Jordan Love Is Ready to Be a Starting NFL Quarterback
Throughout the pre-season and on Thursday night against the Eagles, Jordan Love has shown he's ready.
By markoldacres
In what essentially amounted to the end of an immensely frustrating and disappointing Green Bay Packers season, fans of the green and gold were given a glimmer of excitement and potentially a glimpse at the future during the final two offensive drives.
Jordan Love was impressive in relief of the injured Aaron Rodgers in a continuation of what he showed during the pre-season: He’s ready to be a starting NFL quarterback.
These were no garbage-time drives; Love entered the fray with the Packers still possessing a chance of mounting a dramatic comeback, and the third-year signal caller did all he could to make it happen.
Despite being thrown into the fire, down 14 points to the NFL’s best team, Love looked extremely comfortable.
He was able to calmly go through his progressions on each play and didn’t hesitate to rip the ball to the open man. That may not sound otherworldly, but its something Rodgers has often struggled with this season.
Love threw on time, from a solid base and with anticipation, and he appears to have quickened his delivery as well.
Arguably his most impressive throw ended up incomplete when Aaron Jones was unable to haul in a perfectly thrown bullet pass to the side-line. Love showed off the powerful arm which helped make him a first-round pick against the Eagles.
While his lone touchdown toss to Christian Watson required little heavy lifting on his part, the throw was placed in a way which allowed Watson to catch it in stride and take off.
Love narrowly missed out on a second TD when Randall Cobb couldn’t hang on, and there probably should have been pass interference called on that play.
It was only two drives, but it was all there. Love ran the offense, zipped the ball accurately, used his mobility to extend plays and kept the Packers in it until their defense inevitably crumbled again.
The signs were there in pre-season, but now he’s shown it against top NFL opposition. Now in his third year in the league, there is nothing more Love can learn without being a starter in real, regular NFL games.
There is a legitimate chance Love gets to do that in Green Bay this season, but whether he does in 2023 and beyond is another, complicated matter.
Regardless, the Packers brass have to be excited about what they saw from Love on Sunday night, and due to Rodgers’ injuries, the opportunity now exists to assess whether he is the future of the franchise or build up his trade value.
It’s going to be an interesting final six weeks of the season, and another fascinating off-season in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
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Mark Oldacres is a sports writer from Birmingham, England and a Green Bay Packers fan. You can follow him on twitter at @MarkOldacres
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Comments (130)
canadapacker
November 28, 2022 at 06:20 pm
Title is a total overreach. But it was a good start. Phillie was kind of doing the prevent thing so it is hard to really evaluate. But the throws are bang on - the one to Watson perfect - but look at how fast that was - no time in the pocket and he didnt need it. I think that he probably should start against the Bears as the bye is after that. And the Bears will probably not have Fields - and even if they do - he probably will be told to stop running with his sore shoulder.
We need to play Love for at least 4 full games where he is the starter and he gets the first team reps - but we also know that AR will be back to cash his $59 million payday. So he needs to get as accustomed to these new receivers and hopefully Doubs is also back. Especially now since the Oline is playing better, We need to know whether or not to sign the 5th year option. And that will have some sort of salary cap implications but not as much as if he had played a whole bunch of snaps. But it is around $19 mill or so and it might be a good investment even if he is traded. Or maybe not sign him and then have to pay big time as the Raiders are going to have to do with Jacobs
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 28, 2022 at 06:34 pm
Not an overreach.
Oppy
November 28, 2022 at 06:55 pm
Philly wasn't kind of doing the prevent thing.
PackyCheese500
November 28, 2022 at 06:56 pm
Only dumb defensive coordinators who are clueless do that, right?
Oppy
November 28, 2022 at 07:26 pm
My thoughts are generally "usually people who complain about prevent defense can't really identify what that means or when it is being applied".
I've seen so many people claiming the Love-to-Watson TD is a product of "prevent defense". Yeah, that's an interesting take, especially when the Eagles were playing 1 high safety with man coverage.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 28, 2022 at 07:39 pm
Exactly Oppy. It was man match coverage and the inside linebacker fell for the playaction which created the void for Watson. Funny how easy it can be when you just run the damn play instead of getting cute.
canadapacker
November 29, 2022 at 02:55 pm
I thought it was kind of soft coverage - if you want to call it prevent - then maybe not maybe kind of a misnomer -especially because for the last 2 years we have played that soft coverage when ahead near the end of the game. But I am not the only one calling it prevent - the so called experts on the NFL Sirius channel all called it prevent.
In any case there is a point where we need to see Love for an extended period of time - so we will probably beat the Bears this weekend if Fields is still out - maybe not if he runs through us like Phillie did. Hopefully we are put out of our misery this weekend even if we win - right now the only way we get in is if we are tied with Dallas at 9-8 because we lost to both the Giants and Commanders.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
November 29, 2022 at 08:39 am
No they were not! Look at the TD pass to Watson they were blitzing with a five man rush and you can see they only had one safety back. There is a lot of intentional misdirection BS being thrown around about a soft D being played. Take a look at the pass attempts and tell me there were not players all over the WR's.
Since'75
November 28, 2022 at 08:44 pm
CanadaPacker is correct, Title is an overreach.
.
C'mon...4th quarter, down by 14 points, only 4 man rushes?
That's tested?
We all know Love gets rattled by strong front pass rushers, that's what we need to see him handle.
He was fine, some balls thrown behind, Jones should have caught that left shoulder, Christian made Love look great on that 10 yard pass Watson turned into 63 and a TD.
But the pass was right on, credit when due.
NFL QB's are tested under duress, and Love is no different. That's where his issues were anyway, not his arm strength, not even his accuracy.
The NFL game they say is 90% mental for a QB .
I don't think in 9 pass attempts you can label a guy a NFL starting QB. C'mon man.
