Ty Montgomery, Packers' coaches miscommunicate on fumble vs. Rams

-- Whatever the Green Bay Packers' plan was at the end of the game, Ty Montgomery didn't follow it.

The end result? A heartbreaking 29-27 defeat at the hands of the unbeaten Los Angeles Rams on Sunday that brought the Packers' winning percentage right back down to earth at .500 with a 3-3-1 record.

A good duration of the game proved to be promising for the most part, and the Packers, who were nine-point underdogs, nearly started off the toughest part of their schedule with a win.

The chips just didn't fall that way, and while the blame doesn't fall on the Packers' running back's shoulders alone, those situations require split-second decisions to be made. Montgomery's ended up being the incorrect one, apparently.

"Well, you look at that last situation, the plan is to stay in the end zone," coach Mike McCarthy said following the loss. "I think we all realize with the management of the clock and where we wanted to be there, we wanted to be north of the two minutes with one timeout."

There was either miscommunication between Montgomery and his head coach or special teams coordinator Ron Zook and the former pair. Or, simply, Montgomery disobeyed and wanted to make a play in a crucial situation.

Montgomery ran the ball twice against the Rams, including making one catch for two yards. He was on bottom-end of a running back rotation that featured him, Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones, whose 12 carries on Sunday was his season high.

"We wanted to put the ball in Aaron's hands," McCarthy said. "But you also trust your players. Tough decisions, close decisions. Like I said, I think Ty was just trying to make a play."

This could be an opportunity for the Packers to activate Trevor Davis, who was their primary return specialist before he was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. The team may view him as one of two possible candidates to be designated for a return.

As of right now, Davis is eligible to begin practicing again. Once he does, the Packers can go from there to determine whether or not it's worth using one of their return designations and take the burden out of Montgomery's hands.

Despite a disappointing finish, Montgomery wasn't the lone reason the Packers fell short. On top of surrendering a safety which sparked a Rams comeback in the second quarter, the offense couldn't sustain possessions and consequently, kept an already exhausted defense on the field longer and more frequently than they needed to be.

The Packers will be in New England next week, back home at Lambeau Field the following week to host the Miami Dolphins, then back on the road for consecutive trips to Seattle and Minnesota.

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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

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Comments (77)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Lphill's picture

October 29, 2018 at 05:19 am

Somebody needs to be held accountable.

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Barnacle's picture

October 29, 2018 at 06:18 am

Not Mashed Potato Mike? McPuffy snatched another loss from the jaws of victory.

At least it was not the “bad luck” of a punt bouncing off an uncoached packer following a received ball on the ground(again?)

Please have somebody tell our punt receiving players to stop hanging around an untouched received punt bouncing eradicately!!!

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fastmoving's picture

October 29, 2018 at 06:58 am

so what do you want to do with AR??? if somebody needs to be held accountable??

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fthisJack's picture

October 29, 2018 at 09:49 am

i'm sorry but that ball never hit King in the back.

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Ferrari Driver's picture

October 29, 2018 at 11:19 am

But he was out of position to the point it was not obvious to the official that it failed to touch him. He shouldn't have been near the ball.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

October 29, 2018 at 05:28 am

After reading the full quote, I can't be certain whether any coach actually told Montgomery not to return the kick if it reached the endzone. It sound like no one did.

No, Monty should not have needed to be told.
Yes, a coach should have communicated that to him.

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Doug Niemczynski's picture

October 29, 2018 at 06:24 am

Mashed Potato Mike and McPuffy !
Hilarious

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Irish_Cheesehead's picture

October 29, 2018 at 09:31 am

Please don't encourage the idiots.

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Barnacle's picture

October 29, 2018 at 07:45 pm

Bad coaches and ignorant fans depend on the luck of the Irish. The game is too fast for MM. I am sick of the weekly screw ups and finger pointing at everybody accept the obvious problem.........MM.

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dobber's picture

October 29, 2018 at 08:48 am

I think MM is doing what a good coach does: he's shielding his player to the press. You could tell by sideline reactions that they weren't happy with that decision and play. His initial quote was that they didn't want that ball run out. It's going to get handled behind closed doors. That's the way it should happen midseason.

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fthisJack's picture

October 29, 2018 at 09:53 am

my question is....why was he the return guy in the first place when you have a guy like MVS that has track speed and has returned kicks before? he has no speed or shake and bake to be a returner.

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powell.david1's picture

October 29, 2018 at 05:36 am

seems like this should be "wasn't"

"Despite a disappointing finish, Montgomery was the lone reason the Packers fell short."

