GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Mike McCarthy's answer was immediate and emphatic.
After watching his oft-criticized defense struggle to generate a consistent pass rush last season, the Green Bay Packers' head coach confessed last week at the annual NFL meetings that his team definitely missed veteran pass-rusher Julius Peppers, who walked in free agency after the Packers' front office decided to move on from him following three productive seasons.
The Packers chose not to re-sign Peppers or 2013 first-round pick Datone Jones last year, and while Jones had little impact in his four seasons in Green Bay, Peppers became one of McCarthy's favorite players.