Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy

Call it delaying the inevitable, but if finally happened.  Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy has been signed to a five-year extension that will run through the 2012 season. McCarthy, who had a year remaining on his original 3-year contract, agreed in principle last month to the new deal – which is worth approximately $4 million per season.

McCarthy, the franchise’s 14th head coach, tied a team record with 13 regular-season victories en route to the NFC North division title and a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Both sides had hoped to have gotten the contract signed earlier, but McCarthy was at the time prepping the Packers for the playoffs and team general manager Ted Thompson was on the road scouting. McCarthy’s record as Packers head coach is currently 22-12.