The definition of an IronMan is simple – noun: 1. a person, of great endurance who can be depended upon to perform a given task or job tirelessly. I tirelessly root for the Green Bay Packers… and how dare you say otherwise.
That being said, this goes out to the “IronMan is a hothead knee jerk reaction fair weather fan” crowd.
I was called the same things when I wanted Ahmad Carroll released. “He doesn’t get penalized as much as you think! You can’t cut your starting corner mid-season. Who is going to replace him?”
What happened next? Carroll was released the next day and everyone was happy. Wait, what happened to, “You can’t cut your starting corner mid-season” claim? Yet, I held my tongue.
Same thing with Bob Sanders.
“You are not a D coordinator. Bob Sanders knows more about defense than you ever will!”
Bob Sanders was fired at the end of the season and the fans rejoiced. All those people that thought it was a bad move were suddenly praising McCarthy for doing just that.
Then, there was my call for the release of Derrick Frost. Says the fans, “You can’t cut the punter mid season. Besides, he is the holder too! Stop being so irrational!”
Yet, what does Mike McCarthy do? He cuts Frost mid season. No one objects. Sigh.
Now, I am calling out Mike McCarthy, and suddenly I am a fair weather fan all over again. But, I have a feeling when Mike McCarthy is fired at the end of the year, the same people that are calling me a fair weather fan will be saying, “Good, now we can get a real coach in here.”
They call me IronMan for a reason, my endurance as a fan is most definitely indefatigable. For anyone to call me fair weather just proves how little you really know about your Green Bay Packers.
Hilarious.
24 - People Actually Wrote Something Here
Aaron Said,
Booyah!
Posted on November 3rd, 2009 at 9:46 am
Erik Said,I wouldn’t call you fair weather, but I would call you pre-mature. The Packers still have a winning record and a schedule that puts their playoff destiny in their hands. Wins against Chicago, Dallas, Seattle and Arizona are key and then taking care of business against teams like Detroit and The Bucs could do the trick. The Falcons losing last night already made life easier.
I think Thompson is in more trouble right now. Childress looks like a genius simply because his GM has given him amazing tools when he’s anything put. McCarthy took a great team to 13-3. He’s giving it a good shot with an average team.
This season will go a long way to McCarthy’s job, but I think Thompson’s head should be getting more calls for than McCarthy. The talent difference on Sunday was pretty evident.
TD Reply:
November 4th, 2009 at 1:02 am
This team will be lucky to sweep the following the 3 games: Tampa Bay, Detroit and Seattle. They won’t win more than 1 against the rest … Pittsburgh, Dallas, Chicago, Arizona, Baltimore and San Francisco. I think 8-8 is the best which can be reasonably expected, but I wouldn’t be shocked by another 6-10 season. McCarthy HAS to go. You can not continue to keep a Head Coach whose teams continue to make the same mistakes, especially the mental ones that this team is prone to making, over and over again and not hold him accountable. While I agree in theory that TT is just as culpable for the current state of affairs given the failure to improve this team at all in his tenure (13-3 Season, in hindsight, was an aberration), the Head Coach is always the first to pay with his head.
Erik Reply:
November 4th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Of course, if the Packers end up in another losing season, I think it is fair to say that the McCarthy era should come to an end, as should the Thompson era. But to prematurely just say the Packers WILL lose to teams like Arizona, Baltimore, San Fransico and Chicago (really? Have you watched a Bears a game? I’ve watched almost all of them living with a Bears fan, it’s painful) is to just be a huge downer. I’m rooting for my team to win very winnable games and come out of the season with heads high in the playoffs.
I remember everyone, and I’m sure many of people like you, TD, giving McCarthy mad props for sticking with Ryan Grant in the playoffs two years ago after he was a fumbling machine. He came back and had a huge game. McCarthy was so right then (I know, you were the one guy that thought he should have benched Grant), but now when he sticks with his guys, he’s a bad coach?
I’ll call for McCarthy’s head when he’s earned it. But until then I’m cheering for my team until they’re out of playoff contention. I’m not “looking ahead” until then and being hugely negative. I find it hard to believe you can enjoy being a fan with the type of attitude you, and many others, seem to be exposing.
Posted on November 3rd, 2009 at 10:11 am
jrarick Said,David,
The only issue I have with your assessment is that the Packers are worse than the Vikings because of McCarthy. At this point, I don’t really think that is so. I think they lost too many 1 on 1 battles in the game.
