State of our former QB, Aaron Rodgers

[rmontro]

That was a characteristic of Brady from his days at Michigan and possibly before. He apparently elevated with the conditions and his College Coach was convinced he had the makings of a Superstar. I recall a story where his Coach from Michigan called BB and told him he just drafted one heck of a QB. That he was basically a steal.

I remember for a long time on this forum, the majority felt that Rodgers was a better quarterback than Brady. That although Brady was good, Rodgers had a better passer rating in the playoffs, but Brady played on teams with good defenses, while Rodgers did not. After awhile though, once Brady had seven rings on his fingers compared to Rodgers' one, it was hard to keep making the argument that Brady wasn't the GOAT.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Not we. Just me.

It's hard to say if Rodgers can help the Steelers, or any other team for that matter.

His arm strength still looks good, as does his ability to read a defense. His mobility is gone - really just gone. And that's a big deal. He was never a "running QB" like Jackson, Hurts, Allen and others, but he was great at avoiding sacks and then making something out of nothing on the run. Those "broken plays" in particular, showed just how strong his arm is, his accuracy and composure. But this isn't a meaningful part of his game anymore.

And the Steelers don't have anyone else who can play QB at the level of an average starter. Rodgers provides a convenient bridge for a year while the Steelers wrestle with finding a long-term signal caller.

So the Steelers will likely have another wining record and not much else. Other than the drama Rodgers can bring, Pittsburgh is as good a landing spot as any. And I trust Tomlin to keep a lid on the bull-**** and drama.

Rodgers alone though doesn't guarantee the Steelers anything. Gone are the days when Rodgers alone could win 10 games in a season. He's just not that guy anymore.

 

[rmontro]

And the Steelers don't have anyone else who can play QB at the level of an average starter.

Rodgers is probably pretty close to an average starter these days.

 

[Thirteen Below]

I agree. But I was still in the trade him camp. It had more to do with his perfectionism. Which can be good and bad. I thought it was bad for The Pack at that time.

I always thought he was too obsessed with his TD:INT ratio. I swear, sometimes after he threw a pass, the look on his face was like he was mentally recalculating his updated QB rating on the spot.

I think he "over"learned the lesson on how important it is to protect the ball while watching Favre playing sandlot ball and flinging it around all over the field. Sometimes you really have to take a risk and trust your receiver to fight for the ball. One thing I like about Love is that he seems to understand that, and isn't afraid to do it if necessary. Rodgers never did; he'd rather throw the ball out of bounds and punt.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Rodgers is probably pretty close to an average starter these days.

Agreed. Losing his ability to avoid sacks takes away the most dangerous part of his game - innovating out of the pocket and leveraging his arm strength and accuracy. I just don't see him thriving as mostly a pocket passer - and if he can't get out of a pass rush/blitz, the chances for injury go way up.

Im curious as to why he even wants to play. I don't think the Steelers can make much of a playoff run. Hell just making the playoffs will likely be challenge. It's just hard for these HOF locks to know when to call it a day.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I always thought he was too obsessed with his TD:INT ratio. I swear, sometimes after he threw a pass, the look on his face was like he was mentally recalculating his updated QB rating on the spot.

I think he "over"learned the lesson on how important it is to protect the ball while watching Favre playing sandlot ball and flinging it around all over the field. Sometimes you really have to take a risk and trust your receiver to fight for the ball. One thing I like about Love is that he seems to understand that, and isn't afraid to do it if necessary. Rodgers never did; he'd rather throw the ball out of bounds and punt.

Agree. Nobody likes turnovers, but they're gonna happen. Then again, looking at his career passing yards, completions, games won, TDs - he didn't have to take a lot of chances. He was just that good.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

If I could clone an NFL QB it would be half Favre, half Rodgers.

A QB with the brains (on the field) and talent as Rodgers, but with the heart and guts of Favre.

 

[gopkrs]

I always thought he was too obsessed with his TD:INT ratio. I swear, sometimes after he threw a pass, the look on his face was like he was mentally recalculating his updated QB rating on the spot.

