MintBaconDrivel
8 years ago


It seems like “Are the Green Bay Packers wasting Aaron Rodgers’ prime?” might become the new “Is Joe Flacco elite?” It could turn into our favorite NFL-related meme before we know it.

The Rodgers question is coming up more and more with each passing season. The headline to this post is tongue-in-cheek because the question itself is a bit crazy (and I want to see how many angry emails I get from people who didn’t read this paragraph). First of all, Rodgers is just 32 and his prime might last another seven or eight years. We have no idea, especially since other quarterbacks are playing at a high level well into their late 30s.

Also, nothing is being wasted.

The Packers are 80-39 in games Rodgers has started. The Packers won four straight NFC North titles, a streak that was snapped last year. They’ve been to the playoffs seven straight times. And they won Super Bowl XLV, of course. That’s a great run.

Super Bowl championships aren’t inevitable for a team with a great quarterback, or an inalienable right either. It’s really hard to win just one. There are 32 competitive and well-run organizations competing for that prize (fine, fine, like 28 or 29 well-run organizations). Other great quarterbacks like Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Russell Wilson, Ben Roethlisberger and others have also been competing for Super Bowls during Rodgers’ career. Ask Tony Romo or Philip Rivers if it looks like Rodgers’ prime has been wasted.

The Packers have also had an inexplicable run of hard-luck playoff losses. Some people want to believe that all 50 Super Bowls were won by The Best Team in Football, but that’s not true. The best team doesn’t always win in a single-elimination tournament. Weird things happen. And they have for the Packers.

[list]

  • In 2009, Rodgers had an unbelievable wild-card game at the Arizona Cardinals, sending it to overtime. In overtime, he was hit and somehow kicked a loose ball up into the hands of Karlos Dansby for an interception and a touchdown.

  • In 2011, the 15-1 Packers got beat by a hot Giants team in their playoff opener. Not really bad luck, but it’s a great example that the best team doesn’t always win.

  • In 2013, the Packers lost on a field goal on the last play of a home playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, a game in which Rodgers was still limited after breaking his collarbone weeks before.

  • In 2014, the Packers took on the cruelest loss of them all in the NFC championship game. If Morgan Burnett doesn’t inexplicably slide after his fourth-quarter interception at the Seattle Seahawks (and, to be fair, if Julius Peppers doesn’t tell him to slide), Rodgers and the Packers were likely going back to a Super Bowl. But as we know, Burnett slid like the game was over and everything fell apart after that, including a brutal muffed onside kick. Seattle won in overtime.

  • In 2015, the Packers got really lucky to take the Cardinals to overtime, hitting a Hail Mary at the end of regulation. Then they lost in heartbreaking fashion again. A blown coverage led to a 75-yard play by Larry Fitzgerald in overtime and the Cardinals won. Maybe if the Packers won the coin toss, they’d have been going to the NFC title game.[/list]

  • Teams need to get lucky to win it all and luck hasn’t always been on Green Bay’s side. Though it works the other way too: The Packers needed some luck to make the playoffs in 2010, and they won a Super Bowl that year. But those who think Rodgers’ prime is being wasted probably also believed the weird notion that LeBron James’ legacy hinged on Game 7 of this year’s NBA Finals. Team sports are more complicated than just counting up rings at the end. You can be consistently great and still not win a handful of titles. You need to be great and have a lot of luck too … and you still might lose to other great players or teams. And there’s nothing wrong with 80-39, four division titles, seven playoff appearances and one ring.

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    UserPostedImage
    DarkaneRules
    8 years ago
    Well according to some fans, he's been wasting his own prime...
    Circular Arguments: They are a heck of an annoyance
    nerdmann
    8 years ago
    The last three years, we've shit ourselves right out of the playoffs.

    We need the defense to step up and win a championship for us. The Offense has shown it can get us there. The defense needs to seal the deal.
    “Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”
    DakotaT
    8 years ago
    I guess it depends on how you measure success. I figure when you have an elite quarterback and arguably the best player in the league, anything less than the Lombardi trophy is failure. Assigning that failure is up to each fan. I think when the GM leaves glaring holes in certain positions such as inside linebacker or tight end and for year after year, that blame lies with him. Being fiscally conservative has its place, just not when you have the aforementioned best player in the league.
    UserPostedImage
    Zero2Cool
    8 years ago

    I guess it depends on how you measure success. I figure when you have an elite quarterback and arguably the best player in the league, anything less than the Lombardi trophy is failure. Assigning that failure is up to each fan. I think when the GM leaves glaring holes in certain positions such as inside linebacker or tight end and for year after year, that blame lies with him. Being fiscally conservative has its place, just not when you have the aforementioned best player in the league.

    Originally Posted by: DakotaT 



    If it were as simple as that, why are their only 32 General Managers in the NFL and endure such a high turnover? I can answer that. Because it is not that simple and just because you have a hole it doesn't mean their is a player or players in abundance that will fit said hole. This isn't Madden where you can just plug and play players (GDammit! lol).

