The days of “R-E-L-A-X,” when Aaron Rodgers advised against making too much of the Packers’ 1-2 start in 2014, are a long, long way behind these remarks. However, that was only three weeks into a season and eight years ago. Nine months after finishing 13-4, the Packers are breaking apart quickly this time and are having trouble defining themselves.
In a short period of time, Rodgers’s public criticism of his colleagues and squad has transformed from an issue of adversity to a problem of schematics to a problem of personnel.
The club needed to “handle adversity a little bit better,” according to Aaron Rodgers, after the team’s Week 5 loss to the New York Giants in London. Rodgers implied that the team should streamline its offence to give the quarterback greater influence at the line of scrimmage following the team’s defeat to the New York Jets the following week. However, Rodgers essentially threw his failing colleagues under the bus when the Packers lost to the Taylor Heinicke-led Washington Commanders, 23-21, in Week 7.
For what it’s worth, no Packers players seem publically offended by the comments. Wide receiver Sammy Watkins called Rodgers’s comments a “wake-up call to everybody” and even agreed that “if I’m not playing well and I’m freaking up and busting plays, get me out of the game because that’s not helping the team.” Cornerback Rasul Douglas also noted that “this is a production-based business. People who make the most plays should play the most.”
But something’s got to give with this team, and Rodgers shouldn’t be completely blameless, either.
Although Rodgers said Week 7 was his “highest graded game” by Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements, he’s still having one of the worst seasons in his career. Rodgers’s competition percentage is at its lowest since 2019 and his yards per completion and yards per attempt are at their lowest for the first time in his 15 years as the Packers’ full-time starter.
Some of that can be attributed be Rodgers’ inexperienced teammates on offense, or coaching, or defensive struggles. Perhaps, even Rodgers is finally feeling his age – he’ll be 39 in December – despite coming off two consecutive MVP seasons in the past two years.
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