Zero2Cool
14 years ago
http://www.espnmilwaukee.com/includes/news_items/40/news_items_more.php?id=5405§ion_id=40 

CHICAGO There have been times during the past six weeks when longtime reporters covering the Green Bay Packers sat in the Lambeau Field media auditorium all wondering the same thing.

Who are you, and what have you done with Mike McCarthy?

For the first 4 years of his tenure as the Green Bay Packers coach, McCarthy had spent his time at the podium doing his best to say nothing of import. An extremely engaging guys guy in one-on-one settings McCarthy is a terrific storyteller, a quality hes said before he got from his dad, a former Pittsburgh fireman, cop and bar owner McCarthy had been nothing like that in press conference settings for most of his head-coaching career.

But ever since a depressing 7-3 loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Dec. 12, McCarthys news conferences have been must-see TV (or Packers.com viewing, anyway). Hes been good for one striking statement per press gathering, beginning with an unforgettable line Were nobodys underdog the Wednesday before the Packers Dec. 19 game at New England, a team that was a two-touchdown favorite over his Aaron Rodgers-less club.

The Packers nearly stunned the then-AFC favorites in a Sunday night game with backup Matt Flynn at quarterback opening the game by winning the coin toss, deferring and then recovering a gutsy onside kick and McCarthys confident talk has simply grown from there.

Its also worked like a charm. Sunday, his ultra-confident team will play for a trip to Super Bowl XLV against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field.

Asked this week if his change in conversational approach was a calculated move, McCarthy dismissed the notion.

I think it's just how I felt, McCarthy replied. I don't think I'm a very calculated individual. I don't think I could pull that off.

What he has pulled off is exuding a confidence that has permeated his locker room and has his players believing what they were before the season, despite an avalanche of injuries, a middling 3-3 start and disappointing losses to Atlanta (Nov. 28), the Lions and the Patriots in a four-week span.

After the Nobodys underdog line, McCarthy followed that up by with confident talk in advance of back-to-back win-or-go-home regular-season games against the New York Giants and Bears. It continued in the playoffs, with talking about the challenge of handling success after winning in Philadelphia two days before actually doing so in the NFC Wild Card round. He also boastfully responded to a question about his defense by saying that he had a championship-caliber football team.

He said in advance of last weeks NFC Divisional Playoff win at Atlanta that we fully expect to win. Asked about media assertions that the Packers were the most dangerous No. 6 seed in NFL playoff history, McCarthy smirked and replied, I agree.

Even this week, in advance of the title game, McCarthy was still talking the talk. In response to a question on Monday about Tramon Williams, he replied, When these playoffs and the Super Bowl are completed, everybody in the country is going to know who Tramon Williams is.

In his final pre-game press conference Friday, when asked about Rodgers, McCarthy began his answer by saying that the quarterback has a chance to achieve greatness with a Super Bowl victory before walking the statement back slightly by adding, But obviously we've got to win the NFC Championship Game first, and I'm not getting ahead of myself.

Nobodys underdog, McCarthy said, recalling the phrase that started it all. Were nobodys favorite, either. I think that's our motto today as a team. This group has a lot of confidence. We've never wavered from our goals. We've had challenges, everybody does. But we're here for a reason. We deserve to be here, and we're excited about getting to Chicago.

The Bears, meanwhile, spent much of the week playing the respect card, peeved that oddsmakers have installed the Packers as 3 -point favorites even though Chicago won the NFC North, is the No. 2 seed and is playing at home.

Its definitely been a part of what weve dealt with this year, coming out of nowhere. Its not like a lot of people expected us to be in this position, Bears coach Lovie Smith said before pointing out that his teams opponent had been a chic Super Bowl pick before the season. The Packers were supposed to be in this position, so I guess I can see why (theyre favored), but to me the playoffs, its pretty hard to say a team should be the underdog in the playoffs. Weve played them twice this year, we had two great games. The last time up at their place, went right down until the end. (I) expect it to be the same type of game. Whether were an underdog or not, I mean well see.

The Packers didnt seem the least bit bothered by being favored or even remotely concerned about being overconfident. On Friday, when asked about the mood of the team heading into the biggest game of most of their careers, Rodgers answer hardly came as a surprise.

Id say very confident. I think were a confident group, Rodgers replied. Weve won two playoff games and I think theres guys had a better focus this week, great preparation. The young guys, I think we realize the importance of this game. This doesnt come around every year, and we have to make the most of it.

But the seeds of McCarthys confident talk were actually sown at the teams annual Welcome Back Luncheon inside the Lambeau Field atrium during training camp. It was there that the first hint of McCarthys confidence in this team surfaced.

