Aaron, I don't know what you were looking at but GBPG had an AP story on this at least two hours ago. It wasn't a lead headline but it was on there.

Having been a part of HR hiring/firing for a while, these types of events are often layered and turns into a lot of "he said, she said" stuff. Its tough to sift through and find the truth about what was said, why, and to whom. Now....back to football, is Patrick Crayton still a part of that offense?

There's no way the dude gets fired for saying what he claims he said.

This story leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Even if we don't know the whole story and MM is partially or fully exonerated with the big reveal, this is the last thing the Packers need this week.
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You talked to the article's writer and are now reaching out to the Packers? You've come a long way, Aaron. I like it.

Aaron, the story at Packersnews.com (GBPG) was posted at 7:42 am.

I currently run a business with 120 employees. I can tell you now that the organization is in a completely untennable situation. Because of confidentiality and fear of a slander lawsuit you can say nothing as to why an employee was terminated. I've been in the unfortunate position of terminating relationships with many staff and it was always thoroughly investigated and all information was weighed prior to parting ways.

Every single time it gets back to me that the person in question either lied as to why they were terminated or a lie through ommission. The Packers and McCarthy are in a lose-lose situation no matter what the actualy truth is.

Also, does this story even get out if the Packers are sitting at 6-2 without the perceived issues the team is currently having? No, it fades into innuendo and rumor within the greater Green Bay community. Press taking an angle to make a statement about their perception of the Packers leadership? You be the judge.....

I think it's time for a Beer Summit.

National Football Post has the story up as well:

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Packers-employee-fired-for-remarks-t...

This is going to make for one hell of a podium performance from McCarthy. Sure, it will be sandwiched by 'pad level' and 'I'll have to look at the film' but it's going to be good.

Good take, this is really interesting. And certainly having only the fired employee's side represented makes the story very hard to parse. But here's where I get stuck: MM's reaction on TMJ this morning was pathetic. He didn't sound surprised in the slightest, even though he bumbled around and said he hasn't read the paper and didn't know about it or whatever. I know he's incapable of showing emotion, but consider how all of us reacted when we read it. Me: "Wow, really?!" So if MM had nothing to do with it, shouldn't the topic have elicited some level of surprise? Either way, it sucks. The good feelings I had from the closed-door meeting are now gone. This staff makes themselves so damn hard to like -- even for an unapologetic fanboy like me.

"Mike McCarthy would go out of his way to find out who Wood was, find his superiors, and have him fired – "

Why would he have had to do any of that. A simple, "Who's that idiot?" could have done the trick.

I agree that we don't know exactly what Wood said, but the Packer organization *admits* that they fired him because he made an "inappropriate comment." **An** inappropriate comment. Singular.
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Not that he was a bad employee and mouthed off for the last time. Not that he had a history of pissing people off. Not that "these are internal matters that we won't discuss publically." He made **an** inappropriate comment.
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Now certainly some comments might warrant firing. "Hey McCartht you fat effing slob don't blow it!" But I am not getting the vibe that he said anything like that.

Did anybody watch the new Soth Park episode???

“Mike McCarthy would go out of his way to find out who Wood was, find his superiors, and have him fired – ”

In my mind, it played out something like this:

"Who is that man, Smithers"?

"That's Mike Wood. One of the simpletons from sector 7-G, sir".

"Have him fired immediately".

"Yes, sir. Consider him 'Favred'".

"Don't lay an egg" ?!? that's what the -accusation- was about which concluded a 22 yr. employee losing his job? The Packer statement and accounts admit that at least MM was involved somehow. That's pathetic.
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I'm an officer in moderate sized company (400+ employees) and we are trained in HR procedure all the time ... if Woody's statement is anywhere close to the truth he should hire a good HR lawyer... he may be able to dip into that salary cap money... but then again I can understand why he doesn't want to be 'scrutinized'... if a 16 yr HOF veteran can go down he doesn't stand a chance.
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What's going on in GB? There has been nothing good coming out of this relationship with MM or TT for the last couple of years.

Holy cow. What a bunch of manure.

