Packers Veteran Thanks Team for Standing by Him Through Struggles — Vows to Repay the Faith
Green Bay, Wisconsin – November 9, 2025
In a league where patience is rare and performance defines survival, the Green Bay Packers are standing firm behind one of their veterans through a storm of missed kicks and mounting pressure.
That veteran is Brandon McManus, the 34-year-old kicker who joined Green Bay midway through last season and became a steady presence — until this year’s struggles tested both his confidence and the team’s faith.
Despite a lingering quad injury and a career-low 68.8% field goal rate, McManus will remain the Packers’ starter heading into Monday night’s primetime matchup against the Eagles. Instead of criticism, what he’s received from the organization is trust — something he says he’ll never forget.
"When you go through tough times, you find out who really believes in you," McManus said after Saturday’s practice. "This team never stopped believing. Coach, my teammates — they stood by me when I was missing kicks, when people doubted. That means more than words can say. Now it’s my turn to give it back — every kick, every moment, every chance. I’ll make sure their faith in me won’t go to waste."
Special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia echoed that sentiment earlier this week, telling reporters that football is a game built on trust and resilience. “People miss throws, people miss tackles, people miss kicks — it’s part of the game. Brandon’s earned the right to fight through it,”
he said.
McManus, who signed a three-year extension this offseason, admitted that this season has tested him more than any other. Yet, he insists that the locker room’s belief — and Green Bay’s culture of loyalty — have fueled his determination to turn things around.
"When I walk into that locker room, I don’t see doubt — I see belief," he added. "That’s the kind of energy that reminds you why you fight, why you keep showing up."
For the Packers, sticking with McManus is more than just a personnel decision — it’s a message about trust, perseverance, and what it means to stand by your own. And for McManus, it’s a vow — that his comeback will match the faith his team never stopped showing.
Spencer Rattler Breaks Silence: “NFL Doesn’t Care About Your Pain — You Have to Play Anyway”
In an emotional revelation that’s shaking the NFL to its core, Spencer Rattler of the
Rattler, who briefly played alongside Kneeland during his time with the New Orleans Saints, called the loss of his former teammate “devastating” and a stark reminder of the unspoken pressure NFL players face. But it wasn’t just about the grief — it was about the expectation to perform no matter what:
"Everyone thinks the NFL is just about football. But the truth is, they don’t care what you're feeling. They just expect you to show up and play. We’re told to shut off our emotions, but that’s not realistic. I feel like we’re not allowed to grieve the loss of a brother because we have to get ready for a game. That’s the cold reality of this league."
A Wake-Up Call to Fans: "We're Not Machines"
Rattler’s shocking admission sheds light on the emotional toll that NFL players endure, often sacrificing their own mental well-being for the sake of the game. As the
"We’ve got to put our feelings aside for the fans, for our coaches, and for our teammates. But losing someone like Marshawn—it’s like losing a brother. It’s not just a game. People don’t understand how much time we spend with each other, and now I have to focus on beating the Packers while mourning my friend. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do."
A Brotherhood in Crisis?
As the NFL grapples with the tragic loss of Kneeland, Rattler’s powerful words are raising serious questions about the emotional cost of playing professional football.
Is the NFL a family, or is it a brutal machine that demands players sacrifice everything — including their emotions — for the game? The death of Kneeland is only the latest in a long line of heart-wrenching moments that show just how much players endure off the field.
