Should the Green Bay Packers give up on the season? If they somehow lose this weekend, then yes.

Even if they do win this week and the rest of the weeks, the Packers’ playoff chances are slim. People seem to be talking to team president Mark Murphy about tanking. Resting starters, giving young guys a chance, trying to improve draft position, etc.

Well, old Ginger Gap Tooth is having none of that. Murphy penned an online diatribe saying the Packers will not willfully lose.

I’ve heard from a lot of fans this week regarding the state of the team. Many have said that, since the chances of making the playoffs are so slim, we should sit some of our starters (including Aaron Rodgers), play more of our younger players and focus on the future. Others have said that we shouldn’t worry about winning and that a benefit would be that we would have a better draft position. While I appreciate the input, I’m not ready to give up on the season. Now, I realize that we are 4-6-1 (and as Bill Parcells famously said, “You are what your record says you are”) and that we haven’t played well. However, we still have almost a third of the season left to play. I know that the odds of making the playoffs are slim (I’ve seen odds range from 3 to 15 percent), but we still have a lot to play for. If we can finish the season strong, even if we don’t make the playoffs (and crazier things have happened), it will give the team confidence that can carry over to next year. Also, from the individual player’s standpoint, the average career is so short (3.1 years) and every game means so much, they all have much to play for over the next five weeks.

Thing is, Murphy doesn’t suit up. There have been whispers that Aaron Rodgers is purposely trying to sabotage Mike McCarthy. That he wants McCarthy out.

While Rodgers may want McCarthy out, I seriously doubt he or anyone else is trying to throw games.

McCarthy, meanwhile, knows he’s coaching for his job the rest of the season.

The Packers have five winnable games left. That may not ultimately matter in terms of the playoffs, but I’d bet they win at least four of them.