That said, there is a disturbing trend of players out of control. If that continues, it means they have lost respect and hope under McCarthy, and you cannot get that back. Then he needs to be replaced.
Personally, I would have hoped Jenkins would have beaten his blocker more than complaining about the scheme. The Vikings played a much more “vanilla” scheme, but they just beat the man in front of them. Scheme cannot turn a turnip into a rose. Then the question is whether Thompson really is the one who should go.
Finally, I think we need the season to play out before we decide anything. Last year everyone was calling for Andy Reid’s head in the middle of the season. Then they made the NFC championship game and life is good. Then this year the Eagles lose to a horrible Raiders team. But they bounced back and destroyed the Giants. I am just saying that we should wait until this whole thing plays out and then decide.
Alex Reply:
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:16 am
Good point about the players losing some confidence… that could be a much bigger issue.
Posted on November 3rd, 2009 at 10:13 am
Cal Said,RIGHT ON, Ironman !
There are too many gutless crybabies out there that can’t handle someone that speaks up.
And I agree with your comments on MM. This guy has had ample time to correct the problem areas on the team and he has failed to do so. Green Bay will continue to flounder under this coach.
FIRE MM !
Green & Gold Regards,
Cal
Posted on November 3rd, 2009 at 10:16 am
IronMan Said,I grew up a military brat and my dad was a hard ass. Luckily for me, I was fairly smart and a quick learner. I got my ass beat ONCE. That’s all it took for me. No more major fuck ups from me. I hated my Dad for years. But as I got older, I started to appreciate his ways, as they made me a tough, smart, disciplined, SOB. This team has NONE of those qualities.
It grinds my ass to see these million dollar pussies get treated like fucking girl scouts. How in the hell do you NOT bench Jolly for what he did? Grow a pair Mike McCarthy or get the fuck out of Green Bay.
jeremiah Reply:
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:33 pm
i would like to say, that what you have just said, is one of the best worded, best assesments of why some people are winners, and some are losers. when a player snubs his nose at the coach, and every one in charge by basically saying “hey, that’s how i roll, deal with it.” after such a thoughtless action, and the head coach tucks his tail between his legs and says “yeah, i will talk to him about that later”…….smells like a sign of the coach having no respect, fear, or control of his players. i would not shed one tear if MM was gone after this year, ESPECIALLY if we fail to make the playoffs. i don’t care whether our OL is worst in the league or not!
Posted on November 3rd, 2009 at 10:47 am
Hofschneider Said,You can criticize MM for his inability to clean up any kind of problems. Penalties, OL, you know. But my biggest concern goes deeper. It is not like: upps, we allow more sacks than gain yards on the ground or upps, we commit more penalties than our kicker misses important Fieldgoals. No, Jarrett Bush commits penalties since primary school and Ryan Grant sucks not only this year. That is the reason something called “TrainingCamp” and ” FreeAgency” exists. What fears me is the inability to recognize any of these problems before it is to late. And MM will not recognize that Al Harris is old. Very old. So, a new HC has to do this.
BTW: Sunday was the worst game, I have ever seen from the playcalling-perspective. No screens, no 3step-drops, nothing what would help all of our weeknesses.No creativity in the run game, 3men-rush on 3 and 17 (it never works! never!), kampmann in coverage all the time, etc, etc.
You may can disprove al of my points, but can find one single strengh, one single reason my MM should be the HC of the Pack next season?! The prejudice is that he is a good playcaller, a good chess-player. Prove me wrong, please!
Sorry for my english
jrarick Reply:
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:50 am
Dear Hof,
My only hope is that they win the next four games, which are completely winnable (and losable as well–if that is a word). Tampa Bay, Dallas at home, SF at home and Detroit. If we are sitting at 8 & 3 in four weeks, do we still want to fire MM. I don’t think so.
I want to cheer them on to go four and 0 the next four weeks (actually 5-0 with Baltimore at home).
I also expect Favre to choke at the end of the season as he has the last several years. We shall see. Let’s just let it play out a bit.
PackersRS Reply:
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Unfortunately, we still do. Until we beat a great team, I, for one, will want MM’s head. We already proved we can humilliate the likes of Detroit and Cleveland. But we haven’t prove we can even COMPETE with great teams.
Posted on November 3rd, 2009 at 11:30 am
uberVU - social comments Said,Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by PackersLounge: Packers Lounge: Fair Weather This http://bit.ly/3dcuQI...
