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Jen, Gabe & Chewy
Jen, Gabe & Chewy
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ESPN reporter Jen Lada teams up with Packers Hall of Famer Mark Chmura and longtime ESPN Milwaukee host Gabe Neitzel as they provide unique and raw perspectives on local and national sports headlines.
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“Jonathan Gannon’s Biggest Challenge in Green Bay”
The Green Bay Packers officially introduced Jonathan Gannon as their new defensive coordinator — and in this hour of Jen, Gabe & Chewy, the conversation quickly shifts from who he is to what he has to fix immediately.
The show opens with a lighter moment — broadcasting from a partially flooded studio after a weekend building leak — before locking into a serious football discussion about leadership, discipline, and accountability, themes that have haunted the Packers defense for multiple seasons.
🏈 Coordinator vs. head coach: why the distinction matters
Chewy brings firsthand experience to the discussion, explaining why some coaches thrive as coordinators but struggle as head coaches — and why that may actually work in the Packers’ favor with Gannon.
The crew compares Gannon’s situation to coaches like Josh McDaniels and Ray Rhodes:
Elite coordinators
Poor head coaches
Still incredibly valuable in the right role
The takeaway:
Failure as a head coach doesn’t disqualify someone from being a great coordinator.
🧠 Why LaFleur moved fast — and didn’t wait for Jim Leonhard
The hour revisits the question many fans are still asking:
Why didn’t Matt LaFleur wait to talk to Jim Leonhard?
The hosts explain:
Gannon was already drawing interest from multiple teams
The Packers feared losing their top target
Gannon’s NFL coordinator experience mattered more than local familiarity
Leonhard’s availability and price may not have aligned
The consensus is blunt:
If Leonhard had been the top choice, the Packers would have waited.
🎤 That awkward viral video
The now-infamous clip of Gannon’s “shots, explosives, lasers” speech gets its moment — and yes, the crew acknowledges how uncomfortable it sounds.
But they caution against letting one awkward clip define an entire hire:
Cameras follow coaches constantly during introductions
Not every leader is charismatic
NFL players care more about results than vibe
As Gabe puts it:
“You don’t need him to be cool — you need him to be right.”
📊 Proof it worked before
The show dives into hard numbers from Gannon’s time in Philadelphia:
Top-10 scoring defense
Top-2 in total yards
No. 1 in passing yards allowed
A dramatic drop-off the year after he left
The implication is clear:
Gannon’s system mattered more than people want to admit.
🚨 The real issue: discipline
The most important part of the hour focuses on discipline and accountability.
The hosts argue that talent hasn’t been the Packers’ biggest problem — behavior has:
Personal fouls
Poor alignment
Missed assignments
Lack of late-game aggression
Chewy calls out examples like Keisean Nixon’s penalties and questions whether past coordinators were too conservative or too permissive.
The big question becomes:
Can Jonathan Gannon enforce discipline in a locker room that’s struggled with it?
🔄 Scheme flexibility matters
One of the strongest endorsements of Gannon comes from his willingness to adapt schemes to personnel.
The crew points out:
He didn’t run the same defense in Arizona as Philadelphia
He adjusted when pass rush talent wasn’t there
He leaned into zone coverage when man wasn’t viable
They compare this directly to Jeff Hafley’s evolution in Green Bay — abandoning heavy man concepts when the roster couldn’t support it.
The belief:
A flexible defensive mind gives the Packers a better chance to maximize stars like Micah Parsons, Xavier McKinney, and Edgerrin Cooper.
⚖️ The bottom line
Jonathan Gannon doesn’t need to win a press conference.
He doesn’t need to be charismatic.
He doesn’t need to be loved on YouTube.
He needs to:
Fix discipline
Improve communication
Be aggressive when it matters
And get the most out of elite talent
If he does that, the Packers defense changes overnight.
If he doesn’t, the same problems will keep resurfacing — no matter who’s calling plays.
🎧 A thoughtful, honest, and occasionally hilarious breakdown of the Packer ...
📝 FULL EPISODE DESCRIPTION (LONG-FORM, SEO OPTIMIZED)
The Green Bay Packers officially have their new defensive coordinator — and in this hour of Jen, Gabe & Chewy, the crew breaks down why Matt LaFleur moved quickly to hire Jonathan Gannon, what he saw in him, and why the organization chose not to wait for Jim Leonhard.
The hour opens with audio from Rob Demovsky’s SportsCenter appearance, where he explains the core reasons LaFleur prioritized Gannon: prior head-coaching experience, a proven ability to generate pressure, and a defensive background that starts in the secondary and works forward. According to sources, LaFleur feared Gannon would be off the market quickly, with both Jim and John Harbaugh interested in talking to him about their own openings.
🏈 Why Jonathan Gannon was the top choice
The hosts unpack why this wasn’t a fallback hire:
LaFleur had personally coached against Gannon and found him difficult to scheme against
Gannon’s Eagles defense recorded 70 sacks in 2022, far more than any other team
LaFleur values coordinators who’ve already sat in the head-coach chair
The Packers believe his scheme can maximize stars like Micah Parsons and Xavier McKinney
The takeaway: if Jim Leonhard had truly been the top choice, the Packers would have waited. The fact they didn’t strongly suggests Gannon was always No. 1.
🎤 The viral “fire in your gut” clip
The show reacts to a now-viral audio clip of Gannon delivering a motivational speech — one that immediately divided listeners.
Chewy and Gabe don’t sugarcoat it:
The delivery is awkward
The phrasing sounds forced
NFL players don’t respond to college-style rah-rah speeches
But the group also urges caution, reminding listeners that one clip doesn’t define a coach. Gannon has spent nearly his entire career in the NFL and is known for leaning heavily on player leadership, not micromanagement.
As one point lands clearly:
You don’t need him to be cool — you need him to put players in position to succeed.
📊 The fourth-quarter concern
A stat cited from Mina Kimes’ podcast sparks one of the hour’s most serious debates:
Gannon’s Cardinals defenses ranked top-tier in EPA through three quarters
Dropped to 27th in the fourth quarter
The crew immediately draws parallels to Green Bay’s recent defensive struggles late in games. Is this coincidence? Personnel? Or a pattern the Packers must address immediately?