By the way, I can believe that McCarthy didn't have anything to do with the firing. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't.
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I can completely believe that someone else within the Packers organization caught wind of the story and took iniative in firing Wood.
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This is an organization that allowed its Pulic Relations Director to go Miley Cyrus on Twitter.
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Every Packer fan should send Mark Murphy an egg in protest.

I'LL jump right in with "McCarthy is losing it." Who cares what he said? The content doesn't matter.

IF (and I mean IF) it is true that the guy got fired for a comment, then HE GOT FIRED FOR A COMMENT!!!!! Sure, I didn't hear the comment, but still...fired for a comment.

McCarthy is losing it.

I worked at Lambeau during the 2007 season. When it came to what was appropriate to say to the players and coaches, we had a very simple rule: hello. They preferred that we said nothing at all. We were warned that speaking to them could result in termination. So even if he just said "Hey coach, let's get the boys ready to kick some butt this weekend." he was already breaking the rules and could have been fired, if the policy was followed strictly. It wasn't usually enforced that way, but, technically, he was in the wrong to begin with.

Ruppert: Fired for a comment... Go make an insulting comment to your superior, and see if you still have a job next day.

Is it possible to trademark the phrase "Egg-Gate"? I claim dibs!

Jayme - unless that policy is consistently applied in every case it doesn't hold water for Woody... and it cannot be an 'implied' or 'verbal' policy, it has to be written and he has to have read and signed it... it also has to be witnessed & documented with some type of remedial attempt to correct it and so on.... but 22 years, and one "go beat'em coach" or unclear comment and you loose a part of your livelihood?
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Who would want to be part of that Nazi regime?
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KCNYC
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"Consider him ‘Favred’”. (clever)

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Did anyone read the article on the AP?

"The Packers organization says Wood's supervisors determined he made an inappropriate comment and he was dismissed. "

More clever commentary from the National Football posted site:
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"Hey, Mike, why don't you and Ted hold hands at midfield on Sunday, crouch and try to lay eggs at the same time? Then maybe you can tell the fans, like the drivel you drool after every game, that you'll "get it fixed" while in reality the new groundskeeper will have to "clean it up."
*************

Longtimefan- I read the AP article--
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AP post also never said how his supervisors determined what he said, who heard it, what exactly was stated or what action, if any, they used to discipline him in an attempt to correct the situation -before- firing him.
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Basically, 'you opened your mouth, MM didn't like it, you are out of here' - sounds familiar somehow.

@Aaron - I will donate $50 to the site if you create greenbaypackerbob's own personal echo chamber of a thread so he can continue his bitter mental masturbation in peace and refrain from content free post #3,454.

Aaron
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A 'policy' for a company is suppose to be written where it can be clearly understood by all employees who then sign the statement acknowledging such...also, all firing policies more than any other must be clearly outlined and detailed.
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As much as I believe we are over 'sued' in this country, if this were not the case, then Woody has a case.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Packers ground crew are "at-will" employees meaning they can be terminated at any time as long as the reasons aren't explicitly stated as illegal in state or federal law (ie age, race, sex, religion, etc). So Mr Wood could be fired for the comments, and the Packers would be on steady legal grounds, but still remain on unsteady PR grounds.

CSS
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Do you want your own blog space where no one ever disagrees with you? If you don't agree with me you could at least take the time to say something intelligent in opposition - thought that was what a blog was about?
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... your use of sexual language in reference to masturbation tells me a lot about who you are (sorry you are so lonely).

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Ok Aaron..I wasnt sure what you meant by the AP article and what was odd about it..

What time is that press conference supposed to start? Looks to me like the Packer legal team is meeting with McCarthy right now telling him not to say another freaking word about this.

Someone should fire Patrick Crayton. I love mediocre wideouts that talk smack. Why don't you try and win a playoff game there Crayton.

Ryeguy812
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You are correct if there is a written policy stating as you propose and all employees sign it upon hire, then they are within their rights. But in most instances this language is used in conjunction with a 90 day probation period...although some right to work states have more freedom... (this guy was a faithful employee for 22 years??!!). Employers take on certain responsibilities when they hire someone and it is their duty to inform their employees up front.

