AL HAMNIK: Green Bay DE Mike Neal: 'Packers beat the Packers'

Mike Neal's Green Bay apartment does not look like the aftermath of a bar room brawl.

There are no holes punched in the wall, no shattered light fixtures, no doors ripped from their hinges, no tables or chairs reduced to kindling.

A beast on the playing field, when healthy, the Green Bay Packers' defensive end is able to separate real life from the game he plays, thank you.

So as shocked and despondent as fans were after last Sunday's 37-20 playoff loss at home to the New York Giants, no grief counseling was necessary for Neal and teammates.

"I'm fine," the Merrillville grad said.

The defending Super Bowl champs were 15-1 in the regular season, a franchise record, and considered the best team in the NFL. They were heavy favorites to repeat this year in Indianapolis.

New York never got that email, however.

"All good things must come to an end sometime," Neal said. "We just let one (game) slip away from us. It sucks for it to happen in the playoffs, but you can't mourn over it.

"I guarantee you we've put this behind us, and everybody already is looking forward to next year."

But not everybody will return, and that doesn't surprise Neal, who knows what a cold-hearted business this is. It's all about winning and production, whether you play or coach.

The former Purdue star has a four-year contract and just completed his second injury-riddled season.

"Things change in the NFL from day to day," he cautioned.

They already have in Green Bay, where offensive coordinator Joe Philbin was named the Miami Dolphins' new coach over the weekend.

Tight end Jermichael Finley, center Scott Wells and running back Ryan Grant could become free agents.

Wide receiver Donald Driver and tackle Chad Clifton, veterans with a lot of mileage, may not be back.

"Everybody wanted us to win, of course, but we didn't get it done, so you can't linger over a loss forever," Neal said. "We have to turn the page."

Not many Cheeseheads will be watching today's NFC Championship game between the Giants and San Francisco 49ers. Like a throbbing tooth, their pain won't subside until training camp.

It'll take that long to forget the 420 yards their team allowed, or the 330 yards and three touchdowns by Giants' quarterback Eli Manning, or the five Packer turnovers, or the nine dropped passes by receivers.

"I don't believe the Giants beat the Packers. The Packers beat the Packers," Neal said.

Coach Mike McCarthy said poor tackling was a concern in all 17 games. That can't happen on a defense that allowed 22.4 ppg. in the regular season and had only 29 sacks — third-fewest in the league.

"It was everything," Neal said. "We gave up too many big plays on defense. We let big plays get away from us on offense."

He now will spend his time strengthening a surgically repaired left knee that hampered him most of the season and cut his playing time.

Neal wants to return and contribute, but will the Packers give him another chance?

This is big business, not a soup kitchen.

This column solely represents the writer's opinion. Reach him at al.hamnik@nwi.com