The Jordan Love Era Begins

[Schultz]

My gut tells me when this season is said and done the Packers will still not be sure what they have in Love and will have to make another tough decision going forward. IMO.

 

[tynimiller]

My gut tells me when this season is said and done the Packers will still not be sure what they have in Love and will have to make another tough decision going forward. IMO.

Eh, not really, if they at all don’t think he could be an NFL QB you dump and eat just like $13.5 M instead of over 20.

If you think maybe, that new extended value is still rather affordable for a low level starting QB

 

[lambeaulambo]

It's a plot to overthrow the mods.

Bill needs to come out of retirement.

 

[mradtke66]

How did Rodgers help the Packers in his first year? In his second? In his third? The problem some people have is that they think QB's get drafted and immediately make their team a lot better. That doesn't usually work that way in the NFL. If you think another player would have made the Packers a lot better last year, I would totally disagree.

Better or worse, we were this close to a Super Bowl in both 2020 and 2021. The right player on our roster either year might have been enough to get over the hump. I'm not going to claim I know who that particular player is or was.

Obviously, wrong draft, but the impact of a Watson-level player in the playoffs, even if such a player was injured until week 10 just he was in 2022? We may have won it all. If Love grows into our next HoF QB, whatever player we missed out on matters far, far less.

If we don't win a Super Bowl with Love, doubt will always hover over the selection. It's not fair to him, but that's what will happen.

 

[Sunshinepacker]

How did Rodgers help the Packers in his first year? In his second? In his third? The problem some people have is that they think QB's get drafted and immediately make their team a lot better. That doesn't usually work that way in the NFL. If you think another player would have made the Packers a lot better last year, I would totally disagree. Maybe in 2021, but I doubt in that players rookie season, is he a difference maker.

Again, I know you and some people have disliked the Love pick since day 1, yet here he is, taking over the starting job, in the same way Rodgers did. I suppose Gute could have taken a QB in the 2021 draft or 2022 draft or this past draft, but wait, he never would have helped the Packers. Also, if that had happened, we don't have 1 of Walker, Stokes or LVN, nor do we have Love.

I want to be clear. Love is the QB for the Packers and I hope he turns into another first ballot Hall of Fame QB. By the same token, he did not help the Packers at all during their playoff losses the past two years. At the time of the pick, I firmly believed (and still believe) that a receiver (specifically Tee Higgins or Pittman Jr) would have been choices that would have helped the team right away. Gute felt differently and we'll now see if that tradeoff was worth it. For the sake of the packers, I hope that in three years I'm looking back at my frustration with that pick and laughing at myself.

 

[Schultz]

Eh, not really, if they at all don’t think he could be an NFL QB you dump and eat just like $13.5 M instead of over 20.

If you think maybe, that new extended value is still rather affordable for a low level starting QB

Or, he lands somewhere in the middle and um, they have a tough decision going forward.

 

[thequick12]

I want to be clear. Love is the QB for the Packers and I hope he turns into another first ballot Hall of Fame QB. By the same token, he did not help the Packers at all during their playoff losses the past two years. At the time of the pick, I firmly believed (and still believe) that a receiver (specifically Tee Higgins or Pittman Jr) would have been choices that would have helped the team right away. Gute felt differently and we'll now see if that tradeoff was worth it. For the sake of the packers, I hope that in three years I'm looking back at my frustration with that pick and laughing at myself.

Love did help the team as he was running the scout team...did Rodgers not help the 2007 Packers by running the scout team in a season that resulted in a nfccg loss

 

[thequick12]

Or, he lands somewhere in the middle and um, they have a tough decision going forward.

If he lands somewhere in the middle they better start searching for a new one. Those are the cold facts of the situation.

I want Love to succeed and truly believe he will but if he doesnt turn out to be a great nfl qb the FO has to find someone who is

 

[Schultz]

So he has to succeed in one season? He has to be a great nfl QB in his 1st season?

