On the Friday before a crucial NFC showdown with the Cowboys, Packers coach Mike McCarthy didn't talk about about his injured players or his dangerous opponent for very long.
After getting the football talk out of the way, McCarthy spoke at length about the firing of Packers maintenance employee Mike Wood, repeating his previous claim that he didn't fire Wood.
"I'm not involved in that decision and frankly I had zero intention,
zero conversation and zero conversation, intention or anything to do
with that.," McCarthy said. (Full transcript here.)
McCarthy, however, did ask for Wood's name from a superior -- fields manager Allen Johnson -- after the original incident happened. The Packers coach was asked if the comment was "Don't lay an egg."
"I was hoping you guys weren't going to go this far with this," McCarthy said. "I'm going
to be honest with you, I don't really know the man. He made a comment
to me, I made a comment to him, it's not the worst thing that's been
said, but I would not say it to a fellow employee. So that's as far as
I want to go with it."
The minute McCarthy went to the trouble of asking about Wood, he had to have known there would be repercussions. McCarthy didn't appear to have any interest in getting Wood his job back.
Wood claims that he gave McCarthy words of encouragement, but was told when fired that McCarthy heard him say, "Don't lay an egg." While McCarthy wouldn't reveal what exactly he heard, we have to believe that "Don't lay an egg" is a PG version of something more offensive. Right?
Wood is sticking by his original story.
"I love the Packers," said Wood Friday. "I love coach. But this has been the day from hell. . . . "I wish Coach McCarthy the best. But Mike McCarthy is the
head coach. People will believe him before they believe me."
We're not sure what to believe. But as Mike Florio mentioned earlier, the fans in Green Bay didn't need another reason to pine for McCarthy's ouster. Barring a run to the playoffs, they already would have been calling for a new coach. And in Green Bay, where there is no line between fan and shareholder, it matters more than most places how the public feels.
It's far too early to tell whether Wood's firing will be remembered as a symbolic moment of reckoning during McCarthy's tenure, like Jim Mora's radio comments in Atlanta that coaching the University of Washington was his "dream job."
But the issue will only increase the building pressure on McCarthy's Packers to win this week against Dallas. And the following week against San Francisco. And enough times after that to make the playoffs, and keep the angry mob (and media) in Green Bay from calling for McCarthy's head.
McCarthy asked for employee's name
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on November 13, 2009 3:24 PM ET
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.............who the F cares...
So he's already backtracking eh ?
Mikey, there's going to be another train leaving the station very soon, be on it won't you.
Well, it turns out that McChubby is not only a loser (like the rest of the Fudgepackers) but is also a LIAR. Nothing like a little integrity. Fits in nicely over there in Green Turd Bay.
Bluestree can't get enough of this story. He LIVES for it.
It must be a cold day in hell today, because I cannot believe I'll be rooting for the Cowboys on Sunday, but that is where I will find myself.
The guy very likely regrets speaking to McCarthy as though he was on a first-name basis, and he probably said something he shouldn't have said. I don't care who you are or what your reputation is....know your place. If he was someone worth keeping, he would still be employed. His own co-workers are probably glad he's gone. News services are so desperate, they will milk this for all it is worth.
Laying and egg at this point would be a STEP UP for Coach McGone-ski!
At least that would be productive.
Aaron Rodgers laid an egg... but was sacked before he could get it in the basket!!
I would LOVE to see the Vikings offer this guy a job! Just to stick it to the Packers one last time this season!
The shareholders arn't really real shareholders. They have no say in anything. They also have a waiting list that is 50 years long for season tickets. I would assume, they don't really care what the public thinks. They are going to sell tickets either way.
Mike McCarthy: quite the vindictive lil' bitch.
The Packers should have hired Mooch, instead of Cockeyed Fatty and they should can Ted Thompson for good measure.
Let's be honest, if one of the peons down there in West Virginny told Florio to lay off Eric Mangini, he'd be canned too.
