Five Things To Watch In the Packers Preseason Opener
The Packers face the 49ers on Friday
It's (preseason) game week. On Friday, the Green Bay Packers are finally back on the field to play a game and, while it isn't exactly meaningful for record purposes, it has real ramifications for the roster, especially fringe players, and possibly for the future of the franchise.
The Packers face the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Friday, 7:30 p.m. (CDT), and it's an important step to build the initial 53-man roster. On August 16, the roster needs to be cut from 90 to 85 players, so the implications are obvious. Furthermore, there are position battles and depth questions to be analyzed.
Take a look at the five most important things to watch on Friday:
1) Jordan Love
Love didn't have a preseason in his rookie season because of covid. Last season, he suffered a shoulder injury and played less than what was planned. Now, the Packers made a full commitment to see more from the 2020 first-round pick, and kept only three quarterbacks on the roster. This move indicates a clear path: Jordan Love will play extensively during the preseason, and it's (hopefully, barring an Aaron Rodgers injury) the last chance the Packers will have to analyze Love's development before making a decision regarding his fifth-year option a year from now. Moreover, it's also a chance for Love to recoup some market value. If he plays well, it's not impossible that a desperate team offers something significant enough to convince the Packers to trade Love and capitalize the return to maximize Rodgers' window.
"I always think I have something to prove," Love said on Monday. "That's the NFL. I think everybody has something to prove when they get out there, just to have a reason why you're there and why you should stay here. I definitely have something to prove and my goal is to show that in the preseason."
Reports from training camp and interviews from head coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst indicate Love has taken a step forward in his development. He still makes mistakes reading defenses, but he looks like a more decisive quarterback, in command of what happens on the field after struggling to do that in previous opportunities.
2) OL rotation
David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins are both on the physically unable to perform list and haven't practiced yet during training camp. It's absolutely valid now to have concerns regarding the offensive line which will face Danielle Hunter and Za'Darius Smith for the Minnesota Vikings in week 1. Through training camp, Matt LaFleur, offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich and offensive line coach Luke Butkus have tested different variations, and the only secured spots seem to be left guard (Jon Runyan) and center (Josh Myers). Yosh Nijman and Zach Tom have been tested on both sides of the line, while Royce Newman has been used in both positions on the right side, and Jack Hanson has practiced as right guard and backup center.
For now, the unofficial depth chart indicates the starting offensive line (in its version without Bakhtiari and Jenkins) will have Yosh Nijman - Jon Runyan - Josh Myers - Jake Hanson - Royce Newman. Those are not great news, especially because the decline in performance from the line was a big factor last season if compared to 2020 — plus, the line is the best chance for the Packers to alleviate the possible decline of the wide receiver room without Davante Adams.
3) Young receivers
Romeo Doubs has been the training camp sensation, and everyone talks about the new number 87. It's going to be nice to see him perform against another team, in a (kind of) real game. But it's also an opportunity to watch other young receivers. Seventh-round rookie Samori Toure was one the best players on Family Night, and it would be nice to see him keeping the development trajectory.
Amari Rodgers has also shown some signs of development, and it's a good chance for him to show he can be a slot weapon behind Randall Cobb. Undrafted rookie Danny Davis has been promising, too, and fights for a practice squad spot. Juwann Winfree, Malik Taylor, Ishmael Hyman, and Osirus Mitchell should get extensive playing time as well.
4) Defensive depth
The Packers have a top-heavy defense. The starting lineup is primed to be one the best groups in the entire league, but there are legit concerns with backups for edge defenders, cornerbacks, and safeties. But Brian Gutekunst likes to see what he has first, so training camp and preseason are the perfect time for young players to step up and show the front office there is no need to add veteran free agents.
For the edge defenders, La'Darius Hamilton and Tipa Galeai have been the best ones behind Rashan Gary and Preston Smith. They have a chance to solidify themselves as part of the plans moving forward. Rookie Kingsley Enagbare and Jonathan Garvin, who was the edge 3 last season, are the alternatives.