I wish the internet didn't exist. I bet crap like this happened all the time when I was a kid - I just didn't have to hear/read about it (I know - I don't have to read about it now... can't stop, though...I have some sort of sickness I guess).
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Too much information sucks sometimes.
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All this crap is because they blow right now. If Mr. hoody in NE or the Tuna in Miami did something like this everyone would praise him for "instilling a positive culture".
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Let's just beat the d*amn cowboys and start turning things around.
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Always something with this team.
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Always something.

With no prior history, no way on earth somebody in my world (finance/banking) would get fired for one comment. We're talking about somebody with 20 years in, too. Sure, we could sit here and dream up any number of vile insults or threats that are technically verbal assault...that's another story. We're not talking about a threat. Or a vile insult. We're talking about a comment. Yes, there's a difference. Let's assume the guy is in fact telling the truth about the part where he said he went home and didn't think anything of what he said. That's a comment.
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How about a warning? In the world of finance, nobody would ever get fired for the first offense on practically anything. Fair is fair, people. Firing for a first offense, on a COMMENT doesn't happen in the real world. Why does it happen in this case? Because McCarthy is an idiot.

I think we are missing the forest from the trees when we debate whether Wood broke a rule and whether the rule was spoken or written down. Who cares?
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The point is that the Packers have fostered a culture where some offhanded comment gets you canned. To me, that indicates the Packers have some (too many) people in leadership positions that have thin skin and poor judgment. That is a big problem.

Aaron, if that's not your take then why did you devote half your post to basically accusing them? Guess what, they got scooped, who cares besides you? Has anyone besides me even mentioned it? Did you decide to become a journalist today with your two phone calls you naively had to announce you made?

You guys do a lot of good things here at CHN but give me a break Nagler. The only joke is that Pelissaro and Rob even talk to you.

At least give them throught the day to scrounge up their own story Aaron.

Ruppert, as I said, if you believe you would only get a warning for making an insulting comment to your boss, go do it!
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Fact is we don't know for sure what was said, so it's all speculation. Until something is proven, we cannot acuse anyone of anything. The fact that MM is a lousy coach doesn't translate to him being dictatorial. We only got one side of the story, and the other side will probably only be heard in the court. I wasn't kidding when I asked if anyone saw the new South Park episode. It has everything to do with this. Called Dances with Smurfs. Here's a link: http://www.watchsouthparkonline.net/season-13/episode-13-dances-with-smu...

I think the time of this statement was made is critical here (before the viking game). If Woods uttered those words and the next game is the Browns, no big deal.

I am sure that everyone in the Packer organization was aware that public criticism or any talk of any kind would not be tolerated by anybody on staff that would be interpreted as a jab against the Packers organization to trade BF. I am sure numerous memos went out on this and meetings held about the conduct of employees as it relates to BF being traded by the Packers.

Not a smart move on Woods part.

As a conservative who is all for employer rights, let me say in my business experience dealing with over 400+ the "He said, she said" is a lawyer's dream for a defendant who was fired over a mere comment without any recourse or remedial attention (e.g. "its not the worst thing that's been said"). MM must love stupid, he's lucky Woody does not want to be 'scrutinized' and doesn't seek counsel. MM should keep his mouth shut.
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Wonder what MCCarthy said 'back to him'- bet it was just as edifying... that could also get MM in the hot seat as silly as that might sound (should have just called "offset penalties"). lol. He is not showing much smarts or cool.
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greenbaypackerbob - You should switch hands on occassion whilst fantasizing about the Packer collapse and dreaming up new, creative ways to work Favre into every topic even though 90% of the topics have nothing to do with him, you're bound to chaff with all that friction.....

I wonder if Mike Wood can play RT. Maybe thats why he was let go.

MM: Daddy, daddy Donnie said bad things to me.
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TT: That's all right Mikey I take care of that naughty man.
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TT: (speed dial maintenance) Alan fire the bastard.
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MM: Thank you Daddy!

