Let’s face it: the Green Bay Packers have not exactly been the most fun to watch. At 3-3, the team finds themselves in a relatively precarious situation as they begin a gauntlet of tough opponents. To say they have underperformed against their “easy” opponents would be an understatement. Earlier this week, head coach Matt LaFleur stated that while the Packers need to play better, they also need to start having fun.
Matt LaFleur had a simple message for the Packers as they head to Washington looking to snap a two-game losing streak: have fun.
Here's more on the team's mindset: https://t.co/0CH3obv6mG pic.twitter.com/NqO6bqvL4J
— Packers News (@PGPackersNews) October 21, 2022
This message was followed by several players expressing their agreement with LaFleur. One was Rasul Douglas:
Matt LaFleur's message this week, have fun playing ball.
Rasul Douglas loves it: pic.twitter.com/PjIfC7x2l4
— Kassidy Hill (@KassidyGHill) October 21, 2022
The Packers Posted a Video of Players Having Fun in Practice
On Friday, the Packers Twitter page posted a video of several defensive players, including Jaire Alexander, dancing on the field.
Feelin' good on a Friday! 😎 #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/yL7LrvJVQO
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 21, 2022
This simple video, which showed 28 seconds of an hours long practice (and appears to be during warm-ups), sure sparked a massive debate on social media.
Some Fans Were Offended by the Packers Having Fun
Despite what Coach LaFleur said, there were a handful of fans that believe that such antics are not appropriate for a team that has lost two games in a row:
Personally, I want to see this after wins, not after back-to-back losses: https://t.co/zdYeNmunbM
— Bruce Irons – Packers FTW (@BruceIronsNFL) October 21, 2022
And then there are these comments on the video itself:
27th in run defense. Tied for last in the NFL in defensive INTs (1). Sounds like a great reason to celebrate!
— DavidJames (@Jr1000James) October 21, 2022
These are kids playing a game and they get paid lots of money to do it. This goes to show that they dgaf about wins or losses. They are making their money regardless. This is not a championship team folks.
— itzYAboyDOC (@DrYEETpig) October 21, 2022
This team has no heart. Lost back to back and they’re screwing around. 😢
— Jimothyschrute (@FewWordsDoTrik) October 21, 2022
Now, I am not going to sit here and tell people how to “fan.” What I will say, though, is that I would not want to work anywhere that took away all the joy in the workplace after two bad days.
It is interesting to note the huge contrast between the Packers losing/having fun and the Brewers losing/not having fun. Throughout the Brewers’ struggles, fans practically begged the team to start showing life and having fun again. Presumably the idea was that if they played loose, they’d play better. If they would have taken the pressure off of themselves and just enjoyed the GAME they were playing, they might have played better. It seems as if the Packers are trying to do this, but the reaction from some fans is rather, well, unsupportive.
Other Fans Supported the Players Having Fun
Not everyone took such personal offense to players they do not know on a personal level having fun getting ready for a game. In fact, many were quite supportive of it:
I want to see everyone crying and pissed off and fist fighting!!! Argggg!!!! And sit down at the game!!!! https://t.co/mnnmPYdofj
— bro-loko89 – former: nflownergbp (@bro_loco89) October 21, 2022
*The sarcasm just drips from this Tweet
Packer Fans: Fix the bad energy in the locker room!!!!
Also Packer Fans: How dare you dance and have fun at practice
😵💫😵💫😵💫 https://t.co/P57xr2hobM
— lo 🧀 (@LoFromWisco) October 21, 2022
I see people saying they don’t like this. You want them moping around because they lost a few games? Lol They should be having fun. https://t.co/b058tVm6D9
— Matt Ramage (@mattramage) October 21, 2022
Again, I do not want to tell anyone how to “fan.” After all, the word fan is short for fanatic. Just remember, though, that it is called a game for a reason. Games are fun.
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