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EddieLeeIvory's picture

October 29, 2018 at 06:11 am

Yeah that's a typo by the writer. Happens to many of em.

http://packersinsider.com/2018/10/its-time-to-part-ways-with-mccarthy-and-

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

October 29, 2018 at 06:30 am

Get over yourself.

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CJ Bauckham's picture

October 29, 2018 at 07:00 am

Get over YOURself.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

October 29, 2018 at 07:50 am

I have, which is why I don't show up here nitpicking authors who donate thier work for our entertainment over pedantic typos.

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CJ Bauckham's picture

October 29, 2018 at 08:16 am

Your comment was just as pedantic. He didn't rip the author or anything. No harm no foul.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

October 29, 2018 at 08:30 am

I'm not sure you know what pedantic means.

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CJ Bauckham's picture

October 29, 2018 at 09:18 am

I know it's meaning about as well as you understand hypocrisy

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Doug_In_Sandpoint's picture

October 29, 2018 at 09:44 am

Thanks Al. I’ve been trying to get over myself with little luck. Now I try to just go around myself but that is even getting more difficult with the accumulation of beer calories in my midsection.

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JerseyAl's picture

October 29, 2018 at 07:49 am

Fixed.

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Johnblood27's picture

October 29, 2018 at 09:40 am

Lol...

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Lphill's picture

October 29, 2018 at 05:44 am

No it was not the main reason but it ended any chance of a victory which more than likely Rodgers would have got them into field goal range.

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Doug Niemczynski's picture

October 29, 2018 at 06:08 am

Football player’s aren't that smart. You have to treat them like your own child. Just do it!!!

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fastmoving's picture

October 29, 2018 at 06:56 am

not smart? you mean compared to you, right!!!!

I always knew KNEELING is good and the players should do it way more....!!!

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dobber's picture

October 29, 2018 at 09:44 am

That's a poor stereotype to buy into.

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fthisJack's picture

October 29, 2018 at 09:56 am

the guy graduated from Stanford....not Alabama.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

October 29, 2018 at 05:51 am

This article Rak47 posted in Gut Reactions is very damning if true. IF TRUE, Monty had a meltdown the previous series after being lifted from the game, and was told to take a knee on the kickoff.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000980254/article/rodgers-doesnt-ge...

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Colin_C's picture

October 29, 2018 at 10:07 am

Agreed. If that's true, I wouldn't be surprised if he's traded or cut before Tuesday.

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PAPackerbacker's picture

October 29, 2018 at 06:02 am

Monty wasn't the only reason the Packers fell short. A safety that sparked the Rams was one. How about that 25 yard punt? And the sputtering offense that couldn't sustain drives. And bad secondary play. Some areas were good, some not so good. The game should have been won long before the final 2 minutes and that horrible decision by Monty. Same old same old management and undisciplined football. Plenty of balme to go around. But for sure Monty costs the Packers a chance to win. It was a team effort loss and bad coaching.

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dobber's picture

October 29, 2018 at 07:05 am

" And bad secondary play."

Really? By and large, the secondary played well.

I'm starting to wonder if people watched the same game I did.

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PAPackerbacker's picture

October 29, 2018 at 08:26 pm

Gave up 295 passing yards and 3 TD's and most of it in the second half.

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Denise Chanterelle's picture

October 29, 2018 at 06:16 am

Doug N: “Stanford boy?” Your post should be removed. I don’t care how wrong Ty was yesterday on that play from the end zone.

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Doug Niemczynski's picture

October 29, 2018 at 06:19 am

The remark shall stand. No PC here.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

October 29, 2018 at 06:32 am

You need a breathilizer on your browser

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fthisJack's picture

October 29, 2018 at 09:59 am

that's funny right there!

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Doug Niemczynski's picture

October 29, 2018 at 06:36 am

MM needs one on his play card.

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DragonSilk's picture

October 29, 2018 at 06:19 am

Sorry but Montgomery had several minutes to sum up the situation and make a decision. It was not split second. Even if he wasn't told what the play was common sense should have prevailed. If he has no more game awareness than that he shouldn't be returning kicks.

Gurley made a split second decision not to score and end the game on the last play. Someone should show that play to Montgomery as an example of how to play smart.

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Doug Niemczynski's picture

October 29, 2018 at 06:20 am

Exactly

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Doug Niemczynski's picture

October 29, 2018 at 06:33 am

This is not rocket science people. The ball was kicked in the end zone you down it.

