Packers' McCarthy named Coach of the Year

By Steve Ginsburg

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Mike McCarthy was named the NFL Coach of the Year Wednesday after guiding the Green Bay Packers to a 13-3 record and within one game of the Super Bowl.

The Packers captured the NFC North and advanced to the conference title game but lost to the New York Giants 23-20 in overtime at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

McCarthy, 44, received the award in Phoenix, site of Sunday's Super Bowl between the Giants and the New England Patriots. He conceded he had bittersweet feelings.

"It's a little bitter when you get off the plane this morning walking through the Phoenix airport and you see all the Super Bowl signs," McCarthy told reporters.

"I ran into (Hall of Fame quarterback) Len Dawson coming through the baggage claim. You see all the NFL people.

"You can't lose sight of it. To me, it was a season of tremendous progress. I'm proud of what we accomplished as a football team... But the ultimate goal is to win the Super Bowl."

Led by quarterback Brett Favre, the Packers improved from an 8-8 record in the previous year by employing a high-powered offense that ranked second in total yards per game.

The 38-year-old Favre, a future Hall of Famer and NFL record-holder for career passing yards and touchdowns, said Wednesday he was pondering retirement.

"I really don't have an opinion of which way he's leaning but I do truly think it's more of a personal decision with Brett," McCarthy said.

"I think professionally, based on his performance this past year, with the condition he's in even at his age, it's not a performance issue. I think he has plenty of gas left in his tank."

McCarthy was selected by more than 501,000 fans voting on NFL.com from a group of five finalists, including New England's Bill Belichick whose team is 18-0 this season.

(Editing by John Mehaffey)