The concern doesn’t kill optimism — but it adds urgency.
🎙️ Rob Demovsky joins live
Rob joins the show to provide deeper clarity:
Why Gannon’s Arizona record doesn’t tell the full story
Why LaFleur values someone who has already failed as a head coach
How defensive success in Philadelphia wasn’t only about talent
Why LaFleur’s urgency mattered more than local sentiment around Leonhard
Rob also addresses staff movement:
Adam Stenavich’s interviews
Whether Jeff Hafley will take Packers assistants to Miami
LaFleur’s tendency to wait too long before making staff changes
⚖️ The bottom line
This hire is a calculated risk, not a panic move.
The Packers:
Identified their top target
Acted quickly
Accepted awkward optics
Chose experience over comfort
Now the pressure shifts to Jonathan Gannon to:
Connect with veteran leaders
Fix late-game breakdowns
Turn defensive talent into consistent results
If it works, the Packers look decisive and modern.
If it fails, the questions will come fast — and loudly.
🎧 A thorough, honest breakdown of Green Bay’s newest coaching hire, the reasoning behind it, and why this decision could define the Packers’ defense for years — only on Jen, Gabe & Chewy.
Packers, Green Bay Packers, Jonathan Gannon, Packers defensive coordinator, Matt LaFleur, Jim Leonhard, Rob Demovsky, Packers coaching hire, Packers defense, Micah Parsons, Packers offseason, NFL coaching moves, ESPN Milwaukee, Jen Gabe and Chewy
The Green Bay Packers have long carried a reputation they hate — being cheap when it comes to assistant coaches — and in this hour of Jen, Gabe & Chewy, the crew digs into whether that label is still fair, outdated, or finally being corrected.
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With new reporting from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and fresh details about coordinator salaries, the conversation turns into a forensic breakdown of how the Packers got here — and why the Joe Barry era may have forced a philosophical reset inside the organization.
🏈 The “cheap Packers” narrative
The hour opens by reacting to a detailed piece from Pete Doherty that reveals concrete numbers behind Packers coaching salaries — numbers that are rarely public in the NFL. The biggest revelation:
Jeff Hafley was making roughly $4 million per year as defensive coordinator
The Packers also paid a $2 million buyout to pry him away from Boston College
Rich Bisaccia remains one of the highest-paid special teams coordinators in the league
Those facts seem to contradict the long-held belief that Green Bay pinches pennies everywhere except the head coach spot.
🔄 Did Joe Barry expose the problem?
The crew connects the dots back to the winter of 2021, when the Packers’ defensive coordinator search ended with Joe Barry — a hire that, in hindsight, felt desperate.
The theory debated throughout the hour:
The Packers may have low-balled candidates in 2021
More qualified options passed
Joe Barry accepted because he had few alternatives
The defense suffered as a result
From there, the argument follows that Matt LaFleur and team leadership may have gone to the front office and said, “We can’t keep doing this.”
What followed:
A major spend on Rich Bisaccia
A major spend (and buyout) on Jeff Hafley
A noticeable shift toward paying market rates for coordinators
💰 There’s no reason to be cheap
One of the most pointed parts of the hour centers on money — or rather, the lack of a real excuse.
The Packers reportedly have nearly $580 million in reserve, a number that keeps growing annually. While they don’t have a billionaire owner or private equity cash infusion like other teams, they also don’t need one.
The hosts ask the obvious question:
If you have the money, why risk losing quality coaches over a few million dollars?
🧠 Reputation matters in hiring
The discussion shifts to reputation — how organizations are viewed inside coaching circles.
If Green Bay had developed a reputation for low-balling assistants:
Top candidates would hesitate
Agents would steer clients elsewhere
The team would end up choosing from the bottom of the pool
The crew argues that the Packers now appear motivated to correct the record, making it clear they will pay “Green Bay Packers money” for the right coordinator — especially in a year where the defensive coordinator market is crowded and competitive.
🎙️ Jason Wilde joins
Later in the hour, Jason Wilde joins to add context from his reporting and experience around the league. He confirms that both things can be true at once:
The Packers were cheap in certain eras
They appear to have materially changed in recent years
Wilde also notes how secretive coaching salaries are in the NFL, suggesting that when exact numbers leak, they almost always come from teams trying to shape a narrative.
That raises another key question:
Are the Packers intentionally letting it be known now that they pay — because they don’t want past mistakes repeated?
⚖️ What matters now
The hour closes by bringing the conversation back to the present:
The Packers are in a hyper-competitive DC market
Multiple teams are hunting for top coordinators
Reputations, money, and timing all matter
The Joe Barry era may be over, but the lesson remains clear:
If you don’t pay for quality, you pay for mistakes.
🎧 A detailed, insider-level discussion on reputation, money, and why the Packers’ coaching philosophy appears to be evolving — only on Jen, Gabe & Chewy.
...
The NBA trade deadline is approaching — and the Milwaukee Bucks are officially under a microscope.
In this hour of Jen, Gabe & Chewy, the crew dives deep into the growing belief around the league that the Giannis Antetokounmpo era in Milwaukee may be nearing its most critical moment yet. With the Bucks sitting outside even the Play-In picture and Giannis growing increasingly vocal about effort, ball movement, and accountability, the tension feels impossible to ignore.
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🏀 Giannis’ frustration is no longer subtle
The show opens by reacting to Giannis’ postgame comments — calling out teammates for not passing the ball, not playing hard, and not playing selfless basketball. While his critiques are accurate, the crew notes a major shift:
this isn’t how Giannis usually communicates.
The frustration feels deeper. More demonstrative. More fed up.
Jen and Gabe agree this is the first time in Giannis’ prime where:
The team looks broken
Solutions aren’t obvious
And he doesn’t seem to know what else to try
As Gabe puts it, this feels less like anger — and more like exhaustion.