 

[Deleted member 6794]

See I don't get it when people say "he has contributed nothing to the team". Except that they want to use it to try and bolster their argument that Love was a terrible pick. Love has been on the team for 3 seasons, do you know what he does behind the scenes, at practice, in the film room? Can you not acknowledge that he has also been learning how to be a better QB and how that might benefit the team? I guess in the next couple of years, we will see if the pick paid off and all of Love's work was worth it, but to say that he has contributed nothing to the team is kind of lame.

Love hasn't contributed to a single win with his performance on the field during his first three seasons with the team. It's anybody's guess if he has had a positive impact off the field. While there aren't any guarantees the Packers selecting a different player in the first round of the 2020 draft would have made any difference it's likely a prospect at a different position would have had a much bigger impact up until now.

Obviously that changes now with Love starting at the most important position in football. At this point it's still uncertain if he will be up to the task. Therefore it will still take more time to fairly evaluate his selection.

If you think another player would have made the Packers a lot better last year, I would totally disagree. Maybe in 2021, but I doubt in that players rookie season, is he a difference maker.

Come on, you honestly believe that Tee Higgins, who had 67 receptions for 908 yards and six TDs as a rookie, wouldn't have made the team much better than a quarterback who wasn't even active for a single game? Especially considering the Packers ended up making it to the NFCCG and losing by only five points.

Again, I know you and some people have disliked the Love pick since day 1, yet here he is, taking over the starting job, in the same way Rodgers did. I suppose Gute could have taken a QB in the 2021 draft or 2022 draft or this past draft, but wait, he never would have helped the Packers. Also, if that had happened, we don't have 1 of Walker, Stokes or LVN, nor do we have Love.

Once again, I disliked the Packers selecting a quarterback in the first round of the 2020 draft. It had nothing to do with Love though. While it's true that he will take over as the team's starter in a similar way as Rodgers it's still uncertain if he will be successful. In addition the team would have a different player for not having one of Walker, Stokes or LVN.

Love did help the team as he was running the scout team...did Rodgers not help the 2007 Packers by running the scout team in a season that resulted in a nfccg loss

I'm quite sure the Packers would have found someone else capable of running the scout team if they didn't draft Love in 2020.

 

[AmishMafia]

Love hasn't contributed to a single win with his performance on the field during his first three seasons with the team. It's anybody's guess if he has had a positive impact off the field.

As has been stated many times, drafting of Love had a huge effect of lighting a fire under Rodgers.

 

[AmishMafia]

If he lands somewhere in the middle they better start searching for a new one. Those are the cold facts of the situation.

I want Love to succeed and truly believe he will but if he doesnt turn out to be a great nfl qb the FO has to find someone who is

Come on now. Rodgers first season we went 6-10 and finished 3rd in the North.

Farve wasn't exactly setting the world on fire as a QB when he started either. In his first 3 seasons we went 8-5, and 9--7 twice. When Favre became a FA after his rookie deal. he visited only 2 teams and neither offered him a contract (to the best of my memory). Then he came back to GB and resigned with us.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

As has been stated many times, drafting of Love had a huge effect of lighting a fire under Rodgers.

The Love haters don't see that, but they do want to tell you and have you believe, that any other player drafted besides Love, would have drastically improved the Packers, probably would have made them 3 time Lombardi winners even.

We drafted Love, Love is the new starting QB, Gutes plan, so far has evolved the way it was intended to. Like I asked yesterday, had Love not been selected in 2020, now what? Waiting to hear someone say that we would have drafted Brock Purdy in the 7th and STILL been SB winners.

 

[Schultz]

IMO if they did not draft Love then AR would be the starting QB and Clifford would be the back up and hopefully at least one of the guys drafted with the 2 picks that it took to acquire Love would be contributing players.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

At the time of the pick, I firmly believed (and still believe) that a receiver (specifically Tee Higgins or Pittman Jr) would have been choices that would have helped the team right away.

2 things.

First. I can name a ton of players that IF Gute had drafted, probably would have improved the team, not just first round picks either. IF that player had the same impact for the Packers as he did for another team, nor was that player injured. Hind site is wonderful isn't it, but that isn't the way life works in the NFL is it.

