his 15 minutes of fame today, why are the media and some fans so quick to take his side and his word about what was said? For all we know, he could have been making threats of violence; something that would justify firing in any workplace.

Gotta love a guy like Steve coming onto a sports blog to complain that a story is too trivial... I'm sure the Sudanese women fleeing the janjaweed are very concerned about the goings on in the NFL. But seriously, a maintenance worker getting fired in this economy for such a trivial (there's that word again) remark to a floundering football coach is a story -- one that reflects very poorly on Mr. McCarthy and indeed the whole organization.

Steve sounds like spinmaster ari fleishcer, with his for all we know, "he could have been making threats of violence; something that would justify firing in any workplace." Similar to W's "it'll be to late when the mushroom cloud appears."
Boland's point is evidently too much of a grown up thought for steve to comprehend ... let's see if the packer organization makes the correlation in the near future cause this one ain't gonna blow over.
ever hear of jack and the beanstalk or david and goliath steve? who won?

Steve sounds like spinmaster ari fleishcer, with his for all we know, "he could have been making threats of violence; something that would justify firing in any workplace." Similar to W's "it'll be to late when the mushroom cloud appears."
Boland's point is evidently too much of a grown up thought for steve to comprehend ... let's see if the packer organization makes the correlation in the near future cause this one ain't gonna blow over.
ever hear of jack and the beanstalk or david and goliath steve? who won?

This story is important because it gives evidence to the gut reaction that many Packer fans have about McCarthy. They feel that he is thin-skinned and not a great leader of their team.

This is an unfortunate distraction to the team this week. This team is already fragile and questioning their coaches. Let's hope that they can pull together like the Patriots do when this kind of controversy surrounds the team. A win in Dallas will shut everyone up, but lose and the cries will be even louder.

If you believe that the guy said "don't lay an egg", then I've got some beautiful ocean-front property in Tennessee that I'll sell you. "Don't shit the bed" is probably more like it. I don't care who you are or where you work, if you smart off to your boss's boss's boss, you're going to get canned.

That said, McCarthy has handled this stupid little story like an idiot. Either say "yeah, he was fired, here's why, and that's all I'll say about it" or say "no comment." Instead of either of those possibilities, which would've let the story die, he's given piece-meal comments in two or three installments. This approach gave juice to the story, to the point that the Robert Bolands of the world are all writing about it now. In media arguments like this, there are no winners or losers, there are only willing participants. If I were a Packer player, I'd be angry and frustrated. BUT, since I'm not, I think I'll be done thinking about this silly little thing. Good night, and good luck.

What?? Tom Brady fathered a child with a mermaid?!?

Give the Packers credit for being even-handed. They treat a part-time maintenance guy and lifelong fan just as poorly as they did the greatest player in their team's history.

What, they dissed Bart Starr?

FIRE McCarthy... FIRE Thompson & FIRE that other guy...the President in Green Bay... what's his name?

They have disgraced the team I once loved & will again more than today.

A part time field guy? Really? Come on? Yes, this IS news in Green Bay & Wisconsin.
Why? Because of how people here feel about the Packers.
Here's a head coach that can't keep his cool over a remark & either way, either version is not all that big of a deal. Plus, as time has come to pass....they did actually lay an egg & I'm sure it had nothing to do with the maintenance guy's doing.

Shame on you coach.....you need to learn how to manage a team & your emotions.
Of course....this is the same guy who met with Brett Favre & said...his head was not in the right mindset to play football. Hmmmm...perhaps McCarthy's not in the right mindset to coach.

Jim,

I think meateater was referring to Brent Farve.

Is the Tom Brady story for real? Did that story come out before or after the Dolphins game?

Jim in DC might be the greatest line I've heard in a while. And Meateater you might be becoming my favorite poster. This post was not meant to single out Mike McCarthy but simply describe the pressures every good coach faces and a situation no coach looks gopd from engaging in. Parcells isn't the thickest skinned guy but can't you imagine the Jersey guy in him having a good comeback that didn't require firing a fan.

meateater
Nov 13, 2009
06:57 PM "Give the Packers credit for being even-handed. They treat a part-time maintenance guy and lifelong fan just as poorly as they did the greatest player in their team's history. "
Quote of the week?

Who really cares if this guy got fired? If I make a wise-ass comment to one of the bosses at my job, I would expect to get fired too! People need to learn to think before they talk.

Very good article
Thanks

meateater, understated!

Regardless of what was said about an egg or not, this was something a smart front office would have made sure went away and attained no press coverage. The situation would have been controlled for the good of the team/franchise (and coach) by some exec.

Instead, McCarthy was tricked! Someone let him hang himself in the press. Since McCarthy was aware of the office politics played in GB, he should have insisted Wood not be fired. Somehow McCarthy thought this was behind him and got blindsided, so to speak, in the press. McCarthy's image is further damaged and Someone has more ammo to use against him when it comes time to fire him at the end of the season. He got played. Didn't Favre get damaged by similar tactics?

