Packers 2022 Discussion Thread

[PeaveyFury]

I think there's a greater than zero chance that Roethlisberger's not a first-ballot guy.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Maybe greater than zero but I don't see it. Decent stats + 3 Super Bowls and 2 rings, and for one of the league's most storied franchises. I think he gets in ASAP. I think he's the most overrated QB of the last 20 years, but I think he does it.

[nodakfan17]

I think there's a greater than zero chance that Roethlisberger's not a first-ballot guy.

Non-zero? Sure.

 

But Roethlisberger is 5th all-time in career wins (0.670) and won 2 Super Bowls while playing 18 seasons for an iconic franchise. He’s getting in sooner rather than later.

[PeaveyFury]

He also allegedly raped two women, which though the NFL likely wants us all to forget, some voters won't.

[nodakfan17]

He also allegedly raped two women, which though the NFL likely wants us all to forget, some voters won't.

That’s fair. I’d argue that 10+ years of good citizenship since the second accusation have probably removed some of those character concerns, but I wouldn’t be shocked if some voters weighed it more heavily than others.

[PeaveyFury]

Anyway, sorry for the mini-derail. I do agree with the overall point that Brady's retirement might weight at least some on Rodgers' decision to retire, if that's really a decision he's considering.

 

I think that the two phone calls the Packers may already have made today were to the agents for Jaire and Bakh regarding an extension and restructure respectively, as those seem like the two biggest no-brainer moves of the next couple of weeks.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I really wish they had just not signed Bhaktiari, but if they didn't, Rodgers is probably already set on playing somewhere else.

[PeaveyFury]

Yeah, there was zero chance they could have known it, but that contract became problematic just six weeks after it was signed. Terrible circumstances for all sides.

[nodakfan17]

Crazy to think the one injury to Bakhtiari may have cost them two Super Bowls.

[OldHeidelberg]

Crazy to think the one injury to Bakhtiari may have cost them two Super Bowls.

 

Yeah, I was thinking that once Rodgers is gone maybe the Packers should rethink their team building philosophy as what they are doing clearly isn't making Lambeau much of an asset in the playoffs. There is plenty of blame to go around but they got beat in the trenches each of the last 3 losses(one in SF). But your comment reminds me we were playing without our best olineman the last 2.

[OldHeidelberg]

Not really surprising news but in case anyone missed this report that Denver is after Rodgers:

 

https://www.si.com/nfl/broncos/news/nathaniel-hackett-aaron-rodgers-offseason-trade-push

[PeaveyFury]

Denver is the logical landing spot for him for about 15 different reasons. Most notably, Hackett and their close-ishness to competitiveness and the package they could offer built around the 9th overall pick and young players like Jeudy.

[jerichoholicninja]

Plenty of "off the field" reasons for Rodgers to want to go to Denver but is he really going to want to go to place where he would have to compete against Mahomes and Herbert just to make the playoffs? Maybe McDaniels can unlock Carr and make the AFC West by far the best QB'd division in football. Not to mention, if he makes the playoffs, he would most likely have to get past the Bills, Bengals, and/or Patriots. Even some of the secondary teams like the Colts and Titans aren't pushovers either. If Rodgers really only cares about winning a super bowl he needs to stay out of the AFC.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I've seen that AFC argument a bunch of times and I don't know if I really buy it. For one, playing in the NFC hasn't done Rodgers any favors, and realistically, the odds of having to play a bunch of those guys in the same season isn't that great. Burrow just faced Carr and Tannehill and was in the AFCCG.

 

KC is probably going to be good most of the time, but the Chargers still have plenty of work to do and I'm not sure either one is as good as Denver defense + Rodgers + those WRs.

 

Is it tougher than the Bears/Lions/Vikings? Yeah, but I think Rodgers needs to focus on the best situation as far as the roster he is on and not worry too much about all that peripheral stuff. The Rams entire division nearly made the playoffs...just think that in the end, the cream rises and I'm not sure the interdivision/conference stuff matters too much.

[patrickgpe]

If he goes to Denver thats fine. They would have the most attractive draft haul. I just can't see the Packers trading him, whether its better for the long term future of the franchise or not.

[tmwiese55]

I've seen that AFC argument a bunch of times and I don't know if I really buy it. For one, playing in the NFC hasn't done Rodgers any favors, and realistically, the odds of having to play a bunch of those guys in the same season isn't that great. Burrow just faced Carr and Tannehill and was in the AFCCG.

 

KC is probably going to be good most of the time, but the Chargers still have plenty of work to do and I'm not sure either one is as good as Denver defense + Rodgers + those WRs.

 

Is it tougher than the Bears/Lions/Vikings? Yeah, but I think Rodgers needs to focus on the best situation as far as the roster he is on and not worry too much about all that peripheral stuff. The Rams entire division nearly made the playoffs...just think that in the end, the cream rises and I'm not sure the interdivision/conference stuff matters too much.

