Packers promote Clements to coordinator

GREEN BAY, Wis. The Green Bay Packers didn't look far or long for an offensive coordinator: Quarterbacks coach Tom Clements is the new man for the job.Clements, who has been the QBs coach for six seasons, is replacing Joe Philbin, who left the team less than two weeks ago to become head coach of the Miami Dolphins."Tom has been an integral part of our success and our staff, making it an obvious decision to promote him to offensive coordinator," coach Mike McCarthy said Thursday in a statement. "He has earned this opportunity, and we look forward to continued offensive success in 2012."Clements, 58, has been an offensive coordinator before, spending two seasons in that position with the Buffalo Bills in 2004 and 2005. Then, when McCarthy was hired by the Packers in 2006, he brought Clements to Green Bay as his quarterbacks coach.Since that time, Clements has helped elevate Aaron Rodgers from Brett Favre's backup to a Super Bowl MVP and likely soon-to-be league MVP."I'm happy that it's happened and I'm happy for Joe (Philbin) that he's a head coach, and I'm glad I was able to step into his place," Clements said in a statement. "I've been a coordinator before, only for a few years. I've always wanted to get back to doing that and I'm thankful that it's here in Green Bay."I think it's a great opportunity. We have a young team. We've had success over the past couple of years. We still have a lot of room to grow and I'm happy to be a part of it."It's unlikely McCarthy will relinquish his play-calling duties to Clements. During Philbin's tenure in Green Bay as offensive coordinator, McCarthy was the sole offensive play-caller.Clements also helped develop former seventh-round pick Matt Flynn into one of the NFL's most prized free agents this offseason. As the offensive coordinator in Buffalo, Clements worked with quarterback Kelly Holcomb, who set the franchise's all-time single-season record for completion percentage in 2005.Next season with be Clements' 20th year in coaching. Prior to working with the Packers and Bills, Clements was the quarterbacks coach for the New Orleans Saints from 1997-99, for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2000 and for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2001-03. Before coaching in the NFL, Clements coached four seasons at Notre Dame.Follow Paul Imig on Twitter