Tom Brady’s retirement may push Packers closer to running it back

With Tom Brady retiring from the NFL, the Packers may have a greater chance of finally getting back to the Super Bowl in 2022.

Tom Brady is finally walking away from the NFL, after 22 legendary seasons for the most successful quarterback in the history of the league.

Brady’s retirement may serve as further vindication for the Green Bay front office to proceed with their plan to make one more run at a Super Bowl with Aaron Rodgers.

With Rodgers at the helm, the Packers should still be the class of the NFC North next season, even if the rest of the roster is decimated due to Green Bay’s salary cap issues.

Assuming the Packers make the 2022 playoffs, one potential contender may have been taken out of the running with Brady no longer under center.

Whereas the AFC presents a gauntlet of talented QBs including Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert, the NFC has fewer star signal callers to contend with.

Even if a bevy of key contributors leave the team this offseason, the Packers will almost certainly have the following players at their disposal in 2022:

  • Aaron Jones
  • AJ Dillon
  • David Bakhtiari
  • Elgton Jenkins
  • Josh Myers
  • Allen Lazard
  • Kenny Clark
  • Rashan Gary
  • Jaire Alexander
  • Eric Stokes
  • Adrian Amos

That strong core, along with Rodgers at QB, gives the Packers a chance to find the postseason success which has eluded them for over a decade.

We are yet to hear from GM Brian Gutekunst, but comments from Matt LaFleur indicate the team fully intends to keep Rodgers in town and do everything in their power, including pushing more money into the future, to make another charge for a Lombardi.

And honestly, who can blame them? If the Packers had won a title this year, things may be different, as Gutekunst and LaFleur could enter the post-Rodgers era playing with house money. Having a championship under their belt would have bought them a lot of rope moving forward.

But alas, the Packers did not prevail, leaving Gutekunst and LaFleur in the knowledge their jobs will become a lot harder, and more pressured, if Rodgers departs in the coming months.

Somehow, against all probability, Gutekunst managed to actually make the team better between 2020 and 2021, despite the immense cap constraints facing the Packers.

There is no doubt the 2022 Packers will not be as good next season. However, the best team in the NFL doesn’t always win the Super Bowl, a fact Green Bay knows well having been the class of the league during the last two regular seasons, before falling short in January.

Having Rodgers at quarterback provides any team with at least a chance to win a championship in any given year. It’s not hard to see why the Packers brass don’t want to let that chance go.

Of course, all of this is dependent on Rodgers deciding he wants to play for Green Bay next season, or indeed play at all.

Many fans are understandably exhausted by watching their team, and Rodgers specifically, enjoy a spectacular regular season and then fail to deliver when it matters most, and the temptation of seeing what is behind door number two with Jordan Love, while picking up some serious draft capital from a Rodgers trade, is real.

But it is the job of the front office to not make emotional decisions, instead considering what is best for the team. It can be argued blowing up the roster and starting over might be better long term, but not every rebuild yields positive returns.

The Packers might have a lesser chance of winning the Super Bowl in 2022 than they did in 2021, but they still have a chance. Brady’s departure from the conference may only strengthen Green Bay’s resolve to give it one last roll of the dice.

 

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__________________________

Mark Oldacres is a sports writer from Birmingham, England and a Green Bay Packers fan. You can follow him on twitter at @MarkOldacres

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2 points
 

Comments (73)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Gee's picture

January 29, 2022 at 03:24 pm

Sorry 1 player on another team retiring regardless of how good they are, should hold no weight on what your team does. Besides this year playoff came to end, to that guy former back up. yikes

21 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

January 30, 2022 at 04:35 am

Just Tom Brady retiring should not affect things. But I think gauging the team's chances on one's prognosis of the other contenders chances is a sound principle that should be considered. That said, the cap didn't change, so if AR still wants to be the highest paid QB, things remain sufficiently the same and it probably is the last and best chance to trade AR for draft capitol.

