All year Aaron Rodgers has been asked about his future and his response always follows a similar dialogue. He’s focused on the now, this season and will address the future after the season ends. Before the season started many thought this would be the last time Aaron Rodgers dawns the green and gold. However, with a fourth MVP in his grasp, that might change. Here’s why this MVP means more than the other three.
Jordan Love
Unfortunately for Jordan Love he has been caught in the middle of all of this. However, all he’s ever done is compete and handle it professionally. Regardless, the question of Rodgers’ future can’t be handled without asking, “What about Jordan Love?” This off-season Rodgers was away from the team and upon his return gave an informative presser. In that presser he went to say he wanted a true commitment from the team beyond the 2021 season and he didn’t feel like that was being offered. A big part of that was that the Packers trading up to draft Jordan Love. Obviously, many fans’ and analysts’ first thought was that Love would be to Rodgers what Rodgers was to Favre.
When Love was drafted Green Bay was coming off an NFC Championship appearance but Aaron Rodgers had what some called “a down year.” However, since the team drafted Love, Rodgers has won league MVP and is favored to win back to back. The question now becomes, “How do the Packers move on from a guy who just won back to back MVP awards?” The answer is simple, they can’t.
Power
After Jordan Love strugled in his first career start, Rodgers’ need in Green Bay became a little more clear. However, it was Love’s first NFL start so he was never going to be perfect. Regardless, the loss shut down the narritive that Matt LaFleur’s system is why Rodgers went back to MVP level play after an average years in 2018 and 2019. Love was in his second year of the system just as Rodgers was going into last season.
Throughout the season Aaron Rodgers has stated that he’s had good conversations with the front office and he’s happy with his and Brian Gutekunst’s relationship and communication throughout the season. That was not the case when he came back to Green Bay before the season started. Rodgers winning MVP not only proves that he can still play and the team was wrong to draft his replacement. It also says that he’s the best player in football.
That’s two reasons that Brian Gutekunst now has to work a new deal for Rodgers. Ian Rapoport actually stated that keeping Rodgers has become Green Bay’s “number one priority this off-season.” Winning MVP gives all the Power back to Rodgers. Green Bay wouldn’t move on from him unless he wants to leave, and it seems like he may no longer want to if his issues are truly resolved.
Fans will have to wait until after the season is over to see what happens with Aaron Rodgers. However, if he wins MVP it seems like it would be difficult for Green Bay to not extend him a long term commitment. On the other hand, if he wins the Super Bowl it’s no longer difficult, but impossible to not keep him around.
As Always
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