Posted on November 3rd, 2009 at 12:06 pm
West TX Cheesehead Said,I agree as well, Ironman. McCarthy is a mediocre to poor coach at best. The evidence is there. A team that consistently makes the same mistakes week in and week out coupled with poor execution, motivating and game planning. All we ever get are excuses, stupid looks and promises of “We’ll look at the tape and clean it up.” I’ve got a bad feeling that McCarthy will get one more year to turn it around though only to have another 6-10, 7-9, 8-8 type of season. Yeesh…
Posted on November 3rd, 2009 at 12:55 pm
PackersRS Said,“Coaches who can outline plays on a black board are a dime a dozen. The ones who win get inside their player and motivate.”
“If you can accept losing, you can’t win.”
“Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will be judged by only one thing-the result.”
That comes to mind when I think of McCarthy. I’m through with expecting improvement. Until we win big, he needs to go.
Posted on November 3rd, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Anonymous Said,Andrew In Atlanta said…
I just like that you used “indefatigable” in a sentence
BTW, since I met you and have chatted with you a bit, I personally think your passion is great. Let’s put it this way – when I see your name affixed to a post, I actually read that post. That’s a bigger compliment than you know. And, this is only my 5th or 6th post away from CHTV. So there you go Irondude. Don’t go changin’
Posted on November 3rd, 2009 at 2:02 pm
packerhq.net Said,Calling Ironman Fair weather is just wrong. I know of no greater fan then David, his passion and support of the packers is almost unbeatable.
To those of you preaching patience and “we have more games to play” How long must we accept mediocrity on all levels from the Packers before it’s ok to demand that corrections be made ? And who are any of you to question anyone’s level of allegiance ?
Carry on Ironman !
Posted on November 3rd, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Stan Said,I’ll tell you this… No one should be calling you a fair weather fan IronMan. You’re as pationate about the Packers as the rest of us, you feel the hurt right now, we all do. I understand why you want McCarthy out, he’s made BIG mistakes at Green Bay, mistakes that will take us seasons to get under control. His shuffling of the O-Line, his swap to a tricky-to-impliment 3-4 defense, his difficult-to-grasp Zone Blocking Scheme… McCarthy has GRAND ideas, but his execution leaves A LOT to be desired. Our Defense will need (I’m assuming) another season to get good at the 3-4 and all it’s details, our Zone blocking scheme needs athletic O-Linemen (and we appear to be going for BIGGER o-linemen)…?
Basically our team is inexpereinced at McCarthy’s schemes. We have a few players who are getting comfortable but the majority are young or too unfamilliar with the schemes. Even our vets on D (Woodson, Harris, Kamps) are in new territory that will take time to settle.
McCarthy is failing to stabalise this team, he changes it too often. If McCarthy is to succeed he needs to get guys comfortable. Thats part of the reason why the Vikings are so successful right now. Some of their players aren’t the best, but they know the system and can play it mistake free. Our guys are just as good, but they need a system they can play blindfolded.
Posted on November 3rd, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Asshalo Said,haha yes.
Posted on November 3rd, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Jersey AlTwitter: JerseyAlGBP
Said,
Official Welcome to you Ironman – I assume this is your first post up here.
The thing to remember is this, the vast majority of people who think they know something about professional football are idiots. If the majority of “fans” are telling you that you’re wrong, that should be an affirmation that you’re probably right. I don’t doubt your dedication and knowledge for a second. Keep up the good work!
IronMan Reply:
November 4th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Well Al, I hope I will called an idiot at the end of the year when we make a deep run into the playoffs. But after the Jolly incident, that was where I hit my breaking point.
Posted on November 4th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Greg C. Said,I’m with Erik on this one. There are a lot of fans who are reluctant to rip on the coaching staff and management during the season. I try to avoid it, myself, as long as the team is not being blatantly mismanaged. I try to enjoy the season, and if I start ripping on the team, I’m just going to be miserable.
There are others who are like that, as well, to an even greater extent than I am. That’s why fans who are harshly critical of the team during the season are always going to meet some resistance, as long as the team hasn’t played itself out of contention.
Posted on November 5th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Bryce Said,Agreed. Fire MM.
Posted on November 5th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
FITZCORE1252 Said,Like your passion, BUT, MM isn’t going anywhere after this season. You may want to start coming to terms with that.
GBP 4 LIFE
Posted on November 6th, 2009 at 1:36 pm