8 points
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calabasa's picture

January 29, 2022 at 03:24 pm

Jimmy G is still around.

10 points
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Guam's picture

January 30, 2022 at 08:36 am

And apparently so is Brady. It looks like ESPN got ahead of themselves as Brady has denied he retired. Brady and his agent have both said Brady has not yet decided what he will do.

That said, I don't think what Brady is going to do has any bearing whatsoever on whether Rodgers goes or stays. Cap issues and Rodgers himself will drive that decision.

5 points
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PeteK's picture

January 30, 2022 at 10:59 am

He's waiting to officially retire after the post season.

1 points
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KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

January 30, 2022 at 10:50 pm

You mean the guy who after the 49's beat the Packers is heard shouting "F" the Packers! You mean that guy?

Low class!

0 points
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BruceC1960's picture

January 29, 2022 at 03:26 pm

I see this the other way Mark. Pittsburgh and Tampa both lost Hall of Fame QBs and think they can still make a run with a quality QB. Several teams are thinking they are a quality QB away from being serious contenders:
Denver
Indianapolis
Tennessee
Oakland
Philadelphia
San Francisco(?)
Miami (?)
All you need is more than 1 to be serious and the price will go up.
I think this is the perfect time to trade AR.

17 points
18
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Rhambo53's picture

January 29, 2022 at 04:32 pm

Definitely the perfect time to trade Rodgers. Plus Brady's retirement all but ensures Rodgers won't pull the plug on a Packer trade by retiring himself. Aaron has too much ego to go into the HOF the same day Brady does and play second fiddle again.

10 points
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BruceC1960's picture

January 29, 2022 at 05:42 pm

Would be interesting to see Brady, Big Ben and Rodgers all go in the hall the same day. Wonder if AROD would have to hold Tom’s beer?

5 points
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PortlandMark's picture

February 01, 2022 at 04:11 pm

Trade Rodgers and see if they can talk Brady into coming to GB for 1 year so GB could win a SB.

0 points
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Irish_Cheesehead's picture

January 30, 2022 at 07:35 am

Only if they bundle Drayton in the deal and make it a package. How is that guy still on the coaching staff??

4 points
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croatpackfan's picture

January 30, 2022 at 08:14 am

Some positive thinking - maybe they are searching for over average coach for ST and while they are search, they are not pushed to make change. If the final check is not yet delivered, that does not mean decision is not done.

-2 points
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croatpackfan's picture

January 30, 2022 at 08:15 am

double

0 points
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Roadrunner23's picture

January 29, 2022 at 03:38 pm

I see your point Mark but the fact that Rodgers just can’t get over the hump in GB and he initiated the whole last dance thing.
Rodgers does nothing without thought behind it and the "last dance" should not be taken lightly, he said it for a reason.
It makes me believe he’s ready to move on to a new and invigorating challenge in Denver with Adams and a coach he knows
and respects as much as MLF.
Just a gut feeling but he gone in my opinion.

15 points
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mbpacker's picture

January 29, 2022 at 04:42 pm

Only Rodgers hairdresser knows for sure!

3 points
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3
Johnblood27's picture

January 29, 2022 at 07:47 pm

he has no hairdresser, haven't you seen that rats nest on his head?

8 points
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Malland56's picture

January 30, 2022 at 03:28 am

Adams will be tagged

-5 points
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PeteK's picture

January 30, 2022 at 11:02 am

Then traded.

1 points
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coolhand's picture

January 30, 2022 at 03:45 pm

IMHO Rodgers gave up in the 9ers game and just wanted to call it a night and get out of town

1 points
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dobber's picture

January 29, 2022 at 03:33 pm

I don't think it changes anything. The cap didn't get any higher when Brady retired.

13 points
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13TimeChamps's picture

January 29, 2022 at 04:36 pm

Bingo! Kind of a silly article after reading it. It basically acknowledges a Rodgers led team can't beat a Brady led team.

8 points
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MarkinMadison's picture

January 29, 2022 at 06:28 pm

Or even a Jimmy G led team, apparently.