I think he "over"learned the lesson on how important it is to protect the ball while watching Favre playing sandlot ball and flinging it around all over the field. Sometimes you really have to take a risk and trust your receiver to fight for the ball. One thing I like about Love is that he seems to understand that, and isn't afraid to do it if necessary. Rodgers never did; he'd rather throw the ball out of bounds and punt.

That drove me nuts about Favre and the reason I was glad to start over with Rodgers when we did

 

[gopkrs]

Agreed. Losing his ability to avoid sacks takes away the most dangerous part of his game - innovating out of the pocket and leveraging his arm strength and accuracy. I just don't see him thriving as mostly a pocket passer - and if he can't get out of a pass rush/blitz, the chances for injury go way up.

Im curious as to why he even wants to play. I don't think the Steelers can make much of a playoff run. Hell just making the playoffs will likely be challenge. It's just hard for these HOF locks to know when to call it a day.

I think he wants to play to show he can still do it. And with a good O line I give a better chance than he seems to be getting. Except of course, for the steelers. I just doubt it is that easy the next year after an Achilles.

 

[rmontro]

I think he wants to play to show he can still do it. And with a good O line I give a better chance than he seems to be getting.

He might well be unsatisfied with the way his time with the Jets went, and would like to leave on a higher note.

 

[Heyjoe4]

He might well be unsatisfied with the way his time with the Jets went, and would like to leave on a higher note.

Good point. Yeah his time with the Jets was jinxed, from the achilles tear to the awful second season. Rodgers can and does create his own drama. But with the Jets, the owner creates enough drama for everyone.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

This article shed some light on the possible reason that the Steelers have yet to sign Rodgers. Any player that you sign in Free Agency BEFORE the draft, factors into the comp. pick calculations for the following year. Right now, the Steelers, due to the players that they lost this offseason to Free Agency, might be in line for 2027 comp picks in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th rounds. If they sign Rodgers before the draft, that signing would impact those comp picks.

NFL reporter explains why Pittsburgh Steelers haven't signed Aaron Rodgers yet

NFL news: Why haven't the Steelers signed Aaron Rodgers? A top reporter sheds light on the Pittsburgh Steelers' situation with Aaron Rodgers.

sportsnaut.com

 

[OldSchool101]

I only have positive impressions of Rodgers right up until Gluten took Love in - 2020 I think. That was when Rodgers went full-on diva - he felt he should have been at least made aware a QB could be taken. Technically he's wrong. But after so many years of HOF football, and a SB, I do think Gluten should have told him it was a possibility (and I know there is still disagreement about whether Gluten did inform him, or not).

Anyway, Rodgers then morphed into Howard Hughes/Elvis/Michael Jackson - in short, a guy who never got comfortable with his fame. It's a shame, I think Rodgers is an ok guy. But $$$ and fame do funny things to some people.

I agree. Aaron related drama increased with age.

That said, I always felt like Rodgers took that 2020 draft as a personal slight. There was much talk at that time about the Offense not being supported with resources. Now that can be seen as having confidence in Aaron Rodgers, so that is a really backwards compliment, but still a compliment expect Aaron to carry the Offense. It was essentially an expenditure of resources away from Offense and towards Defense at more than 2:1 ratio of draft and FA capital.

imo here’s what changed. In 2019 we strongly rebounded with a 6-0 sweep of the North and a 13-3 record, plus a trip to SF with a shot to advance to the SB. Rodgers is also entering his 16th season, so he’s basically in the 4th quarter of his career. I’m about positive he was thinking he’d get help. His only major weapon at WR was Davante and the rest were imo WR3-4’s. Redskins leftover Ryan Grant?

Geronimo who’s really at best a good WR 4-5 option to rotate in. He didn’t crack 300 yards w 2 TD’s.
Jake Kumerow? 200 yards 2TD’s??
Allen Lazard + MVS combined did barely crack 900+ yards and 5 TD’s, but COMBINED
Then who? Trevor Davis??? He was a fringe WR6 Teams guy.