Second. IF Gute didn't draft Rodgers, what is your hind site plan for right now? Who is the Packers starting QB?

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Better or worse, we were this close to a Super Bowl in both 2020 and 2021. The right player on our roster either year might have been enough to get over the hump. I'm not going to claim I know who that particular player is or was.

While I understand people wanting to say this, but there are absolutely no guarantees that 1 single player, yet alone a rookie in 2020, gives us a SB win. We can go through each draft and probably pick out several players that the Packers picked, but had they pick "this player", they win a SB. Fun game, doesn't really prove much and the final result, we don't have Love or a starting QB today.

 

[AmishMafia]

The Love haters don't see that, but they do want to tell you and have you believe, that any other player drafted besides Love, would have drastically improved the Packers, probably would have made them 3 time Lombardi winners even.

We drafted Love, Love is the new starting QB, Gutes plan, so far has evolved the way it was intended to. Like I asked yesterday, had Love not been selected in 2020, now what? Waiting to hear someone say that we would have drafted Brock Purdy in the 7th and STILL been SB winners.

We don't pick Love and ignite ARs competitive fire, and take Higgins, we don't make the playoffs and are below 500. No Love- No 2 MVPs.

It took 3 years but the fire fizzled again.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

We don't pick Love and ignite ARs competitive fire, and take Higgins, we don't make the playoffs and are below 500. No Love- No 2 MVPs.

It took 3 years but the fire fizzled again.

but...but....but it was his thumb!!

I can agree to some extent that Rodgers thumb, as well as a WR room that was shallower than an ants waiting pool didn't help him. However, I think this was the first season I felt Rodgers wasn't mentally all in. Whether he knew he was done in GB, he was upset at his inexperienced WR's or he had other distractions in his life, he just seemed off.

I will miss the old Rodgers and his elite skills, but it was time to move on and whether Gute had a crystal ball or good spidey senses, he timed the Love pick perfectly.

 

[mradtke66]

While I understand people wanting to say this, but there are absolutely no guarantees that 1 single player, yet alone a rookie in 2020, gives us a SB win. We can go through each draft and probably pick out several players that the Packers picked, but had they pick "this player", they win a SB. Fun game, doesn't really prove much and the final result, we don't have Love or a starting QB today.

You aren't wrong, but that's the burden of the pick. 5 point loss to the Bucs. 3 point loss to the 49ers. A marginal starter or role player, at any position, could have been the difference. Instead, we took a backup.

And I'm happily to admit the burden isn't fair, but Love will have to overcome it. If we don't win a Super Bowl, many people, myself included, will always wonder "What If." Bring home the trophy and it won't matter.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

You aren't wrong, but that's the burden of the pick. 5 point loss to the Bucs. 3 point loss to the 49ers. A marginal starter or role player, at any position, could have been the difference. Instead, we took a backup.

And I'm happily to admit the burden isn't fair, but Love will have to overcome it. If we don't win a Super Bowl, many people, myself included, will always wonder "What If." Bring home the trophy and it won't matter.

Definitely the burden of ANY pick, no matter the round. I can go through each of Gute's drafts and list all the players he shouldn't have picked and then say "had he picked this guy instead, the Packers might have won 3-5 SB's." Some want to frame the Love pick as THE variable that cost the Packers SB's because in their eyes, the Packers didn't need a QB, especially one that high.

So sure, its easy to say "Had Gute just picked Pittman or Higgens the team does better", but why stop there? Lets use that logic with every pick that has now proven to be a failure. Also, what if Gute had picked Jalen Regor, Denzel Mims, Patrick Queen or others that didn't really live up to being drafted when they were? BTW, Gute picked ZERO WR's in that draft, ZERO. Do you think Pittman or Higgens were even oh his radar?

 

[Mondio]

everyone is aware that we could go thru every draft pick and say what if

There's also a reason most people weigh the 1st round differently than the rest and tend to think there's a better than punchers chance for a different player to be selected there to make a difference vs one in a later round. Especially considering our weakness in that time and just how close we were. We also have all recognized and stated multiple times, it guarantees nothing.

