Should The Green Bay Packers Fire Mike McCarthy?

GREEN BAY, WI -- The Green Bay Packers currently sit at a disappointing 4-6-1 and appear to be all but eliminated from the 2018 NFC playoff picture.

It's a foregone conclusion that Head Coach Mike McCarthy is on the hot seat, and speculation is that he will be fired at season's end - if not sooner.

McCarthy's critics say he's been in Green Bay too long, and that his problems have remained too long as well: from a supposedly outdated offensive playbook, feuds with Aaron Rodgers, and shaky game management, critics say it's time to move on.

On the other hand, McCarthy's supporters - or at least non-detractors - say that the head coach has been hamstrung by numerous injuries, and fielding 12 rookies on his 2018 roster. Supporters say his play-design has been undermined by erratic play execution by Aaron Rodgers. His supporters also say McCarthy's track record for getting into the playoffs and having a Super Bowl victory on his resume will quickly land him a job elsewhere.

Here's who wants McCarthy fired and who doesn't.

'Fire McCarthy'

Geoff Schwartz, SB Nation:

The Packers are broken. Their once formidable offense can barely muster up points when needed. In a must win game, they were only able to put 17 points on the board. How does this happen?

Mike McCarthy’s offense is bland. It’s boring, predictable, and worst of all, it doesn’t use Aaron Rodgers’ talent to the full extent. His offense has been passed up by new, exciting, vibrant and more creative offenses.

Ashley Graves, The Sports Daily

The Packers have one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history in Aaron Rodgers suiting up under center, but they have a 4-6-1 record, and that’s not even close to cutting it.

McCarthy, to his credit, had some good years in his tenure as head coach, having been with the team since 2006, but the team is on track to miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season. That’s not going to cut it with Rodgers on the roster.

Evan Massey, Cluthpoints.com

Massey summed up the need for Green Bay to fire McCarthy in three major points.

1) Whether the play-calling has been poor decisions on fourth down or simply not adapting to teams knowing the Packers’ system, the offense has become completely predictable.
2) Next up on the list has to be the relationship between Rodgers and McCarthy. There have been reports all season long that Rodgers has been unhappy with the way his head coach has run things.
3) The Packers know that there are some offensive geniuses out there who could completely turn things around in Green Bay.

Don't Fire McCarthy

Jesse Fry, Fansided

There is speculation McCarthy’s message to the team has grown as stale as his play-calling. The Packers have given uninspired efforts in more than a few games this season. That is a reflection of the head coach.

It’s easy to say there needs to be a change, but there are just not many Super Bowl coaches out there waiting to be hired. There will always be talent to be hired, but with a quarterback and fan base growing antsy for another ring, the choice has to be right or we are just wasting more years.

Brett Favre

In a segment on his Sirius XM radio show, Brett Favre seemed to back McCarthy.

I think Mike [McCarthy] is an excellent coach. They have to win and I think win a hurry or something may happen there. I mean, Aaron [Rodgers] has been playing outstanding and keeping them in games. Their defense is really, at times, looking really good, opportunistic, aggressive.

Andy Benoit, Sports Illustrated

Rodgers is the most physically talented quarterback of all-time; 32 NFL GMs would be happy to build their team around him. When he’s clicking, he’s magnificent. But Rodgers does not click with the regularity of a Drew Brees, Tom Brady or even a resurgent Andrew Luck.

The results of McCarthy’s updated approach have been mixed, in part because Rodgers’s execution has been mixed. Still, it’s reasonable to keep McCarthy on the hot seat; even with his improved approach, he’s far from flawless. But when evaluating McCarthy, we must admit that his quarterback is far from flawless, too.

Photo Credit: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers watches his team against the Detroit Lions during the second half at Ford Field on October 7, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)