Do anything else. Yoy are off the team.
This is ALL MMs fault for NOT making ure his special twams coach made it very clear.

Every player and coach needs to rewatch the Bostic 2014 screw up in Seattle when a player decides what is best for the team.

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fastmoving's picture

October 29, 2018 at 09:47 am

and I thought everything is rocket science for you and education the enemy of the people…...

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Doug Niemczynski's picture

October 29, 2018 at 06:35 am

MM needs one on his play card.

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Johnblood27's picture

October 29, 2018 at 09:45 am

Gurleys play had no impact except inn Vegas.

His score would have put the Rams up 9. Not 1 score, but 2 - TWO.

He just moved a hell of a lot of money, he didn't make any "smart" football plays.

Had the Rams been up by 1 - ONE, I would agree that it was a heads-up smart play.

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DragonSilk's picture

October 29, 2018 at 10:06 am

The same thing that made Gurley's play smart made Montgomery's play stupid. When you run ARod out there anythings possible. A quick strike and a 60 yard FG by Crosby was entirely possible.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

October 30, 2018 at 01:54 am

No, Gurley's decision was smart and unselfish. It was tempting to score and pad his stats (Gurley has a chance to break the record of someone or other for most TDs scored from scrimmage).

Fall down and take the kneel downs is practically 100% of winning.
Scoring allows an admittedly tiny chance for GB: KR or big TD pass plus an onside kick.

The percentages dictated falling down, and Gurley played the percentages.

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jdub's picture

October 29, 2018 at 06:24 am

I don't know what Ty saw from the end zone. Whatever it was he believed an opportunity was there to benefit the team. Perhaps his competitiveness saw an opportunity. Well guess what, It didn't work. So what !
II he would have had a great play the comments would have been much different. No way can I fault any competitor for taking a risk for his team and fans. Players with 'heart; do it all the time. Sometimes it works and sometimes it does'nt.

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JerseyAl's picture

October 29, 2018 at 07:51 am

so what?

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fthisJack's picture

October 29, 2018 at 10:04 am

sure, as long as you damn well make sure you hang onto the football! which he didn't.

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marpag1's picture

October 29, 2018 at 11:53 am

Oh wow.... really?? So you have 10 blockers on the kick return team who are fully convinced in their minds that Monty is going to down the ball because the coaches TOLD HIM TO, and one guy says, "Screw that! I'm a competitor, and ama just make a play, dammit!" ... and you don't see any problem with that?

Damn right I fault him.

Is it any wonder that a ball carrier might get hammered if all of his blockers thought he was going to take a knee, as instructed?

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Doug Niemczynski's picture

October 29, 2018 at 06:29 am

The Packers once cut a kickoff returner the day after a fumble in a loss. It was in 2013 when they dumped receiver Jeremy Ross after a fumbled kickoff.

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packerbackerjim's picture

October 29, 2018 at 06:51 am

No matter how justified, Montgomery will not be cut for lack of depth at the RB position. Should there be a trade however.....

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4zone's picture

October 29, 2018 at 06:56 am

Agree about the depth but not the trade. Only player to trade for would be Bell from Pitt. But we can't afford his contract.

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packerbackerjim's picture

October 29, 2018 at 11:01 am

Not looking to obtain Bell. We have Jones. A competent backup is what would make trading Montgomery possible.

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fastmoving's picture

October 29, 2018 at 09:48 am

yeah and after that he had some real good games against the Packers with the Lion. worked out perfekt......at least for the Lions

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DragonSilk's picture

October 29, 2018 at 10:21 am

Ross was a serial bonehead. He did last a short while with the Lions but they eventually cut him too.

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fastmoving's picture

October 29, 2018 at 10:38 am

yeah, he made some bad mistakes…...but he had a couple of huge games too with the Lions, the biggest one against the Pack

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RCPackerFan's picture

October 29, 2018 at 07:02 am

Montgomery bringing the ball out for whatever reason and then fumbling the ball away reminded me of the 2014 Brandon Bostick play.

Its one of those plays that the player loses control and tries to make a play instead of doing their job.

The minute Montgomery fumbled I thought, how soon till Davis is activated.

While Montgomery messed up, this game is not on him. He just didn't allow the offense to have a chance to come back.
Simply the offense didn't do enough in the middle part of the game. They stalled out way to much when if we added points at any time during that stretch, who knows what happens.
And also he doesn't deserves the death threats he is getting on twitter and whatnot. He made a boneheaded play, but now you're going to make death threats on him? Pathetic.