⏰ “Hour by hour” trade pressure
National voices are circling. Stephen A. Smith is yelling for the Bucks to “wake the hell up and trade him.” Brian Windhorst says the league is monitoring Milwaukee hour by hour.
The crew debates whether Giannis actually wants out — or whether he’s simply trapped between loyalty and reality. Giannis doesn’t want to hurt the fan base, the city, or his legacy. But the product on the floor is becoming impossible to defend.
Jen makes the case that if Giannis publicly asked out, Milwaukee fans would understand. He delivered a championship, built the Deer District, and elevated the franchise permanently.
🔄 Why a deadline trade still feels unlikely
Despite the noise, the group explains why a Giannis trade before the deadline remains unlikely:
His salary is extremely difficult to move midseason under the new CBA
Fewer teams have cap flexibility right now
Draft pick rules limit how many first-rounders can be included
The best return would come in the offseason
The smarter play, they argue, is waiting until Giannis can reject the supermax in October — opening the floodgates to the entire league.
📦 What would “fair value” even look like?
The discussion turns to trade math:
Rudy Gobert cost four first-round picks
Donovan Mitchell, Damian Lillard, and others reset the market
Giannis should theoretically demand six or seven firsts
But reality intervenes.
The NBA draft is a lottery beyond the top five picks. Picks alone don’t rebuild franchises — young players do. Any Giannis deal would need:
Multiple blue-chip prospects
Pick swaps
Creative cap maneuvering
And even then, the Bucks might still struggle to become relevant quickly.
🏟️ Milwaukee isn’t going anywhere
One persistent fear is addressed head-on: relocation.
The crew is unequivocal:
The Bucks are locked into Milwaukee
Fiserv Forum is new and state-of-the-art
A new entertainment district is being built next door
This isn’t a Seattle situation. It’s not even close.
What will be ugly, however, is life after Giannis — no matter how it happens.
🧠 Adversity can make — or break — a team
A recurring theme of the hour:
Adversity creates great teams… and destroys bad ones.
The Bucks are now staring down the most adversity Giannis has ever faced as “the guy.” If they rally and make the playoffs from 11th, it becomes one of the most impressive turnarounds in franchise history. If they don’t, the Bucks own their draft pick in what is being called one of the most top-heavy NBA drafts ever.
Either way, something big is coming.
⚖️ The uncomfortable truth
The hour closes with a hard reality:
Giannis hasn’t asked out
The Bucks haven’t said they’re trading him
But the situation is no longer stable
Every game, every comment, every loss pushes the organization closer to a defining decision.
🎧 A tense, honest, and wide-ranging conversa ...
wo things can be true at the same time — and that duality defines this entire episode of Jen, Gabe & Chewy.
The Milwaukee Brewers officially traded Freddie Peralta and Tobias Myers to the New York Mets, and the reaction from the crew (and the fan base) lives in a very uncomfortable middle ground:
you can trust the front office… and still hate that this is the reality.
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⚾ The duality of being a Brewers fan
Jen opens the show by laying out the tension every Brewers fan feels:
The front office has consistently made smart, disciplined moves
The Brewers remain competitive year after year
And yet, the cycle never changes
The Brewers develop elite talent, nurture it, and then — when free agency looms — send it off to its “forever home.”
It’s the “foster home vs. forever home” analogy all over again.
🏈 Why this trade still stings
Freddie Peralta wasn’t just another arm:
He was the ace
He made every start
He posted a sub-3 ERA
He struck out 200+ hitters
He stabilized the rotation in a sport built on attrition
Jen and Gabe argue that, yes, the Brewers may eventually benefit — but they are undeniably worse right now because of this move.
That’s the part fans are allowed to be upset about.
🌱 How many shortstops do you need?
One of the loudest questions of the hour:
How many Top-100 shortstops does one organization need?
With Jet Williams joining an already crowded system that includes:
Bryce Turang
Jesus Made
Multiple other infield prospects
…the crew questions fit, not talent.
Someone eventually has to hit the ball out of the ballpark, and speed-and-defense-only prospects don’t solve that.
📉 Why not just keep Freddie?
A central argument:
The Brewers could have:
Kept Peralta for 2026
Let him walk like Willy Adames
Collected a Top-40 compensatory pick
Maintained rotation stability for one more run
Instead, they chose certainty over hope — converting a known ace into future assets in an uncertain MLB landscape that may not even play baseball in 2027.
💰 The real frustration: ownership, not the front office
The show is clear about where frustration should be directed:
Matt Arnold and the baseball ops group are good at their jobs
Pat Murphy is a strong manager
The system works — within constraints
But the constraints are the problem.
Mark Attanasio’s Brewers are profitable, valuable, and supported by fans who:
Funded a stadium
Show up consistently
Buy merchandise
Watch every game
And yet, payroll continues to trend downward, not upward.
As Chewy puts it:
“I’m not going to do the bidding of a billionaire.”
📞 Fans weigh in
The Carbless Talk & Text Line fills with:
Comparisons to Corbin Burnes and Josh Hader
Frustration that Tobias Myers felt like a “throw-in”
Fear that Jacob Misiorowski is just the next pitcher to be traded
Exhaustion with always building for later
One sentiment comes through loud and clear:
Fans aren’t asking for reckless spending — they’re asking for seriousness.
⚖️ The bottom line
The Brewers will likely:
Compete for the division
Be in the playoff mix
Continue developing talent well
But until the organization shows a willingness to push chips in, this cycle will repeat — and fans will continue living in that uncomfortable duality.
You can trust the process.
You can hate the structure.
And you can still love the team.
🎧 A raw, honest, very Wisconsin conversation about baseball economics, loyalty, and why “next year” doesn’t feel good enough anymore — only on Jen, Gabe & Chewy.
Brewers, Milwaukee Brewers, Freddie Peralta trade, Brewers Mets trade, Brewers pitching, Brewers prospects, Brewers farm system, Brewers ownership, Mark Attanasio, Brewers frustration, MLB small market teams, Brewers rebuild, Wisconsin sports, ESPN Milwaukee, Jen Gabe and Chewy
The Milwaukee Brewers did it again — and the reaction was immediate.
