A Packers insider is skeptical about a new rumor
The Green Bay Packers should undoubtedly make some changes this offseason. The Packers finished a disappointing season in Week 18, well short of a long playoff run predicted by Vegas before the season. The Packers players and coaches were both to blame for the season’s shortcomings. However, one Packers insider warns Green Bay to be cautious about making a particular coaching change.
The New York Jets and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur parted ways after the season. LaFleur is getting interview requests from other NFC teams. Mike has been rumored to possibly come to Green Bay because his brother, Matt LaFleur, is the Packers’ head coach. And while the Packers’ offense could use new life for next season, it’s still a gamble seeing how the New York Jets’ offense played this season.
Would Mike alter the Packers’ chemistry?
Packers beat writer Pete Dougherty with Packers News wrote about the possibility of Mike coming to Green Bay. After all, Dougherty reasoned, Matt tried to hire him before, but the San Francisco 49ers blocked the move. Dougherty is skeptical that Mike could alter a dynamic Matt prides the Packers on having in their building, chemistry.
“If Mike screws up, is he held to the same standard as others, or does he get a hall pass?” said another long-time NFL assistant. “Or do he and his brother have the wives out for dinner on a Friday night, are they sitting there talking about the rest of the staff and evaluating, ‘This guy’s not very good, that guy’s not very good,’ things that wouldn’t happen on a staff if his brother wasn’t on it?”
There’s also the effect Mike could have on staff chemistry and communication. Coaches, like the rest of us, need to occasionally blow off steam about their jobs, but other assistants could be reluctant to do so when Mike is around. They also could feel stifled in airing disagreement with Matt’s decisions in small-group settings around the office.”
This is one move that Matt might not want to go for after this season. There are plenty of well-qualified offensive coaches that the Packers can hire that didn’t get fired this season. The Packers are already keeping defensive coordinator Joe Barry on the Packers–and he has a rather lengthy history of being accused of nepotism.
