This is pretty much exactly the reaction we expected from Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy about the report detailing defensive lineman Letroy Guion’s history of legal issues.
McCarthy refused to talk about it (predictable) and then called the report itself garbage (somewhat surprising).
“Well first of all, I’m not going to react to the article,” McCarthy said. “I thought it was garbage, and the fact of the matter is we take a lot of pride in our program here. We’ve had people that make mistakes. There have been second chances. There’s a thorough process that goes on continuously. We’re all being evaluated. We all have bosses. But this program is something that’s been built over 10 years here. I personally take a lot of pride in the program. Unfortunately, we have someone that’s probably going to make a mistake in the future. We’ll continue to evaluate it and move forward.”
Let’s start at the top here.
The report — which detailed Guion’s legal issues prior to his February marijuana arrest and included some troubling allegations that look worse than the drug charge — made the Packers organization look like a bunch of assholes. They either didn’t do their due diligence on Guion or they just ignored their findings, then tried to conceal them while continuously feeding us the bullshit about how important character is.
Frankly, we think McCarthy’s answer is fucking garbage.
He’s basically saying, “We are beyond reproach and don’t have to answer to you peons.”
And that’s pretty much the stance the Packers organization takes with any subject they are uncomfortable with or don’t feel like answering for.
We’re not trying to suggest they fuck up all the time, but they do fuck up and they never answer for it.
Now, with that said, we are not saying Letroy Guion shouldn’t have gotten a second chance. In fact, if he’s going to learn something and get it right, this is probably the time he’ll do it. That February arrest didn’t cost him his career, but it did cost him a lot of money. Not only is he probably going to lose the nearly $200,000 and his truck as part of a civil forfeiture, but the arrest prevented him from signing a lucrative long-term free agent deal.
He’s now playing on a one-year, $2.75 million deal.
Not peanuts, but Guion would have made a lot more if he weren’t arrested.
As for the program, we don’t think anyone is questioning McCarthy’s program. It seems pretty clear that’s just his way of making this personal and getting defensive about it.
Letroy Guion is one of my guys. He’s in my program. You’re questioning of him is an assault on my program, which is an assault on me.
Again, childish bullshit.
And again, not the real issue here.
Someone needs to come forth with a good answer for this. Here’s where it starts.
- Were you aware of these legal issues prior to last week and, if so, what exactly did you know?
If they were aware of them prior to last week, then these are the follow-up questions.
- Who specifically knew about these issues?
- What made you comfortable employing someone with these perceived “character issues?”
- Would someone with a similar history be employed by the organization in say, the personnel, equipment, public relations or food services departments?
- People in the organization constantly speak about high character. How then do you justify someone with Letroy’s checkered past being part of this program?
- Why did you choose not to disclose this information publicly?
- Do you regret that decision?
If they weren’t aware of the issues prior to last week, then these are the follow-up questions.
- Why didn’t you know?
- Do you have a background check process? If so, explain your process and how that factors into whether you will sign them or not.
- How will this change your background check process?
- Does this jeopardize Letroy’s spot on the team, either in the immediate or long-term future?
Of course, we don’t expect any of the reporters to actually have the balls to question the Packers and we don’t expect the organization to step up and own the situation. They never do. They’ll just sweep it under the rug and keep happily collecting your money.
Remember, those in the Packers organizational hierarchy can do no wrong. Just ask them and you’ll be accused of being an asshole for even inquiring. There’s no fucking accountability so long as no one asks tough questions and demands answers, and the bottom line never decreases.
Nothing to see here! Please move along!