After more than 20 women accused Houston Texans’ quarterback DeShaun Watson of misconduct during massages, Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers took the torch of being the big story of the offseason.
Rodgers has felt slighted by the team that drafted him in 2006 for the last couple of seasons, citing philosophy issues with the front office.
Perhaps what prompted the unhappiness was what Rodgers saw the Greatest of All Time go through. Looking at the 2019 New England Patriots, quarterback Tom Brady was frustrated with the team he had won six championships with.
Reports came out that Head Coach Bill Belichick treated Brady like he was just another player, rather than someone who took pay-cuts, stayed loyal and often carried less-talented teams to a championship.
In his final years as a Patriot, the team didn’t put talent around Brady, only adding to the frustration.
When his contract was up, Brady had his pick of where to take his career next. Looking at his options, Tampa Bay was the best fit with the talent on offense. The rest, is history.
Rodgers, who some critics say has underachieved in his career, looks at Brady and may be thinking “I can do that to.”
The difference is, Rodgers has been far more outspoken than Brady. Rodgers is the jilted lover who hasn’t been respected.
Rodgers went on a radio show ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft and when asked about the rich wide receiver class, he said “We haven’t picked a skill player in the first round in 15 years, so that would be kind of cool.”
Instead, the Packers picked the heir-apparent to Rodgers in Jordan Love (Rodgers has since said that’s not the reason he is frustrated with the organization). Rodgers went on the win the MVP for 2020 anyways.
In the NFC Championship game, with the Packers trailing by eight points facing a fourth-and-goal at the eight-yard line, Green Bay kicked a field goal instead of going for the touchdown. The Packers went on to lose 31-26 and missed the Super Bowl.
When asked after the game about the call, Rodgers said something along the notion of “Not my call.”
Rodgers, who hasn’t been to the Super Bowl since the 2010 season, probably wanted to go for it. Why would he want to take the ball out of his hands and put it in the hands of the GOAT?
Between this call, the lack of drafting wide receivers and the perennial short-comings, maybe Rodgers wants to go to a team who will bend over backwards for the three-time MVP.
Brady went to Tampa Bay and asked for running back Leonard Fournette, tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receiver Antonio Brown. The Bucs said, “We’ll make it happen.”
Rodgers asked for a wide receiver in the NFL draft, was ignored. He asked for a wide receiver, Jake Kumerow, who was low on the depth chart to make the 53-man roster, and Kumerow was cut.
Rodgers does have a solid offensive line, a Top 10 running back, a Top 3 wideout and an up-and-coming tight end. So there is talent on the Packers’ roster, but maybe there is a lack of respect.
John Lee is the editor of The Pampa News and can be reached at pampanewseditor@gmail.com. Find him on Twitter @jcl1987.