For cornerbacks, converted wide receiver Rico Gafford has been important on special teams — listed as the starting kick returner —, and now he could have a chance to be a defensive contributor as well. Shemar Jean-Charles, Keisean Nixon, Kabion Ento, Kiondre Thomas, and Donte Vaughn fight for the final roster spots too.
For safeties, Darnell Savage and Adrian Amos are the clear starters, but there isn't much behind them. Shawn Davis looks like a guy who can be a third option in 3-safety formations, but Dallin Leavitt, Vernon Scott, and Innis Gaines are better suited to play the deep zones. Seventh-rounder Tariq Carpenter looks more like a special-teamer only.
5) Special teamers
Rich Bisaccia has had more voice over personnel than any other special teams coordinator in Packers recent memory. Dallin Leavitt and Keisean Nixon are examples of players who were brought in under Bisaccia's blessing. The expectation is that, after numerous special teams failures over the years, the Packers are now willing to keep players specifically for special teams responsibilities, and the preseason is a good chance for some of them to show their value.
There are also some positional battles on special teams. Long snappers Jack Coco and Steven Wirtel fight for the starting job — as none of them have been that good, they also compete against every long snapper available or soon-to-be available around the NFL. With Mason Crosby injured, rookie Gabe Brkic will have his chance.
And there is also competition for the returning jobs: Amari Rodgers, Romeo Doubs, and Rico Gafford have split the duties, both for punts and kickoffs.
PHOTO: Samantha Madar/Green Bay Press Gazette -USA TODAY NETWORK
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Wendell Ferreira covers the Green Bay Packers for Zone Coverage and Cheesehead TV. He is a Brazilian journalist with over a decade of experience covering the NFL, soccer, NBA, and MMA. Follow him on twitter at @wendellfp
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Comments (53)
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
August 09, 2022 at 10:10 am
Thanks Wendell!
Yes, there certainly is a lot of excitement in the air as there usually is at this time of the year. With a team packed full of talent watching a number of young players to see if they can step up and become that #3 and #4 player at certain positions is going to be fun. Can some of the top rookies this year become that special player us fans always hope for?
T7Steve
August 09, 2022 at 10:15 am
Did I ever mention how worried I am about the O-Line? I know I deserve some thumbs but, if these guys can't start looking better, are they even going to be good backups when/if D.B. and E.J. come back?
Bure9620
August 09, 2022 at 08:12 pm
Me too. Jenkink will be bacm soon wbich is huge....Bahk..color me skepital
murf7777
August 09, 2022 at 10:34 am
We’re all hoping for solid play from Love. Wendall, why would you want or suggest trading love? You must have a solid back-up in case your QB gets injured. If Love has a great pre-season than his long-term value to the Packers increases substantially. The main reasons is because Rodgers contemplates retirement each year and you have to plan for your future starter. If he stinks it up than there is no real trade value. For those reasons, the Packers will not nor should they trade Love.
dobber
August 09, 2022 at 11:30 am
I think it was a pretty even-handed appraisal of Love, what he needs to show, and how it impacts the team and its options regarding roster managemen and their options moving forward. I think those things that he could do to make him more valuable to the Packers going forward also increase his value around the league WRT trade.
In the end, he's got to start showing that he's growing into a starting caliber NFL QB, and he can do that by executing the offense and being efficient in these preseason games...because we don't want him to need to show it in extended action during the regular season.
LLCHESTY
August 09, 2022 at 12:26 pm
It seems like he's still on a good day/bad day practice rotation. I'll read he had a really good day and then the next had a couple interceptions on questionable throws. He could be like Rodgers and trying things that he most likely wouldn't try in games. I'll question his accuracy until I see him in 2-3 regular season games, preseason games are so vanilla they don't mean much unless he's throwing picks in them, that would be bad.
