Examining the many layers of Rodgers concussion issue
 
If youre anything like me sorry if you are you sometimes have trouble viewing things at surface value. Youre more interested in digging through multiple layers in order to get a bigger picture of an issue.

The current predicament the Green Bay Packers find themselves in with regards to Aaron Rodgers concussion (his second of the year) is one such issue.

Its obviously been the topic of the moment amongst Packers fans and rightfully so. Rodgers health, or lack thereof, will decide the future of the team, not just this year but for years to come. And one of the quickest ways in which a players health can de-rail is via concussions. With two under his belt, the clock is already ticking for Rodgers.

The first question on everyones mind is whether or not Rodgers should play this week. Well know a great deal more Wednesday from Mike McCarthys presser (Rodgers may be available to the media, as well). Rodgers will also undergo mental tests to determine his condition. The brutally honest fact of the matter, however, is that regardless of how he tests out, he really shouldnt play Sunday. His absence leaves Green Bay with a less-than-zero percent chance of winning against the mighty New England Patriots, of course, but this shouldnt be about that. Again, hes the cornerstone. Protecting that at all costs is what this needs to be about.

Look, lets be honest this team has about a five percent chance of winning even if he plays. To beat New England on the road, you have to be perfect AND lucky. The Packers have been neither this season. If they have any shot at the postseason and, again, Id put the percentage on that as being low right now their last two games, home contests with New York and Chicago, will hold the key.

He must be 100 percent for those games. Sorry, I dont care what the men who test him may say, there is just no way he could bounce back to full force less than seven days after having his brain scrambled for the second time in two months. And, really, its about more than just those two concussions. Rodgers hasnt been sacked in 2010 as much as he was last year, but doesnt it seem like hes been absorbing more violent hits this time around? More blatant helmet-to-helmet collisions that have gone largely uncalled? If you have little chance of winning, anyways, why not give your future a week off to prepare for your two biggest games of the year?

Its there that we can begin to move to the second level of this issue. This one has little to do with Rodgers. No, this ones about the men who are paid to protect him. In short, the Packers offensive line has regressed this season from its late-2009 brilliance.

There have been moments of solid play, but for the most part, the group just hasnt done enough to protect its elite quarterback. Enough to protect Derek Anderson? Sure. But not Rodgers. People, myself included, wonder why Rodgers still gets a case of happy feet at times and why, on certain plays, he seems to break the pocket quicker than is necessary. If you think about it, though, its simple: He likely has little trust in the front five, despite what he may say publicly. After watching such average front sevens as the ones in Detroit and Washington get to him over-and-over, I cant say I blame him.

If youve been harassed consistently, as he has in numerous games, youre always looking for that escape, particularly if you have the athleticism that Rodgers has. Thats why Rodgers fails to recognize wide-open receivers on plays where he takes off. It has little to do with lack of awareness, but rather a keen sense of self-preservation.

As much as I love the work hes done overall, in five years as general manager, Ted Thompson has yet to get really, truly serious about putting together an elite o-line. Brett Favre had the veteran know-how to make it work towards the end of his time in Green Bay; Rodgers hasnt gained that yet. And until guys like Daryn Colledge and Scott Wells (a solid player who will always struggle at times because of his limited size) are no longer charged with covering him, the pressure will always be there. If thats the case, Rodgers may not even make it long enough to gain Favres veteran savvy. The road from where hes at to where Steve Young and Troy Aikman ended up is shorter than you think.

Of course, Rodgers is not without blame on this issue. He still hangs on to the ball longer than he should at times, which has led to hits he need not take. And weve known for a long time that Rodgers ran too recklessly (quick how many times have you yelled, SLIDE AARON! at the television? I bet its a lot). Every time he went for that extra yard and took an unnecessary hit as a result you always worried as to whether or not hed get up right away. At some point, we all knew thered come a time when he didnt pop right back up. That time came Sunday.

Its unfortunate that it happened at the time it did the Packers in a frantic playoff chase but, again, make no mistake, this was going to happen. The hope now is that it can serve as a lesson to Rodgers. Fighting for that extra yard is valliant, especially when your line and playmakers arent doing their jobs (see: Sunday), but its more important to keep yourself intact.

Again, thats the over-arching theme of the whole issue: keeping Rodgers intact. Playing him Sunday night wont help that. The Daryn Colledges of the world wont help that. And Rodgers himself wont help that. Hopefully, the men who make the decisions for the Packers see this, as well.

-Chris Lempesis