Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Green Bay not too cold for goodbyes

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Former Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy returned to the team facility twice after his firing Sunday. He addressed the coaching staff Tuesday before talking to the players Wednesday.

The Packers gave their former coach a standing ovation when he returned.

“It was warranted and deserved,” Packers linebacker Clay Matthews said, via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.

Normally, when teams fire a coach, the coach disappears from the team forever and not even allowed a goodbye.

But Packers President Mark Murphy, General Manager Brian Gutekunst, vice president/ director of football operations Russ Ball and interim coach Joe Philbin gave McCarthy their blessing to return and speak.

“I was happy to see him,” Matthews said. “Obviously, first things first, you understand that this is a business and not many people get that opportunit­y — and the player as well. We’re in the same boat.

“For him to invest the past 13 years in this team, has given his heart and soul to us, to have that kind of closure, it was great of the organizati­on — Joe, Gutey, Mark and everybody that allowed him to come in and say his piece. I know we really enjoyed it. I’m sure he did from a closure standpoint. Obviously, we gave him the respect he deserved and sent him off with some final words.”

 ?? AP/MIKE ROEMER ?? Former Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy, who was fired Sunday, said farewell to the coaching staff Tuesday before talking to Packers players Wednesday.
AP/MIKE ROEMER Former Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy, who was fired Sunday, said farewell to the coaching staff Tuesday before talking to Packers players Wednesday.

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