Mike McCarthy Gets Candid

Mike McCarthy just might have a soul after all.

It appears he is not immune to the outside talk. That the old Gravy Head actually has some thoughts about it.

Tom Silverstein sat down with McCarthy and got some real thoughts from the Green Bay Packers coach.

There has been much made of McCarthy’s supposed rift with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers questioned the play calling and game plan after last week’s win over Buffalo. However, McCarthy maintained that he has a great relationship with Rodgers.

And here…

“(That) people keep bringing up the relationship is mind-boggling to me,” McCarthy said. “This is a personality business. My brother (Joe, who passed away in 2015) is as close as anybody I’ve ever been around. I’ve had conversations with Aaron about things in life that I didn’t even have with my brother.

“I know this young man on a very deep level. We don’t run around together. That’s not really my personality. I think you have to have a line between coach and player. They know I care about them. I hope they do.

“The Packers didn’t bring me here (to be friends), they brought me here to coach them first.”

Earlier in the week, Rodgers talked about conflict. How conflict is good in any relationship. That it gets worked out between him and McCarthy.

And frankly, whether you agree with that or not, it always seems to get worked out. Fat Mike had nothing but glowing things to say about Rodgers (although, he better).

In reference to Rodgers calling the offense terrible, Mike came up with this.

“He’s Secretariat. He’s got the bit in his mouth and his knee hurts a little bit. But he wants to run because he still can. And he’s got the big-head Irishman yanking on the reins a little bit. He doesn’t like it. I get it. But that’s my job. That’s the reality.”

Like it or not, McCarthy is still in charge of the Packers. That said, I’m not clear whether that comment is ignorant or spot on.

Rodgers specifically wanted to the throw the ball to Davante Adams and Jimmy Graham. Rodgers’ knee injury would not have prevented him from doing that.

But here we are and away we go. For at least one more season.