There was young Tonyan who had 100 yards. Mercedes was a glorified Blocking TE by this point in his career.

The only other weapon across that entire Roster was a respectable Jimmy Graham. So across 9 receiving weapons we had 2 Bonafide weapons and 1 could be argued was in decline. So I’m thinking WR or TE? I’m quite sure that’s what most thought we needed. If not that at least an OL or at minimum at Edge or someone who can better a team who just made a trip to the NFC game.

We draft a replacement QB?? then to add to it we spent our Day 1 and 4th Rounders to do it? Not only does that completely destroy the concept that Gute trusted Aaron to carry an ill equipped Offense, he actually made a move to undermine our QB

 

[OldSchool101]

Rodgers is probably pretty close to an average starter these days.

So just kinda did a quick eval on him. Of QB’s who started 15+ contests he’s in 2024:

Yards 8th
Comp% 18th
Yard/Pass 16th
Yards/Gm 12th
TD’s 7th (Tied)
INT% 11th (Tied)

So I’d argue he only ranks out of the top 50% in 1 key category and it’s barely. He’s basically a Top ~12 QB as of recent. So I’d call him slightly better than an average QB. Amazingly, even in a tough year, Love is actually hanging right there with him in that ~13th best overall range.
Here’s Love for comparison.

Yards 18th
Comp% 17th
Yards/Pass 5th
Yards/Gm. 13th
TD’s 11th
INT%. 16th

 

[Thirteen Below]

He might well be unsatisfied with the way his time with the Jets went, and would like to leave on a higher note.

With his pride, and obsessive need to show everyone how great he is, I can't imagine that he wants that 2024 season to be history's last memory of him.

 

[rmontro]

Here’s Love for comparison.

And hopefully, 2024 was a down year for him.

 

[OldSchool101]

And hopefully, 2024 was a down year for him.

Oh I think that Sophomore slump is a real thing. Rodgers got knocked around a little in 2009. Then you couple Love’s injury and taking until after the Bye to get his legs under him. I think it wasn’t a great season, but Jordan is a competitor and he rebounded down the stretch with respectable numbers.

 

[Thirteen Below]

I only have positive impressions of Rodgers right up until Gluten took Love in - 2020 I think. That was when Rodgers went full-on diva - he felt he should have been at least made aware a QB could be taken. Technically he's wrong. But after so many years of HOF football, and a SB, I do think Gluten should have told him it was a possibility (and I know there is still disagreement about whether Gluten did inform him, or not).

Over the last couple of years, a lot of information has come out showing that there was a lot more to Rodgers' hissy fit than Love. He had been become increasingly disgruntled for several years, and feeling more and more disrespected.

First (to your final sentence), Gutekunst later admitted that he did not give Rodgers any sort of heads-up, and that he regretted not doing so. In his defense, the day of the the draft things moved pretty quickly after the first 21 or 22 picks, and there wasn't a lot of time to call Rodgers. The Vikings had pick #22 and #25, and when they took Justin Jefferson at 22, Gutekunst reportedly saw an opportunity to move up and grab Brandon Aiyuk at #26 - because they didn't think Minnesota would take 2 WRs in the 1st.

Apparently, they were taken by surprise when the Niners traded with Minnesota and picked him at 25, but the trade with Miami for #26 had not been finalized - Gute could have backed out of it. But supposedly, he decided to go through with the trade and take Love. If this story is true, then there really wasn't much time to call Rodgers... however, Packer personnel later said that the last couple of days before the draft, it was beginning to look as though they might have as much as a 50--50 shot at Love. And as I said, Gute later admitted he should have at least told Aaron before Draft Day that there was a chance they would take a quarterback.

But for several years, Rodgers had developed some resentment over what he thought was a pattern of disrespectful behavior toward departing players, and especially veterans. He started to feel that he was not getting the respect he felt he had earned, and did not like the fact that he was not brought into the loop when Lafleur was hired.