Unless of course...you want a catchy title for your article..
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 28, 2022 at 09:28 pm
Nobody's crowning him. What were saying is that hes obviously progressing which is exactly what you want to see. Time to play him so we can find out what his ceiling can be.
Since'75
November 29, 2022 at 08:47 am
Nobody is crowning Love?
Really?
Did you read the title of this article, other peoples comments?
Since'75
November 29, 2022 at 07:05 pm
WOW...what a bunch of little babies......lol
Refute the content if you think it's wrong.
barutanseijin
November 28, 2022 at 11:20 pm
Jordan Love stepped in to a throw with a defender in his face. How many years has it been since the Regular Season “GOAT” did that? He’s as backfoot as Favre was at the end.
Love made quick decisions and got the ball out with authority. Your hero dithers and gives defenders time to get through the line.
Since'75
November 29, 2022 at 07:03 pm
Love played for 3 minutes and 19 seconds, he had 6 completions!!....lol
We better call CANTON!!!
Since'75
November 29, 2022 at 09:26 am
The truth isn't always pretty...is it
barutanseijin
November 28, 2022 at 09:46 pm
It’s kind of funny to see all the Cult of 12 members sputtering away trying to hand waved away Love’s performance. “Vanilla “ “Prevent” yadda yadda yadda
Keep it coming!
Untylu1968
November 29, 2022 at 07:16 am
These are more than likely the same clowns, that's booed Rodgers on his first practice, after Favre left, as they were sporting their #4 JETS jerseys. Now they can't accept the fact that #12 is closing in on the end.
Since'75
November 29, 2022 at 08:52 am
"...that's booed Rodgers...."
Stay in school kids.
GP1
November 29, 2022 at 04:09 pm
Rogers is old; it's what happens. His best days are behind him. There will still be the occasional brilliant pass but they are interspersed with more and more poor ones.
It is time to start looking to the future and Aaron, who gave us a hell of a ride, is not it.
coolhand
November 29, 2022 at 09:07 am
No, Love should be the starter this year. The Packers blew it by not trading Rodgers and getting picks. Instead we tied our own hands with his ridiculous contract.
PackyCheese500
November 28, 2022 at 06:32 pm
I know it is still too early to judge, but man, Love looked poised, accurate, and threw an incredible spiral. If Rodgers is ready against the Bears, start him to give him one last shot at cementing his ownership before he leaves. If not play Love. We should wait to play Love after the bye so MLF can formulate a good game-plan for him
For his contract I think we should extend him right now (as in right now) for the next couple of years to a cheap-ish (high single digits) deal while we can get him cheap. If he doesn't work out, then his cap hit is low. If he works out, then we've got a great QB on a cheap contract for 3 or so more years. We will be entering a rebuild regardless.
As far as Rodgers, let him play the Bears game if he can play, and after that, put him on IR. In the off-season, I think we should negotiate a trade with the New York Jets so that they take on part of his deal but not so much that it would dissuade a trade. We could get good draft capital, too.
For now, Love is the future, and we should try and lock him up as quick as we can for the next few years to a cheap-ish deal. When we contend again, it will help if we aren't devoting a massive amount of our salary cap space to paying a star QB.
EnemyTerritory
November 28, 2022 at 06:37 pm
If I’m Love I don’t sign any extension without a firm commitment from the FO that I’m the guy in 2024 at the latest….
If I’m the FO I shut AR down now on IR. He can return and finish the season at home week 18. MLF should not need 2 weeks to put in a proper game plan. The offensive genius should be able to do that in a normal week…. The offense actually looked fluid and in sync with Love.
PackyCheese500
November 28, 2022 at 06:42 pm
Yes. We commit to him now while we can get him cheaper.
I suppose if we wanted to preserve AR's health for a potential trade, we could shut him down now.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 28, 2022 at 06:56 pm
If im the front office, I give him a longterm contract tonight. Backload it to offset the current cap hell this team is in and spend the next 2 years getting that cap right so they can seriously build around him.
PackyCheese500
November 28, 2022 at 07:07 pm
Try to get him on an 8-9m yearly cap hit, ideally, less if possible. We haven't seen enough, so we could get him cheaply now for the next 3 or so years. Not only would this allow us to really build around him for the next couple of years, it would show him that we are ready to commit to him now as the starter
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 28, 2022 at 07:16 pm
We live in a world where Jay Cutler got a $127 million dollar contract 10 years ago and Love looked better in those two drives last night than Cutler ever looked at any point in his career. No way were getting Love to stay for less than $20 mil per year. Even with only 1 start. His agent knows what he has and wont be giving any hometown discounts. Its gonna take a leap of faith.
PackyCheese500
November 28, 2022 at 07:22 pm
My concern is not whether Love is capable; I am fully ready to take that leap of faith. My concern is more of: three or so years down the line, when we are contenders again, having to pay your star QB tons of money hampers your ability to win a title because that is money that could be spent elsewhere bolstering other parts of the roster or bringing in a prized free agent or two. I believe in Love.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 28, 2022 at 07:26 pm
I hear ya, but they missed that boat by not playing him sooner. They waited and now theyre gonna have to pay. Kyler Murray just got $230 mil. Lamar is asking for $250 mil. Market price is market price and accomplishments, or lackthereof, really dont matter. $20 mil per year would be insanely cheap at this point.
