GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Green Bay defensive coordinator Bob Sanders and most of his staff paid the price today for a Packers' season that came apart largely due to a defense that consistently blew fourth-quarter leads.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy released six assistants today, including five on defense: Sanders, defensive ends coach Carl Hairston, defensive tackles coach Robert Nunn, secondary coach Kurt Schottenheimer and nickel package/cornerbacks coach Lionel Washington.

Also let go was strength and conditioning coordinator Rock Gullickson.

Linebackers coach Winston Moss is the only major defensive coach to keep his job and is a likely candidate to take Sanders' place. But Moss, who also carries the title of assistant head coach, is a candidate for the St. Louis Rams' vacant head coaching job.

Special teams coordinator Mike Stock announced his retirement last week after leading a unit that also took a significant step backward in the Packers' disappointing 6-10 season.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)