 

Yea it hasn't in the past but things have flipped recently. AFC used to be NE and one competition, while the NFC was 5ish teams deep most years. its reversed now, or at least is in theory next year. Assuming TB fall off, Saints are gone, SF goes to a rookie qb, Rams get hit by cap as much as GB and possibly Donald retiring. Still, can't choke like they did this year but odds are way better in the NFC, especially NFC North as you're a near lock to win the division. I think NFC North also plays some easy divisions to rack up wins.

 

The two seemingly best alternatives are Den and SF. Denver makes sense but have same division as KC to deal with. SF actually makes most sense from a winning perspective, but he has the issue of how he's talked trash on them for 20 years since they passed on him and they were the team to beat him this year, well several times in the playoffs now. IDK, maybe a darkhorse with the Murray drama the last few days could be AZ?

[Matt Breen]

Here's how I think the offseason will play out:

 

It'll happen in one of two ways:

 

1) Packers tell Rodgers we love you. Hugs and kisses. Let's do a new contract. How many years do you envision playing? 2-3? Okay, we'll clear cap space for that time period. This includes restructuring deals or getting rid of some guys (Za'Darius Smith, Billy, Turner, Randall Cobb, Preston Smith, Mason Crosby, Deal Lowry, Mercedes Lewis are some of the guys who could be let go or restructured). Baktiari, Clark, Aaron Jones and a few others could be restructured and/or money could be pushed further down the road.

 

The Packers then resign Adams so he's onboard with Rodgers. Maybe a few other of our FAs - such as Lazard and MVS. They won't have a ton of money (I'm guessing) for free agency, but enough to plug a few holes. Plus they draft a need - such as WR - in the first round.

 

Team looks at trading Love. If they can get something good for him - send him off. If not, so be it. He's the back up.

 

The big thing is the team will throw caution to the wind and build for the next 2-3 years - whatever Rodgers commits to. After that - it's rebuild time.

 

B) Rodgers says he wants to move on. Say thanks - arrange for a haul of draft picks. At least two firsts and two seconds. Then trade Adams as well - a team like Oakland might bite. He could get us a 1st rounder.

 

Bring in another QB to compete with Love - such Marcus Mariota or Mitch Trubisky. Both I think are interesting players who could do well in LaFluer's system.

 

Clear a bunch of veterans (Crosby, Smith, Cobb, etc.). Draft a bunch of young players and see how things go in 2022. Know there will be growing pains - but the rebuild could be very short if we draft well.

[SDBrew fan]

I don't think the June 1 date affects Rodgers for trade purposes because he only has one year left on his contract. The June 1 stipulation allows you to spread the remaining cap hit over two years. But he doesn't have two years remaining. I'm not sure though.

[GAME05]

If I had to put money on it he stays in GB. I think he sees the legacy value of staying with the same team as well as the not-so-fairytale ending to a career Favre had. No doubt GB, after saying they want to be more transparent with Rodgers, has laid it on the line as far as who would likely be gone if they were to bring him and Adams back, although I'm sure you could still call that a SB-caliber team.

 

Maybe Green Bay has added a "just not to an NFC team" to their agreement to trade Rodgers if he so wishes. And I have a hard time believing that Rodgers would have any qualms about playing in the AFC due to their level of competition. I'd imagine an athlete at his level would only look at that as being fun competition or simply that he's better than them and it would be no problem.

 

I think I've reached a point where I don't much care either way. It would be fun to have another couple of seasons of being the best regular-season team in the NFC. But the video gamer in me also knows it's fun to blow everything up and see what happens. And if the Packers have bigger eyes toward another 15 years of dominance more than two more seasons of going for it, than Rodgers leaving would at least give the best chance of doing that considering we'd have a heck of a roster with just the one big question mark.

 

The Green Bay administration isn't totally powerless in this, either. If they genuinely wanted to trade Rodgers (because of course they'll *say* they want Rodgers back) they could make that happen, too.

[PeaveyFury]

I don't think the June 1 date affects Rodgers for trade purposes because he only has one year left on his contract. The June 1 stipulation allows you to spread the remaining cap hit over two years. But he doesn't have two years remaining. I'm not sure though.

 

You don't have to be under contract with a team for the June 1 date to matter- it's simply a cap mechanism to prorate it between two years instead of accelerating it all onto the current.

[homer]

Aaron Rodgers and Shailene Woodley have broken off their engagement per TMZ.

[patrickgpe]

Hasn't that been out there for a while now.

[homer]

I wasn't aware of it until today. Might have been a rumor going around but it's official now.

[Joseph Zarr]

It truly is the offseason. LOL. Good times.

[SDBrew fan]

For salary cap purposes the signing bonus is spread out over the life of the contract. This is the final year of the contract. I don't think you can push back signing bonus money to a year after the contract expires.