McCarthy believes Capers will return in 2013

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GREEN BAY - Green Bay Packers’ head coach Mike McCarthy says he’s confident that Dom Capers will stay on as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator.

Saturday’s night’s crushing loss at San Francisco raised speculation that Capers might be on the way out after four years. But McCarthy says he’ll review the entire season with Capers, and he’ll determine his overall leadership ability before making any decisions. Capers says he wants to stay, and get to work on fixing the problems that led to San Francisco getting 579 yards against the Pack in its divisional playoff loss to the 49’ers. McCarthy and Capers expect to meet all day today – something they normally do within the first week after the season ends. McCarthy was irritated yesterday when reporters raised questions about Capers’ future. He said he won’t be making any rash decisions.

Capers said it was not true that he didn’t respond to what the 49’ers were doing with scrambling quarterback Colin Kaepernick – and Capers said he tried several things to slow him down. McCarthy met with each player individually before they went home for the winter – and he says he’s getting a good filter to quote, “sort out what’s real and what’s emotion.”

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Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers will not play in the Pro Bowl in Hawaii on January 27th. Rodgers said on his Milwaukee radio show yesterday that he flunked his routine post-season physical given by the Packers – but he didn’t want to say much else about it. New York Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning will take Rodgers’ place on the NFC squad. Coach Mike McCarthy said Rodgers had a knee injury, but any other information would have to come from the quarterback. Rodgers said he got banged up during Saturday night’s playoff loss at San Francisco, but he did not mention a knee problem. He did admit having ankle issues, and was on the injury report at least once during the season with that. Rodgers was chosen to start for the NFC in the Pro Bowl, and he apologized to the Packer fans who will be in Hawaii. He said it’s a good trip but quote, “I won’t say anything about the game.” Rodgers was critical a year ago at what he called a lack of effort by his fellow All-Stars – and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell talked later about the possibility of scrapping the Pro Bowl if the game doesn’t improve. The Packers’ coaching staff will lead the NFC team for the second straight year.

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Green Bay Packers’ offensive coordinator Tom Clements is apparently staying put. Clements interviewed for the head coaching vacancy in Chicago – but numerous media reports say the Bears have hired Marc Trestman to replace the fired Lovie Smith. Clements was one of at least 10 people considered by the Bears for the coaching vacancy – but he was not among the three finalists. Former Wisconsin quarterback and Packers’ assistant Darrell Bevell was among the finalists, along with Indianapolis offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. Trestman was an NFL assistant for years, until he joined the Canadian Football League in 2008 as the head coach of the Montreal Alouettes. His teams won two Grey Cup CFL championships. Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers says the Bears might have been a good for Clements – but he says he’s glad the Packers have him. Rodgers calls Clements a “fine coach and a better man.”

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There might be a spirited competition this summer for the two starting corner spots in the Green Bay Packers’ defense. Corners’ coach Joe Whitt Junior says Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Davon House, and Casey Hayward could all be vying for the two starting spots, and perhaps an extra place in the Packers’ nickel package. Whitt says the candidates will all have to be solid from the get-go at training camp – and it will be interesting to see who steps forward. Williams has been the Packers’ Number-One corner for the last three years. He did not stand out this season, but Whitt said his internal grades were still pretty well. Shields had the biggest impact down the stretch. He came back from a high ankle sprain to have four interceptions in his final six games. And he returned a pick for a touchdown early in last Saturday’s playoff loss at San Francisco. Whitt said Shields was the best tackler on the 2012 squad – and he cut his missed tackles by half last year. Injuries limited the second-year house. But Hayward shined in his rookie season. He had the NFL’s fifth-highest number of interceptions during the regular season with six.

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