In this hour of Jen, Gabe & Chewy, the crew reacts to the Brewers trading Freddie Peralta to the New York Mets, along with Tobias Myers, and dives into the now-familiar frustration surrounding how Milwaukee operates as a franchise.
012226 JGC Hour 2
Peralta, a proven top-of-the-rotation arm making just $8 million in his final year, had interest from multiple teams. The Brewers chose to “strike while the iron was hot,” sending him away before free agency — and once again asking fans to buy into the long-term plan.
⚾ Why this trade hits differently
Freddie Peralta wasn’t just another pitcher. He was:
A stabilizing force at the top of the rotation
A fan favorite and emotional leader
A pitcher you could trust every fifth day over 162 games
Jen and Gabe explain why losing Peralta immediately creates more questions than answers:
Can Brandon Woodruff stay healthy all season?
Is Mizorowski ready to be a true ace — or just “the next guy”?
Who fills out the back of the rotation now?
What once looked like a strength suddenly feels fragile.
💰 “You already had the ace”
One of the central arguments of the hour:
If the Brewers’ farm system was already ranked Top 6 in baseball, why rush to trade Peralta now?
Gabe argues the Brewers could have:
Kept Peralta for the season
Let him walk like Willy Adames
Collected a high compensatory pick
Still maintained a deep farm system
Instead, they chose to convert a known commodity into more prospects — players who, as Drew Olson famously said, “haven’t done anything yet.”
🌱 Prospects as currency — but for what?
The Brewers receive two Top-100 prospects and a pitcher projected as a mid-rotation arm. On paper, it’s not a disaster. But the crew asks the uncomfortable question:
When do these prospects actually turn into championships?
The farm system is loaded. The young major leaguers are already here. And yet payroll continues to go down, not up.
Chewy puts it bluntly:
“At some point, you have to stop being Major League Baseball’s foster home.”
🏟️ Fans show up — ownership doesn’t
One of the most heated segments focuses on Mark Attanasio and Brewers ownership.
Callers remind everyone:
Fans helped fund a stadium to keep the team in Milwaukee
Attendance has rebounded strongly post-pandemic
Franchise value has exploded into the billions
And yet, ownership continues to sell the idea that:
“They can’t afford to spend more.”
Chewy refuses to do the “bidding of a billionaire,” pointing out that teams like San Diego somehow spend aggressively despite being labeled “small market.”
📞 Passionate fan reaction
The Carbless Talk & Text Line lights up with frustration:
Comparisons to the Corbin Burnes and Josh Hader trades
Anger about throwing in Tobias Myers “for free”
Fear that Mizorowski will simply become the next pitcher traded away
A sense that the Brewers are always competitive — but never all-in
One caller sums it up perfectly:
“We’re not asking for reckless spending. We’re asking for seriousness.”
⚖️ Trust the front office… but still be mad
The hour ends with a conflicted but honest conclusion:
The Brewers’ front office is good at what it does
Pat Murphy and Matt Arnold are respected
The team will likely be competitive again
But fans are allowed to be frustrated.
Because while the Packers are judged on championships, the Brewers are graded on division titles and vibes — and that standard gap is wearing thin.
If the Brewers truly believe in their system, the question remains:
Why not push just a little harder when you already have the pieces?
🎧 A passionate, honest, and very Wisconsin debate about baseball economics, loyalty, and whether “next year” has finally lost its appeal — only on Jen, Gabe & Chewy.
Brewers, Milwaukee Brewers, Freddie Peralta trade, Brewers Mets trade, Brewers pitching, Brewers prospects, Brewers farm system, Brewers ownership, Mark Attanasio, Brewers frustrat ...
The NFL’s move to an 18-game regular season feels inevitable — and in this episode of Jen, Gabe & Chewy, the crew explains why players may not be able to stop it, even if they desperately want to.
The conversation starts with growing signals from ownership circles that an expanded season is no longer a debate, but a matter of timing. Jen, Gabe & Chewy break down how league power dynamics, TV money, and a fractured players’ union have all lined up in the owners’ favor — and why history suggests this outcome was always coming.
🏈 Why the 18-game season is inevitable
The crew lays out the uncomfortable truth:
NFL owners always get what they want
The NFLPA lacks leverage, unity, and trust
Fans say they don’t want more games — but always watch anyway
They explain how the league will publicly frame the change around player safety, while privately prioritizing billions in additional TV revenue and inventory.
🧠 What players should be fighting for
Rather than arguing over bye weeks or minor concessions, the show pivots to what actually matters:
Lifetime health care
Long-term medical support for non-stars
Protection for the majority of players who won’t earn generational money
Chewy shares firsthand perspective from his playing days, explaining why most NFL players don’t trust their union, how short careers really are, and why the league’s current injury trends make expanded seasons even more dangerous.
📉 Are injuries getting worse?
The episode connects several dots:
Shorter, less physical training camps
Bodies being less prepared for a longer grind
More soft-tissue injuries during the season
Fewer opportunities to build durability
The crew debates whether attempts to “protect players” have actually made the game more dangerous once the season starts.
🏈 College football isn’t immune
The discussion widens to college football, where playoff expansion and longer seasons raise similar concerns:
How many games is too many for 18–22 year olds?
Are we accelerating long-term damage earlier than ever?
Is football expanding faster than it can safely support?
📺 Fans say they’re done — but never are
One of the most honest moments of the episode:
Fans complain loudly about more games…
then still watch every snap.
From meaningless late-season games to injury-filled matchups, the crew admits the truth: habit, fantasy football, gambling, and routine keep people locked in, even when they say they want less.
❄️ Exploding trees & Wisconsin winter chaos
In classic Jen, Gabe & Chewy fashion, the episode takes a sharp turn into real-life chaos:
Exploding trees caused by extreme cold
Wind chills pushing 40 below
Furnaces dying at the worst possible moment
Why everything breaks only during extreme weather
It’s a reminder that sometimes the most relatable conversations are the ones far outside football.