Sucks for Wood cause I imagine he is a huge Packers fan (I imagine he is from the area) and now this I am sure has to feel horrible cause you naturally want to hate the people who fire you
Well... I guess McCarthy feels like the sacking should go around to non-playing employees.
It's amazing that McCarthy made this - and not figuring out a way to protect his QB - a priority. And come to think of it, given the injuries the Eagles' secondary has had to deal with, wouldn't Brian Dawkins look pretty good in an Eagles uniform right about now? Perhaps these employees simply needed to be transferred into personnel/coaching roles... terminating them appears to be a waste/loss of talent.
Packers O-Line sucks SO BAD that now even NON PLAYING EMPLOYEES are getting sacked!
Cue all of the Vikings fans who will strut their talk about their 7-1 REGULAR SEASON record when every competent NFL fan knows that the regular season means squat if you can't win in the playoffs. Which they won't.
Unless the maintenance guy told him to *&%$ off, McCarthy's an asshole for costing this guy his job. With unemployment as high as it is, it's very hard to find a job these days, so to get the guy fired is an extremely callous thing to do.
Happy Holidays! You're fired!
The sacked employee works for the city of Green Bay as a truck driver so like most City employees he's probably over paid for the work he does. Working for the Packers was a part time gig that most people in Green Bay would kill for and most likely do for free but I digress.
The point is that McWeWillHaveToWatchTheFilmFirst should be more worried about watching more film and getting things fixed.
Another nail in the coffin for the TT & MM experiment.
yep, they'll sell the tickets and go back to the mediocrity that Butt Farte pulled them out of 18 years ago.
The stands will be half empty and PackerBackers will sneer at the rest of us and brag about how many games they've sold out in a row.
MM admits they exchanged comments, and he then went to his car and called the dude's supervisor.
When asked if he ordered the guy to be fired he says no. When asked if he "recommended" the guy to be fired, he says, "It was a one minute conversation."
To me, that's a YES.
MM will join Favre next year as the new offensive coordinator with the Queens. He'll take Kampman with him.
Had to do it didn;t ya Mike? Had to throw in that fan/stockholder line. I know you go back & read these posts and I know that you know that every time a Packer guys starts out with "I'm a stockholder" que all the little Vike heads telling him what an idiot he is for buying a worthless piece of paper.
You'll do anything for some hits won't you. Huh, come on now, tell the truth.
Fan_of_Four, for a traitor you sure seem to be awfully concerned about the Pack. I mean you got 5 or 6 little bullshit posts on every Packer thread. You planning on coming back when your saviour retires. Guess what---we don't need ya. Now go adjust your tampon or something or polish up your knee pads for the next time you see Favre..
Trust me, if McFatty were 7-1 instead of 4-4, this wouldn't even be mentioned. But the natives are restless and this serves as just another piece of wood to throw into the fire as they burn his ass at the stake.
I only wish it were TT, he needs to be fired too.
NFLJunkie says:
November 13, 2009 4:03 PM
Cue all of the Vikings fans who will strut their talk about their 7-1 REGULAR SEASON record when every competent NFL fan knows that the regular season means squat if you can't win in the playoffs. Which they won't.
Funny- 20 something posts into this and YOU are the only one who's mentioned it.
McCarthy: Hey some guy that works for you said "don't lay an egg" to me...WTF.
Johnson: I think you mean Wood, good worker.
McCarthy: I'm not telling you what to do, but I'd irefay imhay....if you know what I mean.
So in cheeseville you apparently are supposed to genuflect when that golden god McCarthy waddles by? Who are they taking their management cues from over there, Dan Snyder?
NFL junkie, you're right, this type of crap has nothing to do with my team's 7-1 record, but perhaps says quite a bit about the reason behind your team's 4-4 record. And last I looked, a team has to actually make the playoffs to win or lose a game -- something apparently we won't be able to determine about the Pack this year. To follow your theme: cue the obligatory -- how many Super Bowl's have you won because my team sucks this year and I have to live in the past -- response.
