–Throughout his recently ended 13-year tenure as Packers head coach, Mike McCarthy directed the offense. That will now fall on interim head coach and offensive coordinator Joe Philbin.
“I don’t think we’re going into the offensive meeting room and we’re going to change everything about this offense,” right tackle Bryan Bulaga said. “I don’t think that’s the case. I’ve known Joe for a long time. I think he’s a very good coach. Obviously, he’s going to have his own ideas and thoughts as well. There’s going to be a different feel to it, I’d imagine.”
–Fox’s Terry Bradshaw blamed quarterback Aaron Rodgers for McCarthy’s firing. “I don’t know many times I’ve got to stand here and tell you, I don’t feel like I need to convince anybody about Mike and I’s relationship. It’s a close-knit relationship. We would finish every time that we talked, whether it’s Monday afternoon up on his office or the Thursdays we used to spend in the team room or Friday upstairs or Saturday in the QB room, and we’d hug each other and tell each other we love each other.”
–On Tuesday, Philbin fired longtime assistant coach Winston Moss. Moss was the team’s associate head coach/outside linebackers coach the last two seasons.
“I think it’s important obviously that everybody’s on the same page, that we’re all moving forward in the same direction,” Philbin said. “As you know, Winston’s an excellent football coach, I’ve known him a long time. Respect him, outstanding family man. So it wasn’t an easy decision, but I just didn’t feel like the fit right now was where it needs to be.”
–Rodgers, on wide receiver Davante Adams, who leads the team with 85 receptions, 1,115 yards and 11 touchdowns: “He’s had a fantastic season. He deserves to be in the Pro Bowl. He deserves to be mentioned among the top three receivers in the NFL, in my opinion. He has a unique skill-set, he’s been phenomenal in the locker room, he’s been a great leader for us. We take a lot of pride in getting him the ball, but it’s not like we need to force it to him. He’s open on a lot.”
BY THE NUMBERS: 24-28 – Interim head coach Joe Philbin’s record in three-plus seasons as head coach of the Miami Dolphins. He was fired four games into the 2015 season.