⚖️ The bottom line
The episode closes with a sobering reality:
Owners are organized
Players are fragmented
Fans are addicted
And football will keep expanding until something truly breaks
The question isn’t if the NFL adds an 18th game.
It’s when — and what players will lose to get there.
🎧 Thoughtful, honest, and wide-ranging NFL conversation — only on Jen, Gabe & Chewy.
The Green Bay Packers are entering a new chapter — and there are real questions about what comes next. 🧀👀
With Jeff Hafley no longer in Green Bay, Packers fans are wondering whether the defense can hold up without him — and whether his departure signals something deeper about the culture inside the organization.
Join us LIVE as we break down what Hafley meant to the Packers, how much his voice and approach mattered in the locker room, and whether Green Bay is prepared to replace not just a coordinator — but a mindset.
Was Hafley the glue holding the defense together?
Will the Packers struggle without his influence?
And is this the start of a broader culture change under Matt LaFleur and the front office?
We’re digging into scheme, leadership, accountability, and identity — with real-time fan reactions and honest debate.
We’ll cover:
🔥 Jeff Hafley’s impact on the Packers defense
🏈 How Green Bay replaces his leadership and scheme
💥 Will the defense regress without him?
🧠 What a “culture change” really means in Green Bay
📉 How this affects the Packers’ short- and long-term outlook
💬 Live fan reactions, concerns, and bold takes
Be part of the conversation! 💬
Drop your thoughts in the live chat —
➡️ Will the Packers struggle without Jeff Hafley?
➡️ Was his impact bigger than fans realized?
➡️ Do the Packers need a culture change — or continuity?
➡️ What should Green Bay prioritize next on defense?
Your best takes may be featured LIVE on-air! 💥
#Packers #JeffHafley #GreenBayPackers #PackersNation #NFL2025 #Defense #CoachingChanges #CultureChange #SportsTalk #LiveReaction #ESPNWisconsin #FootballTalk #NFLShow #PackersFans
Brewers fans have officially hit a breaking point.
In this hour of Jen, Gabe & Chewy, the crew reacts to swirling rumors that the Milwaukee Brewers could trade Freddie Peralta, possibly to the Los Angeles Dodgers — and the response is immediate, emotional, and blunt:
out of principle, you can’t do it.
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Jen opens the discussion by laying out the reality: Peralta has one year left at $8 million, a number that absolutely should not cripple a franchise. Even if he walks in free agency, the Brewers would receive a valuable compensatory pick, just like they did with Willy Adames. With one of the best farm systems in baseball already, the question becomes unavoidable:
How many more prospects do you need before you actually try to win?
⚾ Why Freddie Peralta matters right now
The crew emphasizes that Peralta isn’t just another asset — he’s a reliable, every-fifth-day starter who helps you survive a 162-game season. With Brandon Woodruff’s health uncertain and young arms like Miz struggling with consistency, Peralta represents stability the Brewers can’t afford to lose.
They revisit how excited fans were about the Brewers’ pitching entering last postseason — and how quickly that optimism vanished once injuries and inconsistency hit.
💰 The Dodgers problem
The discussion turns fiery when the Dodgers enter the picture:
A team that overpays without consequence
A franchise operating as “illogical actors” in the market
A payroll model Milwaukee simply cannot replicate
Jen argues that trading Peralta to Los Angeles would feel like a direct kick to the fan base, reinforcing the idea that small-market teams exist only to feed the giants.
Chewy counters with the only acceptable scenario:
If you’re trading him, you make them grossly overpay.
Anything less is unacceptable.
🌽 Prospects vs. real players
Josh DiMaggio pushes the conversation into uncomfortable territory:
Year after year, the Brewers “build for the future”
The future never quite arrives
Salary goes down, not up
Assets pile up without ever turning into championships
The analogy lands hard:
The Brewers have plenty of corn in the field — but not enough currency to actually buy what they need.
Fans don’t want more names in the farm system.
They want real hitters, real bats, and real attempts to win now.
🔄 Win now or keep punting?
The crew debates whether the Brewers have ever truly gone “all in.” Even last season, payroll dropped year over year — hardly the sign of a franchise pushing its chips to the middle.
They acknowledge the system isn’t fair, but that doesn’t excuse:
Constantly kicking the can down the road
Trading proven players for maybe-helpful prospects
Asking fans to wait for 2027, 2028… or later
As Jen puts it:
If you trade Freddie Peralta for prospects who might help in 2028, you’re asking fans to believe in a future that may never come.
⚖️ The bottom line
Unless the Brewers receive:
A power bat they can plug into the middle of the lineup right now, or
A return so massive it forces a future blockbuster trade
…then trading Freddie Peralta makes no sense.
The farm is full.
The roster is young.
The fans are tired.
🎧 A raw, passionate Brewers debate about money, fairness, and whether “next year” has finally worn out its welcome — only on Jen, Gabe & Chewy.
Brewers, Milwaukee Brewers, Freddie Peralta trade, Brewers Dodgers, Brewers rumors, Brewers prospects, MLB payroll disparity, Brewers farm system, Dodgers spending, Brewers frustration, Wisconsin sports, ESPN Milwaukee, Jen Gabe and Chewy
The news finally dropped — Matt LaFleur is staying in Green Bay — and Jen, Gabe & Chewy open the show by asking the simplest, most revealing question possible:
Are you happy about it?
From the opening segment, it’s clear this fan base is anything but unified. Some fans welcome stability and continuity after years of quarterback and roster turnover. Others see the extension as rewarding disappointment, especially after a season that ended with a five-game losing streak and a brutal loss to the Bears.
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🏈 Why this extension feels different
The crew breaks down why the reaction has been so strong:
No years or money officially announced
Reports suggesting this is a real commitment, not a “prove-it” deal
Extensions also expected for Brian Gutekunst and Russ Ball
The Packers possibly choosing not to formally announce the details
Chewy immediately draws a line in the sand:
Anything over three years is the Packers losing the negotiation.
The hosts debate whether four or five years at roughly $15 million per season is simply the going rate — or an unnecessary gamble.