I heard this guy had been talking to the head turf manager in Minnesota on a packer-supplied cell phone as well as making his comments. Wood thinks he could have a few more good years of groundskeeping in him if he only worked for a team with astro-turf. Packer's management is considering filing tampering charges.

My take is that the dude doesn't want to be scrutinized, because he hopes he can get his job back someday. He probably loves the Packers as much as we all do, and he knows MM is on his way out.
Jesus, MM ADMITS they exchanged comments. Then, ADMITS he tried to find out who he was and who his supervisor was. Then, when asked if he had the guy fired, says "It was a one minute conversation."
Don't let it hit you on the way out, Mike. This is Dan Devine type stuff.

I don't know where the truth lies in this latest sordid development in Packer World.

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I do know, however, that four key twats have been active players recently in Green Bay's descent back into a 1970s/1980s-like Black Hole: (i) Ted Thompson; (ii) Brent Lorenzo Fauve; (iii) Mike McCarthy and (iv) Mark Murphy. In that order, too, I would say.

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One of that ugly foursome is gone, and at least another will be gone soon. Anyone see any disquieting patterns of disgraceful behavior in the time that this foursome (now threesome) has been around? Is it a coincidence that things have gone downhill for the franchise since these Four Horsemen of the Clueless Puds Club have engaged in acts of territorial pissing and other assorted power trips?

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I will concede, ever so slightly, that we can resist judging Mark Murphy too harshly. For now. But my god, his little trip to Mississippi in 2008 with a briefcase full of millions read like a goddamned Elmore Leonard novel. He has hardly inspired confidence.

This is a dispute over who said what. The Packers HR people had to investigate it. In my opinion, if there are no witnesses, then the investigator has to make a judgement call, and may rely on any past transgressions, if any, by either MM or the accused. If there was no prior history of similar conduct, I would think that the Packers would have treated the 20+ year employee with a warning. Termination is awfully harsh otherwise. No, I am not a lawyer.

Make that "Five" Horsemen of the Clueless Puds Club. I inadvertently omitted my hero, the noble and sage sports agent Bus Cook, from my list of franchise-killing twats.

CSS
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You must be one lonely puppy, you just can't get you mind off your favorite past time sport - unfortunately its not foot-'balls'. Talking about Favre on a GB blog seems a lot more natural than your favorite metaphor.
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If you have some sexual hangup, try a porn blog and save us all your misery and low class satire...maybe you can cross the tracks in GB and find you a woman with your $50 bucks who can make a real man out you...

Folks

No one on this blog is saying Wood was smart in what he did, but for MM to have him fired over it is crazy.
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If MM wants to beat up on somebody, how bout the Vikings or Dallas, not some part time 22 yr. grounds worker. It looks desparate for a guy who is a coach of a professional football team.

MM admits that he exchanged comments with him which led to his dismissal. On the Packers.com he admits he 'asked what the guys name was"... a jury would ask, "why?" - if it meant "zero" to him as he goes on to say, then what was his interest in the name? And when asked if he would like to see "the man get his job back" he would not comment anymore.
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I'm sure he did not do it personally but it was the result of his exchanges (my opinion of course)

touche, but jurors, would sure 'think' it.
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I believe from the comments on this blog a lot of your posters are 'thinkers' too and why many would agree with the assesment!
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In a civil suite 'evidence beyond a reasonable doubt' is not the standard all you need is sufficient evidence (51+%)--- (just ask OJ where his heisman went .. lol)
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-- sorry to get edgy with CSS but his comments were personally directed at me and were offensive (please don't fire him)
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lol

@ Aaron - I apologize to you and you alone for not respecting civil discourse on your blog and taking the 'troll' bait so to speak. It really is a shame that some posters come here with no intent of contributing to a conversation. I'll ignore the trolls moving forward, should have done so to begin with.

Okay, I'm not saying that that guy said what he said he didn't say (that's one confusing sentence ;) ), but if he did, why should he be fired. It doesn't sound like he meant anything bad about it, and that he wa just trying to motivate McCarthy, tell a joke, or both. This I'd just stupid.