Does MM believe firing the maintenance man will assist the team to get a win....he should be focusing on his players. I just cannot imagine a grown man who works with professional athletes had an issue over a comment that weak. He does not have any control over his players, or his fellow coaches, oh yeah and lets not forget to mention he is a puppet for management....so he FINALLY found someone he can pick on....poor maint. man.
Greg, you mentioned what Parcel or the other coaches would do??? I would think men of that caliber would nod their head and continue focusing on what makes their money every year and leave the yards to the experts. After 22 years at a stadium you would think there would be a sense of comfort with a coach.....well anywhere but in GB. ~

This is awful journalism. The 'laying an egg' comment DID NOT come from McCarthy, it is what Wood claimed he was fired for saying.

All you have is one side of the story.

At least do your research before making a fool of yourself on a national website.

A dark day for the NFP.

I agree with meateater. They stand there and want everyone to act professional and all, yet when it comes to the way they treat people (farve,mike wood) they are very UNprofessional.
Mike McCarthy was a loser when he came to Green bay and he is and always will be a loser

I agree with Steve. Most of the facts of the case are unknown; drawing conclusions from part of the story is a fool's pastime. Is the NFP supposed to be about football analysis or tabloid gossip?

This just in: Coach McLardy lays a 38 pound egg in Tampa last week. Scary Uncle Ted was with him throughout the entire delivery. Quoting Coach "bawk bawk ba ba bawk". The egg was named 'Buc'. Congratulations Coach. We just love ya.

You know what Steve. You bite. Its not relevant what was said. Its the action that occurred. You must have not read the last paragraph of the atricle. Just missed it. Over your head. This site is not only about x's and o's incase you didn' know. It's about people and whats right and wrong with football as well. HURT FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been a staunch defender of McCarthy, but this one is off the charts. You don't fire a guy and deprive him of his living for something like that. There is no way McCarthy and the team can come out looking good on a situation like that. The smart thing is to let it go, reprimand the guy and go forward.

Everyone has missed the irony here. If McCarthy were as strict with his players, they'd be playoff contenders. IMO, MM impeached himself on this petty stuff. He told the local papers, "he had nothing to do with the firing". He also admitted asking another worker for the mans name. Voila, the guy is terminated. I'd love this guy on the witness stand.

Everyone has missed the irony here. If McCarthy were as strict with his players, they'd be playoff contenders. IMO, MM impeached himself on this petty stuff. He told the local papers, "he had nothing to do with the firing". He also admitted asking another worker for the mans name. Voila, the guy is terminated. I'd love this guy on the witness stand.

meateater the Packers org has treated Bart Starr very well

I agree with Robert on this one. Anyone who's paying attention knows McCarthy is soft by the lack of discipline his team displays. If he was really coming down on his players then they wouldn't be making the mental errors they consistently do. He doesn't have the balls to hold his players responsible so he took it out on a maintenance guy. Honestly, it would surprise me if the guy really said something about laying an egg. He's managed to stay employed with the organization for over 22 years. I think he has an idea about what is acceptable and what's not. What he said may have been borderline, but I doubt it merited termination. The only question I have is what's the guy's track record? If he's been warned about being a knob to his co-workers before then I can understand why they let him go. But if his record is spotless, a warning would have been plenty.

Meateater, we all know what kind of "meat" you like to eat. Shut up. You obviously have the same sense of entitlement Favre has. I'm sure you go around telling your boss what to do also. I'll never understand why people think it's ok for a player....hall of famer or no....to think he's more important than the team. Football is the ultimate team game. You lose that chemistry and your team can very quickly fall apart.

here's the real story .... GB 17 Dallas 7. Have a good day.

I noticed a lot of guys slipping on the turf.
I think we miss this grass cutter.

we love our winners but hate bullies...oh really? Then why was Favre allowed to cry, whine ,pout and lie to get where he wanted to? Why is it OK for ESPN, FOX news and everyone else to condemn Green Bay? How come THEIR side of the story is never talked about ad nauseum? How come it's ok for Favre to call up Packer foes and give them the game plan? I'am not a Mcarthy /Thompson fan but this whole mess was caused by 2 parties. One who the media worships and believes and the other whose story never gets out. It should be..we love our winners and we love money, that is why some people get to do what they want and some can't. Once again I'am sure there is the other side of the story we will never get to hear.

"Overreaction to limited information proves Robert Boland is feeling desperate to contribute a worthwhile piece to the NFP."

FIXED!!

Robert, you should really look into hiring on as a 'contributor' over at PFT. Florio's MO is jumping to conclusions and mountain building.

Don't make to much of the cowgirls game fans. EVERYONE KNOWS, when the weather outside get cooler, so does Romo. The Cowgirls are on their annual downward swing. Not to mention, it took until the 2nd half to get any real points.

Mac sucks. I can't believe there are still people out to defend this idiot. Just losing to the Creamcicles should have gotten him canned. Pathetic as hell.

Now, to get into a verbal match with a stadium work is just petty. You are the coach of an NFL team, get thicker skin you fool.

FIRE TED THOMPSON AND MIKE McCARTHY NOW!

And if you're record was any good you wouldn't feel compelled to comment on an article like this one....Geesh, give it a rest and realize you're in the same boat as the Bears, WOEFULL!