I was surprised to see how many Packers fans were upset about Aaron Rodgers’ spot in the recent NFL Network Top 100 rankings.
First of all, Rodgers is a better overall player than No. 11. Heck if I was Matthew Stafford, I would be really ticked about being ranked last.
But based on last year, when Rodgers missed seven games due to a broken clavicle, wasn’t that outrageous. But it was still wrong.
Rodgers is in the same tier as Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Period. Those four make up the best collection of talent at the most important position in sports.
And there’s nothing to say that Rodgers’ skills are diminishing. The crux of his game are his analytical skills. He will outthink you to death and just when an opponent believes they have outsmarted him, Rodgers will bring out his physical tools, which includes his escapability.
According to the NFL Network, Rodgers may not be the best player in the league, but he is the most important. Last year proved that the Packers not only need him, but he’s vital to the team’s success.
Rodgers has proven that he is still successful no matter who he’s throwing to. Greg Jennings left and this coming season James Jones will play for a new team. Yet, Rodgers will develop another receiver.
So don’t worry about the rankings. Did Rodgers have a down year? By his standards, yes. But, that was because of injury and he is the last guy that I would want to tick off.
He remembers all of his slights. He knows the people that wrote him off. He catalogs all of these life-humbling events and uses them as fuel.
He came into a tough situation following a legend. And now he’s 58-29 as a starter and he’s won at least 10 games four times in six seasons as a starter. Brady threw 50 touchdown passes at age 30 and Rodgers turns 31 in December. He’s got plenty of great football ahead of him.
After Rodgers glanced at his NFL Network ranking, I would say that he has enough fuel for the season.
——————Cory Jennerjohn is from Wisconsin and has been in sports media for over 10 years. To contact Cory e-mail him at jeobs -at- yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter: Cory Jennerjohn
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I don’t think Rodgers needs any fuel to make it a great season. He is a classy professional and will do everything it takes to win the next superbowl. He doesn’t care about the media whores, he has a superbowl to win.
I surprised at all the hoo-hah (esp. in the previous article) about where Rodgers is ranked. We all know perfectly well that such things are entirely, 100% irrelevant and meaningless, right?
Just more motivation for Rodgers going into this season. We all know what happens when Rodgers has a chip on his shoulder-no pun intended. I don’t think he has gotten over where he was drafted and probably never will, and that can only be a good thing for PackerNation. I see a couple more Lombardi’s in his future, before it’s all said and done…
The ranking is all about creating drama and interest. The Nfl network knew that could create a story with it! whether or not the players really voted it that way.
I think the real story is Julius Peppers. He wasn’t even in the conversation. I have watched him play since he joined the Bears at least two games a year and he was always very impressive. When he joined the Packers, I got busy doing research on him, and found that he was very productive player.
Coming to Green Bay, Peppers is moving into role that seems well designed to utilize his immense talents, and that should help extend his career. I see him having a high level of success here, providing that extraordinary talent that will help the Packers go deep into the playoffs this season, and very possibly to Super Bowl win. Last year was decided by a play here and another there. He may just make the difference.
Quite a few seem to be coming out in Rodgers defense…
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000363132/article/aaron-rodgers-spo…
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000362711/article/aaron-rodgers-top…
Apparently quite a few still consider Rodger the best. Who gives a rip what some people think… They are voting based on the fact that he missed 8 games last year. Guess what… Ask any NFL player or HC or Exec who they would pick as their QB if they could have any QB? You damn well know all of them are taking Rodgers!
The Top 100 is voted on exclusively by active NFL players.
It’s -supposed- to be a list of who’s going to be the top 100 players of the upcoming season, but clearly, guys either have a very short memory or they vote on who were the top 100 of the previous season.
-Supposed- to be, but clearly isn’t… LOL
But there is no way that this ranking isn’t based on his being injured last year? Seriously do you think SF or Sea (or NO, NE and Den) wouldn’t gladly take Rodgers right now over their young franchise QB’s? Hell no… They would each take Rodgers in a hearbeat.
Oh and whether or not its really voted on by players seems to be debatable. Tom Crabtree says he has never voted or even spoken to another player who has voted. I doubt its a player vote at all, to be honest w/ you.
I’m always up for a good conspiracy theory, tell me more!
I’m about as far from conspiracy theorist as you get.
It also appears that only a very few of active players really vote. There were sevral player comments, stating that they did not actually know any one had voted, then a criptic article came out stating that it was not even a quarter of the players and it was based on a 20 player list which the NFL Nework decipered to 100 player list.
In essence it is just BS that likely has more to do with how the Network wants them ranked than anything most players think.
I travel for work and see packers hats and shirts every where I go. When people find out I am from GB, fans come out of the wood work.
There are alot of us Packer fans and we love our team. If someone wants to create a Hub-bub, all the have to do is dis the Packers and it gets alot of attention.
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