A year later, Rodgers gave a radio interview in which he spoke very well of WR Jake Kumerow, praised him highly. The next morning, Gutekunst cut Kumerow. Rodgers has since said that that one really steamed him. Several months after that, a reporter asked him to comment on some player, and he said "I'm not going to talk about personnel. The last time I did that, the guy got cut".

Rodgers later said that he tried many times to be brought into the conversations on personnel, and offered a number of times to help recruit free agents, but that "they just tried to throw money at me instead". He also said something like "they made it clear that my job was to just play".

So by the time the Love pick came around, Rodgers was already cranky, and we all know how he can nurse a grudge. Even Gutekunst admits now that he could have done a better job of communicating with Rodgers, and wishes he had.

Aaron Rodgers remains upset the Packers cut Jake Kumerow

When the Packers cut Jake Kumerow before the start of the 2020 season, we noted that it came just a day after Aaron Rodgers referred to Kumerow as a lock to make the roster.

www.nbcsports.com

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10009426-packers-gm-wasnt-a-possibility-to-tell-aaron-rodgers-about-drafting-jordan-love

 

[OldSchool101]

I think we’d do well to give Jordan another receiving weapon.

Look at Aaron Rodgers weapons in his 2009 Sophomore start.
Donald Driver, (11Yr Vet recording his SEVENTH 1000+ seasons)
Greg Jennings (#52 overall coming of a 1,292 yard season)
James Jones (#78 overall 3rd year)
Jordy Nelson (#36 overall 2nd year)
Jermichael Finley (#91 overall 2nd yr)
Donald Lee (5th Rounder in 7th yr)

in Jordan Love’s 2nd starting season

Reed was #1 with 857yds 7 TD’s
Kraft notched 713Yds 7 TD’s
Watson finished 620yds 2TD
Doubs had 601 yards with 4 TD’s
Wicks cracked 415 yards 5 TD’s

So we had
1- 800+. (1 WR2)
1-700+ (1 WR3+)
2-600+ (2 WR3’s)
1-400+ (1 WR4)
No one else other than Jacobs (342yds) cracked 100 Receiving.

While Rodgers didn’t get fed the resources later in his career in GB, he absolutely started with an upper echelon crop of Receivers. That Rodgers led 2009 receiving group put up 461 points for the #3 scoring Offense.

 

[OldSchool101]

Much can be learned from historical data. Rodgers would be served well to find a team with an established Veteran Receiving Core with a True WR1. Plus a WR/TE pseudo WR2. Some WR3,WR4’s sprinkled in.

Jordan would do well to have at minimum a WR2 type talent added into the 2025 array

 

[OldSchool101]

Over the last couple of years, a lot of information has come out showing that there was a lot more to Rodgers' hissy fit than Love. He had been become increasingly disgruntled for several years, and feeling more and more disrespected.

First (to your final sentence), Gutekunst later admitted that he did not give Rodgers any sort of heads-up, and that he regretted not doing so. In his defense, the day of the the draft things moved pretty quickly after the first 21 or 22 picks, and there wasn't a lot of time to call Rodgers. The Vikings had pick #22 and #25, and when they took Justin Jefferson at 22, Gutekunst reportedly saw an opportunity to move up and grab Brandon Aiyuk at #26 - because they didn't think Minnesota would take 2 WRs in the 1st.

Apparently, they were taken by surprise when the Niners traded with Minnesota and picked him at 25, but the trade with Miami for #26 had not been finalized - Gute could have backed out of it. But supposedly, he decided to go through with the trade and take Love. If this story is true, then there really wasn't much time to call Rodgers... however, Packer personnel later said that the last couple of days before the draft, it was beginning to look as though they might have as much as a 50--50 shot at Love. And as I said, Gute later admitted he should have at least told Aaron before Draft Day that there was a chance they would take a quarterback.

But for several years, Rodgers had developed some resentment over what he thought was a pattern of disrespectful behavior toward departing players, and especially veterans. He started to feel that he was not getting the respect he felt he had earned, and did not like the fact that he was not brought into the loop when Lafleur was hired.