🔄 Stability vs accountability
Jen argues that while she disagreed with bringing LaFleur back, she prefers a full commitment over a half-measure extension that would place him immediately on the hot seat. Lame-duck coaches rarely succeed, and punting on the decision would have been worse.
Chewy pushes back hard:
The honeymoon is over
The team choked away multiple games
Five straight losses to end the season cannot be ignored
Another reset shouldn’t automatically be granted
The group debates whether this extension actually buys LaFleur patience — or simply guarantees money while expectations stay sky-high.
📞 Fans flood the phone lines
The Carbless Talk & Text Line lights up with strong opinions:
Some fans call LaFleur “good but not great”
Others argue he’s capped as a 10-win, first-round-exit coach
Several compare him unfavorably to Holmgren, Reid, Lombardi, and Madden
One caller points out John Madden is the only coach in NFL history to win a Super Bowl this deep into a tenure for the first time
The historical argument lands hard:
If it hasn’t happened by Year 7, does history say it ever will?
🧠 Underachieved or just disappointing?
The crew tries to define what this season actually was:
Not a failure
Not a success
But undeniably underachievement, especially given the leads blown late
They agree injuries explain some outcomes — but not a five-game losing streak to close the year.
💰 Timing forced the Packers’ hand
One of the most important points of the hour:
The Packers didn’t want to make this decision now — but the contract clock forced them to.
With LaFleur entering the final years of his deal, Green Bay had two options:
Commit fully and pay market rate
Risk a lame-duck season and organizational chaos
They chose commitment — and now they’ll be judged by it.
⚖️ The bottom line
The hour ends with a reluctant consensus:
The Packers made a decision
It wasn’t a half-measure
Now they own the consequences
If LaFleur delivers, the extension will look smart.
If he doesn’t, fans won’t forget how loudly this warning period played out.
🎧 A raw, emotional, and deeply revealing look at Packers fandom, expectations, and what stability really means — only on Jen, Gabe & Chewy.
Packers, Green Bay Packers, Matt LaFleur extension, Packers coaching future, Packers fans reaction, Packers underachievement, Brian Gutekunst, Russ Ball, Packers offseason, Packers stability vs accountability, ESPN Milwaukee, Jen Gabe and Chewy
Gabe Neitzel, Mark Chmura, and Josh DiMaggio continue to discuss the multiyear commitment made by the Green Bay Packers to Head Coach Matt LaFleur. Can LaFleur actually take the Packers to the promise land and win in a Super Bowl with a renewed sense of security? ESPN's Rob Demovsky joins to discuss the timeline of how LaFleur and the Packers agreed to an extension, and what comes next. Also, breaking news of the Buffalo Bills firing Sean McDermott.
Jason Wilde joins Jen, Gabe & Chewy to break down why Matt LaFleur’s contract situation continues to drag on and what that silence may reveal about the Packers’ true level of commitment. The conversation explores extension leverage, lame-duck seasons, internal options if talks fall apart, and why coaching uncertainty can quietly weigh on a locker room. Plus, where LaFleur fits in today’s coaching market and why Green Bay may soon have to decide if he’s truly “their guy.”
Hour 1 of Jen, Gabe & Chewy opens with an in-depth conversation with Good Karma Brands President Craig Karmazin, breaking down the growing uncertainty surrounding Matt LaFleur’s contract situation and what the lack of an extension could signal about the Packers’ long-term direction. The crew debates whether Green Bay is truly committed to LaFleur, the risks of negotiating from a “hedge your bets” position, and why a lame-duck season may be a dangerous path for the organization. The discussion also turns to Brian Gutekunst, questioning whether the GM has avoided the same level of accountability despite roster concerns and recent struggles.
The hour wraps with a candid look at the Milwaukee Bucks as Giannis Antetokounmpo responds to being booed at Fiserv Forum. Craig provides firsthand insight into the team’s effort issues, mounting frustration, and whether this season is drifting toward a breaking point. Is Giannis motivating his team—or is the pressure finally boiling over? A wide-ranging, honest conversation on leadership, expectations, and pressure in Wisconsin sports.
Hour 2 of Jen, Gabe & Chewy turns into a deep dive on the growing uncertainty surrounding Matt LaFleur’s future in Green Bay after Adam Schefter reports ongoing but unfinished contract talks. The crew debates contract length, leverage, and whether a “prove-it” season makes sense, while also questioning if indecision from the Packers’ leadership sends the wrong message to the locker room. Is a lame duck year a viable option—or a recipe for disaster?
The conversation expands beyond LaFleur as the spotlight shifts to Brian Gutekunst and whether the general manager has avoided the same level of scrutiny. From roster depth issues and draft misses to free-agent hits and misses, the group examines how much blame should be shared at the top. Along the way, the show tackles player buy-in, accountability, development credit for Jordan Love, and whether recent late-season losses have fundamentally changed how the Packers view their head coach.
The longer this drags on, the stranger it feels.
In this hour of Jen, Gabe & Chewy, the focus stays squarely on the Matt LaFleur contract standoff — and why something that should be simple has turned into a tense, uncomfortable negotiation.
The show opens by reacting to the John Harbaugh domino falling, with Harbaugh heading to the Giants after clearly signaling interest in Green Bay if the job ever opened. The takeaway is blunt: if Harbaugh was willing to wait, he likely heard the same thing everyone else has — the Packers are planning to keep LaFleur, even if they aren’t fully convinced.
From there, the conversation zeroes in on the core issue:
🏈 It’s not “if” — it’s “how much”
The crew agrees the disagreement almost certainly comes down to years, not desire:
LaFleur wants five years of security
The Packers appear more comfortable with three
Neither side wants to eat massive money if next season goes sideways
Chewy puts it plainly:
If you give him five years and fire him after next season, you’re eating tens of millions — and the Packers hate doing that.
🔥 The hot seat doesn’t disappear with an extension
One of the most important points of the hour:
Even with an extension, LaFleur’s seat may still be blazing hot.
The crew debates whether:
A five-year deal actually buys patience
Or just guarantees money while expectations stay sky-high
With no first-round pick, major injuries lingering, and a tougher roster outlook next season, LaFleur’s job might actually get harder, not easier.