I think that employee is lucky he was merely fired, and was able to get away from Lambeau without that fatass McCarthy eating him. Especially after he mentioned food in McCarthy's presence.
Mayor McCheese will get this figured out, dont worry. But first can someone go get him something too eat.....Where is the Hamburglar at?
NFLJunkie says:
November 13, 2009 4:03 PM
Cue all of the Vikings fans who will strut their talk about their 7-1 REGULAR SEASON record when every competent NFL fan knows that the regular season means squat if you can't win in the playoffs. Which they won't.
I can guarantee the Packers won't win in the playoffs this year. That's because it is impossible to win games you don't play in.
Let's relive a couple of key moments from the season thus far:
Oct. 5 - Scoreboard.
Nov. 1 - Scoreboard.
Look at the bright side. It may not be too late to get tickets to watch the best player in Packer history play in the postseason. In a sweet purple uniform.
Merril:
wasn't funny the 1st time, it certainly isn't the 30 th time..give it a rest
Reply to PHOOL:
People care because if someone was fired unjustly, that's wrong. And if that person is lying about the circumstances, that's wrong too. In either case, people's lives and reputations are impacted; that's worth caring about.
Again, who should be fired? The guy who said "don't lay an egg," or the guy who LAID AN EGG...
Manbearpig says:
November 13, 2009 4:37 PM
I think that employee is lucky he was merely fired, and was able to get away from Lambeau without that fatass McCarthy eating him. Especially after he mentioned food in McCarthy's presence.
______________________________
Funny stuff, MBP
And this is different than the Eagles firing the guy for commenting about trading a player, how?
As usual the media never asks the obvious questions:
1.) First question - So Mike, how does it feel to F-I-N-A-L-L-Y get someone on this team you can boss around ???
2.) Okay - serious question - Hey Mike, would you go to the trouble to ask the field manager this guys name if it wasn't that big of a deal, or if you had no intention on getting him fired ??? Hmmm ???
3.) I like how he says he had no "intention" of getting him fired - gee, sorta like he and TT had no intention of getting Favre run out of town in 2008 either. No wonder Favre wanted to leave this sinking ship.
4.) You gotta love McCarthy's attempt to answer the question of "was the comment he made "don't lay an egg"' by saying "I don't really know the man". Ummm Mike, THAT wasn't the question. Why so are you so defensive Mike ???
5.) Next question to Mike "Did you suggest to anyone that he be dismissed?" - Answer - "It was a one-minute conversation and that's the last I heard of it." Ummm, Mike, AGAIN, that wasn't the question. Why are you being so defensive Mike ???
6.) Plus, if it was no big deal, why wont he address what was said by the employee, or, what he said back ???
7.) How can he say with a straight face that he had nothing to do with the decision to get rid of the employee, when he specifically ask the guys boss his name, and then the next thing you know he fired. Nothing to do with it my butt !
8.) The cover-up is ALWAYS worse than the crime Mike.
9.) After losing to an 0-7 team, why shouldn't YOU be fired Mike ???
But hey, why would McCarthy care, due to the great season in '07 by Favre and the rest of the guys, he and Ted Thompson got themselves EACH 5 year contract extentions, so they'll get both paid THRU the 2012 season, no matter how much they ruin this franchise, or if we lose the next 38 games in a row.
Cutlersapussy, could you be a bigger child? Fudgepackers? turd bay? Pukers? Mcchubby? Very lame! Your mommy would take away your computer time if she knew you talked like that!
Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson are the biggest embarrasment to the Packers organization since Divine
"darrius_heyward-bey-butterfingers says:
November 13, 2009 3:47 PM
Bluestree can't get enough of this story. He LIVES for it."
We are all but pawns in Florio's game.