I think that 5th year option is off the table unless Rodgers says 2023 is going to be his last year. He just said 3 or 4 more years in an interview last week but he could have been joking. Anyway I'm not going to blame Rodgers for the bad timing of the Love pick.
Coldworld
August 09, 2022 at 01:19 pm
He makes mistakes, but we forget that Rodgers did (indeed does even now). QBs will always misread or get flustered, but to say he’s on a good day bad day rotation seems far from justified from where I stand.
I agree, we need to see him in games. Personally I’d like to see him with the first string too. I probably won’t and will have to watch him continue behind the second string O line and skill players. It would be good to get him some familiarity with the starters and vice versa in case we need him.
Personally, he’s exceeded my expectations of progress from what I’ve heard and seen. Great. If he can pull off the same I. Games in preseason that is a great sign. That’s all we knew after Rodgers third camp and all one is ever going to absent the extremely undesirable unavailability of Rodgers. At that point it still takes and took Rodgers time. Probably a season of starts to go from exciting to consistently really good.
If we don’t find an RT, we may end up starting Etling anyway.
LLCHESTY
August 09, 2022 at 12:11 pm
"Wendall, why would you want or suggest trading love?"
Simple reason-money. If Rodgers wants to play 3 more years they can't afford Love after next year. Might as well trade him if you can get more than a 3rd round pick for him. Even getting a 3rd round comp pick for him is a big assumption, it all depends on how many big FA signings there are that year and how much Love gets from another team.
murf7777
August 09, 2022 at 01:08 pm
LL….can you really depend on Rodgers staying 3-4 more years when he has used the retirement word over the past couple of years. Unless Love really shines this year I think your right that a 5th year option is out as it will be too expensive. That said, they have till around may of 2023 to make that decision. Most likely, they keep him for the 2023 season and see what his value in that off season. I believe trading him for a 2nd or 3rd rounder now has less value than the upside he might just be good for the long-term. Of course, that all depends on how they feel about him.
Coldworld
August 09, 2022 at 01:46 pm
No, you can’t. He’s said so several times. And if he wins this year or the team imploded he may not get that far. There are ways that Love can be paid if they really want to. If recent cap shenanigans haven’t illustrated that, I don’t know what will.
This is the worst kind of rubbish. And we still need cover this year on top of that. Want to pay for Jimmy G? That would be hard to manage cap wise! Love is cheap.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s always a price to make anything happen, but I don’t see it, we don’t need it and probably shouldn’t hope for it if we want the best chance to win It all. And no, we don’t bet the farm on a guy who openly admits to thinking about retiring every day.
If Love balls out (IF) there is no way in hell any team trades him away. No team trades real potential for a decade and a half of strong QB play. Did the Favre decision teach some people nothing? Favre was better than Rodgers for a season and a half and Rodgers could do the same, but it pales into comparison with what we got for that tough choice at QB.if Love sucks, we aren’t going to get a lot and can’t afford much better now under the cap if it’s even out there. Plus, there is always a chance he can up his value next year in that scenario.
I’m sorry, but we have some football developments to talk about not rehash these same tired emo-arguments like we have all off season and before.
LLCHESTY
August 09, 2022 at 04:57 pm
I think they'll have to get a solid answer from Rodgers before making a decision about the 5th year on Love. They can always decline it and then try and sign Love if Rodgers changes his mind after 2023. They know a lot more about how Love feels about sitting these years than we do.
