Cowboys' Mike McCarthy tries to downplay return to Lambeau Field

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McCarthy downplayed his return to Lambeau Field as the Dallas Cowboys head coach.

I would love to win the game. Is that sufficient? McCarthy chuckled. It would be wonderful.

McCarthy was fired as the Green Bay Packers head coach with four games remaining in the season. He made the playoffs nine times and won the Super Bowl four times. His 125 wins are the second most.

When asked what he missed the most about Green Bay, he paused for a second and tapped the podium.

They are the people. It has been a great change for our family. The lifestyle in Dallas, Texas, where our children were born and raised, is amazing. He said that this has been an opportunity for the family. Our kids were born there as well. People. It's just the people.

McCarthy took a year off and stayed in Wisconsin.

It left a hole in our family. Four years is a long time. He said that we're better because of it. It's a little unique because we have had time to process it. I don't recommend anyone staying in the town while they go through it.

After going 4-7-1 in McCarthy's final season, the Packers went 13 wins under Matt LaFleur.

I'm not sure why anyone would take it personally. This game is about opportunities. McCarthy thinks that Matt has done a good job with his opportunities. 13 years is a long time. It is a long time. It's a long time. You don't stay the same as a coach as a successful team. Either you are getting better or not. I have no issues with the change.

McCarthy talked about the return of the Packers to the Cowboys at the team meeting.

McCarthy said that he wouldn't have been doing his job if he hadn't addressed it. We know what it takes to win a football game, which is why I don't want to create any distraction or questions for anyone else.

His players have a goal.

We want to get this one for our head coach because he won a championship there and we want to take care of him. Jayron Kearse said that the motivation was enough for them to do something.

The Packers have 10 players on their roster from McCarthy's time in charge. McCarthy's relationship with Rodgers was a big part of the story.

I'm excited to see him. Communication has been great. McCarthy said she has love and gratitude for him. Personal relationships are private and you have to remember that I was born in the '60s. I'm better at public speaking. A lot of thanks to him and the team that we had there. There were some great times. When I think of him, I think of the one-on-one conversations we used to have, and it always ended with a hug. That is what I think about our relationship. He made me a better coach. He's one of the premier professional athletes of his generation.

On a conference call with reporters who cover the Packers, McCarthy said he has no preconceived notions about how he will be received by Packers fans at Lambeau Field.

McCarthy said it was a fan base that loved their team. We have a lot of Cowboys fans there. A week ago I was talking about it. I worked in Green Bay in 1999 when Mike Holmgren returned to Lambeau Field for the first time. The crowd treated him well. I would be all for a positive reception at that place.

Rob Demovsky was a contributor.