LaFleur, Gutekunst deserve new lucrative deals with Packers
By GERY WOELFEL
Few NFL teams, if any, have been hit harder by injuries this season than the Green Bay Packers.
On both sides of the ball, they have suffered major losses.
On offense, tight end Tucker Kraft appeared on his way to being a Pro Bowl selection before incurring a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury in early November.
The Packers have also been without perhaps their best offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins after the veteran center suffered a lower left leg fracture.
Defensively, the Packers have been sabotaged by injuries to tackle Devonte Wyatt, their best interior defender, and to Micah Parsons, the NFL’s preeminent pass rusher.
Wyatt was lost for the season after suffering an ankle injury on the final play of the game against the Lions on Thanksgiving Day.
Then, on Dec. 14 against the Broncos, Parsons saw his season prematurely end after suffering a torn ACL.
Yet, despite losing four high-end players, the Packers have barely skipped a beat. While other teams would have called a season weeks ago, the Packers have persevered and are heading to the playoffs for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.
The fact the Packers didn’t implode is a credit to coach Matt LeFleur and his staff and general manager Brian Gutekunst for amassing a deep and talented roster.
What LaFleur and Gutekunst have accomplished not only this season but in recent years should eradicate any doubt about their futures in Green Bay.
Even if the Packers flame out in the playoffs, it should have little bearing on Packers president Ed Policy’s decision whether to retain LaFleur and Gutekunst.
Both gentleman have unequivocally proven their value to the franchise and deserve to be rewarded with hefty, multi-year contracts.
WHAT THE ODDSMAKERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE PACKERS-RAVENS GAME: Packers are four-point favorites.
GW’S PREDICTION: Packers 24, Ravens 20.
