Packers Morning Buzz: 'Void at top' allowed McCarthy-Rodgers relationship to unravel

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com.

We'll start with Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports pointing out that although both former Packers coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers shared the blame for their clearly deteriorating relationship, there should have been someone who could have called the two sides together and made peace.

Robinson writes:

Both are to blame for some of the struggles. And neither should escape blame in the long lens of history. But both also lacked something that often keeps the most stressful of NFL relationships on the rails in the worst of times: Someone with the respect and authority to step up and say …

Cut the b.s.

State your grievances.

Get on the same page and move forward.

The kind of thing a strong team owner would say, if the Packers actually had one of those. Or in the absence of that commanding ownership voice, the kind of authoritative mediation that Bob Harlan and Ron Wolf brought to the Mike Holmgren and Brett Favre era. Specifically, guys who can not only identify a simmering problem, but who can also force two grown men like Rodgers and McCarthy to see the path in front of them. Either they honestly confront each other with the issues at hand and start rowing in the same direction, or they silently snipe behind each other’s backs while the ship sinks.

 

You can read the entire column here:

Pete Dougherty writes that new Packers coach Matt LaFleur is sending out signals indicating he wants Rodgers to change some things in his game:

Ryan Wood looks at five focal points for Monday's beginning of the Packers' offseason program:

Za'Darius Smith seems to be ready:

The Packers need to lock up the long-term services of defensive lineman Kenny Clark, writes Tom Silverstein:

Tyler Dunne of Bleacher Report talks with Clay Travis of Fox Sports Radio about how his revealing story came together:

The "GMFB" crew also discussed what LaFleur will bring to the table in terms of dealing with Rodgers:

Former Packers fullback John Kuhn talks about the competitiveness of Rodgers and McCarthy leading to friction:

Former Packers linebacker Jayrone Elliott has heard enough:

Former Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix chimed in:

The Packers don't fare well in this 1-to-32 ranking of NFL running games by The MMQB's Conor Orr:

24. Green Bay Packers, $4.7 million / $181.2 million

Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, Tra Carson, Kapri Bibbs, Lavon Coleman

One of the most frustratingly underutilized backfields in the NFL last year could get a makeover in Matt LaFleur’s new offense. I may be underrating Jones a bit, who hit 5.5 yards per carry and scored eight touchdowns a year ago.

You can see their entire rankings here:

Could Eddie Lacy find his way back into the NFL?

Another former Packers starter heads to Cleveland:

Packers backup quarterback Tim Boyle is hosting an instructional camp:

And finally: More on Packers center Corey Linsley and his wife helping a family in need:

Contact Stu Courtney at (920) 431-8377 or scourtney@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @stucourt