After another blowout loss the Green Bay Packers are likely out of the playoff hunt and just playing for pride now. Pride, and jobs. The Packers once again could not stop their opponent and no matter what Dom Capers tries, it’s not working. Offensively, the Packers have been better the last four weeks, but it hasn’t been enough to overcome the defensive shortcomings.
The Packers are now two games back in the NFC North and well out of the wildcard race so the Packers can turn their attention to evaluating talent, and that goes for the front office, too. While obviously some jobs are perfectly safe, you have to believe that changes will be plentiful. The Packers are lacking talent at many positions and have not been able to find suitable players in the draft and they refuse to use the other avenues available to improve their team.
Here’s a quick look at who I think is on the hot seat.
General manager Ted Thompson – Thompson has overseen a team in steady decline since winning the Super Bowl in 2010. Woeful drafts and the refusal to sign free agents or trade for players has killed any hopes the Packers had of building a New England-like dynasty in Green Bay. Yes, the Packers have injuries, but so does every other team in the NFL, it happens every year. The problem is the recent poor drafts and undrafted free agent signings have left the Packers with zero depth at almost every position.
In the offseason the Packers will have to choose between Thompson and Elliot Wolf, they can’t keep both another year. Wolf will be looking to move out of Green Bay if he doesn’t get the job here, and that would be the final straw for the Packers after having lost so many executives over the last ten years. I can’t see Mark Murphy and the Executive Committee letting Wolf walk, hence, I think Thompson is done.
Head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dom Capers – The bottom line is McCarthy and Capers are trying to win with high-school talent at some positions. Not an easy task. I think McCarthy is safe if Wolf takes over as GM or Thompson stays. Only way he is fired is if an outside person comes in as general manager, which is highly unlikely.
I think Capers is history. He’s been on the bubble so long and hasn’t been able to do anything to fix the sieve his defense has become. Guessing most, if not all, the defensive staff will be gone as well.
Edgar Bennett and Tom Clements – One or the other has to go, we don’t need two offensive coordinators when the head coach calls the plays. I would prefer both of them be replaced, this offense needs an overhaul and that will take new blood to help McCarthy adjust.
Aaron Rodgers – Yes, I know it’s ridiculous to think Rodgers won’t be here next year. But one has to wonder, does he really want to be? What if Rodgers demands a trade in the offseason? The Packers have Brett Hundley raring and ready to go and could get a king’s ransom for a two-time MVP quarterback. I wonder what the 49ers would give up for him? Rodgers would love to go back home also would appease his girlfriend, who has no use for Green Bay whatsoever.
The chances of that happening are slim and none, but if somebody came calling, it wouldn’t hurt my feelings to see Rodgers go. He has never endeared himself to the fans like Brett Favre did so I’m guessing there are more people like me out there that wouldn’t care either.
Some players we know for sure will be gone, like Julius Peppers, Don Barclay, Jeff Janis, etc. It’s actually going to be fun watching this team over the next six weeks, we’ll find out who wants to be here and who doesn’t. And when the season ends January 1, the real fun begins.