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dobber's picture

October 29, 2018 at 07:09 am

I'm not defending Montgomery's decision. Like many others, when he came out of the end zone, I was yelling, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!?!" at my television (and scaring my family and pets). But watch that replay: Ramik Wilson made a great play to not only hit and tackle Montgomery, but--with a free hand on their way to the ground--get under the nose of the football and simultaneously pull it loose. It was a bad decision compounded by a play that winning teams make...and made yesterday.

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RCPackerFan's picture

October 29, 2018 at 07:48 am

I yelled the same thing. I didn't get that decision at all.

It seriously reminded me of Brandon Bostick's play. Thats immediately how I felt after it happened. (minus the meaning of the game).

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fthisJack's picture

October 29, 2018 at 10:08 am

no Davis....we need MVS back there....why isn't that happening?

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splitpea1's picture

October 29, 2018 at 12:34 pm

Yeah, my pets hide behind the furniture when I'm watching the game.

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Jamie Freier's picture

October 29, 2018 at 02:38 pm

I was actually commenting to my wife how great the whole team had played, especially special teams (except for the shank) because they always came up with huge penalties. Then Monty ran it out and fumbled as I was saying this. Typical McCarthy Packers.

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Roadrunner23's picture

October 29, 2018 at 07:10 am

McCarthy is losing the locker room when idiots like Montgomery go against coaches instructions.
Cut Him!
An example needs to be made!

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RCPackerFan's picture

October 29, 2018 at 07:59 am

So a player makes a bad decision and the locker room is lost now?

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jeepingmakooi's picture

October 29, 2018 at 10:29 am

You must not have heard About his blow up on the sideline?

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fastmoving's picture

October 29, 2018 at 08:33 am

you are right, an example needs to me made. nobody gets cut.
Everyone makes mistake but Im sure your know that better than anyone else…….

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Turophile's picture

October 29, 2018 at 10:00 am

Nostradanus. Your crystal ball must have shattered because you aren't seeing things clearly.............

...............or maybe you have Sauron's........uh Goodell's Palantir, that only shows what the enemy wants you to see.

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fthisJack's picture

October 29, 2018 at 10:12 am

MM isn't losing the locker room. he's losing games he should be winning.

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fastmoving's picture

October 29, 2018 at 10:47 am

how is yesterdays great game a sign for losing anything??
strange?
brain is the enemy of the people…….we know

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cheesycowboy's picture

October 29, 2018 at 07:53 am

The Packers need to win 7 of the last 9 games. Not happening.
This is a mediocre football team.
More changes coming at 1265 Lombardi Ave.

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RCPackerFan's picture

October 29, 2018 at 07:58 am

Why can't it happen?

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fthisJack's picture

October 29, 2018 at 10:13 am

the winner of this pathetic conference could be 9-6-1.

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Skip greenBayless's picture

October 29, 2018 at 08:18 am

Special teams has cost us wins in two of the last three games. Detroit with all the missed field goals and now this infamous blunder by Montgomery. However if what they say about Montgomery is true with him throwing a hissy fit on the previous series and then disobeying orders on the kickoff, I don't care, he should be fired for that mistake. Why? because it wasn't a mistake, it was total defiance.

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rstain99's picture

October 29, 2018 at 09:34 am

Have to say besides Ty's boneheaded play the play calling has to change. The Def finally gave us a glimpse of what they could against a real team. Safety was terrible call when at 1 foot line. MM has to go totally wasting AR years. But Aaron is not blameless either holds ball too long needs to get rid of it quicker. Ha Ha needs to go played a step late like always yesterday too much money from average output. 6-9-1 does not cut it with that QB. Sox bailed out a lousy day. Please pack come to Boston and kick some arse Sunday night. so sick of hearing about the GOAT

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Rebecca's picture

October 29, 2018 at 12:24 pm

McCarthy will have Montgomery returning kicks next Sunday evening to show he has confidence in him.

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AgrippaLII's picture

October 30, 2018 at 02:21 am

Would Montgomery be worth a third round pick? He's not pleased with his role in the offense...and he's made it known often. Why did Randall get traded??

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Oppy's picture

October 30, 2018 at 03:01 am

Randall got traded because he was, apparently, a massive locker room problem.

A group of Vets approached MM mid-season in 2017 and told him they met privately to discuss what to do about Randall, and they thought he was a problem that was hurting the locker room.

I think that's a little bit different than whatever the Montgomery situation is at this point, but who knows?

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