Morning Buzz: New Packers defense starts to take shape

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers and the NFL from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a strong cup of coffee, (or brew some tea, if that’s your thing) and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.

We’ll start with the news of the day, which has the Packers hiring former Cleveland Browns head coach and longtime defensive assistant Mike Pettine as their new defensive coordinator.

From Tom Silverstein:

Mike McCarthy’s search to fill his vacant defensive coordinator’s job ended suddenly after nine days when the Green Bay Packers coach chose former Cleveland Browns coach Mike Pettine to succeed Dom Capers.

McCarthy chose Pettine over in-house candidates Darren Perry, Joe Whitt Jr. and Winston Moss.

Members of McCarthy’s staff were informed that Pettine was going to be the next defensive coordinator. ESPN reported that Pettine was in the process of working out a deal, but a source said that it was finalized that he had accepted the position.

Pettine, 51, was out of football in 2016 after compiling a 10-22 record in two seasons as coach of the Cleveland Browns and spent this past season as a defensive consultant with the Seattle Seahawks.

McCarthy had interest in Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, but it appears Fangio is going to stick with the Bears. He also asked for permission to speak with Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, but never got to interview him. Bradley agreed to return to the Chargers Tuesday night.

Thus, McCarthy landed the one guy no one expected him to hire.

I chatted with readers about the hire late last night:

Here’s the latest on Eliot Wolf:

I also chatted about the roster and various other Packers topics Tuesday afternoon, prior to the Pettine news:

The Packers ensured they did not violate the Rooney Rule when searching for a new GM:

Elsewhere, this is a very illuminating read on Mike Pettine:

Pettine runs a truly multiple defense:

New Packers GM Brian Gutekunst spoke with Peter King:

Sounds like the Packers may have found their quarterbacks coach:

Clay Matthews had a procedure done on his knee:

Mike Daniels will play in his first Pro Bowl, after Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald dropped out:

Davon House played through some serious pain late in the season:

A Hall of Fame voter makes the case for Jerry Kramer:

Score Sports looks at how the Packers' roster could change:

Football: Still very popular.