Matt extended

[CarryTheG14]

To be clear, I was (and am) against keeping MLF. He has won a lot of games, but his record is considerably less impressive without Rodgers. Having a HOF quarterback on your team makes your job a lot easier. Hopefully MLF proves me wrong.

That's something I really disagree with.

Nobody had GB going to the play-offs or winning a play-off game year 1 of Jordan starting.

Year two, Love was hurt and they lost round 1 to a very good SB winner.

Year three, It was a ugly loss to Chi, but without Wyatt/Kraft/Parsons/Tom what were we winning?

 

[adambr2]

Question for the forum - do McVay and Shanahan call the plays for the Rams and Niners, respectively? What about Campbell in Detroit and Johnson in Chicago? I'm just curious.

Campbell certainly has a heavy hand in Detroit's offense. MLF calls the offense, and I'm wondering how common/uncommon this is for a HC.

Thanks all!

The league is pretty split, I believe.

That's something I really disagree with.

Nobody had GB going to the play-offs or winning a play-off game year 1 of Jordan starting.

Year two, Love was hurt and they lost round 1 to a very good SB winner.

Year three, It was an ugly loss to Chi, but without Wyatt/Kraft/Parsons/Tom what were we winning?

I agree with the assessment of 2023-24. If we are going to say Love was hurt in 2024, I feel like we are always going to be able to come up with an excuse why we didn’t make it. Everyone is banged up at the end of the season.

If MLF has lost the team, nothing else really matters.

 

[adambr2]

One other thing I want to add on the playcalling debate.

Some HCs who call plays have special assistants that are dedicated to helping them manage in-game decision making. I’m almost positive that McVay has a guy who is strictly dedicated to clock management, if I recall correctly.

So just because a HC is calling plays, doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t have help with other aspects of the job.

Also, some are just much better at multitasking than others. I don’t have a problem with Andy Reid coaching and calling plays as opposed to Matt Lafleur doing it because Andy Reid has demonstrated that he can multitask.

 

[CarryTheG14]

The league is pretty split, I believe.

I agree with the assessment of 2023-24. If we are going to say Love was hurt in 2024, I feel like we are always going to be able to come up with an excuse why we didn’t make it. Everyone is banged up at the end of the season.

If MLF has lost the team, nothing else really matters.

I can understand the 2024 point of view. They did lose to Philly who I think is one of the better teams in the last decade.

The end part is true, but I don't think it is the case. I think the way the year ended made his grade worse

 

[OldSchool101]

Yeah that was the reaction I had as well. And the report, or the reporting on the report, is confusing - "MLF's respect for players" dropped, or was it "players' respect for MLF". And why no comments from the players? Just not a well done survey IMO.

Not that it should be dismissed out of hand, and the issues with training sound more valid than the nebulous comment on MLF. But I thought the Packers had one of the better training facilities in the league. Too much uncertainty around all of this.

Finally, a lot of people correlate strong training programs with lack of in juries. Personally, I never saw that correlation as very strong. These guys are very well-conditioned athletes and injuries still happen. Injuries happen and are usually the result of being in the wrong place at the wrong time - I'm thinking of Kraft getting accidentally kicked by a teammate, or no good reason at all - Parsons' getting an ACL tear on a non-contact play. Bakhtiari tearing his ACL in practice. Jordy Nelson tore his ACL on a non-contact play in PS quite a few years ago.

Rarely, if ever, does an NFL player get hurt from not being in shape. Just MO.

That’s what I was going to say but you covered it perfectly.

 

[Pkrjones]

The end part is true, but I don't think it is the case. I think the way the year ended made his grade worse

This player survey was conducted in early/mid December, so the epic late-game failures played no part in negative opinions.

 

[gopkrs]

Also negatively mentioned was OC. Don't know why. But I'd like to know exactly what he does

 

[OldSchool101]

One other thing I want to add on the playcalling debate.

Some HCs who call plays have special assistants that are dedicated to helping them manage in-game decision making. I’m almost positive that McVay has a guy who is strictly dedicated to clock management, if I recall correctly.

So just because a HC is calling plays, doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t have help with other aspects of the job.

Also, some are just much better at multitasking than others. I don’t have a problem with Andy Reid coaching and calling plays as opposed to Matt Lafleur doing it because Andy Reid has demonstrated that he can multitask.

