We heard from Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy early in the week on why the team released Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton. He said there were a lot of reasons that went into the decision. He then gave us none of them.
On Wednesday, someone finally tracked down general manager Ted Thompson to ask him the same question. What did Big Ted give us?
Even less than Fat Mike.
“I’m not going to go there,” Thompson said. “Not right now, no.”
Unlike McCarty, who seems to of had some sort of vendetta for Sitton, Thompson at least went on to praise the player.
“I will say this,” Thompson added. “Josh Sitton is a heck of a football player and a good teammate. He’s one of the better picks I’ve ever made.”
Their reactions to the question seem to suggest it was more McCarthy who wanted Sitton gone. However, we will probably never know the full story behind the move.
Just that the Packers let one of their best players go and got no compensation for him, which is a total failure.
I agree. It would have been nice to get some value for Sitton, but you’ve got to imagine that Thompson tried. That Sitton was released during cut-downs and not prior made it clear that TT wanted to see what talent he had in camp.
Sitton was an aging veteran with back problems. yes, he was remarkably reliable — but past performance is no guarantee of future results. He also was a problem for the locker room. MM makes changes every year to his coaching approach and Sitton was known to question him. MM hates debating game strategy in the press. Sitton may have had valid points, but he didn’t communicate them in a productive way. But we all saw and knew that.
Whether the answer is Lane Taylor, Tretter, Linsley or Barclay is yet to be determined. MM’s point that guard is not a position they should be paying a premium for is valid. We have too many free agents coming due for new contracts.
Dave, please enlighten us with the problems Sitton caused in the locker room, that you seem to know 1st hand about. Not something somebody speculated on the internet.
Try trading a player on Sept 2nd when most everyone has their roster set, their money spent, and are getting ready for the regular season. AND there are already reports out there that if he isn’t traded, he would be released.
That’s trying to trade him?
Dave, reading your post, one would get the impression there weren’t any negatives to this situation. But here’s the thing Dave. You state that Sitton was a problem in the locker room, but……..didn’t this very move create more problems in the locker room? It seems no one in the locker room liked this move. When you listen to the players talking about this, do you feel like the players view this as a positive? Do you think this locker room is healthier now, than it was on sept 2nd?
You mentioned that Ted didn’t cut Sitton earlier because he wanted to see what kind of talent he had in camp. So….How did you view the talent Dave? Was Taylor showing you enough talent to get rid of Sitton? Watching all the O line depth play against the Chief’s for 4 quarters, did that show you enough talent that Sitton could be released, and one of those lineman could fill his shoes?
Dave…You state past performance is no guarantee of future results. so…should we then release Rodgers and Mathews? Also if guard isn’t a position they should be paying a premium for, then why were they? Could it be because his play justified it?
Dave, do yourself a favor, and pull your head out of the sand. It will also make it easier to breathe through your mouth.
One simple question Dave…Is this team better today without Sitton, than it was with him?
I’m not trying to overwhelm you Dave, i’m trying to get you to think like an educated Packer fan.
Thank you for understanding.
I was going to correct Dave’s flawed thought process but then I saw PF4L did it perfectly. Better than I could have.
Seriously: Cut your best offensive lineman just days before the season? Right after the back-ups showed they were not ready for prime time? When you are already 9 million under the cap and the 5.9 or so to be paid Sitton is a really good deal for the Packers in terms of NFL football contracts?
Someone sat there and thought to themselves, “Man, this Sitton contract is a great deal for us, he is our best offensive lineman, we have lots of room under the cap, he is respected in the locker room and by the fans and public, the back-ups are poor, and the season is just about ready to start…. Sure, let’s cut Josh Sitton! It will do wonders with ‘team chemistry’! Muahahahahaaaaaaaaa!”
http://www.espn.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/75413/conflict-is-good-for-mike-mccarthy-its-ok-to-disagree-but-not-be-disagreeable
Good job…Now can you answer any of my questions for a real debate. Or is cutting and pasting an article sufficient? I asked for your personal thoughts of the matter on different levels. I didn’t mean for my questions to be too pointed, or to overwhelm you, but if you’re not up to the ask. I surely understand.
*task
“Disagree with me once and let it be, disagree with me twice and fuck you, your out of here. I have a secret weapon, and his name is Lane fucking Taylor. Lane is NFL ready. I’m Mike fucking McCarthy, you do not question me!!” — Mike McCarthy
Yeah Dave, how dare you express your opinion like that in a public forum! Don’t you know the only way for us educated Packers fans to get over Sitton getting released is by pissing and moaning nonstop for the next few weeks? Or at least until something else comes along to piss PF4L off.
He doesn’t state opinions, he writes them as if they were fact. Also, if you read my post, throughout it, i’m asking Dave questions, creating dialog.
Now, if you have something intelligent to say regarding football, please feel free, otherwise….
Thanks for trying.
How ironic, RELAPAGOBLANCO, when I read your post it just seems like YOU are the one not wanting someone to express their opinions. What a hypocrite!
Both of you are wrong! Sitting was farting too much during the snaps. The QB was beginning to have blurred vision. It was OK during the cold weather games as it kept his hands warm, but not the away games under a dome.
What’s the first rule of Josh Sitton? You don’t talk about Josh Sitton!
The MM and TT experiment is slowly reaching its end. Fuck these arrogant fucks. All “Packer” fans help to pay their salary, and they fuck us all off with disregard and disrespect. Hey! I am MM! If I do not like someone, I will cut him loose! No matter what the results are, and no matter how integral his part was in the process! Because it IS ABOUT ME! Fuck the fans! Because I don’t have to tell them anything my brilliant mind is thinking . . . Besides; TT is my bitch! he does what I WANT . . .