Mike McCarthy pulls out of the Pro Bowl with an illness

Posted by Michael David Smith on January 27, 2016, 5:02 PM EST
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A record number of players have pulled out of this year’s Pro Bowl, and now a coach has, too.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy will not coach the Pro Bowl. The team announced that doctors advised McCarthy not to travel to Hawaii because he has a stomach illness.

The Packers’ coaching staff will now be led by associate head coach winston Moss, who will handle head-coaching responsibilities for the rest of the week and at the game on Sunday night.

The other Pro Bowl team will be coached by Chiefs coach Andy Reid. The Pro Bowl rosters will be determined at tonight’s Pro Bowl draft, an event that many people will watch, not because anyone actually cares about the Pro Bowl, but because it’s related to the NFL and it’s on TV.

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46 responses to “Mike McCarthy pulls out of the Pro Bowl with an illness”

  3. Aaron Rodgers backs out with ‘injury’ — after playing entire playoff game and last seen hurling ball 60 yards in air for TD. Why hasn’t anyone asked about the injury?

    McCarthy now with ‘illness’ just days after Bob McGinn’s JS article citing sources saying McCarthy is ‘fed up’ with GM Ted Thompson’s approach to free agency.

    Hmmm…

  11. The Packers’ coaching staff will now be led by associate head coach winston Moss

    *********************************************************************************

    The associate head coach of the Pro Bowl gets so little respect that his first name isn’t even capitalized.

  13. The NFL Pro Bowl has become an embarrassment to sports as a whole.

    Not only do coaches want to stay away, but when enough quarterbacks drop out to make way for Teddy Bridgewater, you know the entire thing is a joke.

  14. Don’t believe McGinn. He likes to throw out a bombshell or two a year…. and gets nowhere. If he knew half what he thinks he knows, he’d be working in the NFL…

  15. The Coaches pick make less sense than some of the players voted in! A Pre-Season Super Bowl pick that lost the Division to a Team that was 3-13 just a few years ago…..
    Scratch, Scratch??

  17. glac1 says:
    Jan 27, 2016 5:57 PM

    Don’t believe McGinn. He likes to throw out a bombshell or two a year…. and gets nowhere. If he knew half what he thinks he knows, he’d be working in the NFL…
    ———————————————————————
    McGinn is one of the best sports writers in America.

  18. He’s just being modest with the stomach illness reason. Actually, he has a very serious fever of 98.7

  19. The NFL Pro Bowl has become an embarrassment to sports as a whole.

    Not only do coaches want to stay away, but when enough quarterbacks drop out to make way for Teddy Bridgewater, you know the entire thing is a joke.

    I agree especially when Matthews and Rodgers are voted in by reputation

  20. if the nfl is going to keep the pro bowl why don’t they make it afc vs nfc and the winning conference have the super bowl played in their home stadium?

  23. Can this game just finally go away? Players back out constantly. Now we have coaches bailing. Give them an award and do away with the game. Which is pretty much un-watchable anyway.

  24. These Pro Bowl injuries sound just like Belicheat’s New England weekly Injury Report.

  25. The Pro Bowl is the biggest joke since the days of old when the NFL champion had to play against the College All Stars.

    These players play 16 games then maybe 2 more in the playoffs, and they expect them to travel to Hawaii to play in this stupid exhibition game? It’s ridiculous and should be done away with once and for all.

    Personally, I’d like to see the cheerleaders of the NFC teams and the cheerleaders of the AFC teams play a flag football game against each other in Hawaii. Now that would be worth watching!

  26. Ever since they switched the the sandlot “pick me!, pick me!” version of the pro bowl it seems like players have lost interest. It use to be a time for guys to connect with other players in the division and take a break from smashing each other in the face week in and week out. For the fans it was a chance to see a Raider and Chief helmet lined up next to each other on the same offensive line or to to see Tom Brady throw to Marvin Harrison. Now it’s just an inter division free for all house party that seems childish with the two captains picking teams or drafting or whatever. Back in the day it was an honor to make the Pro Bowl , especially for first time guys who got to spend time with future hall of famers. Now, it’s just kinda lame and the veteran players and coaches know it.

  27. “It’s time to learn to play or coach with little aches and pains. Very soft….”

    But his pad level is fantastic…

  29. Nike was going to be a sponsor of the Pro Bowl, but has since bowed out due to “personal reasons”. Filling in for Nike will be British Knights. LA Gear is also onboard as a backup sponsor.

  30. This game has been become the joke of professional sports. It should be renamed the Replacement Bowl . I can’t believe Goodell keeps it going just for the tiny amount of TV revenue it generates.

  33. tjacks7 says:
    Jan 27, 2016 7:27 PM

    Scared his glaring lack of coaching ability will scare off those free agents he wants.
    ______________________
    Yep 8th highest winning percentage all time equals “glaring lack of coaching ability”.
    Meanwhile Mike Zimmer is universally praised but it’s been over 18 years since he called home to say “We moved on in the playoffs”. Does not compute….

  34. The NFL should have the game be all rookies and 1st year players. They would at least go there for the free vacation and few bucks it pays.

  35. Now if it were the Senior Bowl, even if MM was on his death Bed, TT would get him there, even if he had to drive him to Mobile himself.

  37. McCarthy now just as upset about the new Lambeau donut provider as he with Thompson’s free agent record.

  38. Pro Bowl was an Honor and meant some extra money in players jeans. And a free trip to far away Hawaii for them and their families.

    In the 70’s and 80’s and early 90’s it was a big deal…when players made a fraction of what they do now. Contracts are more complicated and have incentives that the layers reach if they go to Honolulu or not, and the value of contracts are 15x what they were if kit more.

    So that trip to Hawaii that was basically a $20k perk for the players is a bigger deal when you’re making $700 k or less a year. Now a most Pro Bowlers that are rejecting make $5-$20 million. Those players sneeze and make $20k now without a 5h flight from LAX to deal with.

  39. Mike should go. He can sit outside the stadium and let people rub his big belly, like a big fat Buddha. For luck. It would make Mike feel better. Mike would make a good Buddha. I see a lot of people in my neighborhood that would make good big fat Buddhas. Wisconsin Buddhas. They could put a big G on there. It would wiggle when they laughed. Like Jello. Like Eddie’s does when he runs. Or walks. It would be an instant classic. I like it. We should change the team name to the Green Bay Buddhas.

  40. Its a common illness that multiple players have been contracting also. Its called pro-bowl-itis.

  41. I agree that the NFL should get rid of this farce of a game. But if they don’t, make it NFC vs AFC and forget about that ultra stupid draft.

  44. Goodell insists on this game. So be it. Players and coaches who decline who are not in the SB or injured (truly injured) DO NOT get any Pro Bowl bonuses the following season. It is DISRESPECTFUL to the fans who vote for them! “Oh, my team didn’t win, boohoo, I’m not going to Hawaii!” Seriously???? Get over it! Give some respect and Kudos to the guys who ALWAYS show up for the Pro Bowl, will you?

  46. This game is not important to many, but it is to the players that appreciate the acknowledgement.

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