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Packers' Sherman loses job after first losing season

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers fired coach Mike Sherman on Monday, a day after finishing their worst season in 15 years.

The Packers beat the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, as Brett Favre threw his first touchdown pass in five games. But they still finished with a 4-12 record.

Packers general manager Ted Thompson said the decision to fire Sherman wasn't based on the team's fortunes this season.

"I think our team hung in there very well and played under some very difficult circumstances and played hard each and every week," Thompson said. "This was more thinking in terms of where we are and where we need to get to. And again, it was what I thought was best for the Green Bay Packers over the long haul."

Thompson informed Sherman of the decision early Monday morning. He said Sherman expressed surprise and disappointment.

Thompson then told the players.

"My talk with them was very brief, and it was a very quiet and somber room," Thompson said.

But Thompson said he has not discussed the decision with Favre, who has not committed to returning next season and has hinted that he might be less likely to return if it meant learning a new offensive system and a new coaching staff.

Thompson said he wants Favre to return as the team's quarterback next year. But he reiterated several times that his decision to fire Sherman was based on what he thought was best for the team in the long term.

"Eventually Brett Favre's going to retire and go back to Mississippi," Thompson said. "But that didn't have any sway in this particular decision, no."

Thompson brushed off Favre's concerns about learning a new offensive system. "He's a pretty bright guy," Thompson said.

Packers defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila said Sherman addressed the team for about 15 minutes Monday morning, and the players gave him a standing ovation.

"I'm just really shocked because of how hard Coach Sherman works," Gbaja-Biamila said. "When you think of someone getting fired, you think of someone as lazy, don't work hard, don't put effort into it. He's the epitome of a professional."

Defensive tackle Grady Jackson, one of several Packers veterans who will become free agents, expressed support for Sherman.

"He just told us to keep our heads up. ... Mike was a great guy and I know he'll be coaching somewhere else," Jackson said. "Wherever he goes, I won't mind playing for Mike Sherman. He's just that great of a guy."

Sherman's first five years brought success. Even with this year's 4-12 record, Sherman's record over six seasons with the Packers is 57-39.

But he didn't bring another championship to Titletown.

Sherman was just 2-4 in the playoffs despite winning three consecutive division titles for only the fourth time in team history -- joining Vince Lombardi, who did it twice (1960-62, 1965-67) and Mike Holmgren (1995-97). The other two coaches won Super Bowl titles, but a Sherman-led team never made it to the NFC championship game.

Sherman, who signed a two-year contract extension in August, said throughout the year he wasn't concerned about his position and didn't feel he was coaching for his job.

But Thompson sidestepped questions about Sherman's future in recent weeks and never gave him a public vote of confidence even after Sunday's victory.

Thompson said he would start interviewing head coaching candidates this week.

He said he wasn't concerned about a perceived lack of attractive candidates -- even with several other NFL coaching jobs coming open this week.

Thompson said the decision to fire Sherman was a difficult one.

"It's not an easy thing for anyone to do," Thompson said. "Mike Sherman's a good man."

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i say fire the gm. heres his drafts
2005
1. Aaron Rodgers
2. Nick Collins
2. Terrence Murphy
4. Marviel Underwood
4. Brady Poppinga
5. Junius Coston
5. Mike Hawkins
6. Mike Montgomery
6. Craig Bragg
7. Kurt Campbell
7. Will Whitticker

2004
1. Ahmad Carroll
3. Joey Thomas
3. Donnell Washington
3. B.J. Sander
6. Corey Williams
7. Scott Wells

2003
1. Nick Barnett
3. Kenny Peterson
5. James Lee
5. Hunter Hillenmeyer
6. Brennan Curtin
7. Chris Johnson
7. DeAndrew Rubin
7. Carl Ford
7. Steve Josue

you get the idea. not the coaches fault here.

You can add Tice, Martz, Haslett and Capers to that list.

i would have fired haslett three years ago. i havent got a clue how hes stayed around so long.

cheap ass owner. im surprised they didnt keep him for the last year of the contract.

the Saints will openly hire the equivalent of a mike tice (read=cheap).

For the record, Thompson is only responsible for this draft, above.

Sherman was GM prior to the end of '04 season. He also served three years in that role, from '01, forward.

Ron Wolf was GM until after '01 draft. (He gave us Jamaal Reynolds, then left to move to Annapolis and watch Navy football. True story.)

oops, yeah, i forgot about that. maybe his firing is more justified then.

CARL FORD RULES

BEARS

Now the only way Favre comes back is if Mooch is running this circus.

The Packer fans 'round here have high hopes for Rogers, and trust him as Favre's replacement.

I thought Tice was going to cry during his exit interviews. What did he expect. I'm surprised he wasn't dismissed after the boat, which followed the ticket scalping, which followed being unable to manage Moss, which followed the inability to find a replacement for Robert Smith, etc. etc.

Plus - didn't they win their first ever playoff game under Haslett? That had to buy the guy 3-5 seasons alone, as much as the 'Aints have sucked over the years.

I never understood the appeal of Sherman in the first place.

And Tice is a complete idiot.

Haslett should have been fired the day after he refused to play Jake Delhomme over an INJURED Aaron Brooks. Brooks is bad enough when he is healthy. Add shoulder injury to the mix and it was a recipe for disaster. Cost us the playoffs. But really Benson should fire himself. He is responsible for all of the Saints problems. The Saints have been good twice. Both times they had smart GM's who told Benson to fuck himself. One got canned by God and the other got canned by Benson. I went from Saints Diehard to hating them. I hope they lose every game from here on out. I openly hope they move after next year, and wish they were moving this year. Also hope nobody buys cars from that asshole anymore. Officially a Texans fan now. And Rick Venturi is a cockroach. How the fuck HASN"T that guy been fired. I think he was on Mora's staff.

tice is a meathead. sherman rode a system and a quarterback that was in place before he showed up, and a good D coord (now w/ the falcons).

4

Give Roessley some credit. That offense, and not just on the pass, proved a monster for three years ('02-'04).