9 points
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Oppy's picture

January 29, 2022 at 03:41 pm

The chances of getting to a super bowl were never the criteria for this decision.

6 points
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TarynsEyes's picture

January 29, 2022 at 03:41 pm

The BS reader is off the charts on this take.

11 points
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stockholder's picture

January 29, 2022 at 03:54 pm

Whats new? So where are the Wrs and TES? Forget Lazard. You can't stretch the Defense without them. And you won't need Rodgers, if you just want to run the ball. Remember The west Coast offense? It still needed speed. Even Favre complained when they took Brooks away. Gutey has avoided taking a wr early for too long. He needs a sure thing that won't take 3 years in development. The whole NFL knows that. And Gutey just can't give up a boat load of picks, for a John Jefferson to come here. Gutey surly could afford someone if you don't pay Adams 30 mil. After all he's been finding the missing pieces on Defense. I believe the secret is in the sauce. Remember how Rodgers praised MVS. To win. Start bringing in the speed at Wr. Adams is No longer the key to the Super-Bowl.

2 points
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Coldworld's picture

January 29, 2022 at 04:22 pm

Adams is no longer a Packer.

3 points
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1
mbpacker's picture

January 29, 2022 at 04:45 pm

Without Adams doubtful 12 is interested in coming back.

3 points
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Crankbait's picture

January 30, 2022 at 06:40 am

He was not the key to the Super Bowl last year either. Packers offense was more dynamic when he was out.

6 points
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croatpackfan's picture

January 30, 2022 at 08:20 am

So you are rare fan. The one who still believe in what Diva shit when he is talking... Why he did not use Lazard in the last game when he talked so many time how Lazard is reliable player? What Diva says means only commercial in favor of him - "oh, he is such team player, he respects his team mates, he this, he that..." - bullshit. At. The. End.

1 points
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Coldworld's picture

January 29, 2022 at 04:06 pm

No, I’m not buying that one. Might add another suitor though.

3 points
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Alberta_Packer's picture

January 29, 2022 at 04:19 pm

Brady's retirement is moot relative to the GBP. While he may have been the final hurdle for Rodgers winning another SB - he was not the only one - as the Packers usually stumbled over the earlier hurdles - recording multiple DNFs.

6 points
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murf7777's picture

January 30, 2022 at 08:26 am

Yes and it certainly wasn’t Brady who beat us last year as he threw 3 INT’s in the second half.

5 points
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canadapacker's picture

January 29, 2022 at 04:32 pm

I dont think that Brady's retirement will have anything to do with what happens in Green Bay. As I have posted before - AR has at least 3 good years left in his body. He played 3 years less than most of the other great QB's while sitting behind #4 - and that does mean a lot. Brady, Ben, Brees, Montana Rivers etc. That is why I think that he should be re-signed and let the chips fall where they may with Love. Love is not a Fields nor a Hebert nor a anybody. I dont know why so many people want to annoint him as he heir apparent. Is Gute some sort of guru? No - and TT is only a guru because other teams let the guy who was rated to go #1 fall to 16 and he worked out. TT has a lot more bust picks than make picks and especially in selecting quarterbacks - remember Brohm - remember Huntley. At least Holmgren and company developed QB's behind Favre - who played well for other teams (Brunell /Hassleback/Brooks) - Under MM/TT we have had 0.
AR probably should take Adams and head for Denver - weather might be a bit better but the problem is 3fold. Poor Oline, Kansas City, Kansas City.

3 points
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Straya's picture

January 29, 2022 at 05:04 pm

Love doesn't have to be a Fields or a Herbert. If he turns out to be, that's a bonus. I mean, we just lost to Jimmy G and Nick Foles has a Superbowl ring

4 points
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canadapacker's picture

January 29, 2022 at 09:55 pm

Love isnt even close to being a backup. He isnt even close to being a Foles or a Jimmy G. He needs at least another year holding the clipboard. Dont forget when AR took over from Favre against Dallas - he just about won that game. When he became the first year starter his record was ?? He was 6-10 - and we can expect Love - if he starts next year to be worse than that.