PackyCheese500
November 28, 2022 at 07:33 pm
We can’t judge him off of nine snaps, and neither can his agents. He didn’t look terrible, but also wasn’t spectacular in the preseason. Hopefully if we act quickly we can get him semi-cheap. The quality of the QB matters; you wouldn’t pay Baker Mayfield the same amount that you would pay Patrick Mahomes. While Love is still a relative unknown, we should do the best we can to get him somewhat cheap for the next 3 or so years. Maybe 8-9 mil, maybe 13-16 mil, who knows.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 28, 2022 at 07:51 pm
Its not about judging. Its just reality. If we dont pay him, someone else gladly will. Remember Matt Schaub? The guy started and won a single game while throwing 4 tds for the Falcons when Mike Vick was hurt. The Texans promptly swapped first rounders with them and gave up 2 2nd rounders off the back of one good game. The NFL is crazy when it comes to quarterbacks and these agents know it. The secret is out now. The whole world saw his arm, mental processing, and mobility. Teams will be lining up to trade for him and whenever they do start negotiating he isnt going to come cheap. I hate it, but its the world were living in now.
PackyCheese500
November 28, 2022 at 08:07 pm
Why, then is the Jets’ backup QB, Mike White, not being paid like Aaron Rodgers now after his amazing performances against the Bengals (in ‘21) and Bears (last week)? In some cases, this is true, but not for reasonable franchises, and the Texans have been one of the most terribly mis-managed teams in the league. 9 snaps is too little to judge for any reasonable agent or GM - what if Love comes out and plays like crap next week against the Bears? They should extend him now (like right now) for the next 3-ish years while he is still a relative unknown. Against the Eagles, he had very little expectations, and did well. How will he fare when people are expecting him to do well, or when he has some expectations (like the preseason or the Chiefs game last year). There is still lots of time, and the Packers should lock him up right now while he is cheap-ish
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 28, 2022 at 08:28 pm
Because Mike White is an actual backup qb. Hes not Jordan Love. Not even close. Like i said, i hate that its like this. Im just being realistic. Love isnt going to take less money because the Packers have refused to play him. His 5th year option is for around $20 mil. Hes not going to accept less than that for an extension.
PackyCheese500
November 28, 2022 at 08:38 pm
I still think we need to see how he performs with expectations, but oh well. Hopefully you are wrong (and I mean this in a nice way), but you are probably right, and hopefully they can get him for 20m for the next 3-4 years if you're correct.
Hopefully, though, we can get him for cheaper, and maybe he'll be like Travis Kelce - avoiding a big payday so his team can succeed. Probably not, but you never know.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 28, 2022 at 09:30 pm
Keep in mind that the salary cap is set to explode in 2024 so $20 million/yr might end up being a steal just like Rodgers' 2nd contract was in relation to the overall cap.
whysoserious
November 29, 2022 at 10:32 am
If you really want to take a leap of faith offer love a 10 year extension at 35-40 million per year. If it pans out you have a steal down the road. High risk high reward.
canadapacker
November 28, 2022 at 08:00 pm
He will have no choice but to play for the Pack ( unless traded) if the Pack pick up the 5th year option """The option allows a team to retain a player’s rights for five years rather than the standard four, which is the bonus of selecting a player in the first round. In order to extend the contract, the team must inform the player during the period between the last regular season game of his third contract year and May 3 of the next League Year (Art. 7, Sec. 7, (a), 31)."""""
PhantomII
November 28, 2022 at 08:10 pm
He throws to any WR or RB that is open. That's what happens when you go thru your progressions instead of making your mind up presnap who the balls going to.
Since'75
November 28, 2022 at 09:10 pm
"If Rodgers is ready against the Bears, start him to give him one last shot at cementing his ownership before he leaves"
One last shot?....Yea, lets throw him a bone...lol
Where is Rodgers going...seriously, the Jets?
Is he retiring and forfeiting 59.5 million dollars?
Traded? (check his contract)
I'm not sure what you mean, he's leaving.
I would love some inside info if you can source it.
*****************
So here we are with another one.....
9 pass attempts and we should.....sign him up for 3 or more years....on the cheap?
*************
I'll smoke whatever your smoking 😮
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 28, 2022 at 09:32 pm
Poor you. Cant handle people getting excited about him just cuz you didnt want him. Well he's this team's future whether you like it or not so you might as well get behind him.
Since'75
November 29, 2022 at 08:36 am
Again...it's 9 pass attempts. He has a career record of 3 TD's, 3 interceptions.
I don't hate Love, i thought he got a raw deal by Gute, because they left him out in left field by signing Rodgers to a new deal.
They had a plan for Love, they changed their plan. I actually feel bad for Love because the Packers screwed him.
But at the same time, the realist in me says that 9 pass attempts does not a starting NFL make.
Maybe it does in your world and if it makes you all giddy about him, more power to you.
My point was, because of the new contract the Packers willfully gave Rodgers, it severely limits their options for next season.
You, or others might understand it better if you educated yourself on his contract ramifications.
The "best case" scenario for the Packers is Rodgers retiring and counting 40 million in dead cap next season.. if he retired, which he won't do with 58 million coming his way next season, guaranteed.
A trade could happen, but who wants to take on that contract, AND give away valuable draft resources?
There is no poor me, there is the educated me.
Details matter.
Knowledge matters.
The bottom line at the end of the day is Packer upper management created this situation, it's on them, not Rodgers
The Packers drafted Love to move on from Rodgers.
The Packers changed their mind.
Offered Rodgers huge money
Leaving Love to scratch his head over broken promises from the Packers.
Maybe this will help you.....
https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/aaron-rodgers-3745/
Coldworld
November 29, 2022 at 09:16 am
Rodgers and Green Bay is over. It can end relatively respectfully or it can get very ugly if it’s protracted. The era ended and the Packers refused to face it (well Murphy) and seemingly Rodgers too. The money is spent but the franchise must now salvage what it can to get out of the hole it has dug. Sadly it’s as much the people running and coaching that are the problem as the ridiculous contract given to Rodgers.
None of that has anything really to do with Love as a player. He’s good or he’s not. Sunday was an encouraging cameo.
You need to be able to separate the two distinct evaluations.
Since'75
November 29, 2022 at 07:09 pm
"Rodgers and Green Bay is over."
