The Right (And Wrong) Decisions in Green Bay

I may not know what I want, but I damn well know that I want it.

Forty-eight hours ago, Mike Sherman was still head coach of the Green Bay Packers. Now, he isn’t.

What can we learn from this? That we know everything.

I certainly do. For example, I know Sherman shouldn’t have been fired. I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time since yesterday afternoon arguing that.

Also, that he should have been fired. And that Favre should retire. Or not. I’m absolutely sure of it.

In the end, it doesn’t really matter. We can bitch and moan all day and all night about what does and/or does not happen, and it’ll happen (or not) anyway. What matters is how things turn out. Next year, three years from now, five years from now.

Will the decisions of today turn out to be the right ones? If so, I’ll be happy. If not, heads better roll.

The news of Sherman’s firing hit us quickly, flashing across the screen during the first half of Monday’s Badger game. My 12-year-old son immediately exclaimed his disapproval with a vigor that would have caused his mother to exclaim her disapproval of his exclamation, had she been listening.

I, as father, expressed no such disapproval. We dads are more forgiving that way. Instead, I offered a rationale for the firing – the alternative point of view, so to speak, even though I didn’t really believe it.

Let’s face it: any coach whose team goes 4-12 after four declining years has to know he’s on the hot seat, and that certainly describes Sherman’s Packers.

On the other hand, you can’t discount the injuries they had this year (Noah Herron was, by my count, the 6th-string running back), and except for the Monday Night game at Baltimore, the team never appeared to quit on any game, or on the season.

A neat trick, considering how frustratingly ineffectual they were for most of the year.

On the other hand, two lost playoff games at Lambeau Field can’t so easily be forgiven. And let’s not forget that Sherman was both coach and GM for his first six years. Once demoted, with a new boss in town, the writing might have been on the wall. A new boss should get to hire his own guy.

On the other hand, Brett Favre has said publicly he doesn’t want to learn a new offense. Doesn’t want to start all over. Speculation is rampant as to whether Sherman’s firing means Favre’s retirement.

And…so? Clearly, Favre isn’t what he used to be. Sure, he was moving around the pocket as well as ever this year, bouncing off defensive linemen like a spry 25-year-old Favre. Still enjoying the game. And leading, it seemed to me, more than ever. But his accuracy has faded, along with (so it seems) his decision-making.

Maybe it’s time for the Green and Gold to move on?

No. No. A thousand times no. Even if Favre were only half the player he still is, he’s still better than most. Just one more season, even a so-so one, and he’ll break the records for passing yards and touchdowns. Bring him back, and give him better receivers!

Hey, Steve Mariucci is available. Sure, he had a tough time in Detroit, but that’s not all his fault. The Lions’ front office is known to smell worse than the city they represent.

Mariucci and Favre go way back. That might help Favre to stay.

What’s the right decision?

In the end, I don’t know. Neither do you. Should the Packers keep their top-7 draft pick, or trade down for more picks later on? Should they have drafted Aaron Rodgers last year, and why doesn’t anybody ever notice Craig Nall? Should they hire Mariucci? Promote Jim Bates, or just do what they can to keep him?

Don’t know. Don’t know. Don’t know. And neither do you.

But I know what I want, and I want the playoffs. I want a Super Bowl. I want to sweep the Vikings and the Bears.

So, whatever decisions get made, they should be the right decisions. That is what I want.

Too bad, I won’t know if I’ve gotten it for at least a few years.