McCarthy remains steadfast in support of Guion

DT reached settlement in FL case involving marijuana, unloaded handgun

PHOENIX — Mike McCarthy has been consistent in his position on Letroy Guion all along. So it wasn’t a surprise Wednesday during the NFC coaches breakfast at the annual NFL Meetings that the Green Bay Packers coach remained steadfast in his desire to bring the free-agent defensive tackle back – even if he ends up receiving an NFL suspension for his Feb. 3 arrest in Florida.

Guion reached a settlement in the case earlier this week, paying a $5,000 fine and avoiding prosecution after being pulled over in his hometown of Starke, Fla., with 3 /4 of a pound of marijuana, an unloaded handgun and more than $190,000 in cash.

“In Letroy’s case, it’s something that you pay attention to when it involves your players. Now, we’re into the free-agency mode and hopefully we can get things worked out to get him back,” McCarthy said during breakfast.

McCarthy, whose affinity for Guion dates back to the 2012 season when the Packers played Guion and the Minnesota Vikings three times that season, said team security director had been in touch with Guion throughout the process. Guion has been back in Green Bay working out on his own, since he can’t use the Packers facilities while unsigned. The team had been talking about a long-term deal near the end of the season, before his legal entanglement.

McCarthy also acknowledged that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell could suspend Guion under the personal conduct policy, even though he’s been cleared in the case.

“That’s all part of the roster building philosophy. Those kind of things you kind of keep in house and continue to talk about,” McCarthy said. “But I think to a man, everybody would like to see Letroy be a Green Bay Packer.

“He’s been an excellent addition to our football team and it would be great to get Letroy back. Just from my conversations with him, I know he we wants to be a Green Bay Packer.”