And...Rodgers is going where?
Seriously, i'm highly curious.
Educate me.
Since'75
November 29, 2022 at 07:29 pm
"None of that has anything really to do with Love as a player. He’s good or he’s not."
Well riddle me this then...When the Packers doled out 3 years and 150 million to Rodgers only 8 months ago , did the Packers think Love was good, or not, when that happened?
It doesn't matter if i think Love is good, or not.
It's what the Packers thought while they were handing Rodgers a winning lottery ticket.
I'm not 100% sure either, but if you read between the lines.........
whysoserious
November 29, 2022 at 10:37 am
I have seen ridiculous cap maneuvering and guys extended and cut that make zero sense. The cap is a very fluid thing that can manipulated to great extents. If Rodgers wants to move on and the Packers are willing they will find a way to make it work with some desparate team out there even if we don't get a ton back in return.
Since'75
November 29, 2022 at 07:17 pm
A desperate team is usually a bad team. I doubt Rodgers ok's a trade to a bad team when he's guaranteed 59.5 million, to stay in Green Bay.
MooPack
November 28, 2022 at 06:32 pm
A picture worth a thousand words. Love Hurts, 101. - RGIII
https://twitter.com/RGIII/status/1597097519984828417/photo/1
MooPack
November 28, 2022 at 06:57 pm
[Edit] For those that need a little help - Meaning, anyone who has experienced unrequited, or unreturned, love knows that it can hurt like nothing else at a base level. Give the kid a chance. Not his fault he got drafted.
Coldworld
November 28, 2022 at 06:36 pm
That might be a leap, despite the encouraging cameo yesterday, but he’s certainly ready to make some starts for this team in our current position so that we can see if he is truly ready. There really is no excuse now for not giving him the reins.
whysoserious
November 29, 2022 at 10:38 am
There is one excuse. Rodgers will throw a tantrum. Can you imagine if Love actually looks good while playing the remaining games. Rodgers ego would take an enormous hit.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 28, 2022 at 06:42 pm
I dont know what else people need to see from him. He's made a crazy amount of progress from his rookie year. That much is obvious to anyone not looking at him through the hater lense. The only way we will discover his ceiling is by taking a leap of faith and giving him the keys to the car. 15 years ago, when the Packers made the move to Rodgers, there wasnt any certainty he would become a first ballot hall of famer. Far from it. Everyone could see he was good but nobody knew just how high the ceiling was. The team took a leap of faith and were rewarded handsomely. Murphy, Gute, Lafleur, and whoever else is involved in the decision making, time to channel your inner Ted and do what needs to be done. Its time. Let the kid play. For the love of God, let the kid play.
PackyCheese500
November 28, 2022 at 06:45 pm
Yes! I completely agree!
PackyCheese500
November 28, 2022 at 06:43 pm
Don't trade Love! See what we have in him! We're not going to get Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud (I wouldn't want any of them anyway), so commit to Love! For now at least. We will see at the end of the season, but chances are that if he doesn't work out, he won't draw much trade interest. Besides, I know it is too early to judge, but he's looked amazing!
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 28, 2022 at 06:46 pm
Trading Love would be absolutely insane at this point. Not even Murphy would dare screw up that bad.
PackyCheese500
November 28, 2022 at 06:46 pm
Hmm, don't Jinx him!
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 28, 2022 at 06:50 pm
Ugh i dont even want to think about it.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
November 29, 2022 at 12:52 am
Geez Return To Sanity....I take a few hours off to cook dinner for the wife and clean up the kitchen and you repeatedly leave me nothing more to add as I go thru the thread. Dang!
You da man!!!
ImaPayne
November 28, 2022 at 06:56 pm
Haven't seen Rodgers run all season but he sure was motoring to get checked out quickly so as to return so love couldn't replace him. He remembers Farves injury and his rise and doesn't want Love to do the same to him. What a diva pos ahole
stockholder
November 28, 2022 at 07:07 pm
As long as it's for another team! Does he look like Brett Favre? Does he look like Johnny Unitas? Does he look like Rodgers?
The point is he will never be in the Hall of fame. He would have replaced Rodgers way before this!
So should they trade him? Yes - before they cut Bait. Because the Figures won't match the output.
Name 1 player that Gutey drafted that performed to your expectations this year! You can't. Gary is hurt.
Gutey will just turn around and waste more picks. - Drafting another. - And thats why Love will be a packer until a new QB gets drafted.
Then they should trade him. Love still is buyer beware. Start Rodgers. Draft his replacement . Trade Love!! Thats what must happen!
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 28, 2022 at 07:21 pm
This is meme worthy. Gave you a thumbs up for making me laugh.
PackyCheese500
November 28, 2022 at 07:25 pm
No, Love should be kept! He looked great! Unless you have contract/salary cap concerns with Love 2 or 3 years down the line, we should keep him most definitely! Great QBs are hard to find, and with good development, he can become a great QB!
Also, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Zach Tom, and Kingsley Enagbare have all met or exceeded my expectations for this year. Not saying Gutey is a great GM, there are other better candidates out there that we could hire in the off-season, but you have to give him at least a little bit of credit for where he’s done well
Not saying anything, because I know it is too early to judge, but he did remind me somewhat of a young Rodgers. Maybe that’s what studying behind him for 3 years does?