A year later, Rodgers gave a radio interview in which he spoke very well of WR Jake Kumerow, praised him highly. The next morning, Gutekunst cut Kumerow. Rodgers has since said that that one really steamed him. Several months after that, a reporter asked him to comment on some player, and he said "I'm not going to talk about personnel. The last time I did that, the guy got cut".

Rodgers later said that he tried many times to be brought into the conversations on personnel, and offered a number of times to help recruit free agents, but that "they just tried to throw money at me instead". He also said something like "they made it clear that my job was to just play".

So by the time the Love pick came around, Rodgers was already cranky, and we all know how he can nurse a grudge. Even Gutekunst admits now that he could have done a better job of communicating with Rodgers, and wishes he had.

Aaron Rodgers remains upset the Packers cut Jake Kumerow

When the Packers cut Jake Kumerow before the start of the 2020 season, we noted that it came just a day after Aaron Rodgers referred to Kumerow as a lock to make the roster.

www.nbcsports.com

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10009426-packers-gm-wasnt-a-possibility-to-tell-aaron-rodgers-about-drafting-jordan-love

Yes this sounds very accurate. Also the Jordy departure I think was part of this also. I will only offer my opinion here. While in most cases I fully agree that a player is a player and a GM is a GM. However there are logical and reasonable exceptions. The QB position being at the forefront and in cases where the a franchise QB of 15+ years and Rodgers Stature? I think he’s an exception. Now that does not imply we go wild and say he’s involved in every minute detail, but I think it’s good business to reward a seasoned player of Aaron’s caliber with plans that are critical to that QB position and his success.
Now I really like Brian. Matter of fact we went to the same University. I have zero idea who he was he was well behind me in age. I’m from LaCrosse. Yet I’m also of the opinion this “drafting at QB” move was an exception to the general rule of separation of powers. While I appreciate the sentiment of drafting and swapping in real time and all that, I know better. I also don’t believe Brian “forgot” last second. That conversation was long overdue by draft day. I think Day 1 is a highly calculated and discussed Round and I believe Jordan Love was even quite possibly in the Packer draft crosshairs starting around the Mid teens.

I think Brian turned what should’ve been a minor uncomfortable conversation beforehand (that what I know about Rodgers he would’ve respected it) into a fiasco that caused a lot of unnecessary stress between team and player. It’s called Brian being new to managing people and he made a simple mistake of GM ing. Past that I think Brian has been a wonderful GM, but he absolutely bungled that one imo. Brian had been GM for barely 2 years that’s a Rook imo.

BTW. It’s a very real possibility that Rodgers doesn’t find a suitable home in 2025. lol. It’s not looking good as far as team fits.

 

[Thirteen Below]

That conversation was long overdue by draft day. I think Day 1 is a highly calculated and discussed Round and I believe Jordan Love was even quite possibly in the Packer draft crosshairs starting around the Mid teens.

You may very well be right... at the very least, you put forth a very well-reasoned argument. I like Gute too, but it would be in his interest to spin the history of this incident in the most favorable way possible. It may not be 100% sincere, but I'm inclined to give him a pass and let him save face with the fanbase.

BTW. It’s a very real possibility that Rodgers doesn’t find a suitable home in 2025. lol. It’s not looking good as far as team fits.

He really has painted himself into a wee bit of a corner. It's got to be a blow to his ego, that there weren't several teams clawing at his door waving contracts in his face, and now he's only got 2 possibilities of playing this season - Pittsburgh (if they don't get sick of the cat and mouse crap), and some contending team losing a quarterback to injury early in the season - like Flacco's situation a couple of years ago in Cleveland.

And by the way, Dan Graziano reported a couple of days ago that there are people in the Steelers organization who already want Flacco over Rodgers. It's not out of the realm of possibility that Rodgers may wake up some fine morning and learn that Pittsburgh had enough of the crap and signed ol' Joe.