As with many observations. This could be a learning opportunity. As we’ve learned last year, Coaching changes aren’t always bad. My hope is the replacement coaches in 2026 bring some new ideas in what works with their time on other Staffs. I’m not certain if Rich was really an Assistant head coach for a staff reason to design more $$ or was he actively involved past Teams? Was he making clock manager calls or at least involve in pressure cooker decisions? He should’ve been. I even wonder if part of the reason he left was his title was a figurehead role past being just Teams Coordinator. Just a hunch.

 

[rmontro]

That's something I really disagree with.
Nobody had GB going to the play-offs or winning a play-off game year 1 of Jordan starting.
Year two, Love was hurt and they lost round 1 to a very good SB winner.
Year three, It was a ugly loss to Chi, but without Wyatt/Kraft/Parsons/Tom what were we winning?

After Love's first year, things looked very promising. The problem is the progression. Each year the team has slipped some, each year has been worse than the one preceding it. Yes, injuries have been a big factor in that, but still, all teams have injuries. The 2010-2011 team that won the Super Bowl was very banged up.

We've had a very young team. You would expect a well led young team to show improvement as the years go by, not decline. It's fun having the youngest team in the league, because it saves you money, and you expect them to get better. But maybe the team needs a little more maturity if they're going to win more games and avoid the mistakes and penalties.

 

[OldSchool101]

After Love's first year, things looked very promising. The problem is the progression. Each year the team has slipped some, each year has been worse than the one preceding it. Yes, injuries have been a big factor in that, but still, all teams have injuries. The 2010-2011 team that won the Super Bowl was very banged up.

We've had a very young team. You would expect a well led young team to show improvement as the years go by, not decline. It's fun having the youngest team in the league, because it saves you money, and you expect them to get better. But maybe the team needs a little more maturity if they're going to win more games and avoid the mistakes and penalties.

Yeah there’s a happy medium. It would be interesting to see the average age ranking of each SuperBowl team.

IMO it helps to be young. Yet you need veteran leadership also. Those Julius Peppers or Woodson or Mercedes type players inserted at position groups. I’m not interested in being least experienced either. I’d guess being top 5 youngest is more a sweet spot.

 

[Pkrjones]

Year three, It was a ugly loss to Chi, but without Wyatt/Kraft/Parsons/Tom what were we winning?

So it's OK for MLF/the team to crap the bed in the 2nd half and allow da Bears to move on? The Packers had thoroughly dismantled Chicago in half 1, and by allowing them to destroy GB in half 2 & win only emboldened our rivals. Chicago now has 7 months of swagger, bragging rights and confidence that they have over-taken the NFC North.

GB would've taken on the Seahawks had they won playoff game 1. The Hawks were coming off a bye & mostly healthy (minus RB1)... a very tough game. Had GB played as they did in half 1 against the Bears they would've been a tough out, as well.

Wasted opportunity... and now we need to take the verbal abuse of all Bears fans AND coaches until our next rivalry victory.

 

[OldSchool101]

So it's OK for MLF/the team to crap the bed in the 2nd half and allow da Bears to move on? The Packers had thoroughly dismantled Chicago in half 1, and by allowing them to destroy GB in half 2 & win only emboldened our rivals. Chicago now has 7 months of swagger, bragging rights and confidence that they have over-taken the NFC North.

GB would've taken on the Seahawks had they won playoff game 1. The Hawks were coming off a bye & mostly healthy (minus RB1)... a very tough game. Had GB played as they did in half 1 against the Bears they would've been a tough out, as well.

Wasted opportunity... and now we need to take the verbal abuse of all Bears fans AND coaches until our next rivalry victory.

Each year the Bears find a moving target. In 2024 it was “oh but the Packers were an OT game from going 0-6 in the North” While initially factual, it had ZERO substance.
THAT didn’t last long!

In 2025 it was “I enjoy beating MLF 2X per season” while initially and sadly factual and I’m not sure anyone picked up on Ben kicked out A 2X?? But he did. That type sentiment is only as good as you allow it to be. Ben likes to use war words to throw MLF off his game.

The reality is GB has all the tools to Win a Championship. Who in this forum truly believes that had GB had any pair of Kraft, Wyatt, Parsons and Tom ….they wouldn’t advance past Chicago?

