Reporter to Packers Coach and GM: 'Do You Know What You're Doing?'

Normally, when a reporter sits down to interview an NFL coach and/or general manager, you get static questions and boring answers.

Not in Green Bay.

In August, we told you about Milwaukee Journal Sentinel veteran Bob McGinn's interview with Packers general manager Ted Thompson. In the interview, I felt he crossed a line from asking tough, legitimate questions to framing questions within his own personal opinions.

Taking a cue from McGinn, Jason Wilde - a reporter for the Wisconsin State Journal - recently sat down to chat with Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy. To a certain extent, you could argue that he injected personal opinions into the interview, too. However, you could also argue that he was asking questions the fans wanted to have answered.

One thing that can't be argued is that Wilde is a prime example of what it's like to have more guts than brains. In many cases, that's not a good thing. Not this time.

WSJ: Do you guys know what you're doing?

MIKE McCARTHY: What kind of question is that?

WSJ: Well, there is a significant number of Packers fans who don't think you do after the way the Favre saga played out. This is your chance to tell them that you do.

Wow. That shows the guts of a hard-nosed, old-school reporter. It's an honest, to-the-point question that doesn't cross a line to a total, me-first interjection of personal opinion.

Ask that kind of question of President Bush, and Bill O'Reilly wants you beaten with a hammer.

The reality is that Wilde asked a question that many Packer fans would have asked if put in a similar position. Actually, save for a few likely swear words, the fans likely phrase the question the same way.

Whether Thompson and McCarthy like it or not, there is a large group of Packer fans who think they totally botched the situation with Brett Favre, and they are going to take the blame if this ends up being a disaster for the Packers. The fact that management is convinced they did what was best for the football team, both in the short- and long-term, is irrelevant. Fans just don't see it that way.

The rest of the interview is pretty tame, with Wilde giving Thompson and McCarthy a chance to address their feelings about the fan backlash, the current quarterback situation (Aaron Rodgers backed up by two rookies), Ryan Grant's potential, McCarthy's play-calling (very pass-heavy the first two years), and the potential of this year's team. Pretty static stuff.

Give Wilde credit, though. Most reporters limp into the interview room and ask boring questions, only to wonder why they got boring answers in return. I'm sure McCarthy and Thompson were shocked by that first question, and they probably thought it was a bit out of line, so credit them as well. After all, they gave seemingly honest answers to everything Wilde asked after his very unique ice-breaker.

(Via PFT!)