Coldworld
August 09, 2022 at 05:08 pm
I don’t think Rodgers knows. This contract was all about continuing get out clauses, not one, serial. I wouldn’t bet my career on that and Rodgers can change his mind at any point, while the team can’t in practice since it involves the critical position in the game.
mnbadger
August 09, 2022 at 12:33 pm
Also, they shouldn't give him the 5th year option without proving himself. Let him go to FA next year then sign him to a cheaper deal if FO thinks he has a chance. No other team will throw big $ at him until he proves something, anything IMO. GPG!
murf7777
August 09, 2022 at 01:10 pm
If they don’t sign him to a 5th year option, He wouldn’t be a free agent till the end of 2023, so he actually has two years left and they don’t have to make the 5th year option till next year.
dobber
August 09, 2022 at 01:40 pm
The 5th year option locks them in at a particular rate and guarantee a year in advance, but nothing prevents the Packers from signing him to a new deal during the 4th year of his rookie contract and outside the 5th year option, either. So if ARod is noncommittal after this season and prior to the 5th year option deadline, but tells the team he's done after 2023 (maybe in-season), the Packers could decline the 5th year option but still sign Love to a new deal prior to the expiration of his current deal.
Coldworld
August 09, 2022 at 05:40 pm
Early May next year is the deadline to make the call or lose the option. About a week after the next draft.
The team can, as Dobber said, still resign him during the rest of that league year, that’s been done before.
For Love, who hasn’t played much, the fifth-year salary is the average of the third through 25th highest salaries at a player's position. That’s a cap hit in one year that we may not want to take so I’d expect we’d actually offer a new deal unless he plays lights out and doesn’t want to accept it.
The longer we wait, the weaker our negotiating position, so a good summer may lead to a shock for some. A new deal would allow us to push cap forward as well as spread it out, in what us a particularly tight period.
jont
August 09, 2022 at 01:17 pm
GB "shouldn't give him the 5th year option without proving himself. Let him go to FA next year.... No other team will throw big $ at him until he proves something."
I agree with you, but I think if he goes FA he will be gone. A team that needs a QB could draft one but there's a lot to be said for grabbing the guy who's had 4 years of good coaching and some game experience. Not picking up YR5 is saying good-bye.
Coldworld
August 09, 2022 at 05:14 pm
Unless he stinks to a degree not so far suggested by camp so far, given our cap, almost certainly he’d get paid more elsewhere.
WendellFerreira
August 09, 2022 at 01:40 pm
Hi, Murf. I'd only trade Love now if it was for immediate impact (player, not picks).
Coldworld
August 09, 2022 at 02:36 pm
Where would you source the cap if the player is any good ?
A good player would have to be a great one on a first contract who likely comes with a big future cost to retain too. Anyone else worth having is going to be too expensive and, we’d still need a QB2. Would you go with Etling?
If he’s traded it’s for picks almost certainly. A lot of them. Not much help this year and likely even less cap too just to add a journeyman QB.
dobber
August 09, 2022 at 11:18 am
"Rich Bisaccia has had more voice over personnel than any other special teams coordinator in Packers recent memory.... and the preseason is a good chance for some of them to show their value."
When rosters are 90 deep, it's easy to bring in some of these guys to see what they can do, and whether they offer some positional value, too--which seems to carry more weight with the team over recent years. I've been saying all along that Bisaccia has HC aspirations and wouldn't have taken this job if there wasn't at least some commitment made toward providing him with some of the pieces he'd need to be successful. In the end, though, when the roster needs to trim to 53, we'll see if BG's stripes have changed.
mnbadger
August 09, 2022 at 12:34 pm
great point dobber. GPG!
splitpea1
August 09, 2022 at 11:17 am
We're still using Amari to field kicks? Jeez.... Gafford, with his speed and potential to be a backup on defense, sounds like a much better option if he can demonstrate sound judgment in return duties.
Also, I'm very interested the backup safety competition; since Scott is the more versatile player, I'd like to see him win the job if he performs well in the preseason.
dobber
August 09, 2022 at 11:21 am
Scott seems to be out of the 2021 doghouse--he couldn't get on the field to save his life a year ago, and the reasons were never really clear. The question is: is he out of the doghouse because he earned it or because the depth at the position is just that bad?
