Posted on 01/02/2006 9:26:46 AM PST by Kimmers
Green Bay, WI (Sports Network) - The Green Bay Packers fired executive vice president and head coach Mike Sherman, the team announced during a Monday morning press conference.
Sherman's fate was sealed after the Packers finished up a 4-12 season Sunday with a 23-17 win over the Seattle Seahawks. It was Green Bay's worst finish since going 4-12 in 1991.
"I felt like we needed to go in another direction," said Packers executive vice president, general manager and director of football operations Ted Thompson. "I met with our players briefly. I informed them of my decision along with my high expectations of the team in future seasons."
The team battled through a contract ordeal in the offseason with wide receiver Javon Walker, who was lost in the season to injury. Top running back Ahman Green also went down with a season-ending injury and quarterback Brett Favre suffered through a tough season in which may be his last.
Sherman, who signed a two-year contract extension in August, completed his sixth season as head coach and finished with an overall mark of 59-43, including the playoffs.
"My talk with him (Sherman) was very brief," Thompson added. "I will begin the process of interviewing potential head coaches this week. I do think that in the long run this is what's best for the Green Bay Packers."
The 51-year-old Sherman guided the Packers to three straight division titles, four consecutive playoff appearances and recorded winning records from 2000-04. Sherman had been with the organization since 1997 and served as the tight ends/offensive line coach and the team's offensive coordinator.
Sherman is also just one of four head coaches in franchise history to hold a winning career mark, joining Curly Lambeau, Vince Lombardi and Mike Holmgren.
01/02 12:01:47 ET
No shock.
My gut says the job will go to Jim Bates or Steve Mariucchi.
Its Favre not Farve.
Saw this one coming last year at this time, when Shermie was stripped of his GM title.
What I'm waiting to see is who is going to replace him. Capers, Tice, Martz and Vermeil need not apply.
My thinking is that either Jim Bates will be named as the new HC or possibly Steve Mariucci will be tapped.
We shall see how this develops.
Mariucchi should come to St. Louis as revenge against that class org, the 49ers.
What about geniuses Jim Mora and Jeff Fisher?
Coaches are hired to be fired, that's why they're overpaid..it's temp work.
Has Donald Trump become the NFL commissioner?
So many coaches......YOU'RE FIRED...this year!
Cool! Email me at thoughtomator - at - packers-suck.com =)
It's too bad the Packers had so many problems this year, but we've been immersed in this will he/won't he retire for the second year in a row, and I'm sick of hearing about it.
It seems to me there are about 5-6 head coach firings a year.
I'm not a Vikings or Bears fan -- I just really grew to hate the team from Groan Bay while in school and during a temporary exile spent working in Milwaukee.
Mariucci is my bet. Favre said if Sherman goes, then he goes. But, if Mariucci is hired Favre may stay at the helm another year.
Unfortunately, Sherman did not replenish the team with solid new players as quality older players left the team. Other than Farve and Green, the rest of the team is mediocre at best, especially on defence. What they need are game breakers. As my football hero, former GM Ron Wolf once said, championship teams start with a dominating defence.
Jim Fassell will get one of the openings.
Just dawned on me. What about Barry Alvarez of the Wisconsin Badgers? Maybe the Pack will pursue him.
Iowa's Ferentz is supposedly well thought of also.
Other concerns would be what kind of offence would the new coach employ. If Farve stays and the coach employs an offensive scheme that is very different from the west coast offence, there could be problems.
In Pittsburgh, it's kind of like getting hired by the Post Office -- only 2 coaches in the last 37 years.
That's not what he said. He said he's too old to learn a new scheme. Not the same thing at all.
Thompson has to be thinking about Mooch. It's a surefire fan pleaser, which means it's probably not the right move to make, but he has to at least consider it.
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