    I do agree with the premise that I would be happier if Thompson and the Packers took a flier/risk on a player here and there. I'm not saying sign some mediocre Inside Linebacker to a four year $24.5 million contract, but a risk here and there isn't going to kill us. That being said, it does take two and some fans (few actually) understand and respect that process.
    UserPostedImage
    Barfarn
    8 years ago
    Frank Schwab should have gone into investing with his brother Charles; he clearly is suffering from Rodgers-Stockholm syndrome.

    There are 1000 reasons why a team wins or loses a game. But, when the issue takes the perspective that GB has the best player [Rodgers] and he is being wasted; the idea being asserted is that MVP Rodgers plays great and his mates are letting him down. But the reality is that the reason we lost 5 straight playoff games is because Rodgers has not played anywhere near an MVP level in them.

    Even though Rodgers started shaky in his 1st Playoff game and a batted pass ended the game, anyone saying Rodgers cost us the 2009 AZ game is a nut. Though not perfect, he played MVP-like

    Rodgers career passer rating in Playoffs is 98.2. And in the 2009 AZ game and all Playoff wins his PR is 110.9. However, in Rodgers’ last 5 playoff loses Rodgers’ PR is only 79.6.

    Notwithstanding any other excuse or reason offered, if Rodgers plays to his average and doesn’t choke in crunch time GB wins playoff games in 2011, 13, 14, 15. Though we couldn’t beat Seattle in ’13; we should have gone to SB in 2011, 14 and 15. We didn’t because our great MVP QB played more like Mark Sanchez than Aaron Rodgers.

    Here’s Rodgers’ choking at crunch time:

    2011 Giants game: Crunch time in this game was late 2nd and 3rd quarters:
    With 1:47 left in half Giants took a 3 point lead. Obviously an elite QB will take us down to score so GB goes in at half up by 4 or tied and GB starts w/ the ball in 3rd Q. Or at the very least, if he cant score at least a good QB wont give Giants another scoring opportunity. But GB punted leaving enough time for Giants to score and they scored a TD.

    Okay down by 10, the first drive of 3rd Q is critical; but Rodgers fumbles on 1st and 10 in FG range.
    Then GB D throws a 3 and out.
    Then Rodgers moves the ball to 2nd and goal at 5, but can only get a FG.
    Then GB D throws a 4 and out.
    Then Rodgers is sacked on 4th and Giants get ball back on downs.

    These 4 drives with the offense effectively costing us 7 points and scoring only 3 pts, while the D was throwing a shut-out in the 3rd Q, essentially ended the game.

    2013 49ers: Niners were the better team, but on this day if Rodgers played MVP in 2nd half, we win. We were down by 3 at half and the D again pitched a shut-out in 3rd Q [in 3 SF drives]. Rodgers sucked in his 1st 2 drives of 3rd Q to take/build the lead [In 5 drop backs: 3 INC and 2 sacks for -13]. In crunch time, SF up by 3 with 4 drives left, Rodgers got a FG and TD and Kapernick got a FG and a TD. In crunch time Kapernick [4-8-67, 1 TD and 35 yards rushing] > Rodgers [4-8-70, 2 yards rushing]; but to win we needed Rodgers > Kapernick. If Rodgers scores 2 TDs instead of FG and TD we probably win that game.

    In 2014: we only needed Rodgers to get 1 or 2 first downs in the 4th Q or one score would have ended the game. Peppers direction was sound: have Burnett go down and not risk a blindside fumble and let the MVP get 2-3-4 first downs and kick a FG, Game Over! If Burnett got an extra 7-10 yards it would not have mattered.

    Up 16-0 at half. Our next 5 drives were: 3 and out; 4 and out; 9 plays and FG [55 yards running, 7 passing]; 3 and out; and 3 and out. This is why we lost. Bostick played like Bostick, the D played like the D; the Special teams played like the special teams. The thing that actually was different in the 2nd half is that Rodgers played like a poor man’s Mark Sanchez instead of Aaron Rodgers.

    2015: Rodgers played great for 2.67 quarters. Then from 4:58 in 3rd in 4 drives Rodgers was 3-12-18 [plus 2 hail marys to Janis for 101 and a TD]. Before the Janis TD drive; GB had 3 drives: 14 plays, 28 yards and no scores; conversely Palmer [Playing more like a crunch time MVP] put up 10 points in AZ’s 3 corresponding drives. This is why we lost in AZ. All Rodgers needed to do was have the offense produce the last third of game like it did the first 2/3s and we win.

    All the stuff about Rodgers not having any receivers is RIDICULOUS! Cobb was in for 2.5 drives: (1) 3 plays, started at 17- punted at 17; (2) 3 plays, started at 25-punted at 31; (3 partial) 8 plays, started at 5, Cobb had 2 targets, 2 incompletions and got hurt w/ GB at 46. After Cobb’s departure GB got FG, FG, INT [tip by 6’ 8” Campbell as Sitton could keep him out of throwing lane-Abby was wide open]; and then TD. Then came those 3 disastrous drives. 3 really good drives to take lead and command of the game; then 3 really bad drives with the exact same weapons. It is illogical to assert the problem was the weapons. Again the thing that was different, the thing that was good, then bad, was the play of Rodgers.
    Smokey
    8 years ago
    It never ceases to amaze me how many members of this forum that wear rose-colored glasses . The Packers have not won a SB sense winning their 4th Lombardi Trophy because they were not good enough . Poor personal, injuries, and more have taken the Packers out of the final big game.

