Aaron Rodgers has reentered the building
After almost three months of speculation, Aaron Rodgers has finally shown up in Green Bay as he reported to training camp on Tuesday. It doesn’t mean that everything is alright in Packerland, but at least we have a glimmer of hope that we can make things work, at least for this season. This team and this roster is more than capable of winning the Super Bowl in February, especially with Rodgers under center. In this piece, I will give my thoughts on what it means to have Rodgers back on the team, what I expect for this season, and what the future may bring beyond this season.
Ever since Adam Schefter broke the news on Draft Night in late April, Packer fans (and fans of other teams, especially the Bears and Vikings) filled social media seemingly nonstop for months. For several years, Stephen A. Smith of ESPN consistently opined that Rodgers should demand a trade and get out of Green Bay. Many Packer fans were split between Rodgers and the front office. Many thought the front office failed him for years while others felt Rodgers was being a prima donna. I tried to keep my thoughts mostly to myself throughout this whole ordeal, but I felt there was plenty of blame to go around on both sides. Yes, the front office ultimately makes the final decisions, but I think the franchise player on the team and the face of the franchise should have a huge input when it comes to major decisions. Egos need to be checked at the door. Many dynasties and potential dynasties have been destroyed because of egos and arrogance on one or both sides.
First, let’s look at why Rodgers should be upset with the organization. They came close many times and it seemed like they were only a move or two away from getting to the mountaintop. They mostly sat on their hands when they could have pulled the trigger on so many moves. It went back to when Brett Favre wanted the team to trade for Randy Moss. They didn’t make the move. I still believe that if the Packers had Moss in 2007, they would have won the Super Bowl that year. Rodgers wanted the team to trade for Marshawn Lynch in 2010. Seattle got him instead. The Packers managed to win Super Bowl XLV that year anyway. Ironically, Lynch played a part in that. His “Beastquake” clinched Seattle’s upset of the then-defending champion New Orleans Saints. I believe had the Saints won that game, they would have defeated the Chicago Bears the next week and hosted the Packers in the NFC Championship. I don’t know if the Packers would have won there and advanced to the Super Bowl. I guess we will never know. The “draft and develop” strategy would be annoying in the ensuing years under Ted Thompson, and while Brian Gutekunst made some nice free-agent signings, he was hesitant to pull the trigger when they were a player or two away from making major noise in the playoffs. Rodgers did have nice things to say about Jordan Love as a player and a human being, but it is obvious that he was upset that we wasn’t notified about the move before the draft.
Now, here is why Rodgers should be happy with the Packers and the direction they are headed. After the 2018 season, they looked like a team on the decline. Mike McCarthy was fired before the season was over and they wrapped up their second losing season in a row, but this time, Rodgers played a full 16 games, unlike in 2017. Gutekunst made some bold moves like signing Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith and bringing in Adrian Amos. Under new Head Coach Matt LaFleur, they shocked the Bears in Soldier Field in the season opener and went on to a 13-3 season and a berth in the NFC Championship Game. They repeated that feat, but unlike in 2019, Rodgers had an MVP season. They fell short in the title game once again because they couldn’t make enough plays when it mattered the most. Like I said before, with this roster, the Packers have enough pieces to make the Super Bowl and win it.
What ultimately made Rodgers decide to come back? The two sides were in talks the whole time. I would like to think he knew he didn’t hold the cards in this situation and the best decision he could make is to show up and make it work. As a minority owner, he was definitely paying attention to the Milwaukee Bucks and their superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who led the Bucks to their first NBA Championship in 50 years. Before the season, Giannis signed a huge deal to remain in small-market Milwaukee, and he led the team to a championship before the team had to pay him a single penny of that deal. Giannis is the most beloved sports’ figure in Wisconsin right now in my opinion. Rodgers got his second championship ring as a result of that victory over the Phoenix Suns in 6 games, but fair or not, he has an uphill climb to regain the top figure in sports in Wisconsin.
They are expected to get Randall Cobb back. It is unclear how much he has left in the tank, but he has been a great mentor to rookie Amari Rodgers. Cobb has provided us with so many great memories, such as the clinching touchdown vs the Bears at Soldier Field to win the division in the 2013-14 season. We also can’t forget the 75-yard touchdown to help defeat the Bears 24-23 in the season opener in 2018 at Lambeau Field. The 108-yard kickoff return vs the Saints in the 2011 season opener has to be considered as well plus the Hail Mary vs the New York Giants in the 2016-17 playoffs, just to name a few memorable plays. He hasn’t played under Matt LaFleur yet, but he had tremendous chemistry with Aaron Rodgers and there is no reason to believe he can’t have it again, even if his skills have diminished since his last time on the roster.
Overall, I think this is a great day for the Packers, at least for this year. We don’t know what the future holds, but at least they should be able to legitimately compete for a title this year. Maybe Davante Adams will engage in contract talks once again. Maybe Za”Darius Smith will decide to stay for the long term as well. However you look at it, the future in Green Bay is brighter than it was a week ago.
Despite any progress we had the last few days, we are not out of the woods yet. Let’s hope they can use this time to smooth things out and get ready for the preseason and the regular season. When it is time for our first preseason game, I want the focus to be strictly on football. If this is Rodgers’ last season in GB, then so be it. Let’s make it a memorable one if that is the case. If this is their “last dance” like the Chicago Bulls had in 1998, then let’s dance our way to a championship.
Despite all the drama we had with the Packers the last several months, it is a great time to be a fan of Wisconsin sports. The Bucks won it all and the Milwaukee Brewers look like they could make some noise in the playoffs as well. The Packers are serious contenders with Rodgers under center. We don’t know what the future holds, but the present is looking very good in Wisconsin right now. Let’s enjoy this ride while we can because we never know when these opportunities will come back to us again.
Welcome back Aaron Rodgers! Perhaps this is his final season in a Packer uniform or perhaps it isn’t, but whatever the case, let’s have a great year and just maybe he will end up with his third championship ring when all is said and done.
Go Pack Go!
@DieHardPackrFan #DHPF #GregGoshaw @gg901
