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Breaking News: Packers Fire Sanders

National Football Post

Bookmark and Share Print This Send This January 04, 2009, 06:28 PM EST
65 Comments

From Matt Bowen:

We at The National Football Post learned yesterday that Green Bay Packers Defensive Coordinator, Bob Sanders, was informed that he would be fired from his position with the team. Sanders came to the Packers in 2005, where he coached the defensive ends, and was promoted to the title of Defensive Coordinator the following year by Head Coach Mike McCarthy. During the Packers’ tailspin of a year in 2008, they struggled down the stretch en route to a 6-10 record and Sanders job security was brought into question.

The Packers ranked 20th in total defense this year, and had major issues stopping the run, where they ranked 26th in the NFL, giving up over 131 yards a game on the ground. After a 13-3 record and an appearance in the NFC Championship game last season, Sanders’ defense fell from 6th in the league in points allowed to 23rd this season at almost 24 points per game. Yes, the Packers had multiple injuries along the defensive line and at the linebacker position, but when coaches evaluate their staffs at the end of the season, the numbers don’t lie—no matter who is wearing a helmet.

As a former player in this league, this is a clear case to me of what happens when losses begin to pile up, especially fourth quarter losses, which Green Bay frequented throughout the course of the 2008 season. Players begin to question coaching, and coaches begin to question whether or not their players are buying in to the system they are preaching. I have been there before in my career, and once that slide hits, everyone in the locker room begins to question whether they have the right man for the job leading their defense.  It is the head coaches responsibility to hire someone that the players believe in, and in my own opinion, the defensive players from the Packers lost that belief in Sanders months ago.

It will be interesting to see who McCarthy brings in to lead his defense, and we at The National Football Post will bring you any updates or talk we hear from our sources as this story continues to develop.

Comments

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Steve L.
Jan 04, 2009
09:29 PM

NFP, keep up the good work!

Andy
Jan 04, 2009
09:34 PM

Probably for the best. The DEF had some injuries, but the inability to stop opponents in the 4th when GB had the lead was too much.

Sanders will catch on somewhere else. Wish him the best.....

chuck
Jan 04, 2009
09:42 PM

IMPRESSIVE SCOOP...Now can you please get Ted Thompson fired!!!!!!!

Dave
Jan 04, 2009
09:45 PM

Now we have to get the right guy to replace Sanders. As bad as we thought it was this year, it could be even worse. Lets hope that Ted and Mike get the right guy for the job.

Buck
Jan 04, 2009
09:45 PM

Great news. MM must have watched the winning teams this weekend. Bringing
pressure & getting there is what it's
all about. Pack needs more "take no
prisoners" types on D. Fast and
physical. Same goes for the O line.
Pack is Back is '09!

Ron
Jan 04, 2009
09:59 PM

Dave, I don't see how it can be much worse,man we couldn't get off the field.I'm guessing,Moss might be promoted,not sure that would be a great move. Was Greg Robinson on the same staff at KC with,MM???

RMW
Jan 04, 2009
10:14 PM

As important as it was to remove Sanders, a much more important move is replacing him with the right guy. And, that guy SHOULD NOT be Winston Moss. Talk about nepotism. Moss is part of the problem -- look at the lousy job the linebackers did this year! Moss coached the LBs!!

Honestly, I wouldn't mind the Pack getting Rod Marinelli now that Detroit is done with him. His forte is as a Defensive Coordinator, not as a Head Coach. Or, how about stealing Ron Rivera away from the Chargers after they lose to Pittsburgh this coming weekend? The Pack has to get more creative and real than promoting Moss...

Ryan M Pfister
Jan 04, 2009
10:15 PM

I'm reading all these local Blogs with fans wanting the Pack to go to a 3-4 scheme on D, and I just don't see that happening. The Packers do NOT have the personnel to run that. I say promote Moss...for being such a young team, many of these players were 'brought up' in the scheme they are currently running, so why dramatically change it? Bottom line is the Packers need a significant upgrade at the Pass Rush. When and if that occurs, the outside man-to-man will work like it's supposed to. Plus, from what I can tell, Moss is a bit more firey than others on this staff, which may be something this team needs at this point. Pack will be back next season, Book It!

Ted Thompson
Jan 04, 2009
10:17 PM

I had to fire Bob Sanders.
It was all his fault that I gave him below-average players to play defense.

Russ
Jan 04, 2009
10:20 PM

I'd really like to see a proven high profile guy chosen for this job. If they promote someone they better get it right, because it will cost McCarthy and maybe Thompson his job if they dont'.

Billy
Jan 04, 2009
10:31 PM

The only sad part of this is that Thompson and McCarthy still hang around another year. Fire Thompson and McCarthy and do whatever you can to get Cowher in here #1 or Shanahan #2. McCarthy will never hire a guy who could replace him, ala Cromel, Nolan or Greg williams

Ron
Jan 04, 2009
10:39 PM

Russ, agreed. Robinson was DC for both of the,Bronco's SB wins,canned this year@ Syracuse,worked under,Vermiel for a few years. I dunno,first thought

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