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 28, 2022 at 07:35 pm
Gute has done just fine. Hes missed on some picks but so does everyone else. Look at John Lynch for example. He has missed on a lot of picks but nobody in San Fran is calling for his head. Hell Love looks better than Trey Lance did in his brief playing time and Lynch gave up 3 1st round picks to trade up for him. Gute waited till the 26th pick and still got the better qb. I still believe in some of the other draft picks who havent done a lot yet either. Deguara is proving to be a monster blocker with a little juice in the receiving game. Dillon is a monster when given the ball in actual run formations. Watson is a superfreak. Doubs looks good. Tom, Emagbare, and Toure look good. Stokes is good when actually used in press man coverage. Walker is a superfreak whos coming along slowly but will turn a corner. And then theres the home run picks of Jaire, Gary, and Jenkins. If Love pans out, Gute will become royalty in Green Bay just like Thompson and Wolf. And hes gonna have a couple really nice picks to work with next year too. This team's problems are not on Gute. Its a culture problem. Lafleur has lost this locker room thanks to horrible coaching hires and 12's poison spreading throughout this team. Gute isnt to blame for that.
PackyCheese500
November 28, 2022 at 07:58 pm
Fair points, I can agree with that. I also agree that one of the main problems is the coaching culture. MLF looks like a lost sissy, and it’s spreading to everyone on the team. The whole defense looks like they’re afraid to tackle and trying to avoid physicality. On the other hand, Mike Vrabel is coaching one of the best defenses in the NFL, who thrive on physicality. When they get beat up, the depth players are physical and play their hearts out and do well. We need someone like that, and I think Dan Quinn should be someone who the Packers at least explore to replace MLF
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 28, 2022 at 08:06 pm
Im sure youve noticed that ive been a big proponent of MLF but at this point he kinda reminds me of Kevin Bacon's character at the end of Animal House. "Everyone remain calm! All is well! All is Well!!!!" To be fair, I think he was thrust in a shit position by having to find a balance between catering to 12's ego and managing the rest of this team, but it doesnt make much difference cuz when a coach loses a locker room it doesnt really matter if its his fault or not. If they do move forward with Love, it could be beneficial to keep MLF since Love knows his offense. Idk. We'll see what happens.
PackyCheese500
November 28, 2022 at 08:14 pm
Maybe, I do still see a potential path forward with MLF, and who knows, maybe Barry is the problem for the sissieness of the defense. If he is, then he should be fired IMMEDIATELY and replaced with Jim Leonhard as soon as possible. He will not be the long term coach at Wisconsin.
I have thought that ever since the Cowboys game (and even in the Lions game some), MLF has been calling good plays. Maybe we should give him another chance?
If MLF is fired, though, I think that Frank Reich could be a good candidate for a play-calling OC. He is know for his excellent QB development skills, and helped the Eagles to win the SB with a backup QB and made Phillip Rivers and Carson Wentz look like good QBs (just watch Wentz in Indy versus Wentz in Washington this year).
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 28, 2022 at 09:02 pm
Cant see Lafleur remaining and not keeping the playcalling duties. Already went down that route at the end of the Mccarthy era and it wasnt great. If Lafleur stays, he needs to retain control of this offense imo. If they were to move on from MLF then Reich would be an interesting choice for OC assuming he doesnt get scooped up by Sirianni and the Eagles.
Coldworld
November 29, 2022 at 09:40 am
LaFleur without play calling would be utterly pointless.
PackyCheese500
November 29, 2022 at 12:17 pm
If LaFleur stayed, he would still call plays. I did not mean it otherwise. What I was saying was if he left, Reich would be a good replacement
Coldworld
November 29, 2022 at 09:25 am
MLF can’t learn and thus grow and is clearly not a man who can lead. He’s a counselor type. The refusal to can Barry after a performance that is generationally bad on top of a season of unfulfilled talent and regression across the entire unit comes a year after the same scenario with Drayton. That cost us the last chance at a Super Bowl and yet here we are repeating a year later. MLF is not a head coach and he keeps providing more proof of that every week.
Starrbrite
November 29, 2022 at 02:08 am
I always get a huge smile on my face when Packy and Return to Sanity post comments—their optimism is real and contagious.
I’m not a big Love believer, but I can’t help get fired up when y’all convince me he’s the shidizzle.
Go Packers!!!
crayzpackfan
November 29, 2022 at 09:42 am
Love’s mechanics makes Rodgers mechanics look like Uncle Rico.
BAMABADGER
November 28, 2022 at 07:39 pm
To be fair, review AR stats his first three years with the Pack. Then look at Love's. They are very similar. Then digest what you just posted. One could easily substitute Love's name with Rodgers' in your last 5 sentences.
Coldworld
November 29, 2022 at 09:36 am
As an early Rodgers advocate, this is very true. Rodgers was not by any means an obvious replacement but he showed more and more flashes. Favre was still better than him in 2008 as well. However Favre was declining and Rodgers continued to improve.
I think anyone who supported him who says they knew that he’d become as good as he did is probably either lying or has a memory corrupted by time. We knew he had a chance to be a good QB. We knew he would be better than Favre would be very shortly, we knew the team needed a QB who wasn’t dithering about playing or apart from the team. We did not know he would have a Hall of Fame career.
I see Love very similarly. Rodgers is starting to decline. Rodgers is uncertain of his desire to play each year. Love is unfinished but has some talent. Now it’s time to see if some is enough. That year for Rodgers was 2008, after drafting Brohm and Flynn that year to hedge our bets. Right now there’s no hedge, but we need to know if we need to next spring.
PackyCheese500
November 29, 2022 at 12:18 pm
And who knows, if we trade Rodgers to the Jets, maybe he takes them to the AFC Championship just like Favre took the Vikings to the NFC Championship
Coldworld
November 29, 2022 at 12:35 pm
It’s a possibility, but he’s not taking us to one with this cap and roster. so it’s not important. What is is getting out from under this.
stockholder
November 29, 2022 at 12:51 pm
FanGirl was right if you go= "rebuild". You can't get out of Rodgers.(50 mil.) Without getting out of Loves at the same Time. (It will be 20 mil. and more if he stays the starter) She wanted both traded. I suggested that Gutey Drafts a Qb for the Rebuild. Love cannot be part of a rebuild. The 20 mil./ starter helps every position. Thats why Love was such a bad pick at that time.
