Aaron Rodgers officially became a holdout from Green Bay Packers minicamp this week.
This is not surprising given his growing dissatisfaction with his team in the offseason.
What this means is that the microscope will now firmly be affixed on backup quarterback Jordan Love.
Here are three reasons why Love is not ready.
3. Packers Insiders Admit Love Is Not Ready
This is not conjecture.
People with inside knowledge who have watched Love work out have indicated he is not ready.
The fact that the #Packers are THIS opposed to trading Rodgers at probably the highest remaining value he’ll hold in the NFL, one year after trading up in Round 1 for Jordan Love, tells us a LOT about how they view Love, at least right now. https://t.co/DQCijPde2e
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) June 7, 2021
Even GM Brian Gutekunst admitted it early last month.
“He’s got a long way to go…Obviously we think the world of Jordan and where he’s going to grow and develop. I think it’s pretty early to be able to tell you that because obviously with no preseason games last year and just kind of the no-spring, but we have a lot of confidence in his talents, in his work ethic and where he’s going to go. But it’s a little early for that.”
Gutekunst is not the only one publicly saying this.
On May 25, Coach Matt LaFleur said Love had a “long way to go” despite the fact he has made progress.
#Packers Matt LaFleur right now, says he wants to talk about players in attendance. On QB Jordan Love says you can tell he definitely put in the work this offseason. The ball is “jumping out” of his hands. Excited about some of the progress they’ve seen, but a long way to go.
— StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) May 25, 2021
If the people who are watching Love closely on a daily basis are telling the media he is not ready, then it must be true.
2. His Last Game Was December 20, 2019
Love did not get on the field for even one NFL play in 2020.
His last game was the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl against Kent State on December 20, 2019.
18 months later he cannot possibly be ready to step onto the field as Rodgers’ successor.
It would be unfair to put him in a situation like this that is doomed for failure when he has barely practiced or been in something remotely similar to a game situation.
1. He Could Be The Third-String QB
Love was the third string quarterback on the 2020 Packers roster.
He was behind Tim Boyle.
The Packers currently have four quarterbacks on the roster.
In addition to Rodgers and Love, there are also Blake Bortles and Kurt Benkert.
Who knows how this thing will turn out?
There is no guarantee that Love, last year’s third-string quarterback, will leap up to the starting role.
On the first day of minicamp, it was reported that Love struggled with accuracy.
Jordan Love’s first crack at the 2-minute drill (that we’ve seen) barely gets past midfield and ends with him skying a pass over wide-open Malik Taylor’s head on fourth-and-7 from the plus-46.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) June 8, 2021
Jordan Love struggled with accuracy during team work today. The arm strength is there, but missed a handful of makeable throws. Period ends with Blake Bortles finding Isaac Nauta deep down the left sideline for a TD.
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) June 8, 2021
Conclusion
Whereas the apparent discontent of Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson has somewhat waned (for different reasons), this situation with Rodgers is not going away anytime soon.
No one knows what Rodgers is thinking, but if he is willing to sit out the season, the Packers will now get a first-hand look at what this 17-game season could look like without a legend under center.
That has not happened in decades.
Though the torch passing between Brett Favre and Rodgers was very rocky, there never seemed to be a question that Rodgers had the skills and could assume the role, pressure, and limelight left behind after a giant like Favre left.
It is not clear if Jordan Love is in any way prepared for a transition like this in the near future.
Leave a Reply