Remember that devastating playoff loss to Seattle?

This team hasn't been the same since. Tom Clements, widely perceived as Aaron's yes-man, was promoted to calling plays in the wake of that loss.

Aaron was finally free to do whatever he wanted, or whatever Clements would allow, which we assume included a great deal of "sandlot football." Aaron likes rolling out and throwing deep. However that got figured out by defenses. So Mike had to take charge of play calling again.

It just seems that Aaron's fundamentals have been gone since that time. Everyone knows it. Hell, Aaron barely even got any preseason reps. There's no proof, but it just seems to me that Aaron is "pulling a Bert," the same thing our previous QB did when he couldn't get HIS way, with Ted.

With Bert, it was more a question of personnel moves. With Aaron, it's more about control. Hard to say. Just thought I'd throw it out there, as everyone said I was crazy when I alleged it last year. I mean let's face it. Aaron knows how to use proper mechanics. He knows how to go through progressions.

For a player of his caliber to suddenly suck like this is historically unprecedented.

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I can't see it. You don't become as dominate of a player as Aaron WAS and then turn it off and turn it on whenever you feel like it. There is too much fire in the belly to tank it. He may well be upset when when he put the helmet on and snaps the chinstrap he wants to win.

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I agree about the fire in the belly. However, I suspect it might be currently directed back against Mike. We're all aware of how Aaron doesn't let go of perceived sleights.

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I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Clements. The section of games with him calling plays had some bad games but overall was better than the offense has been since McCarthy took back over. Something else is wrong. Rodgers is too competitive I think to actively sabotage and lose games.

I also dont believe Rodgers gets a play and thinks I'm tanking this; And I doubt this is Nerd's position.

But beyond that one cant apply rational thought concepts to a guy who has mentally 95% gone off the rails.

Whatever it is: terror of being hit [this is a main cause of why great college QBs dont make it]; the want to play sandlot football; extreme narcissism and sociopathy; mad he cant get his way all the time because hes earned it; insecurity; a loss of trust in teammates or a combination of all of it; he is refusing to fix it.

Monday morning when it comes time to address the deficiencies and why they occurred; Rodgers steadfastly defends everything he did. He may even be contrite on the outside, giving the coaches the belief that he is trying; but inside he is hell bent on doing his thing. His competitive drive is not focused on winning games; its about winning a series of grudge matches with the staff, his mates, the media, etc. This is sabotage.

Crosby had a bad year, but ya bring him back hoping he can conquer his psychological demons. Trust boy is running out of time.

While I'm not completely dismissing the theory because it's definitely possible, I couldn't see him doing so for going on an entire season. And if he's trying to pout and complain about how he can't run the offense, why not just put in full effort when he audibles and don't do so when he doesn't to show "Hey, I run this offense better let me do my thing"? What is he proving by changing plays and then not executing them effectively?

Maybe he's being blackmailed.

That's my hypothesis as to Bert's ridiculous obviously faked Strahan sack and most of those playoff INTs.

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Aaron Rodgers has a lot of freedom to change the play at the line of scrimmage. This theory is manifested out of foolish hatred and failure to understand people. Hogwash, I tell you, HOGWASH!

Aaron Rodgers already has control over the offense.

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Typically a run is called and a pass play is designed to audible into off that run and vice-versa when a pass play is called. If Rodgers is going to completely change the play to something totally different he needs time to set the line scheme, set the receivers locations and routes, set the backfield block schemes, etc. If the play comes in late, he wont have enough time. If the D shifts at the last minute he wont have time to completely audible, only enough time for the one or 2 syllable command that converts the, for example, pre-called pass to the pre-called run play.

Also in practice various plays are scripted for certain downs and distances. The variations are run off these plays with halftime adjustments. The odds of everybody being on the same page is much more likely if Rodgers sticks to the script. If Rodgers pulls a play out of the depth of his vast brain, the odds of everyone else running their routes with precision drops big time.

Remember that play a few weeks back on 3rd and goal at 2 or 3, when the OL cut blocked for a pass and Rodgers handed off the ball? No way it came in that way. I think Rodgers tried a full audible there and the results were disastrous.

Rodgers has autonomy; but it is limited. If Rodgers wants to throw deep 20 times; but only 3 deep plays were worked on that week, it wont be pretty if he actually throws deep 20 times. So Rodgers could go to Mike with his immaculate film study and brilliant offensive mind [this is not sarcasm] and petition for working on 12 deep plays instead of 3 and let's say Mike says "no" or tries to compromise to 5. Rodgers in his competitive mind is so certain McCarthy is being obtuse, so certain he's right [and he might be], and so predisposed in thinking Mike's game plan sucks; he subconsciously wills a bad result. Surely everyone here has been shooting hoops and you THINK the rim looks smaller than the ball; the result you shoot half your normal average. So the team oriented normal thinking person says, "I suck shooting today, I'll hurt my team if I keep shooting, let me set some screens, pass and play tenacious D for a while to see if I get my shooting mojo back." The Dick keeps layin' bricks though he's trying desperately to make the shot.

Rodgers has lost the ability to put the team first; he's not intentionally tanking any play more than the brick layer is trying to miss his shots. It's still sabotage because he is indulging an unproductive mindset, week after week, month after month, when he could stop it anytime.

No....he isn't tanking it.
He's just not playing well, period.
Is this the end of the "great" Aaron Rodgers, or will he pull it together and start playing better? I sure don't have THAT answer.
He's missing open guys short, and to me that's HUGE. If he started taking advantage of the guys that are open short, we'd see a much more efficient offense.
I have watched many replay where a guy is wide open 5 yards down field, and Rodgers ignores him.
Someone needs to crawl up his rear end and make him take the easy throws.
What he's doing now sure isn't working.
Plus, it might open up some deep throws if he did so.

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