In your reading free agency overview article, basically telling me we re-signed six special teams players and lost four starters. This is no longer the start of a free agency cycle, so it scares me unless we commit to a rebuild with rookies. Is my concern valid?
Rich, as my good friend likes to say, “A lotta ball game left.”
Of course, temper expectations. Ouch. Why is this a problem? No, let’s just say we guaranteed Jordan Love would become a Hall of Famer, win one Super Bowl, and have four MVPs. Why do people like to take things out of context or twist them? Ouch. And I swear this wasn’t (only) the year Wes and Spoff infected me. I promise.
I am pleased Matt LaFleur said what he said Tuesday morning because I find it important to remember there’s been an entire generation of Packers fans who knew nothing about it besides Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. MVP quarterbacks weren’t built in a day. Love will make mistakes. It’s going to take some time to smooth the edges, but this guy has the tools and work ethic to achieve it. Success in this league is a product of continuous progress. Classes resume on April 17, with the opening phase of the 2023 offseason program.
Vinny from the VA, started a great conversation. Can you tell me a little more about Jordan Love, the person? What is his family background, has he had many college offers or problems on his shoulders? What unique story about him would you like to tell?
Many great stories have been written about Love, but I’ll use this question to connect my profile draft on the first round of 2020 elections. There are some nuggets in there about Love’s upbringing and how he got his start with football. Close friend Krys Barnes gave perhaps my favorite quote from the story: “The challenges she overcame, there’s no better story than her at this time.” That’s the truth.**
Do you think Love is ready to become the starting quarterback in the NFL?
Yes, and I’m really looking forward to it – and that’s nothing against Aaron Rodgers. He is one of the greatest players in NFL history and I have had the pleasure of documenting his career over the last 11 years. But Aaron Rodgers was already Aaron Rodgers when I started covering the team full time in 2012. He had already won a Super Bowl and an MVP. I just love seeing the beginning of this film and watching it from start to finish.
Hey Wes, hope you’re enjoying the weather in AZ. It seems that this winter in the mountains will never end! My question: With Love starting at QB this coming season, how much can we expect to see him on the field in the preseason?
No firm decision has been made yet, according to LaFleur. It looks like he’s open to the idea of Love playing in pre-season, but we’ll have to see how that develops in a few months. It’s a long season with 17 games.
Bingo Wes… you hit him on the head with your response to Paul from Mount Pleasant. As anecdotal evidence when it came to the movie (entertainment for the masses) business in the 70s, the big thing to do was to stand in line sometimes days in advance for blockbuster tickets. Flash forward to today and you bought your ticket two months in advance as soon as it went on sale. We want it all now! Trade Rodgers? Now! Carly Simon said so well, “Anticipation… keeps you waiting!”
And the older I get, the more I realize anticipation is just as important as the experience itself. If I learned one thing the last few days in Arizona, it’s that both Green Bay and New York want to make this trade happen. Deadline may be the main facilitator, but the smoke is already billowing.
Folks, is there any chance the Packers and Jets have agreed to a Rodgers trade, but it hasn’t been profitable for either side to announce the trade yet?
No. That would be like purposely not filing your taxes on time because you want to feel presumptuous. If you’re done, done.
Wes, for those of us who don’t know the contract extension from EKG, can you explain the pros and cons for the team and JL in exercising his fifth year option?
The fifth year option, which must take place before a player’s fourth NFL season, is now fully guaranteed for injury and skill. It was previously only guaranteed for injury in a 2011 collective bargaining agreement. There are several risks involved. A year ago, the New York Giants did not exercise options on Daniel Jones and ended up shelling out $160 million over four years. It’s a big decision.
1. So now I see there is a “Tom from Grafton” besides me. I think this competition will bring out the best in both of us! Maybe one of us will win back-to-back MVP awards. 2. I just want Woody to get impatient and give up! Who’s with me? All Packer Nations!
Hey now, you may be called upon to defend your position in your hometown. Woody Johnson sounds like a really excited guy over the possibility of signing Aaron Rodgers and I don’t blame him. The Jets have been through a lot over the last few years.