Coldworld
August 09, 2022 at 11:39 am
He’s earned it in this camp. He showed promise as a rookie and seems to have developed further. Doesn’t really answer your question but it does add some context. He’s better than we had last year in reserve at deep S …
splitpea1
August 09, 2022 at 12:45 pm
I would speculate that it's the former--because if Gute thought the depth was that bad, he might have been tempted to sign one of the very iffy options out there like Tartt.
Coldworld
August 09, 2022 at 11:35 am
Generally they don’t use just one guy in case of injury and because they don’t want to overload on snaps. Gafford has consistently been the first Kick returner up. Others have been tried at times, including Toure and Gafford has had the odd look on punts, but that’s been mostly Doubs, then Rodgers and Cobb (likely an emergency/bad conditions fallback option.)
mrtundra
August 12, 2022 at 08:03 am
From what I've heard from camp, on Amari Rodgers, is that since he lost weight in the offseason, he is looking very good at both WR and as a returner. Yes, we have other options at returner, in Doubs, Toure, and Cobb, but I think the job is Amari's. GO PACK, GO!!!
BuckyBadger
August 09, 2022 at 11:33 am
A good performance from Love will be what the media and casual fans will be looking at. I don't think it is something that is all that important. The hope is he doesn't play this year and probably next year so his time with the franchise might be limited to holding a clipboard or I guess tablet in today's NFL. The biggest concern is the OL. They are either hurt, coming back from an injury or unproven. I am fully confident Rodgers can make it work with the WRs, we have seen great QBs distribute the ball if they have time. In order for that to work they will need to run the ball effectively and give the WRs time to get open. I don't feel confident they have the 5 that can get this done.
T7Steve
August 09, 2022 at 12:09 pm
I guess we can just worry about the right end of the line for now. I at least trust the left end even without D.B. back. When/if he does, then Nij can move to the right end and then we just have to worry about the right guard and a little bit about the center.
LLCHESTY
August 09, 2022 at 05:01 pm
Given that there's little to no blitzing and vanilla coverages in preseason I'm not sure how much a good performance tells you. Certainly not as much as a bad one does.
Coldworld
August 09, 2022 at 05:53 pm
Camp has been vanilla and non contact vanilla and Rodgers would have been road kill by now if there were. LaFleur essentially said as much. If we don’t do a decent job of protecting Love we won’t get an idea of anything. Right now I’m concerned we won’t keep anyone upright.
The Packers anointed Rodgers primarily on the basis of camp and preseason adequacy. He was promising on his 3rd preseason, but up and down as well. The same was true against Dallas, just a little more up. It was enough for TT. It certainly wasn’t enough for maybe most here at the time.
It will be the same with Love though. They will go off what they see in camp unless we lose Rodgers for long enough to see Love play his own game plan for an extended run of games as we did with Favre (turning out to be permanent), something I think we’d all prefer not to have happen this year.
wildbill
August 09, 2022 at 12:21 pm
The O/L is the big issue to me. Our last two playoff losses were to teams with excellent, physical, defensive front 7s that man handled our offense and took us out of our game. Especially the Bucs game with two first downs inside the ten and not one running play was ran when we have two excellent RBs.
With Bakh and Jenkins fully back we should be ok but too many questions right now. I know it’s only preseason but it’s time to answer some questions about our front 5 and hopefully these three games will provide that.
T7Steve
August 09, 2022 at 12:30 pm
Coldworld seems a bit worried too. Even for depth I think they need another vet FA to look at and get tuned up. These young guys might be the answer later, but, we need to keep our QBs and RBs upright and healthy right now. If love takes another beating in PS we'll never know what we have.
dobber
August 09, 2022 at 01:52 pm
I think the deadline for Bakh starting the season is somewhere around the 2nd preseason game. He'll need 2-3 weeks of regular practice to be close to ready. If he's not off the PUP and practicing by then, that's when I'll start to really be concerned about his status.