"After getting the football talk out of the way, McCarthy spoke at length about the firing of Packers maintenance employee Mike Wood, repeating his previous claim that he didn't fire Wood.
"I'm not involved in that decision and frankly I had zero intention, zero conversation and zero conversation, intention or anything to do with that.," McCarthy said.
"McCarthy, however, did ask for Wood's name from a superior -- fields manager Allen Johnson -- after the original incident happened. The Packers coach was asked if the comment was "Don't lay an egg.""
Assume that McCarthy is telling the truth, that is, he did not ask/request/order that Wood be fired. All it would take would be for McCarthy to ask Johnson, "hey, what is the name of that guy I was just talking to outside, the guy was asking me all kinds of questions about the next game......". Also assume a certain tone of voice by McCarthy, sorta pissed off and annoyed. Don't you think Johnson would get the "hint" and fire Wood soon afterward?
Ummm, I am NOT a Packers fan, hahaha! Just because I am talking trash about the Vikings (I hate Favre and Jared Allen) doesn't mean you can assume I am a Packers fan. You all failed.
Second, I'm not a psychic, but the Vikings are well overrated. "Purple Jesus" isn't even doing as well as people predicted this year and their defense is mediocre. They give up way too many yards and points to compete in the playoffs.
That's my opinion, you have yours. Don't call me a Packers fan though, because I am not. Just look me up once the Vikings exit the playoffs before the Super Bowl and we can talk.
Actually, I don't get why most Vikings act like their feces don't stink since they've never won a damn thing in the NFL.
Every season we're supposed to watch in awe of putrid purple chokers and we're act surprised when they don't do a thing?
Again, has everyone forgotten the fact that Wood may just have shot off his sarcastic mouth to the Head Coach and gotten fired as a result? Mouth off to you boss - any of you - and see how long you keep your job.
McCarthy may be a douchebag, I don't know .... I'm not a Packer fan. But I have to believe that those co-workers who were talking to McCarthy were asked what they heard BEFORE Wood got fired, and most likely he got fired because they heard him say "don't lay an egg". Otherwise the team would have never fired the guy based on what McCarthy thought he heard.
If I were Wood and DIDN'T say that, I'd be in front of every reporter in Green Bay giving them the names of those other employees, and asking them - no begging them - to go interview those people and see if they heard me say "lay an egg".
Wood seems to be pretty calm for a guy fired for no good reason, with all this media attention available to him.
In this case, I'm believing the Fat Guy.
The coach may have been feeling like Humpty Dumpty that day and the egg reference put him over the edge. Ari Fleischer on line 2...
Sounds like it was just a kid being young and they take his job away from him for it? It has had the whole Favre thing blow up in his face and I hope the bum and his team gets thumped this week, What comes around goes around and looks like Green Bay has been getting theirs for awhile now.
mooch was a lousy coach too.
# JimmySmith says: November 13, 2009 4:25 PM
Trust me, if McFatty were 7-1 instead of 4-4, this wouldn't even be mentioned. But the natives are restless and this serves as just another piece of wood to throw into the fire as they burn his ass at the stake.
I only wish it were TT, he needs to be fired too.
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newsflash jimmy, if the pack was 7-1, they would be a good football team (like the vikings!) which they are not. suck it homer.
Why don't they just fine him........
i love how the queens fans comment on every single packers article there is......kinda of funny considering us packer fans could care less about your team. Oh yeah I live in MN and I saw commercial that seats are still available for Sunday's game!!!!!!!!!!!.......and you think you deserve a NEW STADIUM?......you cannot even sell out the metrodome!!!!!!!!
LA VIKINGS 2011
19. Vikings
Consecutive sellouts: 104 | Season-ticket waiting list: None
The Metrodome has spoiled a generation of Minnesota football fans who don't realize how good they have it. Try sitting outside for three hours in -10 wind chill when you're not used to it. There is also an undeniable fair-weather factor among Vikings fans, and the team needed corporate help to sell out its games last season for the first time in a decade.
