Inexperienced Bay, Wes. – Final season wasn’t the “final dance” of midfield gamers Aaron Rodgers and the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
Now, they’ve to determine methods to hold dancing longer within the playoffs than they did in what appeared like a Tremendous-Bowl-or-bust yr.
Rodgers’ choice to return for an additional season, he advised Pat McAfee Tuesday morning, is barely the start. Though it’s a very powerful piece, it isn’t the one one.
Actually, the actual work begins now.
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It’s as much as common supervisor Brian Gutkunst and wage cap supervisor Ross Paul to learn how the gamers cannot solely go on one other run with as many gamers from final season as attainable, but additionally make some vital additions to propel them to the highest.
“There’s rather a lot to construct on, whether or not you are round or not,” Rodgers mentioned on February 10, after accepting the Participant of the 12 months award. “I believe they’ve a extremely good core in place. Ought to I come again, there are some issues that have to be finished, most likely, to take the workforce the place it must go.”
There isn’t a motive to imagine that Rodgers’ play will decline; He was stronger within the common season than ever on his solution to profitable the Participant of the 12 months award for the fourth time and his second in a row. The 38-year-old was within the midst of one in every of his most prolific seasons with 37 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. The touch-to-intercept ratio of 9.4 over the previous two seasons is one of the best in a two-season in NFL historical past with at the least 1,000 makes an attempt, in response to ESPN statistics and data. He missed one recreation after contracting COVID-19, because the Packers misplaced to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, as a consequence of obligatory quarantine as a non-immune participant, nevertheless it did not cease the Packers from incomes the highest seed within the NFC playoffs.
However the playoffs have been one other story. Rodgers hasn’t performed by common season requirements, as has typically been within the 16 playoffs because the Packers received the Tremendous Bowl XLV (it was 7-9 in these video games). These 16 consecutive begins with out reaching the Tremendous Bowl characterize the longest streak by any QB in post-season historical past, in response to ESPN stats and data.
Whereas Rodgers struggled within the 13-10 loss to San Francisco 49ers within the Divisional Spherical, the Packers particular groups have been a catastrophe.
Head coach Matt LaFleur has tried to deal with the particular groups’ issues with one other teaching change, appointing former Raiders interim coach Wealthy Bisachia to be his third particular groups coordinator in 4 years.
Rodgers mentioned he did not need to be a part of the rebuilding course of, and given the Packers’ wage cap points — there was nonetheless $27.5 million above the cap earlier than the inclusion of All-Professional receiver Davante Adams, who is predicted to get Franchise mark – it will require extra work. Ball has already been busy restructuring offers to create loads of area and may have extra strikes to make.
Rodgers’ return ought to assist with that. If he hasn’t already, he’ll signal a contract extension that can decrease his $46,144,156 wage cap payment. There are a number of methods to deal with this even when Rodgers performs one additional season.
Packers not solely must hold Adams, additionally they should please him. The franchise tag won’t try this. No participant would need to play with out the assure of a long-term deal, despite the fact that Adams’ card would pay him $20.12 million.
Rodgers should even have obtained assurances from Gutkunst that he would have the ability to do extra than simply hold Adams. The Packers’ major free brokers embody linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, Cornerback Rasul Douglas, receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and receiver Allen Lazard (restricted free agent).
Rodgers must also be glad that the Packers lured one in every of his favourite coaches, Tom Clements, out of retirement to exchange quarterback coach Luke Jetsie (who grew to become the Bears offensive coordinator). In any case, LaFleur mentioned Rodgers has an “vital function” in hiring.
Regardless of the workforce’s form, the Packers imagine Rodgers provides them one of the best likelihood of profitable the Tremendous Bowl, even when his current historical past would not match his common season efficiency. Turning issues round for quarterback Jordan Love, who was traded for a choose within the first spherical of the 2020 draft, would absolutely imply a season of rising pains and a possible rebuild with out lots of the aforementioned free brokers.
Now, that might wait at the least one other yr.