So though Gutekunst believes the group is headed in the appropriate path, he additionally issued a problem to a group that misplaced all six video games it performed this season in opposition to the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings — the NFC’s top-tier golf equipment.
“We have to proceed to ramp up our sense of urgency,” Gutekunst mentioned throughout a season-ending information convention Thursday afternoon. “The lifetime of a participant within the Nationwide Soccer League shouldn’t be very lengthy. We have a bunch of fine guys in that locker room, we have got a bunch of proficient guys in that locker room, and I believe it is time we began competing for championships.
“I believe they’re prepared.”
Inexperienced Bay’s 22-10 loss to the Eagles within the NFC wild-card spherical was the bookend to the Packers’ 34-29 loss to them within the regular-season opener in São Paulo, Brazil. In between, the Packers misplaced twice to the Lions and twice to the Vikings, ending third within the NFC North and incomes the seventh and last playoff berth within the convention.
By means of six seasons as head coach, Matt LaFleur has led the Packers to a 67-33 total report (3-5 within the postseason) and berths within the 2019 and 2020 NFC championship video games.
However Inexperienced Bay’s most up-to-date Tremendous Bowl look was within the 2010 season, when the Packers gained all of it with Mike McCarthy as the pinnacle coach and Aaron Rodgers because the beginning quarterback.
“I believe all people’s gutted,” LaFleur mentioned throughout his season wrap-up with reporters earlier within the week. “If you happen to go on the market and also you play at your finest and also you come up brief, there is a totally different feeling.”
The Packers head into the offseason with 11 gamers set to turn into unrestricted free brokers, together with three starters: middle Josh Myers, linebacker Isaiah McDuffie and defensive sort out T.J. Slaton.
They may half methods with two-time Professional Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander, who has missed 10 video games in every of the previous two seasons with accidents and served a one-game suspension in 2023.
Alexander did not communicate with reporters throughout Monday’s locker clean-out day, saying that he did not “have something good to say.”
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Requested Thursday if there’s a disconnect between the group and the participant, Gutekunst mentioned, “No, no, no. I imply, there’s frustration, I believe, on each side, from the truth that he cannot get on the market. I really feel for him, as a result of he desires to be on the market and he desires to play. However no disconnect.”
The Packers can clear roughly $6 million in wage cap house in the event that they transfer on from Alexander, which might give them $57 million in projected cap room (not counting the price of signing their draft class) heading into the offseason.
After the signings of All-Professional security Xavier McKinney and Professional Bowl working again Josh Jacobs final yr, Gutekunst may have the fiscal wherewithal to take extra free-agent swings if he chooses to take action.
Mixed with the expansion of a roster that was the youngest within the NFL for the second straight yr, and Gutekunst believes his group is effectively positioned for subsequent season.
“The selections we have revamped the previous few years have put us within the scenario the place we’re in fairly fine condition,” Gutekunst mentioned. “I really feel actually good about our skill to go do what we have to do to area a championship-level group.
“The alternatives which might be going to be on the market are unknown proper now. We’ll see how that goes. However we’re in a greater scenario than now we have been.”
NOTES:
- Gutekunst mentioned the group want to carry again veteran kicker Brandon McManus, who was signed in October after the group employed rookie kickers in 2023 and for the primary six video games of this season.
- Gutekunst mentioned huge receiver Christian Watson, who tore the ACL in his proper knee within the regular-season finale in opposition to Chicago, has not but undergone surgical procedure.
- Gutekunst was thrilled with the protection’s first yr underneath new coordinator Jeff Hafley, whose unit completed No. 5 in complete protection (314.5 yards per sport), No. 6 in scoring protection (19.9 factors per sport) and No. 4 in takeaways (31). “I assumed Jeff Hafley did a tremendous job coming in right here in 12 months 1,” Gutekunst mentioned. “I assumed we had been enjoying our greatest soccer on protection on the finish of the yr. (I am) actually enthusiastic about the place the protection is correct now.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
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