Monday Morning QB: Aaron Rodgers' Passing DIDN'T matter; Michael Philbin's did...

Aaron Rodgers' passing didn't cost the Packers the game.
I'm not a player; just a pretty good Monday Morning Quarterback. I've spent a fair amount of time coaching boys and young men but, I'm no Knute Rockne.

As a coach, I could tell when my guys were ON - and not ON. I had a strong sense this week that - no matter who the Packers played on Sunday - they were NOT going to be ON. The Little Sisters of the Poor would have beaten the snot out of them.

When preparing for the game, it was clear to me that Aaron Rodgers' passing would not be a factor at all - Eli's, either. . . Michael Philbin's passing would.

The Packers are a tight team. The players; the coaches; the management = I may be wrong, but when word of Michael Philbin's passing came to light in the locker room, the lights went out on Lambeau; the air went out of our football. The Game was OVER a week before it was played.

You could see it in the news conferences all week - and we watched it play out on the field. Coaches always yell, "You play how you practice," and the Packers' hearts weren't in it. Football is an emotional game and, emotion ruled. Emotion won - again -
on Sunday.

Coach McCarthy said the team had contingency plans to deal with the loss of their teammate but, really? Coach McCarthy could have brought back Lambeau, Lombardi - even Lindy Infante for crying out loud - but no contingency could fill the hole left by
Michael's Passing.

You can try to put on a happy face but, you can't out coach it; you can't out play it; you can't out-emote it. Athletes and coaches don't say "can't" but, it can show up on the field. When it does,
you can't control it.

I think The Packer Family will struggle with this for a long time. Just the look on Mike McCarthy's face during his news conferences this week or, when he was on the field on Sunday = You could see it in his eyes; his body language. As a father, you could clearly see that: Mike just wasn't that into it. As hard as he tried to do his job, he didn't have a plan for Michael Philbin's passing.

We've lost 5 babies to miscarriage. Painful...still. But my son?

Years ago, a co-worker lost his 6 year old - the little fella just dropped over at his little desk in school one day (genetic heart problem). I never was a big "fan" of this particular associate/teammate, but at the funeral I was crying harder than he. I wasn't even a father back then but, I could feel his pain.
I'm sure I offered very little comfort.

He moved his family away from Green Bay a few years ago; I see him occasionally. I still don't know what to say. His son would be 30 something. I know what he's still feeling.

Michael Philbin's passing is a big loss for his family. It's a giant loss for The Green Bay Packers. It's a loss for the greater Green Bay Community: fans, families and foes alike.

I wish there was something I could do for the Philbins; I'm guessing they're wishing the same. I guess I'll just emote a bit on my blog. If someone happens to reads this beyond my circle of readers, consider this a digital hug to the Philbins (maybe we can do a digital Group Hug). If it helps the Philbins to know,
I'm crying with you, too.

Michael, you had a big impact on a lot of people around here. Amen.