It’s wonderful the distinction a yr could make. Twelve months in the past, there have been so many questions in Inexperienced Bay surrounding the Packers’ future. Between Aaron Rodgers wanting to maneuver on and never realizing precisely what that they had in Jordan Love, there have been loads of questions getting into final offseason. One yr later Inexperienced Bay appears and appears like a model new franchise.
This time final yr, Love was the child on the bench backing up a future Corridor of Famer. Inexperienced Bay wasn’t even certain he was prepared for primetime. Now Love is heading into his first offseason because the unquestioned beginning quarterback and way forward for the group. Ending second within the NFL in landing passes (32) and upsetting the Dallas Cowboys within the wild card spherical will try this.
Love and the Packers’ inventory is way greater than it was final spring and will proceed to climb. Inexperienced Bay normally drafts properly, and also you’d count on that development to proceed. Most individuals anticipated the Packers to have a down yr whereas Love took time to determine life out as QB1. The primary few weeks of the Love period had been a bit rocky however as soon as he settled in, by midseason they had been off to the races.
There’s a quote attributed to former Brooklyn Dodgers govt Department Rickey that states: “Commerce a participant a yr too early quite than a yr too late.” Legendary NFL coaches like Invoice Walsh and Invoice Belichick adhered to this philosophy and had been fairly profitable regardless of some backlash over sure personnel strikes.
What the Packers did by shifting on from Rodgers once they did (even when he compelled their hand) has set them up completely. If it wasn’t a “yr early,” it was simply within the nick of time. Rodgers acquired his commerce to the Jets and all of the hype that going to New York entails. For all that hassle he didn’t even end the primary quarter leaving that sport with a ruptured Achilles.
In fact, had Rodgers stayed one other yr and the identical factor occurred, the Packers had Love, who’s already confirmed to be a way more competent QB than Zach Wilson. However looking for a commerce accomplice for a 40-year-old QB coming off an Achilles harm that value him your complete season would’ve been depressing.
So, the Packers actually dodged a bullet by granting Rodgers one final want once they did. Now with such a younger crew led by a QB who’s solely 25 and has a lot upside, Inexperienced Bay ought to be within the NFC playoff combine for years to come back. Final yr presently the state of Wisconsin was nervous not realizing how they’d look with out Rodgers taking snaps. Now all of the cheeseheads are assured they’ve acquired their man and will severely compete for a Tremendous Bowl subsequent season.
