I'll be the first to admit that I have high expectations for Aaron Rodgers. In fact, just a few weeks ago, I wrote how he would break five NFL records this upcoming year.
Numerous media outlets, Bleacher Report included, have him bringing home some major hardware this year. From MVP to another Super Bowl victory, the speculation surrounding the type of season that Rodgers is going to have seems higher than any other quarterback in recent memory.
So, the question needs to be asked: Have we put too much pressure on Aaron Rodgers? Is it too much to expect a quarterback who is only entering his fourth season as a starter to lead the "next great dynasty?" Should we all be a little more cautious when speaking about his future and legacy?
As a diehard Green Bay Packer fan, I have to hope that the answer to these questions are "no." However, as an overall football fan, I've seen too many players fail to live up to lofty expectations. Too many times has a player had an incredible season only to dissipate into nothingness the following season.
I don't believe that Rodgers will disappear off the face of the planet next season, but the more I think about it, the more I feel that all the talk of absolute superiority might be too much for Rodgers right now. Sure, he is still a relatively young quarterback who has yet to truly enter his prime, but does that really mean that he is guaranteed to succeed?
On paper, the Packers have surrounded Rodgers with more talent than any other quarterback in the league. With players like Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Jermichael Finley and Ryan Grant, Aaron Rodgers' choices on who to throw to are numerous. When you throw in James Starks, Alex Green, Randall Cobb and D.J. Williams, it is almost unfair to opposing defenses.
Yet even with all this talent surrounding him, we need to be more cautious about putting too much weight on his shoulders. A wise man once said, "It is easier to fail to live up to expectations than it is to overachieve." I don't think anyone has actually said that, but it sounds like something a wise man would say.
Trust me when I say that there are few Packer fans who are more optimistic about the upcoming season than I am. I expect spectacular things from Green Bay, but my conscience tells me to slow down, take a deep breath and allow Aaron Rodgers to do the talking for his play where he does it best—on the football field.
No matter how much we write about Rodgers' greatness, it won't change how great he really is come game time. So, next time we get ready to boast about how huge a season Aaron Rodgers is going to have, let us ask ourselves if we are putting too much pressure on our wonderful quarterback.