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
He's retiring as coach after today's Citrus Bowl win, but he's staying as Athletic Director. I think he's like Pete Carroll - enjoying where he is, and uninterested in making a change.
"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."
I'm thinking that it's entirely possible that Mooch could be brought into the mix while keeping Jim Bates (possible HC/Asst. HC senario?) on board.
I think that TT has been thinking along these lines all along, knowing full well that any HC in Detriot was on thin ice as long as Millen is their GM.
IF Mooch comes back to the TWELVE TIME NFL CHAMPIONSHIP winning GREEN BAY PACKERS, any talk of the retirement of BRETT FAVRE will disappear as fast as an ice cube in the Iraqi Desert.
GB should just re-brand the Wisconsin team... they need the whole package, coach and players alike, plus the ability to win a game.
Why are people so in love with Mariucci? Steve Mediocri is more like it. He may not have been THE problem at Detroit, but he certainly wasn't THE solution either.
"Why are people so in love with Mariucci? Steve Mediocri is more like it. He may not have been THE problem at Detroit, but he certainly wasn't THE solution either."
First off, let's establish a couple of points, okay?
(1) It's a fact that in the best years that BRETT FAVRE has had, "Mooch" played a very important role, almost as significant as that of Holmgren, if not as much. "Mooch" and BRETT FAVRE in tandem gave defensive coordinators in the NFL nightmares as well as major heartburn. Mariucci understands Favre and how he works. Nobody that Favre has had to work with since his (Mariucci) departure from GREEN BAY has had that with Favre and it's been obvious to those of us that have paid attention.
(2)In defense of Mariucci, his tenures as HC both at SF and Detroit were under less than desireable conditions, working for owners/GMs that were (and remain) notorious micro-managers. It's no secret that "Mooch" has had to work with sub-par talent while at the same time dealing with major interference from his upper level management and team owners.
That's one of the really beautiful things about GREEN BAY. We don't have to deal with people like Jerry Jones, the Ford Family, or Red (roughandsore) McCombs, or a "Bud" Adams for that matter. Rather, we fans are the owners (yes, I am one) of the team and actually vote on who we want running the teams' business and our "management team" knows it.
(3) Matt Millen is a joke as a GM and I hope like heck that he retains that position in Detroit for as long as he is sucking air. After he has finished destroying that team, he can move on to Minnesota and work his wonders there.
GO!! PACK!! GO!!
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