-2 points
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Leatherhead's picture

January 29, 2022 at 04:33 pm

So, a $500 million/year company should make decisions based on what some player on a different team does?

Yeah, that sounds like a pretty bad way to steer a course. I'm pretty sure that when the whole drafting of Love was done, they didn't say , "But if Tom Brady retires at 40 whatever, we'll keep rolling with Rodgers."

No. Gutekunst's task as GM was to win what we could with Rodgers and transition to the post-Rodgers future, which has now arrived. That's how the contracts were structured. It's a PLAN, not a series of reactions.

10 points
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mbpacker's picture

January 29, 2022 at 04:37 pm

Well. if the Packers had advanced this year, they would not have had to worry about Brady.

11 points
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Bearmeat's picture

January 29, 2022 at 04:49 pm

Nope. Don't want 12 back. Not for any reason. Give me the picks. Time to turn the page.

6 points
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7
4thand10's picture

January 29, 2022 at 05:35 pm

I agree with you bearmeat. And for the last decade all we have heard is “ Having Rodgers at quarterback provides any team with at least a chance to win a championship in any given year. It’s not hard to see why the Packers brass don’t want to let that chance go.” I call BS. Its about the team

Orton …SB, crap QB, good team
Foles…SB, crap QB, good team
Wilson..SB, crap QB, good team

The 49ers are a team that says you can be really good and not have an all star QB. I would rather see a superior OL, DL, running game , special teams than 1 overpaid QB and 1 good WR handicap the entire team.

4 points
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egbertsouse's picture

January 29, 2022 at 06:10 pm

You put Wilson in there with Foles and Orton? You have no credibility.

0 points
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2
canadapacker's picture

January 29, 2022 at 09:59 pm

Orton - great Defense - in Chicago- Urlacher et al - Phillie - great defense - and they shut down Brady - Wilson - great defense and they should have beaten Brady when the dummy called for a pass at the goal line. Use facts not crappy second thoughts.

1 points
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4thand10's picture

January 31, 2022 at 09:06 am

Wilson closes his eyes when he drops long bombs….change my mind. He is not the type of QB to carry a team when his running game or defense is bad…change my mind. How many picks does he throw on an annual basis?

Yes…not a fan of Wilson even though I’m a Wisconsin guy myself. His whole career at UW…he had a running game and a defense.

0 points
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Difer's picture

January 29, 2022 at 05:06 pm

Looking forward to watching the Broncos next year if they pick up Rodgers as everyone expects. We’ll see what might have been had the Packer organization built a solid team around Rodgers (I’m talking about a decent defense and special teams as well as more than one star receiver). I’ll follow the Packers out of curiosity, but not expecting much change.

-7 points
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9
Coldworld's picture

January 29, 2022 at 05:50 pm

Enjoy. I think we can guess the outcome, but maybe hope springs eternal for you.

3 points
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Bearmeat's picture

January 29, 2022 at 08:03 pm

You're not a Packer fan then.

What's amazing to me? This EXACT thing happened with the Favre fans in 08 and even 09. How'd that work out for them?

This is going to be more of the same. Aaron Rodgers is THE PRIMARY REASON the Packers didn't make the super bowl EACH of the last two years.

10 points
11
1
croatpackfan's picture

January 30, 2022 at 08:29 am

Bearmeat, I'm with you, but not just last 2 seasons. What is with 2014 when they scored also only one TD while D and ST get them 5 chances in the first half to score. 3 of them was in red zone! Packers scored only 16 points out of that - 1 TD and 3 FG. And added 2 FG in thw whole 2nd half. People blames for loss of that game Ha-Ha and Brian Bostick? I can say on that only Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha... If Aaron Rodgers did his job properly and had clean panties, not full of crap and urine from fear, there would not be significance in any 2 point conversions, or on-side kick!