Hey McCarthy, you are an NFL coach, a job only thirty-two people in the whole world get to do. In my opinion, your not doing a very good job right now. Why do you need to take it out on an employee who, from the sound of it, has given more to our great franchise than you have.

Sorry if I'm being overcritical and a jerk, but this doesn't sound very fair to me.

Of course McCarthy got him fired. Whether he personally called for his firing or not, we'll never know. But the guy didn't get canned for what he said--he got canned for whom it said it to...McC.
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And let's just say these firings happen all the time (even though they don't). It's STILL another black mark on this current Packers administration. Even if this type of firing is standard policy of the team or the league, I cannot believe somebody didn't step up and say "wait a minute....we're going to look like fools yet again if we fire this guy." But no one did, and here we are.

Aaron, one last comment and I'm off this topic.
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I'm glad to exchange ideas with anyone on this blog, both with whom I may agree or disagree without believing I have any privy insight into someone's 'intent' (how could I, I don't know anyone personally on the site).
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But all should share in this rule equally and not have to take the abuse of those who would use foul language to try and get a point across because they don't like a particular person's stance on history or a topic under discussion.
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e.g. call it the 'goose and gander' fairness law...
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Anyhow, enough on that issue...see you after Sunday (e.g. and there's no secret Davinci Favre code in that statement, trust me!). Go Pack.
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lol :>)

Ruppert - all good points!

By the way, why does an ad for Vikings tickets keep popping up on the site. Have you really attracted that many trolls, or is Minnesota trying to corner the Packer fan market for tickets ;)

I saw an ad for Vikings tickets on nfl.com. They're giving away $20 in free food coupons with 2 tickets to a home game. So basically, they can't even sell out by giving away free food!!

Just one thing:
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If the guy insulted McCarthy, and it gets out that he insulted him and nobody did nothing. How would that appear? Would it seem like McCarthy doesn't have balls?
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It's a no-win situation. You keep the guy, you sound like a pussy. You fire him, you sound like Hitler.
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That, given that he insulted him. It's another issue if it was an innocent comment like "go team", which IMHO is ludicrous to think that was all that he said.

McCarthy doesn't seem to have balls when it comes to this team, so maybe this is how he took out his frustration.

Says a lot about McCarthy. He's got a team that just lost to the Buccanners, he's calling plays that make know sense at all, he's making idiotic comments every time someone points a camera at his stupid face, and, in general, his football team is descending lower and lower every week, and this is how he spends his time? Going out of his way to have a maintenance guy fired for taking to him. From the way things look, this guys given more to our franchise than Mike and his foolishness ever have, by spending more than twenty years of his life at Lambeau because it was the team he loved. He is a true Packer fan, who has been treated very unfairly by the team he has dedicated himself to. If this makes sense to anyone, please explain it to me. I'm really at a loss here.

Like the guys on Lambeau live/Green and Gold today said... DUDE, STFU and do your job. Loved the analogy "If you were an assembly worker for GM and the CEO came walking through, would you say... hey how's that bailout going"??? NO, know your roll, blend in, and STFU!

GBP 4 LIFE

I just sent my resume to the Packers. I read there was a job opening for a janitor.

All it would take to drastically change the tone of the supposed comment from benign to inappropriate would be adding in a few words at the end of it.. like, "For a change" or "unlike last time". Example:
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"Hey, Coach, let's get the boys ready to kick some ass this weekend...FOR A CHANGE/UNLIKE LAST TIME".
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I have to agree with a few other posters- as a person who has some experience in hiring/firing employees in the past, as well as dealing with poorly behaving persons in the general public, it is alarming how often grown adults will lie through omission in an attempt to make themselves look "clean". People tend to refuse to take responsibility for their own comments anymore. It is also unlikely that a multi-million dollar corporation that deals with the ticky-tacky nature of professional sports athlete contracts would make a huge error in a basic HR firing scenario, but that said, who knows.

As William stated:
"Much Ado About Nothing"