Contrary to popular belief, I’m a gentleman. My parents raised me to not rub it in people’s faces when I’m right about something. They preached humbleness and empathy, and those are hallmarks I try to bring to my everyday life.
Unfortunately my job dictates that I do the exact opposite of those things so to all of the haters and losers (of which there are many!) that called me a buffoon for thinking Rodgers is coming back next season:
TOLD YOU SO!
In all seriousness I know I wasn’t alone in that thinking, and the reason I’ve thought he’d be back the entire time is the same as it was before the draft night rumors in 2021: There’s no better path for him to win another ring than in Green Bay. Maybe there were real fractures between him and the hierarchy a year ago, if there were it sounds like this past season healed many of those wounds, but at the end of the day, Rodgers knows he needs at least one more ring to solidify his spot as one of the all time greats. Taking a look at the landscape of the NFL, and the supporting cast at every other possible destination he could have landed, none had/has an easier path than Green Bay.
And the reason is pretty simple: The NFC North outside of the Packers is a bucket of old mop water. The Lions stink, the Vikings stink, the Bears stink. And they’re all rebuilding in one way or another. The rumors of what Rodgers’ actual new contract is going to look like were swirling yesterday, and many were refuted by Rodgers himself, but if we assume this is a 3-4 year deal, that’s 3-4 tickets to the playoffs. And 3-4 realistic chances to get back to the Super Bowl.
Now as this whole saga has played out, there have been two groups of Packer fans:
Group A: Group A realizes what we just typed above, Rodgers (if healthy) is a guaranteed ticket to the playoffs because the NFC North is so bad. Say what you want about the team’s failings in the playoffs, and there have been plenty, but you still need to punch a playoff ticket to have any hope at a Super Bowl. Group A would rather have the guaranteed 11-13 win season and playoff appearance than whatever the team would look like with Jordan Love. Group A is smart, good looking and has a sharp wit. I am a member of Group A.
Group B: Let’s call this the, ‘we have a dump in our pants’ group. They’re more pessimistic, but also might not be wrong. Group B is convinced that Aaron Rodgers, despite the regular season success and regular season accolades/awards, just isn’t the guy who can lead this team to a title again. Group B thinks that Rodgers is wildly overpaid, they get frustrated that he won’t take a pay cut like Brady to help build his supporting cast, and they think that Rodgers puckers in the playoffs. They are tired of his drama and macho head games, his takes on politics and pandemics, they don’t want to hear about his personal life anymore, especially his panchakarma cleanse where he was, ‘evacuating from both ends.’ Group B wants the draft picks they’d get for Rodgers, and to build a team more focused on defense and the hope that Jordan Love can at least be a serviceable starter. Admittedly, Group B frustrates me, but given the way the playoffs have gone since 2010, it’s hard to refute some of what they preach.
Who will have the last laugh between these two groups? We’ll know in 3-4 years. If the Packers win ONE Super Bowl in this new window with Rodgers, the whole thing will have been worth it. If they come up short 3-4 more times? Then Group B will get to say, ‘SEE! We told you so!’ Which, as I can attest to today, feels pretty good to say.
Now we wait to see how they work out Davante’s deal. They franchised him yesterday, but that was essentially to give themselves a bigger window to work out a long term deal. No chance he’s playing on a franchise tag deal and risking injury. But I also think there’s no chance Rodgers is back without assurances that Adams’ contract will get worked out. Time will tell. My guess is we get an Adams extension announcement and a De’Vondre Campbell extension announcement before a regular season baseball game is played.
PS: Tough day for both Johnny Davis and Greg Gard yesterday. The Big Ten announces their season awards (Davis won Player of the Year, Gard Coach of the Year), and 11 minutes later the Rodgers news hits. Whoops!
Double PS: What an incredible pivot from the Broncos yesterday as well. Rodgers announces he’s coming back to Green Bay, two hours later the Broncos trade for Russell Wilson. The AFC West quarterback situation is bananas. Mahomes/Wilson/Herbert/Carr. Stacked. John Elway definitely thanked John Elway in the mirror at his house yesterday:
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