-1 points
1
2
jurp's picture

January 30, 2022 at 11:33 am

The Packers also lost the ball on downs at the goal line in the 1st Quarter.

0 points
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Irish_Cheesehead's picture

January 30, 2022 at 07:39 am

Let me save you some time. Denver will go 14-3. They’ll be the #1 seed. They’ll sell a shit ton of Rodgers jerseys. Then they’ll lose at Mile High in the first round.

4 points
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coolhand's picture

January 30, 2022 at 03:52 pm

I doubt that record, playing KC and the Chargers 4 times, maybe even the Raiders.

0 points
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Starrbrite's picture

January 29, 2022 at 05:27 pm

My opinion was the exact opposite.
I believed if we had won the SB, we would sell out for another—back to back.
If we lost however, I felt ARod was gone and we look to the future.
As many know, and unlike most, I want ARod to stay.

6 points
6
0
relleum61's picture

January 29, 2022 at 08:20 pm

51% of me would like to have AR back. The retirement of Brady does not wipe out the need for the Pack to create approximately $60 million in cap space. Would AR renegotiate his remaining 1 year contract to help create that space? Nothing in his past indicates that possibility. Without that change of heart for AR, if it were me, I would sign a “game manager” qb to compete with Love and/or have a ready back-up. The extra draft picks from trading AR plus the current core of the Packers would be strong enough to win the NFC North.

2 points
4
2
Starrbrite's picture

February 01, 2022 at 11:46 pm

I know your thoughts well relleum61…could’ve written them myself—-tsk tsk.

0 points
0
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Packers0808's picture

January 29, 2022 at 05:39 pm

Maybe Rodgers will go to Tampa and fool everyone, warm climate.

3 points
3
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Coldworld's picture

January 29, 2022 at 05:56 pm

“What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.”
T. S. Elliot

2 points
3
1
mbpacker's picture

January 29, 2022 at 06:59 pm

Think T.S. was a Packer fan when he penned that?

2 points
3
1
egbertsouse's picture

January 29, 2022 at 06:12 pm

Rodgers isn’t going anywhere. Gutey and LaFlower will kiss his ass until he stays. They seem unable to move on.

-3 points
1
4
stockholder's picture

January 29, 2022 at 06:16 pm

Brady's father said he isn't retiring. It isn't official until Brady says so.

1 points
2
1
mbpacker's picture

January 29, 2022 at 07:02 pm

Maybe only his hairdresser knows for sure, too! Don't see Tom as a Clairol guy though.

1 points
1
0
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

January 30, 2022 at 10:55 pm

That is all BS!

Brady cannot officially retire until after February 4th. At that time he will receive $15,000,000 guaranteed bonus. If he retires before Feb 4th he doesn't get it. I'd say revisit Brady after Feb. 4th to see if he is going to retire. If he does Tampa would definitely be on Rodgers radar, but would Tampa be willing to give up White and draft capital? :)

1 points
1
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MarkinMadison's picture

January 29, 2022 at 06:30 pm

The only thing that Brady retiring does is make one more opening for a starting QB. If Rodgers can't beat Jimmy G. then Brady retiring is irrelevant. Time to get some picks.

9 points
10
1
TwinCitiesPackerFan's picture

January 29, 2022 at 06:49 pm

Time to move on from Aaron Rodgers ...
... he has failed far too many times in the playoffs
... his divo baggage is getting to be unbearable

Trade him while he has value ...
... anything more than a #1 round and a couple of #2 rounds is a steal

8 points
9
1
jurp's picture

January 30, 2022 at 11:34 am

Anything more than a Day 3 pick and a six-pack of Coors is a steal at this point.

1 points
1
0
TwinCitiesPackerFan's picture

January 29, 2022 at 06:48 pm

Time to move on from Aaron Rodgers ...
... he has failed far too many times in the playoffs
... his divo baggage is getting to be unbearable

Trade him while he has value ...
... anything better than a #1 round and a couple of #2 rounds is a steal

2 points
2
0
BirdDogUni's picture

January 29, 2022 at 07:25 pm

I honestly don't see how Tom Brady retiring affects GB's decisions, ever...

