Looking back on it, I can't help but think it really was a "piece of mercy," as Zoe Washburne might say, that Brian Gutekunst cut ties with Mike McCarthy midseason. It was obvious to everyone that the team was going nowhere that year and that the long-overdue divorce was inevitable regardless of how the season turned out. As much as it must have hurt McCarthy in the moment, letting him go early gave him an extra half year not only to rest and spend time with his family, but also to evaluate his options, to develop a new game plan, and most importantly, to rehabilitate his image. With an interim coach at the helm, it was vividly apparent that McCarthy wasn't the only or even the biggest problem in Green Bay, and that no doubt helped to make him a hotter commodity when he decided to throw his hat back into the ring. If nothing else, it surely helped him to hone his pitch in interviews.
Although he could certainly be faulted for waiting too long to effect the separation, I firmly believe that Gutekunst made the best possible decision in an uncomfortable situation, and it worked in the favor of all parties concerned.