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Aaron Rodgers Interview: the Revolving Window of Opportunity

2013-06-18T20:30:01Z

It is no secret that the Green Bay Packers has been one of the most well-run operations in the National Football League for the past few seasons. Since Aaron Rodgers took over for Brett Favre in 2008, the Packers have compiled a record of 58-29 (including playoff appearances), two division titles and one Super Bowl championship. Rodgers himself notched his MVP trophy while leading the team as it posted its best regular season in record in franchise history. Without a doubt, it has been a great time in Titletown thus far during the Rodgers era. The skies have been blue and the rays of success have beamed down from the football gods. It seems that the Packers have constructed a breeding ground for generations of pigskin excellence on the soils of Lambeau.

While Rodgers has emerged as the face of the Packers since taking over for Brett Favre, it would be foolish not to acknowledge the guys that helped the Packers continue to bear that golden torch of success over those years. Guys like Donald Driver, Charles Woodson, Greg Jennings and Desmond Bishop, among others, have been nearly, or equally as important in reestablishing the Packers as the class of the NFC. As you may have noticed, however, all of the aforementioned players have played what is likely to be their last season in Green Bay, last season. Meanwhile, teams like the San Francisco 49ers progressively has emerged as some of the best talent in the NFC. All of this while the Packers are without a few of their stars of yesteryear, an 29-year old elite quarterback in his prime and a couple of younger guys looking to take that step forward into the limelight to replace their predecessors.

Recently, Aaron Rodgers sat down with ESPN Wisconsin's Jason Wilde to discuss a plethora of topics. All in all, the conversation went in a number of directions. From talks about the Greg Jennings comments, to the undying yet recently resurrected (OXYMORON) discussion of Brett Favre and his inevitable jersey retirement, to a lot of other Aaron Rodgers-ish stuff. While a lot of topics were touched on, there was once overriding theme that stuck out : The Window of Opportunity. What happens with it? Is it closing on Green Bay? With other teams like Denver, San Francisco and Seattle emerging and the Packers losing some of their once-key contributors, Rodgers says that he feels that younger personnel will step up to fill those voids:

I see the window staying open. I really do. I see some important guys making that jump mentally and physically. Some guys have been here, and I see these guys coming in and pushing guys. I look at a guy like Datone Jones. I mean, he's a man out there and having guys like that and Johnny Jolly, bringing Johnny back, those are two guys who bring an energy to a defensive line that really needs it.

While players like Donald Driver, Charles Woodson, Greg Jennings and Desmond Bishop moving onward from their Packer years, it is up to others like Josh Sitton, T.J. Lang, Morgan Burnett and Brad Jones to now step up and emerge as leaders on this young Packer squad. After being placed in a locker room where players like Woodson and Bishop are given pink slip certainty gets across the magnitude of how easily a roster spot can be lost at any time. Rodgers believes that these examples may be all the motivation the young guys need to cherish this opportunity and to stay on their toes, consistently.

When they're cutting guys like Charles Woodson, and not bringing back Greg, who's played a long time here, guys who had big roles for us, it has to be a wake-up call for some of our guys that this is about, "What have you done for me lately?" and "What can you do for me?" That's the type of league we're in.

Rodgers also hinted at some of the guys he liked so far this off-season. Wide Receivers Myles White (Louisiana Tech) and Tyrone Walker (Illinois State) were a couple of guys that drew praise from the 2011 NFL MVP. For an organization that emphasizes on drafting and developing, the Packers may have two guys there that could eventually become favorable targets of their quarterback down the line. As far as his veteran targets, Rodgers spoke highly of them as well. James Jones is coming off of a league-high 14 touchdown receptions in 2012. Opposite of Jones, Jordy Nelson is coming back from nagging hamstring injury and is looking to be ready to go in 2013.

I love our weapons. We have a lot of guys who can do a lot of different things for you. We have two of the top outside receivers in the league in Jordy and James.

For years, the Packers have been known for their offensive onslaughts through their passing attack. This year the Packers have brought in Johnathan Franklin and Eddie Lacy to compete with the incumbents; James Starks, DeJuan Harris and Alex Green.

You bring in a guy like Johnathan Franklin or Eddie Lacy, that raises the running back room. When you continunally add guys to the mix that can compete right away from Day 1, everybody else has to pick up their game because you start worrying about your own job.

While the Packers continue on with their never-ending "circle of life" in player personnel, they are relying more on the younger players who used to take the notes. Now without the comfort of having players like Greg Jennings and Charles Woodson, these guys are the leading voices at the OTAs and in practices. Only time can tell if this group will continue to bear that gleaming, golden, torch of success or if they will be taking a step backwards. Until then, the Packers move forward with their youth and a lot of doubting whispers that can only be silenced by productivity.