While much of the attention was focused on the handful of players who wore cowboy hats and bolo ties in a nod to Super Bowl XLVs location Arlington, Texas, just outside Dallas McCarthy did nothing to discourage Rodgers and the other players from playing dress up. Then, he spoke.

This is an exciting bunch of men. We'd play anybody, anywhere, any time. We'll go right here in the parking lot of they'll show up, the Green Bay Packers coach told the gathering at the yearly Green Bay Chamber of Commerce event. That's the kind of attitude we have.

I don't know if you've noticed this, but we've got a number of our players already dressed for Dallas, Texas, so we're ready to go!"

Now, theyre one game away from doing just that.

"JASON WILDE" wrote:


UserPostedImage
Fan Shout
dfosterf (5h) : It's my one day deal complaint dept. on shareholder meeting day
dfosterf (6h) : Probably a homer access credential intimidation kinda thing
dfosterf (6h) : Meathead "journalists" skip this, concentrating on operational revenue when convenient. They switch when net revenue is more favorable.
dfosterf (6h) : Resulting in an actual drop of net revenue of 12.5%. She is from Minnesota. Just sayin'
dfosterf (6h) : Any plans to hold Maureen Smith (CFO) accountable for a 95% drop in investment revenue?
Mucky Tundra (6h) : In your face, HBO!
Mucky Tundra (6h) : @ByRyanWood Mark Murphy: “A great source of pride of mine is that we were never on Hard Knocks.”
Mucky Tundra (6h) : *years
Mucky Tundra (6h) : @mattschneidman Mark Murphy says he anticipates “many Packers games” being played in Germany, Ireland and/or the U.K. over the next 5-10 yea
dfosterf (7h) : *cafeteria* I have hit my head also, so I sympathize
dfosterf (7h) : Possibly hit his head leaning into the glass protecting the food in the cafateria
dfosterf (7h) : Maybe a low flying drone
dfosterf (7h) : Did Savion Williams run into a goalpost or something?
Mucky Tundra (7h) : also, no bueno when a guy starts getting concussions right off the bat in his career
Zero2Cool (7h) : Concussion is worse. Banks probably vet off day via back booboo claim
Mucky Tundra (10h) : @AndyHermanNFL Jordy Nelson out at camp today. No word if he’s in play for one of the two open roster spots ; )
dfosterf (10h) : Is that better or worse than Banks bad back?
Zero2Cool (11h) : Savion concussion ... not good.
packerfanoutwest (24-Jul) : Aaron Rodgers’s first pass of first team period was picked off
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : tbh I didn't hear of his passing
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Cosby Show. Malcom Jamal Warner I think is real name
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : I was thinking of Ozzy and Hulk
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : Who's Theo?
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : How is Theo alliteration?
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : Bad week for people whose names are alliterations
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Hulk Hogan gone too.
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Oh, it's toe injury
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Hope it's not serious. that would stink
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Sounds like an ankle not a knee for Fields
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Ya Flaccp on Browns
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Maybe Tyrod Taylor instead
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : He's on Browns, right?
dfosterf (24-Jul) : They would probably go with Flacco is my guess if Fields out
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Fleece 'em again!
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Malik Willis might be someone Jets come after
packerfanoutwest (24-Jul) : Packers introduce 1923-inspired classic uniform, leather-look helmet
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Both LB Quay Walker and Rookie DB Micah Robinson have passed their physicals
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Happy to see site feels more snappy snappy
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : No sir. I did not.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : You didn't get free childcare when you were at work?
wpr (23-Jul) : These guys make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Pay for their own childcare.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : 2nd issue. Number 1 issue was no gameday childcare. 1 of 3 teams not providing it
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Suppose if locker room is main issue, we sitting pretty
wpr (23-Jul) : I thought so Mucky. In those useless player polls GB always rates high overall. Locker is a part of it.
Mucky Tundra (23-Jul) : Wasn't the locker room just updated like 6 or 7 years ago?
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I have forum updated on different site. We'll see how this one goes before going to that
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Elgton Jenkins has a back injury, is expect to end contract dispute
wpr (23-Jul) : It's funny the PA complained about the locker room. It wasn't that long ago it was top shelf. Things change in a hurry.
wpr (23-Jul) : The site is much more better.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : NFLPA report said Packers lockerroom needed upgrade. Whining bout where you change?
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
6h / Around The NFL / Mucky Tundra

6h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

13h / Green Bay Packers Talk / TheKanataThrilla

16h / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

22h / Around The NFL / beast

24-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

24-Jul / Around The NFL / beast

24-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

22-Jul / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.