It’s superb the distinction a 12 months 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 understanding precisely what they’d in Jordan Love, there have been loads of questions coming into final offseason. One 12 months later Green Bay looks and feels like a brand new franchise.
This time final 12 months, Love was the child on the bench backing up a future Corridor of Famer. Inexperienced Bay wasn’t even positive 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 far larger than it was final spring and may proceed to climb. Inexperienced Bay normally drafts properly, and also you’d anticipate that pattern to proceed. Most individuals anticipated the Packers to have a down 12 months whereas Love took time to determine life out as QB1. The primary few weeks of the Love era were a bit rocky however as soon as he settled in, by midseason they have been off to the races.
There’s a quote attributed to former Brooklyn Dodgers government Department Rickey that states: “Trade a player a year too early rather than a year too late.” Legendary NFL coaches like Invoice Walsh and Invoice Belichick adhered to this philosophy and have been fairly profitable regardless of some backlash over sure personnel strikes.
What the Packers did by moving on from Rodgers after they did (even when he compelled their hand) has set them up completely. If it wasn’t a “year early,” it was simply within the nick of time. Rodgers received 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 recreation with a ruptured Achilles.
After all, had Rodgers stayed one other 12 months 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 companion for a 40-year-old QB coming off an Achilles damage that value him your entire season would’ve been depressing.
So, the Packers actually dodged a bullet by granting Rodgers one final want after they did. Now with such a younger group led by a QB who’s solely 25 and has a lot upside, Green Bay should be in the NFC playoff mix for years to return. Final 12 months at the moment the state of Wisconsin was fearful not understanding how they’d look with out Rodgers taking snaps. Now all of the cheeseheads are assured they’ve received their man and will seriously compete for a Super Bowl next season.
