Dean of 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 how such a scenario unfolded. Quarterbacks are commonplace in this sport. Ultimately, this is a predicament that every NFL would love to find themselves in.
Losing superstars who have been part of your football family is tough. I am saddened by the departure of Davante Adams and Aaron Rodgers. They delivered moments that made millions of fans smile, and I’m grateful for that. Knowing that each player’s tenure will inevitably come to an end, I’m also grateful that their departures have resulted in a capital project (obviously the Rodgers deal isn’t finalized yet) that will help ease the transition to some degree.
In the NFL, that wheel never stops turning. As we covered 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 from San Antonio, TX
Now that we have direction at QB1, do you have any idea how the players feel (thinking about what Aaron Jones said a while back, pushing for the AR to return)? Personally, I’m extremely excited for the Jordan Love era.
Well, Jones was complementary to Love as well. De’Vondre Campbell also had kind words for the young QB’s preparation when he appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent’s Clubhouse Live last year. I couldn’t tell you how the players are feeling right now, other than the fact that Love has earned respect in the locker room over the past few years. I feel confident saying this.
Joe from Ormond Beach, Florida
I submit my nominee for the most valuable Packer for the upcoming season: Tom Clements. Rodgers was a work in progress out of college and credits Clements for turning him into the quarterback he has become. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Jordan Love showed dramatic improvement last year under Clements. I hope he is well paid.
He is one of the best in this business. Clements is an extremely smart person who has a Midas touch to teaching footwork and fundamentals – two areas I felt 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 mission.
Jeff from Indian Lake, NY
As inevitable as it has seemed for some time now, there’s a part of me that still can’t believe I’ll never see Aaron Rodgers don green and gold again. Now we are collectively turning the page on the Jordan Love era. He managed his apprenticeship under “12” with true professionalism. I look forward to his next interview. I can’t wait to hear his perspective on everything that happened and his vision for the future of the franchise. He’s been waiting for this moment for a long time, come out and grab it!
Again, this is a process and there is still work to be done. But Jordan Love said all the right things and did everything the Packers asked. Love was also a respectful apprentice under Rodgers and never made a fuss. There may be a lot of unknowns about Jordan Love as a QB, but I think we’ve learned the type of man he is.
Matthew from Clarkston, MI
If (when) Love and the Packers continue on the path to success with winning seasons, do you think a multi-year QB development/transition process would be emulated by other teams? In my opinion, there is an advantage to learning the NFL QB position and slowing down the game before taking control of the reins. But with the potential short lifespan of NFL coaches and general managers, that may not be possible in other NFL markets.
I don’t know if QBs have to wait three full seasons, but far too many teams throw in rookies when A) they’re not ready and B) their offensive support isn’t stable. Teams can get away with one of these true things, but not both. In this particular case, I don’t think a young QB can ask for a better offense to step in. The Packers have two Pro Bowl-caliber offensive linemen protecting Love’s blindside, speed on the perimeter and a pair of veterans connecting the backfield.
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 come together with JL and help this young man get his era off to a good start. Looking forward to what the future holds for JL and the Packer organization as a whole. Can the salary cap reached for RA be mitigated in any way? Thanks for all the great work you do keeping Packer Nation up to date.
One thing that helps Green Bay is that Love is still on his rookie contract. That gives the Packers more wiggle room than a year from now when Love would be playing on either an exercised guaranteed fifth-year option or unrestricted free agency.