🧠 The lame-duck contradiction
Ed Policy publicly said he doesn’t believe in lame-duck coaches — but the hosts question whether that stance backed the organization into a corner.
They debate:
Letting LaFleur coach out the final year
Why assistants wouldn’t want to join a staff with uncertainty
How half-measures rarely work in the NFL
The conclusion:
If you don’t believe in the coach enough to commit long-term, you probably shouldn’t extend him at all.
🎙️ Jason Wilde joins later in the hour
Wilde adds crucial context from his reporting:
Talks are “productive” but still unresolved
Loyalty may be one of LaFleur’s biggest flaws
The Packers’ reputation for being cheap with assistants matters more than fans realize
Wilde also floats a fascinating idea:
If LaFleur truly wants trusted voices, why not bring in former head coaches as coordinators — people who can challenge him instead of reinforcing comfort?
⚖️ The uncomfortable truth
The hour ends on a sobering note:
The Packers appear to be trying to thread the needle — keep LaFleur, limit risk, avoid public backlash, and preserve leverage.
History suggests that approach rarely works.
Either Matt LaFleur is your guy — or he isn’t.
Dragging it out only creates chaos beneath him.
🎧 A thoughtful, uneasy, and deeply revealing look at the Packers’ biggest offseason decision — only on Jen, Gabe & Chewy.
Packers, Green Bay Packers, Matt LaFleur, Matt LaFleur contract, Packers coaching future, Packers hot seat, Packers offseason, Brian Gutekunst, Ed Policy, Packers assistants, NFL coaching contracts, ESPN Milwaukee, Jen Gabe and Chewy
The NFC North just got mean again.
In this hour of Jen, Gabe & Chewy, the crew reacts to the moment that officially reignited the Packers–Bears rivalry: Ben Johnson’s postgame “bleep the Packers” behavior, including a dismissive handshake and trash talk that rubbed Green Bay fans — and players — the wrong way.
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Chewy doesn’t mince words, calling Johnson a “dweeb,” while also admitting the uncomfortable truth:
He’s also really, really good at his job.
That tension becomes the backbone of the hour.
🔥 Is this good for the game?
Jen argues the NFL is simply better when the Bears and Packers genuinely hate each other — not just in marketing slogans, but in real, visceral ways. The group debates whether we’ve actually ever seen both franchises be good at the same time, and whether this moment could finally change that.
They compare this rivalry flashpoint to:
Jim Harbaugh vs. Jim Schwartz
Aaron Rodgers’ “I own you” moment
David Bakhtiari’s middle finger
Old-school intimidation tactics that used to define rivalries
Hate, they agree, isn’t the problem — losing is.
🥊 Can the Packers punch back?
The key question of the hour:
Do the Packers actually have the horses to respond — or are they just talking?
The crew points out the uncomfortable reality:
Green Bay lost to Chicago
Lost in embarrassing fashion
Collapsed in the second half
Allowed Caleb Williams to run free
Couldn’t claim moral victories or trash-talk credibility
As one line lands hard:
You can’t pop off when you lost to that guy.
🧠 Matt LaFleur under the microscope
The conversation shifts to leadership and identity. If Ben Johnson is embracing the villain role, can Matt LaFleur ever be the type of coach who leads a team that punches back physically and emotionally?
The crew debates:
LaFleur’s “call my lawyer” vibe
Game-management issues that keep resurfacing
Whether this team lacks intimidation
If being “nice” has become a competitive disadvantage
🎩 Tip your cap… but hate him anyway
The hosts wrestle with a strange contradiction:
You can hate Ben Johnson’s behavior — but when you add “and he’s really good”, the insult loses its bite.
That realization fuels the frustration even more.
📊 Are Packers fans really enjoying this?
The hour closes with a bizarre stat from a new study ranking the Packers as the 3rd most enjoyable NFL team to root for.
The crew reacts with disbelief:
Five straight losses
A playoff embarrassment
Key injuries (Micah Parsons, Tucker Kraft)
Half the fan base wanting the coach fired
Is this actually enjoyable — or are fans just nostalgic for better days?
They break down why Packers fandom always ranks high:
National fan base
Historic success
Lambeau Field as a destination
Ticket demand skewing perception
But Jen asks the real question:
Are fans enjoying this right now — or just remembering when they used to?
🎧 Rivalry heat, uncomfortable truths, and the realization that hate is only fun when you can back it up — all on Jen, Gabe & Chewy.
Packers, Green Bay Packers, Bears Packers rivalry, Ben Johnson, Matt LaFleur, NFC North, Packers Bears, rivalry handshake, Packers embarrassment, Caleb Williams, Packers culture, Packers toughness, NFL rivalries, ESPN Milwaukee, Jen Gabe and Chewy
Do the Packers have a soft culture problem?
In this hour of Jen, Gabe & Chewy, the crew questions whether Matt LaFleur’s leadership style and standards are strong enough for a team that keeps getting pushed around in big moments. They revisit the now-infamous clip of Jordan Love getting his face shoved into the turf with almost no reaction from his offensive line, and ask if that’s on the players, the coach, or both.
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Chewy compares LaFleur’s approach to Mike Holmgren’s old-school edge, telling stories about being told to go after Deion Sanders on the first play of a game – and why intimidation and accountability are still part of winning football. The “Standards Over Feelings” slogan on the wall gets put under the microscope, with questions about:
Letting a non-captain run to midfield pregame with no consequences
Repeated personal fouls from Keyshawn Nixon
Visible loafing from certain defenders
Whether LaFleur truly enforces the standards he preaches
From there, the conversation pivots to Milwaukee and the Bucks, where things are just as tense.
The crew reacts to Bucks fans booing at Fiserv Forum during a blowout home loss to the Timberwolves (without Anthony Edwards or Rudy Gobert), and Giannis Antetokounmpo literally booing back at the crowd, complete with thumbs-down. They debate:
Is it fair for fans to boo when effort clearly isn’t there?
Did Giannis misread the boos as being aimed at him personally?
Should a franchise star ever boo his own fan base, even in frustration?