Chicago was more a product of the Packers losing key players and kinda lucked out. GB could’ve beat Chicago with a backup QB and a choice of 3 of those 4 players. I actually believe that. It took Chicago a miracle last second comeback while playing at home. Not a very dominant team. High floor medium ceiling.

 

[CarryTheG14]

After Love's first year, things looked very promising. The problem is the progression. Each year the team has slipped some, each year has been worse than the one preceding it. Yes, injuries have been a big factor in that, but still, all teams have injuries. The 2010-2011 team that won the Super Bowl was very banged up.

We've had a very young team. You would expect a well led young team to show improvement as the years go by, not decline. It's fun having the youngest team in the league, because it saves you money, and you expect them to get better. But maybe the team needs a little more maturity if they're going to win more games and avoid the mistakes and penalties.

In theory that would be the case, but in practice it's not always the case or that they don't get significantly better.


Oh ya, of course. Health permitted, there's no excuse now for this team not to be a legit contender going forward. If they were healthy, they would have been.

 

[OldSchool101]

As far as Matt vs Chicago, our only significant player exchange imo is Doubs. Maybe maybe Q but my hunch is 1 of those 2 get resigned.

GB will loosen Cap and tweak several weaknesses. We’re likely going to see 90% of this team back and I don’t see any major concerns past backup QB and possibly some decisioning at Center

The Bears are actually currently behind GB in their financial ability to upgrade. Chicago really blew their *** $ in 2025 FA and will rely on veteran cuts to fix cap issues. Bye bye DJ Moore he’s as good as gone, similar to Jenkins he gets them Cap straight. Yet Elgton impact last year was minimal and likely won’t be felt. DJ has a down year but still 700 yards and 6 TD’s is helpful. Chicago will be at risk of having ZERO bonus draft comp selections with being on the bottom fringe of RD7 for the loss of Tevin Jenkins. He’s a coin toss 250+ pick at best. Matt Ryan did us a huge favor joining the Falcons and erased a potential pair of Bears 3rd Rounders. Thank You Matt we love you! Chicago is steaming at this move because it negated huge draft capital. Remind my to send the Rhyan family an Easter card

 

[CarryTheG14]

So it's OK for MLF/the team to crap the bed in the 2nd half and allow da Bears to move on? The Packers had thoroughly dismantled Chicago in half 1, and by allowing them to destroy GB in half 2 & win only emboldened our rivals. Chicago now has 7 months of swagger, bragging rights and confidence that they have over-taken the NFC North.

GB would've taken on the Seahawks had they won playoff game 1. The Hawks were coming off a bye & mostly healthy (minus RB1)... a very tough game. Had GB played as they did in half 1 against the Bears they would've been a tough out, as well.

Wasted opportunity... and now we need to take the verbal abuse of all Bears fans AND coaches until our next rivalry victory.

I'm not saying MLF is without blame. The team wasn't winning this year though.

I don't care what Chicago Bears fans say lol. Bragging about winning the NFC North for the first time for the first time in 15 years would be hilarious.

 

[rmontro]

Oh ya, of course. Health permitted, there's no excuse now for this team not to be a legit contender going forward. If they were healthy, they would have been.

I don't think that's a foregone conclusion. They had some real stinker games before Parsons got hurt.

 

[milani]

One other thing I want to add on the playcalling debate.

Some HCs who call plays have special assistants that are dedicated to helping them manage in-game decision making. I’m almost positive that McVay has a guy who is strictly dedicated to clock management, if I recall correctly.

So just because a HC is calling plays, doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t have help with other aspects of the job.

Also, some are just much better at multitasking than others. I don’t have a problem with Andy Reid coaching and calling plays as opposed to Matt Lafleur doing it because Andy Reid has demonstrated that he can multitask.

Reid is old school like Holmgren for whom he was an assistant.

 

[CarryTheG14]

I don't think that's a foregone conclusion. They had some real stinker games before Parsons got hurt.

Yes, without Kraft, Wyatt and a clearly injured Tom.

And that's not it. Banks was hurt all year, Watson was hurt/ wasn't full speed until Nov, Jacobs was hobbled all year, reed was lost for most of the year, LVN was hurt a good part of the year.

That's a lot of significant players who were hurt or hobbled for a good part of the year.

