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McCarthy, Packers Ready To Focus On Football
by Mike Spofford and Tom Fanning, Packers.com
posted 07/26/2008
Mike McCarthy couldn't say for sure whether Brett Favre will be at the first training camp practice on Monday morning, but in his season-opening press conference on Saturday, he reiterated his message to the team since the offseason program began in mid-March - that the Packers are moving on with Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback.
McCarthy spent more than 30 minutes answering questions that focused almost exclusively on Favre, who to McCarthy's knowledge has yet to apply for reinstatement to the roster.
Toward the end of his press conference, McCarthy was asked if it's the four-month team-wide message of "moving on" that would be difficult to turn around, and not the reported tailoring of the offense to Rodgers, and he agreed.
McCarthy talked about how he has focused on an identity for the team without its Hall of Fame quarterback. How the defense is in his mind the foundation for a championship run, and how the defensive leaders need to emerge as team leaders in support of Rodgers. All of that would be undermined, if not undone, by Favre's return, which is why he and General Manager Ted Thompson have not been willing to change course in the final weeks leading up to training camp.
"Defense will be our starting point," McCarthy said. "That will be the common thread that runs through the football team. Now this is nothing new, as far as our approach, but we've always had the veteran quarterback there. So I look for our defense to do bigger things, the individuals on that defense to step forward.
"We've been able to work our way to that as a football team. That's the part that I'm trying to say we've moved forward as a football team. It has nothing to do with who's playing. That, in my view, philosophy-wise is what it's supposed to look like."
McCarthy acknowledged that some fans may disagree with the organization's approach, but he applauded the fans' passion and their interest in the 2008 Packers. As for the question as to whether the Packers have a better chance to win this year with a future Hall of Famer at quarterback or a fourth-year pro getting his first chance to start, McCarthy said there is too much that has gone on out of the public eye to make it that simple.
"It's obviously a lot more complicated than that," McCarthy said. "Aaron Rodgers is our starting quarterback, and we've come to that decision because of a number of different factors. Once again, it's a great opportunity for him and I'm excited about him. I think he's prepared himself for this opportunity and that's where we are."
As for the latest reports about Favre, that he plans to file for reinstatement to the roster and might show up for camp, McCarthy basically said he would be treated like any other player. He'd have to pass his physical as well as an additional workout because he missed all of the offseason program, and then he'd be on the practice field with the team.
But how anything would unfold beyond that, McCarthy didn't say and wouldn't address any hypotheticals. He said Favre had not confirmed with him, the organization or the league that he plans to report to training camp.
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McCarthy also didn't comment on the reported trade discussions with other teams, citing an organizational policy of keeping personnel matters internal until any official transactions might be made.
He emphasized, and said he would again with the team, how productive he felt the offseason program was and the strong position it has put his team in heading into a somewhat crammed training camp. The Packers will play their four preseason games in a span of 18 days.
"I'm excited about it," McCarthy said. "I can't ask any more than our football team gave us in the offseason program. We challenged them because of our training camp schedule.
"We have less practices than we've had the last two years in training camp, so we have that challenge of getting ready. So we asked more time, more commitment, did more with our team throughout the spring, and we were able to hit those targets. That's where we are. June 19 everybody felt very good about our football team, and when we get together tomorrow, we need to pick up from where we left off, and that's our focus.
"I'm focused on football. It's time to coach. That's where I am at."
News & Notes
Saturday is a travel day for Packers players as they begin checking into the dorms at St. Norbert College, with physicals and a run test scheduled for Sunday morning. The team will have administrative meetings on Sunday afternoon, football meetings at night and then take the field for the first practice of the 2008 season on Monday morning at 8:45...McCarthy said he is hopeful running back Ryan Grant's contract situation will be resolved soon, and added that he was very impressed with the way Grant handled the situation during the offseason program...Defensive tackle Johnny Jolly, who is coming back from a shoulder injury and has an unresolved legal issue in Texas, is expected to report to camp and be evaluated by the team doctor on Sunday, according to McCarthy...Defensive tackle Justin Harrell, who underwent back surgery this offseason, will be evaluated on Sunday as well but was classified as "week-to-week" by McCarthy...McCarthy said he does not anticipate any problems with the other players coming back from injuries, including cornerback Will Blackmon (foot), defensive tackle Colin Cole (forearm) and defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (knee) and expects them to be ready to practice. Final availability will be determined by Sunday's physicals. |
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