    I remember saying the Packers needed a good RB , I was shouted down and told that the Packers had the best passing attack and did not need a better RB . Then Eddie Lacey was drafted and the conversation changed 180* . The point is that even with the best QB in the league, one player does not make a TEAM .

    I do however have a realistic expectation and if this team comes together as I believe that it can , they have a very good chance of going all the way this 2016 season . Much will depend upon how well the Packer Defense plays this season . The Offense , IMO , may be the best in the NFL this 2016 season. I see Lacy having a pro-bowl season and as a result the Passing game will explode. Yet as I said , the success or failure of the 2016 Packers will ultimately ride with the Defense .

    I truly do believe that ,"Offence wins games, but Defense wins Championships" .


    [cheers] [cheers] [cheers]


    UserPostedImage
    Cheesey
    8 years ago
    I don't wear "rose colored glasses", I wear "GREEN AND GOLD" colored glasses! 🤣
    Anyway, I there are many NFL teams that WISH they had won a super bowl just 5 years ago. Or to have 4 Lombardi trophies with their team.
    That said, I think that the D is a major factor in how far we go this year. AND the Lacy thing, AND how the WR's perform.

    UserPostedImage
    sschind
    8 years ago

    It never ceases to amaze me how many members of this forum that wear rose-colored glasses . The Packers have not won a SB sense winning their 4th Lombardi Trophy because they were not good enough . Poor personal, injuries, and more have taken the Packers out of the final big game.

    I remember saying the Packers needed a good RB , I was shouted down and told that the Packers had the best passing attack and did not need a better RB . Then Eddie Lacey was drafted and the conversation changed 180* . The point is that even with the best QB in the league, one player does not make a TEAM .

    I do however have a realistic expectation and if this team comes together as I believe that it can , they have a very good chance of going all the way this 2016 season . Much will depend upon how well the Packer Defense plays this season . The Offense , IMO , may be the best in the NFL this 2016 season. I see Lacy having a pro-bowl season and as a result the Passing game will explode. Yet as I said , the success or failure of the 2016 Packers will ultimately ride with the Defense .

    I truly do believe that ,"Offence wins games, but Defense wins Championships" .


    [cheers] [cheers] [cheers]

    Originally Posted by: Smokey 



    I disagree with the not being good enough part. The Packers have lost how many playoff games on the last play or last drive? If a team is not good enough to win those games they don't come that close to winning those games. They don't come close to being in those games in the first place.

    Take the Seattle loss in 2014. If any one of a half a dozen plays go our way in the last 2 minutes or so we win that game. If we were not good enough to win it that would not be the case. In 2015 we take Arizona to OT. Teams that are not good enough to win do not take teams who are into OT. In 2013 we lose on a FG on the last play of the game (IIRC) Again if we are not good enough to win we are not tied with a team that presumably is good enough to win that late in the game.

    I do agree that a better RB (or LB or TE or whatever) may have made us better and we may have won those games but then again maybe not. Still I don't think that changes the fact that the Packers were so close so many times. I realize that close doesn't cut it but even teams that are good enough don't win every single game. Going on your premise there is only 1 team every year that is good enough to win the SB and I disagree with that.

    If we fall short again some people will say its because we are not good enough but I say it will be because even though we are good enough so are maybe a half a dozen other teams and when two good enough team play one has to lose.

    TheKanataThrilla
    8 years ago

    I disagree with the not being good enough part. The Packers have lost how many playoff games on the last play or last drive? If a team is not good enough to win those games they don't come that close to winning those games. They don't come close to being in those games in the first place.

    Take the Seattle loss in 2014. If any one of a half a dozen plays go our way in the last 2 minutes or so we win that game. If we were not good enough to win it that would not be the case. In 2015 we take Arizona to OT. Teams that are not good enough to win do not take teams who are into OT. In 2013 we lose on a FG on the last play of the game (IIRC) Again if we are not good enough to win we are not tied with a team that presumably is good enough to win that late in the game.

    I do agree that a better RB (or LB or TE or whatever) may have made us better and we may have won those games but then again maybe not. Still I don't think that changes the fact that the Packers were so close so many times. I realize that close doesn't cut it but even teams that are good enough don't win every single game. Going on your premise there is only 1 team every year that is good enough to win the SB and I disagree with that.

    If we fall short again some people will say its because we are not good enough but I say it will be because even though we are good enough so are maybe a half a dozen other teams and when two good enough team play one has to lose.

    Originally Posted by: sschind 



    Totally agree. I don't like most of the blame falling on Aaron. 2013, 2014, and 2015 had some horrible play calling by Mike McCarthy which to me should be questioned. Trick plays in the red zone that failed, playing not to lose, conservative calling ending in FGs, running the ball when we were moving the ball effectively and killing clock with the passing game. You'd swear we did everything possible to lose the Seattle game on offense.

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