GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Playing in the NFL has never been a prerequisite for coaching in it, but for a while it sure seemed like it around the Green Bay Packers.
Just five years ago, the Packers had 10 former NFL players on the coaching staff.
These days, a pro playing career no longer appears to be as important to coach Mike McCarthy.
The 13th incarnation of his coaching staff features only three former NFL players: James Campen (run-game coordinator/offensive line coach), Winston Moss (associate head coach/linebackers) and Jason Simmons (secondary).
McCarthy cut in half the number of ex-players following the departure of offensive coordinator Edgar Bennett (replaced by Joe Philbin), quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt (replaced by Frank Cignetti Jr.