Giants vs. Packers: Joe Philbin's Return Will Inspire Green Bay vs. New York

To say this has been a difficult week for Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin would be a colossal understatement, but he is going to be on the sidelines for Sunday's game against the New York Giants.

Head coach Mike McCarthy broke the news to Lesley Visser of CBS Sports on Saturday afternoon.  

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The passing of Michael Philbin's been a primary storyline over the past week, because of Philbin's importance to Green Bay and the understanding that he could take as much time away from the team as needed, and would be unlikely to work on Sunday.

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Athletes frequently seek out their sport when tragedy hits, because it's a way of taking one's mind off the things happening in one's personal life. There's no reason why Philbin, a coach, should be any different.

It's still stunning to find out that he'll be in the office on Sunday. Although it wouldn't be stunning at all to see an emotionally charged and inspired Packers team take the field against the Giants.

 

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Inspired is the perfect word to describe the way the Packers are going to rally around their coach and his family in their darkest hour.

Let's be honest, nothing that happens today is going to make anything better for Philbin or his family. If he can have a few hours out of the day where he can just focus on something else, anything else, then it should not be a complete surprise to see him at Lambeau  

They say sports are a metaphor for life. In our time of need, those closest to us will always rally to make sure we are going to be okay. 

It is going to take a long time before Philbin and his immediate family are ever okay, but being on that field is going to provide him with the comfort and support he needs right now. 

I don't know if the Packers are going to win this game and to be honest, I don't care because it doesn't really matter. But I know that seeing Philbin is going to mean a lot to the entire Green Bay family. 

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