Packers0808
November 28, 2022 at 08:18 pm
Glad all you do is talk on here!
PhantomII
November 28, 2022 at 08:24 pm
He doesn't have to be AR. AR has a lot of flaws in his game partially from MM offense not scheming WR's open.
Whoever replaces AR only has to be efficient with their opportunities and move the chains...get first downs and be good in the red zone. Spread the ball around to ALL the open receivers and they will win championships if the defense ever gets straightened out.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 28, 2022 at 09:04 pm
Exactly. He needs to be Jordan Love. He needs to find his own identity. Sometimes I worry he may have picked up some of 12's bad habits that arent exactly fundamentally sound.
fair_weather
November 28, 2022 at 09:09 pm
It sounds like you are saying the GBP deserve a third HOF quarterback or something.
Coldworld
November 29, 2022 at 09:38 am
It’s not a question of deserve. It’s a question of finding out what we have. What Love really is. The same is true for others on the roster.
Oppy
November 30, 2022 at 03:42 am
"The point is he will never be in the Hall of fame. He would have replaced Rodgers way before this!"
Aaron Rodgers is going to be a first ballot Hall of Famer. Why didn't he replace Brett Favre way before his 3rd NFL season?
You are so illogical it hurts.
Bure9620
November 28, 2022 at 07:51 pm
The ball was flying off his hand...I just hope we can keep him....
splitpea1
November 28, 2022 at 07:56 pm
The question is, when is he going to get a chance to show it?
During and after one of the preseason games, I heard multiple analysts say his throws lacked "crispness". Well, he demonstrated plenty of it last night in his brief time and deserves a shot to play four quarters--whenever that is.
MLF stated that if Rodgers is healthy enough to play against the Bears, he will. What the point of that is, I don't know. It's been calculated that our chances of making the playoffs now sit at a robust 3%.
Bitternotsour
November 28, 2022 at 08:15 pm
The point is that Rodgers has MLF's testicles buried in his back yard, and if MLF doesn't do exactly what Aaron wants, he won't let Matt visit them any more.
Am I crazy or were the Packers playing with some tempo in the first quarter. I mean they reverted to form after the first few drives - snapping with 3 seconds or less on the play clock most of the time.
MLF takes too long to get the plays in, and the terminology must be really involved because they really do not break the huddle with any sort of energy or velocity. Maddening.
PackyCheese500
November 28, 2022 at 08:35 pm
Interesting points...maybe a bit excessive in the first, but I generally agree with you.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 28, 2022 at 09:05 pm
Thats not Lafleur. Thats Rodgers purposely running it down to try to get a read on the defense. Hes been doing it for nearly a decade. MLF deserves blame for some things, but running the clock down repeatedly isnt one of them.
Bitternotsour
November 28, 2022 at 10:53 pm
Love wasn't getting the snaps much earlier - hence my comment. I wasn't paying really close attention, but the play clock was definitely winding down on Loves snaps. That points to MLF for me.
Coldworld
November 29, 2022 at 09:45 am
There’s no point other than to illustrate the utter lack of perspective in LaFleur and this leadership and the lack of a Harlen type to step in and say now is the time to put the franchise first. Murphy, as the chief architect of this mess is thoroughly compromised. What we are seeing from LaFleur is bad leadership proving it.
dekan51
November 28, 2022 at 07:56 pm
Love will not sign an extension. Why should he? We have an option to pick him up at about 19-20 mil, right? Why would he take half that? I say, play him the rest of the year and IR AR. IR Bakhtiari. I say we keep DB next year, but dump all the other old guys. If JL plays well...we trade AR. If JL doesn't do it, we dump or trade him, and keep AR another year. But the FO would be insane to not try and keep Love after all this......unless he stinks it up the rest of the year.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 29, 2022 at 12:14 am
Why would he want to leave the team that drafted him and developed him? By all accounts he's mastered this offense so why would he want to start over elsewhere?
LeotisHarris
November 28, 2022 at 08:05 pm
Take a look at the starting QBs around the NFL. I don't think Love is any less ready than the list of 2022 starters to date; Mike White, Bryce Perkins, Davis Mills, Carson Wentz etc. Brady is circling the drain, only the stems and seeds remain with Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers is dinged up, and Jimmy G rolls on.
Jordan Love is ready to be a starting QB in the NFL. Let the kid play.
PackyCheese500
November 28, 2022 at 08:34 pm
Mills and Wentz have been Benched, Perkins is in only because Stafford is injured, and you can't judge White against a terrible defense like Chicago's.
I agree, let Love play
LeotisHarris
November 28, 2022 at 09:23 pm
I can judge anyone anyway I want, goober! This is the internet, ffs.
Did they start in the NFL? Were they starters? At the QB position? Case. Fucking. Closed.
NickPerry
November 29, 2022 at 05:30 am
WOW...A little harsh. I thought he made a fair point.
Rossonero
November 28, 2022 at 08:11 pm
OK OK, let's calm down Gents and keep our feet firmly on the ground. After the KC game last year some fans declared him a bust and now he's NFL ready already.
JORDAN LOVE IS READY after going 6 for 9 and 1 TD. Should we be excited and want to see more?
Yes.
Does that mean we should talk about EXTENDING him while we're currently paying Aaron Rodgers a billion dollars?
No.
I get the excitement - he flashed. We want to see a young QB flash like that. Against a Super Bowl contender like Philly and on the road no less. I want to see more of him as well and Rodgers should sit. I said this before the game and I'll say it again -- there is a fine line between being tough and being stupid. Rodgers is even more banged up now and we're 4-8. We're not 8-4 and chasing a title.
Rodgers will "go down swinging" as he said (his own words). But he's going to hold back Love and potentially embarrass us against DUH BEARS on Sunday. If there's any team we must beat, it's those dopes in Chicago.
