McCarthy's new deal bodes well for future

Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy officially signed off on a five-year contract today that had been rumored for several weeks and reportedly will pay him about $4 million per season.

That means McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson, who inked a new pact early in January, are scheduled to remain the Packers' dynamic duo on the football side of the operation through 2012.

McCarthy, in Honolulu coaching the NFC team in the Pro Bowl, was making about $2 million annually under the original three-year contract he signed before the 2006 campaign.

Both men deserved the extensions and raises after Thompson dug the Packers out of a salary cap mess upon taking over from Mike Sherman in 2005, while McCarthy and his staff have worked wonders with the youngest team in the NFL.

Green Bay rebounded for an 8-8 finish last year and were one of the league's surprise teams this past season, finishing 13-3 and claiming the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, where the Packers lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Giants, 23-20 in overtime despite a subpar performance in the championship showdown at frigid Lambeau Field.

McCarthy has shown the propensity for offensive flexibility, although his squad has been inconsistent at best in mastering the zone block running scheme. Defensively, he's handed the reins to Bob Sanders and the Packers have steadily made progress, although they need to improve a couple of notches to become one of the elite units. Their special teams also have gotten better.

“We have accomplished some of our goals over the past two seasons, but there remains much left to be done," McCarthy said in a statement. "I am excited by the opportunity to meet those challenges and someday return another Lombardi Trophy home to Green Bay.”

McCarthy and Vince Lombardi are the only two Green Bay coaches to lead the Packers as far as the NFL/NFC title contest in just their second season. McCarthy has earned accolades from his players for being tough but approachable.

Those traits will serve him well as expectations, inside and outside of 1265 Lombardi Ave., naturally will rise after their wonderful 2007 campaign. McCarthy is a guy who can deal with that burden.