Well, we thought we’d never really get to the bottom of this, but it looks like we have. More details have emerged in the Green Bay Packers’ firing – and coach Mike McCarthy’s role therein – of long-time grounds crew employee Mike Wood.
As we reported on Friday, Wood was dismissed after reportedly telling McCarthy, “Hey coach, let’s get the boys ready to kick some butt this weekend.” This was Wood’s version.
In McCarthy’s version of the story, Wood said, “Don’t lay an egg.”
We, of course, vilified McCarthy for playing a role in Wood’s firing, based on either version of the story. As more media outlets picked up on the story it became a PR nightmare for McCarthy and the Packers, compounded by the fact that the team had lost to the previously-winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers the previous week.
Well, there are three versions to every story – yours, mine and the truth. Now, we have the truth from a member of the Packers organization, and it doesn’t reflect terribly well on Wood.
Our source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said this wasn’t the first time Wood was disciplined for inappropriate behavior or conduct by the organization.
“The incident with McCarthy was the third strike in his file and created the separation of employment. It just so happened that the last straw in the progressive discipline trail happened to involve the head coach,” our source said.
So there you have it. Wood was previously disciplined on two documented occasions and anyone who’s dealt with employees or a human resources department knows the Packers didn’t need much more than an off-handed comment to fire Wood.
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