Packers Legend Slams 'Prima Donna' Aaron Rodgers After Coach McCarthy Abruptly Fired
The firing of Packers coach Mike McCarthy seemed to be only a matter of whether it would happen sooner rather than later.
On Sunday, after the Packers’ pathetic loss at home to the 2-9 Arizona Cardinals, the answer became sooner. Most Packers fans supported the decision to dismiss McCarthy — on a scale from “wildly elated” to “not entirely McCarthy’s fault but it had to be done.”
But others feel it was wrong and an injustice to fire McCarthy, a Super Bowl-winning coach. Among those who sympathize with McCarthy is former Packers tight end Mark Chmura, who was a key part of the Packers team that won Super Bowl XXXI under coach Miike Holmgren.
Appearing on WKTI-FM in Milwaukee, Chmura said Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers comes out of this looking like a “prima donna.”
#Packers Hall-of-Famer Mark Chmura joined #PackAttack earlier to discuss the team firing #MikeMcCarthy. Chewy doesn’t think Aaron Rodgers comes away from this looking great: pic.twitter.com/u5c51NU0Xj
— ESPN Milwaukee (@ESPNMilwaukee) December 3, 2018
“Aaron’s not going to come out of this looking good. Aaron might be happy, but Aaron, to me, looks like the prima donna basketball player in the NBA that wants his coach fired,” Chmura said after McCarthy was fired.
“There were rumblings last week — because I listen to a lot of the national media — that were saying Aaron Rodgers is difficult to coach, whether that’s because he’s smart or whatever the case may be. He might be happy, but I don’t think he comes out of this looking good. He got his coach fired,” Chmura added.
Aaron Rodgers turned 35 today and I have to say that getting a coach fired on your birthday is a total power move. #Packers https://t.co/fNCpFxFofU
— John Breech (@johnbreech) December 3, 2018
With the 20-17 loss to the Cardinals, the Packers have lost three straight and are basically out of playoff contention.
It took Mike McCarthy ruining the prime of the most talented quarterback ever to finally get fired.
Truly unbelievable, Green Bay.
— Tyler Steege (@TSteegeNFL) December 3, 2018
“That team quit. It quit. They didn’t even want to play today,” said Chmura, 49, who played seven seasons in Green Bay, made three Pro Bowls and was inducted into the team’s hall of fame in 2010.
“McCarthy knew he was being executed at midnight and all Mark Murphy [team president] did was ask, “Do you want to do this at 6 o’clock instead of waiting until midnight? And McCarthy probably said, ‘Sure.'”
McCarthy was replaced by Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin on an interim basis.
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, whose team lost 24-10 to the Patriots on Sunday, also didn’t agree with the firing.
“I think it’s a sad, sad deal,” Zimmer said, reported the Twin Cities Pioneer Press. “Mike McCarthy is a good football coach. I think it’s a mistake. Just one man’s opinion.”
McCarthy finished his career in Green Bay with a record of 135-85-2 including nine playoff appearances in 13 years. The Packers won the Super Bowl following the 2010 season and made three other appearances in the NFC Championship game during his tenure.
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