-- Kevin Seifert
2. Packers
Consecutive sellouts: 269 | Season-ticket waiting list: 78,000
Want to talk about support? The Packers have been sold out since 1960. Win or lose, fans fill Lambeau Field. The Packers are a huge part of the community fabric, perhaps more so than any other NFL town. Passion is second to none. Of course, that passion has been directly challenged following the team's ugly divorce with quarterback Brett Favre. Many fans are upset, and some have taken it out on replacement Aaron Rodgers. But if they are true to form, the vast majority of Packers fans will remain supportive of the team.
-- Kevin Seifert
buck u pack haterz
wow. you really went all exclamation point on us. you know exclamation points are a way to laugh at your own jokes, right?
Vikings 0 Super Bowls
Packers 3 (12 championships overall)
Be squirrely Vikes fans...BE SQUIRRELY...get excited....GET PUMPED UP!! This is the year...this is...no doubt. Grandpa throwing TD's...Allen doing that unhetero hog-tie after a sack and AP fumbling. You guys just suck.
If I was a Packers fan I would be furious. Not because the guy got fired but because your coach is a liar. For him to say he didnt get the guy fired is assinine. When he said i wouldnt have said that to another employ that qoute right there proved to me that he did get the man fired. Because I can just see Mike after he talked to Wood going up in his office and asking people "who is that guy, you no what he said to ME, who does he think he is to talk to ME like that, I want to know who he is" I bet after he found out who the guy is he talked to woods superiors and told them what he thought would get the guy fired. I dont think he told anyone to fire him but Im damn sure he let them know that he wanted them to fire him.
You guys lost your HOF qb because of McCarthy's ego and now he's getting people fired from the team who have been there 5 times as long as him because of his ego. He strikes me as the kind of guy that will cut his nose of to spite his face. Or in this case ruin the number 1 seed in the NFC 2 years ago to feed his ego. The man is obsessed with power first kicking out farve now getting nobodies fired.
NFLJunkie says:
November 13, 2009 5:40 PM
Ummm, I am NOT a Packers fan, hahaha! Just because I am talking trash about the Vikings (I hate Favre and Jared Allen) doesn't mean you can assume I am a Packers fan. You all failed.
Second, I'm not a psychic, but the Vikings are well overrated. "Purple Jesus" isn't even doing as well as people predicted this year and their defense is mediocre. They give up way too many yards and points to compete in the playoffs
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First of all NFL Dumb ass, AD has got 20 touches a game. Look for that to increase in the next 8 games with the yards and tds piling up. We DONT rely on him,we got many weapons tool.
Look at this douche -
Vikings give up 21.8 ppg and 332.6 ypg
Saints give up 21.8 ppg and 331.6 ypg
Cowboys give up 19 ppg and 336.5 ypg
Eagles give up 19.1 ppg and 304.5 ypg
Cardinals give up 20.5 ppg and 339.8 ypg
Saints and Vikings almost identical. Take your Vikings give up to much yards and points to compete in NFC playoffs and shove it! You have no credibility in your statement,go back to the minors . Bet you did good in school too?? Idiot.
LBPACKFAN says:
November 13, 2009 8:16 PM
Vikings 0 Super Bowls
Packers 3 (12 championships overall)
Be squirrely Vikes fans...BE SQUIRRELY...get excited....GET PUMPED UP!! This is the year...this is...no doubt. Grandpa throwing TD's...Allen doing that unhetero hog-tie after a sack and AP fumbling. You guys just suck.
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You, my nut hugging lil puke is why birth control was invented. Don't hate because the Packers fans are in the same boat as Raiders Nation. Poor you. HAHAHA
How do you REALLY feel pervyharvin?
GBPackers says:
November 13, 2009 9:53 PM
How do you REALLY feel pervyharvin?