This team is ultra-talented. If they have a good health year, they're going to be very very dangerous.

 

[adambr2]

Yes, without Kraft, Wyatt and a clearly injured Tom.

And that's not it. Banks was hurt all year, Watson was hurt/ wasn't full speed until Nov, Jacobs was hobbled all year, reed was lost for most of the year, LVN was hurt a good part of the year.

That's a lot of significant players who were hurt or hobbled for a good part of the year.

This team is ultra-talented. If they have a good health year, they're going to be very very dangerous.

The team was perfectly healthy when they went into Cleveland 2-0 with their hype at a high and blew a 10 point late lead against the Browns.

His point was that this team has proven it can lay an egg at any time, regardless of the health of the team and it’s not a foregone conclusion that they wouldn’t have still done that in the playoffs when healthy.

 

[JPPT1974]

Really can't afford to blow leads. If given the choice between starting strong only to lose, or starting slow to finally win as ugly as the win is, but it is win. Would rather chose the latter over the former. Any single day and time.

 

[OldSchool101]

Yes, without Kraft, Wyatt and a clearly injured Tom.

And that's not it. Banks was hurt all year, Watson was hurt/ wasn't full speed until Nov, Jacobs was hobbled all year, reed was lost for most of the year, LVN was hurt a good part of the year.

That's a lot of significant players who were hurt or hobbled for a good part of the year.

This team is ultra-talented. If they have a good health year, they're going to be very very dangerous.

Exactly. Yeah I know you hate to use injury excuses but let’s be real right? I forgot about Reed. Heck he was our leading WR in 2023,2024 and he was gone for more than 1/2 of 2025 and between Watson and Reed that’s equivalent of losing a key WR1-2 for an entire season.

Hopefully we get more normalized on injuries or even have some good fortune. That alone would give GB an advantage. It’s not a coincidence that the bulk of true playoff contenders that were least injured were 85% of teams in the playoffs. Seattle was one of the least injured teams leaguewide.

 

[adambr2]

Exactly. Yeah I know you hate to use injury excuses but let’s be real right? I forgot about Reed. Heck he was our leading WR in 2023,2024 and he was gone for more than 1/2 of 2025 and between Watson and Reed that’s equivalent of losing a key WR1-2 for an entire season.

Hopefully we get more normalized on injuries or even have some good fortune. That alone would give GB an advantage. It’s not a coincidence that the bulk of true playoff contenders that were least injured were 85% of teams in the playoffs. Seattle was one of the least injured teams leaguewide.

I never counted on a thing from Watson in 2025. Everything he gave us was gravy.

The injury to Reed should have been the perfect opportunity for Golden to be more involved, but it wasn’t.

 

[CarryTheG14]

The team was perfectly healthy when they went into Cleveland 2-0 with their hype at a high and blew a 10 point late lead against the Browns.

His point was that this team has proven it can lay an egg at any time, regardless of the health of the team and it’s not a foregone conclusion that they wouldn’t have still done that in the playoffs when healthy.

That's The NFL. Bad teams beat good teams or come very close on a regular basis.

 

[CarryTheG14]

Exactly. Yeah I know you hate to use injury excuses but let’s be real right? I forgot about Reed. Heck he was our leading WR in 2023,2024 and he was gone for more than 1/2 of 2025 and between Watson and Reed that’s equivalent of losing a key WR1-2 for an entire season.

Hopefully we get more normalized on injuries or even have some good fortune. That alone would give GB an advantage. It’s not a coincidence that the bulk of true playoff contenders that were least injured were 85% of teams in the playoffs. Seattle was one of the least injured teams leaguewide.

It's not something you want, but it is a huge deal.

GB vs Chicago this play-offs. Lets be honest, I bet GB wins if only Parsons is healthy. I don't think it takes anything away from Chicago. Perfect situations don't always happen, ya gotta adjust. GB did not

 

[milani]

The team was perfectly healthy when they went into Cleveland 2-0 with their hype at a high and blew a 10 point late lead against the Browns.

His point was that this team has proven it can lay an egg at any time, regardless of the health of the team and it’s not a foregone conclusion that they wouldn’t have still done that in the playoffs when healthy.

With that, they were 9-3-1 at one point. That includes winnable close games against the Browns, Boys, Eagles, and Panthers.