Rodgers: 'I'm baaaaaaacckkkk'
By JASON WILDE
jwilde@espnwisconsin.com
GREEN BAY The text message was brief and to the point, and the only thing easier to read Tuesday evening was the excitement coming from Aaron Rodgers iPhone.
Im baaaaaaacckkkk.
Yes, after seeing his 46-game consecutive starts streak (including playoffs) snapped when he was inactive for Sunday nights 31-27 loss to the New England Patriots because of a concussion suffered Dec. 12 at Detroit, the Green Bay Packers quarterback said he has passed all the requisite cognitive tests and been cleared by both team physician Dr. John Gray and an independent neurologist, clearing the way for him to return to action for Sundays must-win game against the New York Giants at Lambeau Field.
Rodgers' return wasn't unexpected, but it wasn't a foregone conclusion, either. A number of NFL players have taken longer than a week to be cleared following concussions, under the league's new guidelines.
The Packers loss to the Patriots with backup Matt Flynn at quarterback, coupled with the Chicago Bears 40-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings Monday night, clinched the NFC North division title for the Bears and eliminated one more route for the Packers to reach the postseason.
Green Bay (8-6) can still make the playoffs, and its simplest route is to beat fellow NFC playoff contender New York (9-5) and then beat the Bears (10-4) on Jan. 2 at Lambeau Field. If the Packers win those two games, no matter what else happens in the NFC, theyll make the playoffs as a wild card.
While Flynn played well in his stead, having Rodgers, who suffered the first diagnosed concussion of his football life on Oct. 10 at Washington, back under center certainly will help their chances.
In the wake of last years congressional hearings on NFL head injuries, the league instituted strict guidelines on when players should be allowed to return to games or practices after concussions. According to the policy, a player who is diagnosed with a concussion should not be allowed to return to football activities until he is fully asymptotic, both at rest and after exertion; has a normal neurological examination, normal neuropsychological testing; and has been cleared to return by both his team physician and the independent neurological consultant."
Rodgers suffered his second concussion in nine weeks when his head hit the Ford Field turf hard following an 18-yard scramble after being tackled by Detroits Amari Spievey and Landon Johnson with 2 minute 43 seconds left in the first half in the teams 7-3 loss to the Lions.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy called timeout after the play, and Rodgers stayed in the game but was sacked for a 13-yard loss on the next play, a called pass. Brandon Jackson then gained 6 yards on a handoff, and on third-and-17, Rodgers checked down to Jackson for a 4-yard pickup, forcing a punt. Flynn then replaced him when the Packers got the ball back with 1:14 left in the half.
Rodgers had been listed as doubtful on the teams official injury report last Friday, but there seemed to be some hope that he might still play when he acted like his normal self during a surprise visit to the locker room during media access following practice and McCarthy backtracked on an earlier statement that a decision would be made by Saturday.
Then, on Saturday morning, the team downgraded Rodgers to out and promoted practice-squad quarterback Graham Harrell to the 53-man roster to back up Flynn against the Patriots.
It was unclear exactly how far Rodgers advanced through the protocol last week; all team officials were willing to say last Saturday was that Rodgers was not far enough along in the process to be medically cleared. Rodgers would have had to show Gray that he was symptom-free (no headaches, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, etc.) and able to test equal to a baseline neuropsychological exam he took before the season. The independent neurologist then would have examined him and determined whether or not he should be cleared.
On Tuesday, Rodgers got the news he was hoping for.
Ive been cleared, Rodgers said. Then, after a pause, he added, Its not that big of a story. Is it?
Not at all.