Fired coach Mike McCarthy returns to speak to Packers

Fired shortly after Sunday's loss to the Arizona Cardinals, former Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy didn't get a chance to say goodbye to the team he coached for most of the past 13 seasons.

On Wednesday, he got his chance. Interim coach Joe Philbin allowed McCarthy back into Lambeau Field to speak to the team, and the players bid him farewell with a standing ovation.

"He held it together as much as you can," third-year defensive tackle Kenny Clark said on Thursday. "It was emotional. It was emotional for all of us. Mike came in, and we were surprised he was even coming in. Seeing him, gave him a round of applause and thanked him. He was emotional about it, we were all emotional about it."

Linebacker Clay Matthews spent all 10 NFL seasons with McCarthy.

"I was happy to see him," Matthews said. "Obviously, first thing's first, you understand that this is a business and not many people get that opportunity. For him to invest the past 13 years in this team, has given his heart and soul to us, to have that kind of closure, it was great of the organization.

"I know we really enjoyed it. I'm sure he did from a closure standpoint. Obviously, we gave him the respect he deserved and sending him off with some final words."

The Packers enter Sunday's home game against the Atlanta Falcons having lost five of the past six games to tumble to 4-7-1. Sunday's loss to the Cardinals, who were only 2-9 at the time, sealed McCarthy's fate.

Less than three hours after the game ended, the team announced McCarthy's firing.

Wednesday's return provided some closure.

"Mike came by the office, I think Tuesday we all saw him as a staff, which was great," Philbin said. "Then we talked, and he wanted an opportunity to speak with the team. I was 100 percent, fully supportive of that, and he did a fantastic job talking to the team.

"Not just about football and winning football games, but his passion. His passion for the game, his love for the players was clearly evident. I'm sure it was emotional for him and everybody in the room. It was awesome. I thought he did a great job."

The Packers reached the playoffs eight consecutive seasons spanning 2009 through 2016, a streak at the time matched only by the New England Patriots.

However, with quarterback Aaron Rodgers missing most of the 2017 season with a broken collarbone, the Packers finished 7-9. The return of Rodgers for this season failed to return the Packers to championship contention and, ultimately, cost McCarthy his job.

"It was great" to hear from McCarthy on Wednesday, receiver Randall Cobb said. "It was great that he had that opportunity. I think he's given a lot to this organization.

"Unfortunately, that's a part of the business, not only for players but for coaches, for everyone. Changes happen. This is a business, at the end of the day. They made a business decision."

Peppers, Miller, Davis among 32 NFL Man of Year finalists

Julius Peppers, Von Miller and Vernon Davis are among the 32 nominees announced Thursday for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

Unlike in the past, when three finalists were selected before a recipient was chosen, one player from every NFL team is a finalist. All will be recognized and participate in NFL functions during Super Bowl week. The Man of the Year will be revealed at NFL Honors, when The Associated Press' individual NFL awards are announced Feb. 2 in Atlanta.

The Man of the Year is honored for outstanding community service off the field as well as excellence on it. It was established in 1970 and renamed in 1999 for the Hall of Fame running back.

"The Man of the Year Award gives us the opportunity to acknowledge 32 exemplary players whose commitment to excellence extends on and off the field," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. "This year's nominees have used their platforms to transform communities across the country. We are proud of their work and celebrate their dedication and impact through this award."

A total of $500,000 will be donated in the name of the 2018 recipient, with $250,000 going to Character Playbook, the NFL and United Way's digital character education program. An additional donation of $250,000 will be made to the charity of his choice.

The other 31 finalists will receive a donation of $50,000 in their name to expand Character Playbook, and an additional donation of up to $50,000 to their charity of choice. All donations are courtesy of the NFL Foundation, United Way Worldwide, and Nationwide, the presenter of the Walter Payton Award.

"There's nothing like being able to make a difference amongst those who are seeking empowerment and those who yearn to be inspired," Davis said. "If I can encourage our youth to explore and do whatever it is they aspire to do, from painting to playing the flute, that fills my heart with joy and motivates me to do even more. Making a change one day at a time is what I live for."

Jets nominee Kelvin Beachum was awed to be connected with Payton.

"It's a tremendous honor," the offensive tackle said. "Just the name Walter Payton, he's the gold standard. What he did off the field and on the field, his excellence is bar none, top in history. So to be mentioned in the same name and the same breath as him, it's truly humbling."

The five current players who have won the award — Drew Brees, Thomas Davis, Larry Fitzgerald, Eli Manning and J.J. Watt — wear a Man of the Year patch on their jerseys. All 2018 finalists will wear a Man of the Year helmet decal beginning this week through the end of the season.

"Being nominated for Man of the Year is an accomplishment," Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. "Giving back and making an impact on people's lives in a real way is very important to me."

The finalists:

Arizona Cardinals: Antoine Bethea

Atlanta Falcons: Grady Jarrett

Baltimore Ravens: Brandon Carr

Buffalo Bills: Lorenzo Alexander

Carolina Panthers: Julius Peppers

Chicago Bears: Trey Burton

Cincinnati Bengals: Carlos Dunlap

Cleveland Browns: Christian Kirksey

Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott

Denver Broncos: Von Miller

Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford

Green Bay Packers: Kenny Clark

Houston Texans: Whitney Mercilus

Indianapolis Colts: Jabaal Sheard

Jacksonville Jaguars: Blake Bortles

Kansas City Chiefs: Dustin Colquitt

Los Angeles Chargers: Corey Liuget

Los Angeles Rams: Andrew Whitworth

Miami Dolphins: Kenny Stills

Minnesota Vikings: Kyle Rudolph

New England Patriots: Devin McCourty

New Orleans Saints: Mark Ingram

New York Giants: Michael Thomas

New York Jets: Kelvin Beachum

Oakland Raiders: Marshawn Lynch

Philadelphia Eagles: Chris Long

Pittsburgh Steelers: Cameron Heyward

San Francisco 49ers: Robbie Gould

Seattle Seahawks: K.J. Wright

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy

Tennessee Titans: Jurrell Casey

Washington Redskins: Vernon Davis

Foster's ex-girlfriend details abuse allegations on GMA

Reuben Foster's ex-girlfriend tells ABC's "Good Morning America" that he slapped her and pushed her during an incident in Tampa, Florida, that led to his arrest for domestic violence.

Elissa Ennis said in the interview televised Thursday that Foster abused her three times, most recently last month in Tampa. The 24-year-old Foster was charged with one count of first-degree misdemeanor domestic violence.

The San Francisco 49ers released Foster after the incident, and the Washington Redskins claimed the second-year linebacker off waivers. Foster was put on the NFL's Commissioner Exempt list, which means he cannot play or practice.

Ennis said when Washington signed Foster she was shocked and thought, "I can't believe somebody picked him up" so soon.

A Redskins spokesman declined comment and referred to the team's statement made after claiming Foster that acknowledged the severity of the allegations.

Foster changed agents last month. A message sent to his new representative was not immediately returned.

A voicemail left for Ennis' attorney, Adante Pointer, was not immediately returned. Pointer also took part in the "Good Morning America" interview.