I also feel pretty good about the ability of Stenavich and Butkus to get solid OL play out of spare parts, given a chance to plan...especially during the regular season and against average teams--like Minnesota--and below average teams (to be kind) like the Bears. There's weeks 1 and 2. Nijman, JRJ, and Myers is a capable starting point on the left side. We'll have to see how the right side shakes out, yet, but Lewis playing off Newman's shoulder gives them a shot at being competitive. I have no idea what to expect from Hanson at RG.
T7Steve
August 09, 2022 at 02:00 pm
Thanks. I needed someone knock some of the scare out of me. I probably really won't get over the chills from what they did to the line in the playoffs last year. That really lost my confidence in the coaches I was bragging about how they adapted for injuries.
Thegreatreynoldo
August 10, 2022 at 01:55 am
The last preseason game on August 25 is seventeen days prior to the first regular season game. 8/25/22 is the date I have circled for Bakh. It isn't a deadline, just a reference point. And that date is two full weeks from now.
PatrickGB
August 10, 2022 at 09:39 am
Yep
It’s as good a day as any. Another option is to activate Bahk and not play him for a couple of weeks. That way he won’t have to wait out the full IR requirement.
Coldworld
August 09, 2022 at 06:05 pm
Increasingly so, yes. Hopefully unnecessarily so but I’m not impressed by Tom in pads and Newman is not an NFL tackle to my eyes (I’m actually pretty comfortable with him at G).
Right now I’m pushing for Caleb Jones. It will take them longer to get around him at least. That says it all (he’s actually looked much better than I expected, so no disrespect to him). I would genuinely try him. Of course I’m not the guy taking the snaps at QB.
Nijman is having a really good camp and Myers is better too. Great left side. I’d be fine running with that all year. Is half field football and option?
PatrickGB
August 09, 2022 at 01:03 pm
IRT Love, I don’t think has a high ceiling. Yet he is ok as a backup for now. When we get to his fifth year option it’s time to redo his contract with a cheap salary or we cut him.
The offensive line is being tested rigorously by the defense. And right now they are not doing well. I have been spoiled by great line play for some time and the news is disheartening. But when our key starters get back then my hope is that things change for the better.
In my mind, the search for starters at WR is still…up in the air.
Tedlyflyfisher
August 09, 2022 at 01:20 pm
Amari looked like a deer in the headlights last year returning punts. He will have to be MUCH better/more confident for me to trust him there. I’m hoping Gafford or Cobb will win that job, but we shall see.
It sounds like neither Coco nor Wirtel are inspiring confidence as LS. Geez, how difficult can it be to find someone who can perform just one task?
jont
August 09, 2022 at 01:25 pm
Amari. Deguara. I've got to believe these guys are feeling some pressure to show something in the pre-season games. As third rounders there are expectations and neither has shown much since draft day.
Yes, there are reasons but at the end of the day the talk doesn't matter; they make plays or they don't. If they don't, there's always a player ready for his chance.
I am not sure I see Amari on the 53 without his putting together at least two good games in pre-season. Deguara has less competition for a spot, it seems to me, but still needs to show production to make the team.
Swisch
August 09, 2022 at 02:19 pm
I'm looking forward to finding the guys who just want to play football, in season and out of season, for love of the game.
For those guys, this first opportunity to get on the field for a real game, even if it doesn't count in the standings, has to be exciting -- and it will show up in their play.
Whether or not a player makes the team, no regrets if he enjoys the moment and gives it his all. When in doubt, be yourself and play your game with elan and exuberance.
While the Aaron Rodgers of the world give way to ennui and shrink to the sidelines, let the men who revel in competition and combat take the stage.
That's why I'm a big fan of these supposedly meaningless games. Friday can't come soon enough!
LeotisHarris
August 09, 2022 at 03:47 pm
I guess I'm fine with all this (even though reading it makes me want to watch Gunsmoke and research something in World Book encyclopedia), Swisch, as long as elan and ennui don't replace plethora and aforementioned around here.
