Dean from Leavenworth, IN
Groundhog Day? So what year will the Packers trade future Hall of Fame quarterback Jordan Love to the Jets?
I’m sure Packers fans would be thrilled with such a scenario. Quarterbacks are the currency in this sport. At the end of the day, it’s a predicament everyone in the NFL would love to be in.
Losing superstars who were part of a football family is hard. I am saddened by the departure of Davante Adams and Aaron Rodgers. They provided moments that put a smile on the faces of millions of fans, and I’m grateful for that. Knowing that each player’s tenure will inevitably end, I’m also grateful that their departures have resulted in draft capital (obviously Rodgers’ contract has yet to be finalized), which eases the transition somewhat.
In the NFL, this wheel never stops turning. As we talked about earlier this week, Joe Montana was traded, Peyton Manning was cut and Tom Brady left New England as a free agent. Brett Favre was traded for a third round pick. Dave Robinson was traded for a second round pick. Herb Adderley was traded to Dallas for Malcolm Walker and Clarence Williams.
Mark San Antonio, TX
Now that we have a direction on QB1, do you have any sense of the players’ sentiment (thinking of what Aaron Jones said a while back, lobbying for AR’s return)? I am personally very excited for the Jordan Love era.
Well, Jones complemented Love as well. De’Vondre Campbell also had kind words for the young QB’s readiness during his appearance at the Appleton Post-Crescent’s Clubhouse Live last year. I can’t tell you how the players feel right now, other than Love has earned the respect of the locker room in recent years. I feel confident saying that.
Joe from Ormond Beach, FL
I present my candidate for Most Valuable Packer this coming season: Tom Clements. Rodgers was a work in progress out of college and credits Clements with developing him into a quarterback. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Jordan Love showed dramatic improvement over the past year under Clements. I hope he gets well compensated.
He is one of the best in this field. Clements is an extremely intelligent individual with a Midas eye for teaching footwork and fundamentals – two areas where Love showed significant growth last season. Clements has extensive experience mentoring young QBs (Rodgers, Matt Flynn and Kyler Murray). He also helped get the most out of Tommy Maddox in Pittsburgh and Kelly Holcomb in Buffalo. Clements was built for this task.
Jeff from Indian Lake, NY
As inevitable as it has felt for some time now, a part of me still can’t believe I’ll never see Aaron Rodgers don the green and gold again. Now we collectively turn the page on the Jordan Love era. He has handled his apprenticeship under the 12th grade with genuine professionalism. I look forward to his next interview. I’m eager to hear his take on everything that’s been going on and his vision for the future of the franchise. He’s been waiting for this moment for a long time, go out and grab it!
Again, this is a process and there is still work to be done. But Jordan Love has said all the right things and done everything the Packers have asked. Love has also been a respectful apprentice under Rodgers and never raised a fuss. There may be a lot of unknowns about Jordan Love as a QB, but I think we’ve learned what kind of man he is.
Matthew from Clarkston, MI
If (when) Love and the Packers continue on a successful path with winning seasons, do you think other teams will emulate the multi-year QB development/transition process? I think it’s helpful to learn the NFL QB position and slow down the game before taking over. But because NFL coaches and GMs are short, this may not be possible in other NFL markets.
I don’t know if a QB needs to wait three full seasons, but far too many teams throw rookies when A) they’re not ready and B) their offensive line isn’t solid. Teams can survive one of these things being true, but not both. In this particular case, I don’t think a young QB could ask for a better offense to step into. The Packers have two Pro Bowl-caliber offensive linemen to protect Love’s blind side, speed on the perimeter and a pair of veterans to tie the backfield together.
Not a question, just a thought. Now that it looks like AR won’t be playing for the Packers, I think it’s time for Packer Nation to rally behind JL and help this young man get his era off to a great start. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for JL and the entire Packer organization. Can AR’s salary cap be relaxed in any way? Thanks for all the great work you do to keep Packer Nation informed.
One thing that will help Green Bay is Love, who is still on his rookie contract. That gives the Packers more breathing room than a year from now, when Love would either play through a guaranteed fifth-year option or hit unrestricted free agency.