Bottom line: I want to see more of Jordan Love. His potential excites me for the future. Let's see what the kid can do and let Rodgers heal up after these injuries because he's nowhere near 100%.
PackyCheese500
November 28, 2022 at 08:15 pm
Extend him now while he is a relative unknown for the next 3 or so years so we can get him cheaper! If he succeeds, then we have a great QB on a team friendly deal that will help us to build our roster even more 2 or 3 years in the future when we are hopefully contenders again. If he does not work out, then his cap hit is low.
I say give Rodgers one more chance to cement his ownership of the Bears and then let Love play from there on out. Any time this week, the week of the Bears game (assuming Rodgers starts), or during the bye week, the FO should extend on a cheap-ish contract for the next 3-ish years, with a yearly cap hit of anywhere between 8-10-12 mil, ideally. Starting Love after the Bye will give MLF a good chance to come up with a game-plan for him. In the off-season, trade Rodgers to the Jets and hand the reins to Love.
Rossonero
November 28, 2022 at 09:06 pm
Ok, I see what you mean now PackyCheese. If they can make it work, then I'm for it, it's just a very small sample size. The investment makes sense -- assuming Love and his camp are in agreement. They could always decline it though -- especially if Rodgers keeps wanting to play. Love could just ride out his rookie deal and refuse to sign any extension because he's sick of being a back-up. Gotta trade #12 this offseason man, I was sayin it last offseason too.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
November 29, 2022 at 12:58 am
Very sound advice Ross!
mbpacker
November 28, 2022 at 08:24 pm
Think lightning can strike for a 3rd time in Green Bay? So help me Love I hope so.
PackyCheese500
November 28, 2022 at 08:32 pm
I'm not saying anything, as I know it is too early to judge, but Love did eerily remind me of a young Rodgers...I guess that is saying something.
Starrbrite
November 29, 2022 at 02:26 am
O’l Packycheese—always gets me fired up.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 29, 2022 at 12:19 am
Heres the thing. This team hasnt just developed Rodgers and Favre. They also developed Matt Hasselbeck, Mark Brunell, and Aaron Brooks too. Thats 5 pro bowl qb's in a 30 year span. Thats not a coincidence. This team just knows how to develop qb's. Hell they even got 7th round pick Matt Flynn a nice 2nd contract. Theres a pattern here and its not luck.
Starrbrite
November 29, 2022 at 02:25 am
An excellent evaluation Return-to -Sanity.
stockholder
November 29, 2022 at 05:10 am
Wolf turned this franchise around. We No longer have that leadership or scouts.
Coldworld
November 29, 2022 at 09:57 am
Wolf wouldn’t have put us in this position and would have had no problem putting the franchise first. Harlen wouldn’t have permitted it anyway. You are right.
TarynsEyes
November 28, 2022 at 08:41 pm
Unless Rodgers feels he has lost the team's backing, not his health, he's playing and Love is sitting. Many have always talked about a players' ego to play, well, Rodgers' is by most accounts the most egotistical of them all. He is not sitting easily.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 29, 2022 at 12:24 am
I was listening to Locked On NFL podcast this evening and they made a great point. If this is Rodgers' last hurrah with Green Bay, do we really want his walkoff to be on a medical cart? As critical as ive been towards Rodgers, even I'll admit he deserves better than that. He deserves to walk out of Lambeau for the last time on his own two feet. They need to save him from himself at this point.
Coldworld
November 29, 2022 at 10:25 am
That assumes it ends well. Personally I think better not to be out there banged up as a last Hurrah. In any case, this game is in Chicago.
Coldworld
November 29, 2022 at 09:55 am
That’s where leadership comes in. It’s also a great illustration of how lacking Murphy’s is. The only upside at this point is to get as much time with the potential in this roster as we can. The President, were he worth the name, should be telling the GM that’s what will be happening.
PackyCheese500
November 28, 2022 at 08:50 pm
Matt LaFleur: "When the idea of changing the defensive play-caller came up, the head coach completely shut the question down: 'We’re not going to go down that road.' He would then reiterate, 'If I thought there was an issue there, then I would certainly make the change. We work as a staff and collectively we’re all in this sucker together.'” https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2022/11/28/23482898/green-bay-packers...
Wow, MLF must either be clueless or a sissy. Neither one deserves to be our head coach. You have Jim Leonhard open for hiring and you say this right after we surrendered 40 points, 363 rushing yards, and nearly 500 total yards to the Eagles.
Coldworld
November 29, 2022 at 10:22 am
“If I thought there was an issue.” If you don’t think that run display or the prior pass defense performances are a problem, what would constitute one?
It’s Mo Drayton all over again. This guy can’t learn. He’s like a deer in the headlights.
vin0770
November 28, 2022 at 09:02 pm
Hope he gets the next five games so they can have some data to make a more informed decision on his fifth year.
badaxed
November 28, 2022 at 09:19 pm
“Old wolves know when it is time to leave the pack”
( Barbarians 2: “a new Reik)
ImaPayne
November 28, 2022 at 09:55 pm
I was impressed with his passing, the guy has a rocket arm or I'm just tired of seeing limp arm Rodgers.
I read on the screen rodgers has rid injury and if he can play he will.
BS. How the hell does he get to make that decision. The doctor should make the decision. The last thing the fans want is to see a guy who cant throw the ball play.
TarynsEyes
November 28, 2022 at 10:48 pm
The doctor makes a recommendation, though that likely goes directly to Rodgers, as like all else. MLF already said, Rodgers plays Sunday, if he (Rodgers) says he's good.
Coldworld
November 29, 2022 at 10:10 am
The medical staff tell the team if he can’t play for medical reasons. That’s the threshold. Above that they issue guidance that it’s not medically unwise but providing an assessment of risk and impact.