Swisch
August 09, 2022 at 04:40 pm
I don't want to go back to a replica of the 1950s, but we could use good dose of John Wayne in America these days, along with Vince Lombardi.
We could start with basic fairness, then add a healthy measure of toughness.
The people who survived the Great Depression and World War II may have been, somewhat understandably, too stoic and taciturn and tense, but now we've gone to the other extreme of whining and wimpiness.
P.S. A thumbs up for a witty and funny post, Leotis.
LLCHESTY
August 09, 2022 at 05:09 pm
John Wayne the actor and John Wayne the person were two very different people. One was too interested in making money acting to serve.
Swisch
August 09, 2022 at 06:16 pm
We all fall short of our ideals, but we do well to strive to live them as best we can as long as we have a breath.
Whatever the personal flaws and faults of John Wayne (and allowing for him to learn from and correct his mistakes along the way), he stood for honesty and honor lived with rugged responsibility.
Much better, and much more American, than the world-weary poseur of cafe society who uses the real sufferings of this life to wallow in non-committal self-indulgence and smug snobbery.
My hunch is that most football fans tend toward honorable ruggedness even as the NFL incongruously panders to self-indulgent snobbery.
There is something to be said for football as a way of building manly character for both individual growth and group greatness.
***
I'm not sure what's going on with Aaron Rodgers, and how to describe him, but he seems to be getting weird.
I realize times change, but it would be nice to see a head coach kick him in the can and tell him to play a quarter or two in preseason games.
He needs to get in synch with his teammates in game conditions. Better to hone the offense in the relatively safe conditions of vanilla defenses in the preseason, than in the unrestrained savagery and chaos of the regular season.
At the least, LaFleur could be firm with Rodgers as to who ultimately calls the shots for the Packers. He could tell his QB to keep his mouth shut as to public pronouncements on coaching matters.
***
As it is, I don't see the Packers winning any championships with a quarterback who seems so arrogant and disagreeable and uncoachable.
Just when the prize is in sight, but the pressure is the greatest, it seems almost inevitable that Rodgers will let us down once again in heartbreaking and exasperating fashion -- while so many fans continue to cluelessly wonder: What went wrong?
***
I'm not saying Aaron Rodgers has to imitate Bart Starr, but he could stand to learn from his legendary predecessor in the nuances of humble leadership over the illusions of haughty leadership.
Why wouldn't he want to study the ways of an NFL quarterback who won an unmatched three championships in a row, and five in seven years?
It seems Aaron the bedraggled beatnik wannabe is dragging himself down to the detriment of the entire team.
Even so, I'm rooting for him to turn it around with some time-tested values of integrity and authenticity -- which will ensure him going out, in one way or another, as a winner.
I don't think we help Rodgers by approving of his waywardness, but rather by recalling him to the best of himself.
It's no coincidence that Rodgers, like Brett Favre, has faltered in the second half of his career in team accomplishments by becoming too full of himself.
LLCHESTY
August 09, 2022 at 06:20 pm
Meh, worshipping false idols is what led us to Trump. Trump is so tough he complained about the towels in Air Force One being too rough but yet millions of Americans think he's a tough guy. I wish I could remember who said worship the art not the artist, it makes a ton of sense to me.
Coldworld
August 09, 2022 at 08:35 pm
Only the Khardasians are real ..
LLCHESTY
August 10, 2022 at 12:09 am
Ugh just the worst. The fact they've made a billion dollars selling clothes does not fill me with hope for this country. PT Barnum was on to something.
T7Steve
August 10, 2022 at 10:44 am
Please stay away from religion and political analogies here.
It's hard enough for me to fantasize I can solve the Packers problems without going back to the real world.
wildbill
August 10, 2022 at 11:14 am
Don’t you have a political site you can go cry on? This is a Packers SPORTS site.
wildbill
August 10, 2022 at 11:14 am
Don’t you have a political site you can go cry on? This is a Packers SPORTS site.