At a recent “Welcome Back Luncheon,” McCarthy boldly predicted that the Packers plan to deliver a whooping to their longtime rivals.
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Sadly for McCarthy, the Bears are not biting.
Head coach John Fox, who will make his Bears’ head coaching debut against the Packers, did not help stoke the flames during a Monday press conference. “I looked at the tape. They should be confident,” Fox said, via ESPN’s Jeff Dickerson, in regards to the Packers’ 55-14 win over the Bears last December.
Offensive lineman Kyle Long share his coach’s measured analysis. Yeah, I saw that,” Long said, via CSN Chicago. “I mean, a coach is supposed to try and instill confidence in his team, I get that.”
McCarthy is a man who appreciates gamesmanship, which is a strong facet of any good rivalry. But don’t take his proclamation as an insult.
“I don’t really talk to our football team the way I talk to the Chamber of Commerce. It was all in fun, but I think it’s really just an example of why you shouldn’t say things like that in public,” McCarthy said, via ESPN. “The reality of it is, it is really the way the game is looked upon. It’s a great rivalry. I’m sure a lot worse is said in private about the opposing teams and so forth, but it is with great respect.”
With both teams limping to the finish line, the added importance of bragging rights makes the matchup all the more intriguing, whether the teams are talking smack or not.
