Matt LaFleur calls out Tom Rinaldi's report on FOX NFL broadcast

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur called out NFL on FOX sideline reporter Tom Rinaldi Monday for mischaracterizing his words about kicker Anders Carlson during the broadcast of their 24-21 NFC Divisional Round defeat to the San Francisco 49ers Saturday.

After Carlson missed a 41-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter which would have given Green Bay a 24-17 advantage, Rinaldi shed some light on how LaFleur handles his rookie kicker.

“When we talked to the head coach, Matt LaFleur, about this, he basically said, ‘When he goes out there, I just pray, guys,’” Rinaldi said.

LaFleur, speaking at his end-of-season press conference, said that Rinaldi portrayed his words the wrong way.

#Packers HC Matt LaFleur says the FOX broadcast relaying that he prays before every FG was "extremely disappointing."

LaFleur says he was saying it in jest and it was portrayed the wrong way.pic.twitter.com/Dw7WXrYlrz https://t.co/VV7dnvEvFx

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 22, 2024

“That was extremely disappointing that that’s how that message got portrayed,” LaFleur said. “I’ve been a part of production meetings ever since I became a coordinator and I’ve never had an experience like that. But it is what it is. I’ve talked to Anders about it. I think anytime something’s out of your control — kind of saying it and jest and having fun with it. But it got portrayed that way. It’s a learning lesson for me.”

Packers HC Matt LaFleur expected to win vs. 49ers: ‘It stings’

While the Carlson miss was less than ideal, Green Bay still had a chance to close out the game. That, of course, didn’t happen, as San Francisco embarked on a 12-play, 69-yard game-winning drive. LaFleur said after the game that the loss “stings,” especially given their expectations when they took the field.

“It stings,” LaFleur said. “Part of the reason it stings so bad right now is we fully believed and fully expected to win this game. Give San Francisco credit, they made more plays in some of those critical situations down the stretch. It’s a tough football team. But I felt like we had plenty of opportunities to put the game out of reach and unfortunately just didn’t do enough.

“It’s never one play. I’m sure a lot of it’s going to come down to the missed field goal, but there’s plenty of opportunities. Go back in the first half and have three red zone opportunities and have six points. There’s a lot of plays out there that if one play goes different, we probably have a different result right now.”