by BOB McGINN, Staff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"I think part of it is we can't accept losing seasons," Mark Murphy said Tuesday. "We fully supported both Mike and Ted that this was a decision we needed to make for Football reasons."

Coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson got the go-ahead from Murphy before firing six assistant coaches. Another assistant, Mike Stock, decided to retire as special-teams coach on Friday one week after indicating his intentions to continue.

On Sunday, defensive coordinator Bob Sanders got the ax. By late Monday morning, four members of the defensive staff - line coaches Robert Nunn and Carl "Big Daddy" Hairston along with secondary coaches Kurt Schottenheimer and Lionel Washington - were released.

Strength coach Rock Gullickson was fired as well, leaving the Packers looking to fill three of their four coordinator positions.

"The way I viewed it, it's a pretty strong message that we want to win here," Murphy said. "That's the priority."

The Packers finished 6-10, missing the playoffs for the third time in four years under Thompson after qualifying 10 times in the 12 seasons before that.

After meeting with McCarthy, Murphy expressed no doubt that the coach had made thorough assessments.

"I was pleased because I think Mike really took his time, evaluated the season, evaluated his staff and made the changes he felt needed to be made," Murphy said. "Those are not easy decisions. I really give Mike and Ted credit."

Murphy said "almost all" of the six coaches were under contract for at least another year. Those contracts were guaranteed.

If a coach with a contract is hired by another team, the Packers still would be required to pay the difference if his new salary is less. The league has a formula in place ensuring that teams pay market value for coaches.

"You're right, there's exposure there," Murphy said. "But I think anytime you make any coaching change, whether it be a head coach or assistants, there's a cost to doing that. You weigh that.

"There's potential for offset as they get jobs. Hopefully, the coaches get jobs."

Murphy played safety for the Washington Redskins from 1977-'84, including the final four seasons under Joe Gibbs. According to Murphy, Gibbs didn't fire many assistants.

"There's a balance between continuity and making sure you have the right staff," he said. "To me, only the head coach knows that. That's where we have confidence in Mike. He's the one that felt these changes really needed to be made."

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