In this case, we are talking almost certainly about putting out a guy with pain injections for his Oblique, probably bound to restrict movements and a suspect thumb in a dead season (in reality) over a guy we badly need to see play. Just a non starter motion for any basically competent leadership.
But did we really expect LaFleur to take charge or Murphy to stand up and admit he made a generational error? This whole crew is bankrupt. For the same reasons we will trot out Barry again too.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
November 29, 2022 at 12:27 am
Your eyes did not deceive you. Love does in fact have a cannon for an arm. Probably top 5 in all of football right now behind Allen, Herbert, and Mahomes. Cant wait to see him air one deep to Watson.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
November 29, 2022 at 01:05 am
Love was known to have a strong arm coming out of college and nothing he has shown would indicate less. With better fundamentals that he supposedly developed I would think his arm is even stronger now than when coming out of college. I recall Rodgers arm seemingly got significantly in year three from year 1. I also saw Love drop some deep end zone passes in the net during the Friday Night Scrimmage this year. Physically he has all the tools. It was him being willing to spend endless hours in the lab learning the offense and how to read defenses that worried me and it sounds like he took advantage of his time since the KC game to ensure he was mentally ready. I'm excited about Jordan Love and ready to roll with him at the helm. The timing for Love to take charge could not have come at a much better time.
Lphill
November 29, 2022 at 05:35 am
wow top 5 already , HOf soon?
Coldworld
November 29, 2022 at 10:02 am
Lol, a great arm doesn’t get you to Canton or even starting. It’s certainly a great attribute for any QB though. That’s what he was saying. It’s what we said if Rodgers too way back when.
Since'61
November 28, 2022 at 11:54 pm
Love should play. All the Packers need to do is tell Rodgers he needs a couple of weeks to heal and we’ll see where is at that time. If the Medical says a player can’t play even the HC can’t over rule them.
In a season of countless stupid decisions this is where it needs to stop. The Packers need to see if Love can play and if they should take up his 5th year option. It’s too important of a decision for the team to not enable Love to play and see what they have. Somebody needs to sit Rodgers and if it needs to be the Medical staff because MLF and/or Gute are too cowardly to do so then so be it.
It’s not like the Packers are going to win their division or are in a tight race for the #1 seed. That’s gone for this season.
Play Love and make an informed decision to extend him or not at the end of this season. Thanks, Since ‘61
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
November 29, 2022 at 01:14 am
Sadly, LF appears to be to cowardly to tell Rodgers to sit. Being that Love was Gutey's choice unless MM is over ruling Gutey I think Love starts against Chicago. I want to be clear....Rodgers legacy be damned if it means negatively impacting Love getting playing time! The kid has earned the right to play and he needs to play as much as he can as he is the GBP's future starting QB. Sit Rodgers and only let him play the 4th QTR in the last game against the Vikings in Lambeau.
croatpackfan
November 29, 2022 at 01:19 am
I'm excited about young man play as many of you. You know that I'm Jordan Love supporter. But, I also warn you not to be carried by his very good performance at Philly. He will have his ups and downs if and when he starts to play regularly as starter. It is common for young guy (he had 21 when he was drafted) and that means nothing. He needs experience in true games before we call him another HOFer. I believe Jordan Love has it in himself, but I'm careful because I'm not expert. He surely showed a lot of promise and his humble nature tells us that he is willing to learn on his and others mistakes. That is the path to greatness.
I said and I'm still on bandwagon to trade AR or to cut him no matter how much it cost. We all wonder and wonder about the bad game of Kenny Clark, the behavior of Jair on the field, the bad game of the OL, especially the center, LG, explaining it with an injury. No one, but no one, thought that the cause of this was the lack of leadership of the main "star" of the Packers. If he can shit on everyone without consequences, we can show him that he is no longer welcome.
Get rid of the ACR, not because of his past, but because of the franchise future. And I mean that not because of idea that Jordan Love is future HOFer. It is because of the franchise health. He is the cancer and he will not bring anything positive any more.
stockholder
November 29, 2022 at 04:58 am
If this was politics. It would be called idealism. Getting rid of Rodgers won't solve anything. And you're going to pay Love 20 mil shortly.
Entering a rebuild. That may not produce a winner, for the next century. The packers are aging. They have a cap problem.
And it's not going away anytime soon . Love is a back-up. He hasn't done anything. And won't.
Oppy
November 30, 2022 at 04:09 am
Your flailing was comical at first, but now I'm getting concerned about your welfare.
nygary
November 29, 2022 at 06:09 am
This should not be an argument about what Love's ability is. No one knows what he will become as a QB. What this should be about is giving him the starts for the rest of the season to get a better gauge on his ability . We can't win with Rodgers, why not at least see if it's worth keeping Love next year.
gpt999
November 29, 2022 at 11:50 am
The PHI game was one of the most pitiful defensive efforts I have ever seen! Embarrassing to the legacy of the GB organization.
Barry should be fired now. Let Jerry Gray audition for the rest of the season. What have the Packers got to lose? Then hire a DC in the off season if you have to. If this defense is being coached by "all the staff" currently - as MLF has suggested in a recent interview - why do you need Joe Barry anyway?
Coldworld
November 29, 2022 at 12:43 pm
Yes, that comment bears thinking about in the context of LaFleur’s concept of management and the amount if seeming confusion we’ve seen on the field on both sides of the ball.
Packers1985
November 29, 2022 at 12:32 pm
Just listening to the PatMcafee show. Looks like qb 12 seems to be doing good. Happy to see him healthy but worried that we'll not see much of love in the remaining games this season. There is nothing to play for now better to make room to the youngsters and can evaluate how good they are for next season. I doubt the FO or the HC has b@lls to sit Rodgers from this week.
egbertsouse
November 29, 2022 at 05:46 pm
This writer needs to have a cuppa and pump the brakes.