Return of Aaron Rodgers Keeps Packers’ Title Window Open, But It’s Only the First Step – Green Bay Packers Blog

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Not last season “The Last Dance” for midfielders Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay Packers.

Now, they have to figure out how to keep jumping for longer in the knockout stages than they did in what seemed like a Super-Bowl or bankruptcy year.

Rodgers’ decided to come back for another season, as he told Pat McAfee on Tuesday morning, is just the beginning. Although this is the most important part, it is not the only part.

In fact, now the real work begins.

General manager Brian Gutekunst and salary cap director Russ Ball had to figure out how the Packers could not only create another run with as many players from last season as possible, but also make some additions. important to push them to the top.

“There’s a lot to build on there, whether I’m there or not,” Rodgers said. on February 10th, after receiving his MVP award. “I think they’ve got a really good kernel. Should I go back, there is some work to be done, perhaps to get the team to where it needs to be. ”

There is no reason to think that Rodgers’ play will decline; he’s still excelling in the regular season on his way to winning his fourth and second consecutive MVP. He turned 38 in the middle of one of his most productive seasons with 37 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. His 9.4-touch interception rate over the past two seasons is the best over a two-season span in NFL history with a minimum of 1,000 hits, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He missed a game after he contracted COVID-19with the Packer losing at Chief of Kansas Citybecause he was under mandatory quarantine as an unvaccinated player, but that didn’t stop the Packers from earning the top seed for the NFC knockouts.

The playoffs, however, are a different story. Rodgers hasn’t played to his usual season standards, as has been the case all too often in the 16 playoffs since the Packers won Super Bowl XLV (he’s 7-9 in those games). 16 consecutive starts without reaching the Super Bowl represents the longest streak of any QB in post-season history, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

While Rodgers struggled in the previous 13-10 loss San Francisco 49ers In the split, the Packers’ special teams were a disaster.

Coach Matt LaFleur attempted to address special teams’ problems with another coaching change, appointing former Raiders interim head coach Rich Bisaccia as the third special team coordinator. himself for four years.

Rodgers said he didn’t want to get involved in the rebuilding and given the hassle of the Packers’ salary limits — they’re still $27.5 million above their pre-collector limit. All-Pro Davante Adams, who is expected to receive a franchise card – that will require more work. Ball has been busy with restructuring deals to create limited space and will have more moves to make.

Rodgers’ return should help with that. If he hasn’t already done so, he will sign a contract extension for a salary cap fee of $46,144,156. There are ways to deal with that even if Rodgers only plays for one more season.

The Packers not only need to keep Adams, but also make him happy. The franchise card won’t do that. No player wants to play without the security of a long-term contract, even though Adams’ card will pay him $20.12 million.

Rodgers must have also received assurances from Gutekunst that he would be able to do more than just keep Adams. Among the main Packers free agents is the linebacker De’Vondre Campbellback angle Rasul Douglasrecipient Marquez Valdes-Scantling and recipients Allen Lazard (a restricted free agent).

Rodgers must have been pleased too that the Packers had recruited one of his favorite coaches, Tom Clements, to retire to replace quarterback coach Luke Getsy (who became the Bears’ offensive coordinator). . After all, LaFleur says Rodgers has a “Crucial role” in hiring.

Whatever the team looks like, the Packers believe Rodgers gives them the best chance of winning the Super Bowl, even if his recent playoff history doesn’t match his regular-season record. . Switch everything to the back striker Jordan lovewhom the Packers have traded in for selection in the first round of the 2020 draft, will almost certainly mean an increasingly difficult and likely season of rebuilding without much of an agent. free of charge mentioned above.

Now, that could wait at least another year.