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Just marvelous!!! Having a martini,eating fresh MN walleye caught today and watching Brett returns to Lamblow game again on the DVR with a sexy woman. Thanks for asking chip! Have a good evening!
NFLJunkie says: November 13, 2009 5:40 PM
Second, I'm not a psychic, but the Vikings are well overrated. "Purple Jesus" isn't even doing as well as people predicted this year and their defense is mediocre.
___________________
Yeah, AD isn't producing, Through 8 games, he has 784 yards, 9 TD's, and 4.8 YPC. That would put him on pace for 1568 yards and 18 TD's. Call me crazy, but those numbers seem pretty productive. The defense may only be average, but with an offense putting up 30+ points a game, an average defense is more than enough.
# LBPACKFAN says: November 13, 2009 8:16 PM
Vikings 0 Super Bowls
Packers 3 (12 championships overall)
Be squirrely Vikes fans...BE SQUIRRELY...get excited....GET PUMPED UP!! This is the year...this is...no doubt. Grandpa throwing TD's...Allen doing that unhetero hog-tie after a sack and AP fumbling. You guys just suck.
_________________
Well, everyone on here knows you're an idiot, so please just stop posting. Everyone knows the Pack has 3 Super Bowls, but everyone also knows that the last one came well over a decade ago, when Favre was the QB. And if you're going to say a team sucks, you should probably make sure that said team isn't 7-1, and coming off of 2 thrashings of your beloved Packers.
Pervy is really Percy
Lamblow is really Lambeau
I'm suprised this knuckle dragger can spell walleye...
LBPACKFAN says:
November 13, 2009 8:16 PM
Vikings 0 Super Bowls
Packers 3 (12 championships overall)
Be squirrely Vikes fans...BE SQUIRRELY...get excited....GET PUMPED UP!! This is the year...this is...no doubt. Grandpa throwing TD's...Allen doing that unhetero hog-tie after a sack and AP fumbling. You guys just suck.
****************************
Now this is getting funny. This guy is so hurt by Favre that it seems he falling apart mentally. I said over and over again that this would happen but I don't think even I really believed it. You people are amazing.
Fans of teams across the league that have actually won something (Patriots, Steelers, etc.) know the Vikings are paper tigers and a complete joke. Favre will break down by December. It's like clockwork. Enjoy your lefse, Viqueen weepers.
LBPACKFAN says:
November 13, 2009 11:11 PM
Pervy is really Percy
Lamblow is really Lambeau
I'm suprised this knuckle dragger can spell walleye...
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...and I'm sure you can't catch one. Can you do anything besides spew Viking hate???
The classic fire your worker or I will fire you and then hire somebody that will fire the worker and don't tell anyone I told you to fire him or I will fire you.
Hey, did anybody see Jay Cutler throw five picks on thursday night? Jay is most often compared to Brett Farve, and thursday night was like a Farve playoff performance.
Big Mike is just takin the attention away from the fact that he has no idea how to coach
LMAO @ patsfan1776
"The classic fire your worker or I will fire you and then hire somebody that will fire the worker and don't tell anyone I told you to fire him or I will fire you."
I'm STILL chuckling, even as I am typing this right now!
bluestree says: November 14, 2009 11:15 AM
Hey, did anybody see Jay Cutler throw five picks on thursday night? Jay is most often compared to Brett Farve, and thursday night was like a Farve playoff performance.
______________________
Did it really take you a day and a half to come up with that weak trash? And FYI, it's FAVRE, not FARVE. Easy mistake, he's only been around for 18 years, and this is probably the first PFT thread that has been Favre related.
Majik Man says:
November 14, 2009 1:02 PM
Did it really take you a day and a half to come up with that weak trash? And FYI, it's FAVRE, not FARVE. Easy mistake, he's only been around for 18 years, and this is probably the first PFT thread that has been Favre related.
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That's some funny shit right there, considering the source.