What it says when Giannis calls out effort, while Doc Rivers talks about “tired legs”
To close the hour, they dive into a sobering nugget from ESPN’s rookie class rankings:
The Packers’ 2025 rookie group graded 29th in the NFL on “snap index” and production.
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The crew breaks down:
Why Anthony Belton is basically the only consistent contributor so far
How little we really saw of Matthew Golden, Colin Oliver and others
Whether this is an indictment of Brian Gutekunst and the scouting approach
Why, with limited cap space and multiple roster holes, next year’s draft class has to hit
They also note the contrast with Chicago’s rookie class ranking 7th, and how the Bears made immediate use of their picks while Green Bay played a longer game.
It all adds up to one big question for Packers and Wisconsin sports fans:
Is this just a bad stretch, or is there a deeper problem with edge, standards and talent?
Packers, Green Bay Packers, Matt LaFleur, Packers culture, Packers toughness, Jordan Love hit, Keisean Nixon penalties, Mike Holmgren, Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis booing fans, Bucks booed, Doc Rivers, Packers rookie class, Brian Gutekunst, ESPN Milwaukee, Jen Gabe and Chewy
Do the Packers have a soft culture problem?
In this hour of Jen, Gabe & Chewy, the crew questions whether Matt LaFleur’s leadership style and standards are strong enough for a team that keeps getting pushed around in big moments. They revisit the now-infamous clip of Jordan Love getting his face shoved into the turf with almost no reaction from his offensive line, and ask if that’s on the players, the coach, or both.
011425 JGC Hour 2
Chewy compares LaFleur’s approach to Mike Holmgren’s old-school edge, telling stories about being told to go after Deion Sanders on the first play of a game – and why intimidation and accountability are still part of winning football. The “Standards Over Feelings” slogan on the wall gets put under the microscope, with questions about:
Letting a non-captain run to midfield pregame with no consequences
Repeated personal fouls from Keyshawn Nixon
Visible loafing from certain defenders
Whether LaFleur truly enforces the standards he preaches
From there, the conversation pivots to Milwaukee and the Bucks, where things are just as tense.
The crew reacts to Bucks fans booing at Fiserv Forum during a blowout home loss to the Timberwolves (without Anthony Edwards or Rudy Gobert), and Giannis Antetokounmpo literally booing back at the crowd, complete with thumbs-down. They debate:
Is it fair for fans to boo when effort clearly isn’t there?
Did Giannis misread the boos as being aimed at him personally?
Should a franchise star ever boo his own fan base, even in frustration?
What it says when Giannis calls out effort, while Doc Rivers talks about “tired legs”
To close the hour, they dive into a sobering nugget from ESPN’s rookie class rankings:
The Packers’ 2025 rookie group graded 29th in the NFL on “snap index” and production.
011425 JGC Hour 2
The crew breaks down:
Why Anthony Belton is basically the only consistent contributor so far
How little we really saw of Matthew Golden, Colin Oliver and others
Whether this is an indictment of Brian Gutekunst and the scouting approach
Why, with limited cap space and multiple roster holes, next year’s draft class has to hit
They also note the contrast with Chicago’s rookie class ranking 7th, and how the Bears made immediate use of their picks while Green Bay played a longer game.
It all adds up to one big question for Packers and Wisconsin sports fans:
Is this just a bad stretch, or is there a deeper problem with edge, standards and talent?
Packers, Green Bay Packers, Matt LaFleur, Packers culture, Packers toughness, Jordan Love hit, Keisean Nixon penalties, Mike Holmgren, Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis booing fans, Bucks booed, Doc Rivers, Packers rookie class, Brian Gutekunst, ESPN Milwaukee, Jen Gabe and Chewy
It’s Day Two of Matt LaFleur Watch, and Jen, Gabe & Chewy dig into the uncomfortable questions facing the Packers as contract extension talks loom.
With reporting indicating both sides want to get a deal done — but major gaps likely remain in years and money — the crew debates what LaFleur actually is as a head coach, and whether “good” is good enough in today’s NFL.
Key discussions include:
🏈 Is Matt LaFleur more than just a good coach?
The hosts agree LaFleur is an elite offensive designer and quarterback developer, but question whether he has proven he can:
Manage late-game situations
Hold players accountable
Get teams ready for the biggest moments
Seven seasons in, some issues remain unchanged — and that matters when talking about a long-term commitment.
💰 Why contract length may be the real holdup
The group suspects the negotiation comes down to:
LaFleur wanting five years
The Packers preferring three
That gap matters, especially if Green Bay is unsure he’s the coach who can lead them to a Super Bowl.
🔄 If you don’t believe, you have to move on
One core truth drives the debate:
If you don’t believe LaFleur can win a Super Bowl, then you have to find someone who can.
The crew reflects on how unpredictable coaching hires are — including how few people expected LaFleur to succeed when he was hired — and why firing a winning coach is always a massive gamble.
🧠 The assistant coach problem
A major frustration surfaces:
The Packers’ reluctance to spend money on assistants.
The discussion covers:
Why the offensive staff has barely changed in seven years
Why good assistants should be getting hired away if they’re truly impactful
How internal promotions can lead to stagnation
Why meaningful evolution often requires paying market value
🎙️ Jason Wilde joins later in the hour
Later, Jason Wilde joins to add context from inside the locker room:
Why star players publicly defending LaFleur matters
Why injuries can be an explanation without being an excuse
Why stability still holds real value — even in a results-driven league
⚖️ The bottom line
The hour ends with a simple challenge for the organization:
If LaFleur stays, something has to change — staff, structure, or expectations.
Because doing the same thing and hoping for a different postseason result isn’t a plan.
🎧 Thoughtful debate, real frustration, and a franchise-defining conversation — only on Jen, Gabe & Chewy.
Packers, Green Bay Packers, Matt LaFleur, Matt LaFleur contract, Packers coaching future, Packers offseason, Packers accountability, Packers playoff failures, Packers assistants, Brian Gutekunst, ESPN Milwaukee, Jen Gabe and Chewy