It's also not as much of stretch to think a productive playmaker that was available to us and we passed over could have had enough of an impact to help. At the very least probably more impact at a playmaker position that would have played would very likely had more of an impact than one who did not.

 

[mradtke66]

Definitely the burden of ANY pick, no matter the round. I can go through each of Gute's drafts and list all the players he shouldn't have picked and then say "had he picked this guy instead, the Packers might have won 3-5 SB's." Some want to frame the Love pick as THE variable that cost the Packers SB's because in their eyes, the Packers didn't need a QB, especially one that high.

So sure, its easy to say "Had Gute just picked Pittman or Higgens the team does better", but why stop there? Lets use that logic with every pick that has now proven to be a failure. Also, what if Gute had picked Jalen Regor, Denzel Mims, Patrick Queen or others that didn't really live up to being drafted when they were? BTW, Gute picked ZERO WR's in that draft, ZERO. Do you think Pittman or Higgens were even oh his radar?

I'm trying to pick my words carefully. I'm super quick to point out that I don't know who should/would have been the pick instead. 15 years ago, I had informed opinions about our potential draft picks. I don't have that time any more.

The very specific complaint, and phrasing matters, is we didn't get value from the pick in 2020/2021. With as close as we came to the Super Bowl, that is a legitimate gripe. I'm also not going to say that a different pick would have assured us that Super Bowl, just that some on the field production could have been enough to overcome the small margin of defeat. Might has still failed, but the perception needs to be overcame.

In the absurd, maybe we picked an off-the-ball linebacker who absolutely busted as a defender, but turns out is an EXCELLENT punt-team guard. We likely easily beat the 49ers in 2021 w/o the blocked punt.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I'm trying to pick my words carefully. I'm super quick to point out that I don't know who should/would have been the pick instead. 15 years ago, I had informed opinions about our potential draft picks. I don't have that time any more.

The very specific complaint, and phrasing matters, is we didn't get value from the pick in 2020/2021. With as close as we came to the Super Bowl, that is a legitimate gripe. I'm also not going to say that a different pick would have assured us that Super Bowl, just that some on the field production could have been enough to overcome the small margin of defeat. Might has still failed, but the perception needs to be overcame.

In the absurd, maybe we picked an off-the-ball linebacker who absolutely busted as a defender, but turns out is an EXCELLENT punt-team guard. We likely easily beat the 49ers in 2021 w/o the blocked punt.

I totally get the argument, trust me. However Don Meredith said it best "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas."

 

[Sunshinepacker]

2 things.

First. I can name a ton of players that IF Gute had drafted, probably would have improved the team, not just first round picks either. IF that player had the same impact for the Packers as he did for another team, nor was that player injured. Hind site is wonderful isn't it, but that isn't the way life works in the NFL is it.

Second. IF Gute didn't draft Rodgers, what is your hind site plan for right now? Who is the Packers starting QB?

Preferably? Caleb Williams...but Caleb Williams with one more Super Bowl win is better than where the team is right now. Also, Pittman and Higgins were players that MANY people specifically said the Packers could (should) have drafted so this isn't some random hypothetical.

Gute gets paid a LOT of money, he doesn't need fans defending him from history, he's a big boy and legitimate criticism is allowed even for employees of the team you root for.

 

[OldSchool101]

I have been saying all along that it wouldn't be smart for the Packers to exercise the option on Love with him being a complete unknown.

Finally something Gutekunst and I agree on.

Agreed. I think this was a very reasonable compromise. GB doesn’t get stuck with a $20.3M contract IF Jordan just looks like mud. However Jordan gets kicked a few extra Million for accepting reduced guaranteed.
On Jordan’s side. There’s no guarantee Jordan would get much more than a single digit deal $5m etc elsewhere if he doesn’t play lights out. Now he’s guaranteed $13.5mil. Pretty good gig he just hit the lotto
For the Packers. Being able to walk away in an emergency with 13.5M max output (less any trade value) is nothing scary, but the added couple Million if he plays in 2024 is nearly inconsequential. We don’t need another Darnell Savage mistake