9 points
9
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Packers0808's picture

January 29, 2022 at 07:56 pm

Only the Man Bun knows!

1 points
1
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tommynak's picture

January 30, 2022 at 12:38 am

No guarantee having Rodgers gets us to SB, haven't been there since 2010 and have had much heartache trying to get back. It's time to cut bait and let Rodgers leave if he wants. This roster has a nice core of youthful talent and if you can unload AR and a transition sign & trade on Adams to what looks like Denver you probably return 3 first rounds at least 1 2nd round picks and a couple of starting players in Jeudy at WR and possible a D player. You can't weigh how that puts you in a stronger position much quicker and keeps you viable sooner in the NFC. This is a well run organization and know is the time to reap some rewards before it is to late and we return to the 70' & 80's Packers.

3 points
4
1
Irish_Cheesehead's picture

January 30, 2022 at 07:31 am

Did I miss something? Did Tom Brady knock us out of the playoffs this year?

5 points
5
0
mrtundra's picture

January 30, 2022 at 07:56 am

This year was the year for GB to get to the Super Bowl, again. Brady is out of SB contention, and all we had to do was get past SF and then the Rams. Now, all the talk is now that Brady is gone, we may have a shot??? Bull on that. All that talk of HFA in Lambeau, when it's cold, went down the drain, with Rodgers playing a mediocre game and our STs playing their usual game. The Last Dance means Rodgers planned on being gone, in the post season. Now, he is going to be somebody else's QB, it seems. It was fun while it lasted, but we should have had at least two more Super Bowl victories in GB, with Rodgers as our QB. Let the Love era begin! GO PACK, GO!!!

8 points
8
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Qoojo's picture

January 30, 2022 at 11:36 am

Article makes no sense. How did Brady stop the packers playoff run this year? Last year, it was a bonehead play by King + TB defense. Additionally, I would say it wasn't very smart going no huddle so much with an injured OL, against a defense that could pressure with the just front 4.

2 points
2
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coolhand's picture

January 30, 2022 at 04:00 pm

My take is this, after all of the picks in the second half, what did Mr HOF QB do? 3 and outs. And then when we are driving at the end, get a 1st and goal at the 8 with a totally gassed TB defense, what do we do? We can't get off a play and call a TO. TB gets to regroup, and we go 3 and out with 3 passes to a double teamed Adams with Lazard open for a TD. Then Mr prima donna gets pissed when MLF doesn't let him throw a 4th time to a double teamed Adams. Time to move on from Rodgers. He has proven e can't win the big game when the pressure is on.

1 points
1
0
Fubared's picture

January 31, 2022 at 10:08 pm

Bonehead coaching too and Rodgers not being Rodgers again.

0 points
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barutanseijin's picture

January 30, 2022 at 04:08 pm

Rodgers has proven over and over that no matter the opponent, no matter where, he does not have what it takes to go all the way in the playoffs. Brady retiring just means he won’t lose to Brady. He’ll lose to Jimmy G or Kyler M or Stafford or somebody else.

0 points
0
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Fubared's picture

January 31, 2022 at 10:06 pm

Packers Org should have drank the koolaid last year, accepted their fate that the run of HOF QB's is ending and it wont be pretty going forward and had the courage to trade Rodgers for a pile of picks, good picks and rebuild quickly.
I've seen teams with great picks turn it around in two years, not five or six and are competitive.
I dont think Rodgers value will bring much, he is just too old to build a team around and thus, your not getting anywhere near what you would have gotten two years ago. Especially after his flameout in the Playoffs the past two years.
Teams will be thinking if he cant take GB to the SB with adams and that 13 win team how the heck is he going to take us?
I would not be surprised at all that no one is interested including Denver.

0 points
0
0