(You can read the Wilde interview HERE)

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Poll

Without key contributors like Greg Jennings, Charles Woodson and Desmond Bishop, does Aaron Rodgers have enough weapons around to win another Super Bowl?

Desmond Bishop to Visit Chiefs and Vikings This Week

2013-06-18T16:36:31Z

Packers' linebacker Desmond Bishop...pardon me, ex-Packer Desmond Bishop is wasting no time in getting moving on the free agency front. The big linebacker has two meetings this week that have been confirmed by NFL sources, as teams around the league look to bring Bishop into the fold. Unfortunately, one of those teams is of course the Minnesota Vikings, who would likely love to add Bishop to their stable of former Packers. The other team has Packers connections as well, though:

Along with the #Vikings today, ex-Packers LB Desmond Bishop is set to visit with the #Chiefs Thursday. He'll arrive Wednesday
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 18, 2013

Our friends over at Arrowhead Pride will likely be happy to hear this news. They appear set to run a hybrid 3-4/4-3defense this year, and they could certainly find ways to put Bishop's run-stopping and pass-rushing skills to use. They also have John Dorsey as their General Manager, and if you'll recall, Dorsey was a member of the Packers' front office until he was hired by Kansas City in January.

As a Packer fan, I certainly would rather see Bishop play in the AFC West rather than for an NFC North rival, so my fingers are crossed that he will end up signing with the Chiefs. We shall see.

Check out the Daily Norseman and Arrowhead Pride for more on Bishop from those teams' perspectives.

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Cheese Curds: Green Bay Packers news and links for June 18, 2013

2013-06-18T16:25:01Z

Sup internet? The USMNT plays today and Tex is on Pacific Time, so we're a bit late. Sorry about that. Here's your daily dose of Green Bay Packers news and links, even if it's not really the morning for a lot of you anymore.

Hawk's presence, Jones' emergence made Bishop expendable | Green Bay Press-Gazette

Maybe we should have seen something like this coming when the Jones signing happened.

Family Night set for August 3 | Packers.com

Always a good and affordable time.

Don't bet on the Packers calling Donald Driver | Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

I don't think anyone is.

Is Aaron Rodgers Getting Too Old For the Green Bay Packers? | Jersey Al's

Trollololololol.

The magic number is 50 | National Football Post

Seems legit.

Tim Tebow replacing Bill Belichick as Patriots Coach: Dan on Fire | SB Nation

Yes, this is a joke.

Finally, a hat for real NFL fans | SB Nation

UGHHH.

APC Lunch Break: Favorite Packers Backup Quarterback

2013-06-18T16:00:13Z

The starting quarterback for an NFL team gets all the publicity and the hype. He is the face of the franchise and is usually the biggest reason why a team is successful or not. We as Green Bay Packers fans have been blessed to have a grand total of three quarterbacks start for our team over the past 20 years, a level of continuity that is really rather stunning. In that time, many backup QBs have come and gone, and today's lunch break question is this:

Who is your favorite backup quarterback of the past 20 years?

There are a number of options to choose from. Doug Pederson was a reliable, if unspectacular veteran backup in the late 90s and early 2000s who of course never started a game for the Packers but was nonetheless a stabilizing presence behind Brett Favre. Matt Hasselbeck spent only two years as a Packer, but he went on to much success and a Super Bowl loss as the leader of the Seattle Seahawks. Looking more recently, Matt Flynn set single-game records against the Detroit Lions in week 17 of the 2011 season and backed up Aaron Rodgers for several years.

If you want to look even further back, we can discuss Mark Brunell or Ty Detmer, who both backed up Favre in the early 90s before going on to productive starting jobs of their own -- though Brunell of course had a much longer and more successful career.

Note: Don't mention the name T.J. Rubley. Just don't.

So who will it be and why?

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Poll

Who's your favorite backup QB of the past 20 years?

Packers Officially Release Desmond Bishop

2013-06-17T23:42:57Z

Nearly a week after reports first surfaced that Desmond Bishop would either restructure his contract or be let go, the Packers made the linebacker's release official Monday afternoon. The team is parting ways with a player who was a primary starter in 2010 and 2011 before missing all of the 2012 season due to injury.

For his part, Bishop has taken a professional and empathetic approach to the move.

Bishop said he doesn't necessarily blame the Packers. He was the one coming off a torn hamstring tendon. So in March, Green Bay covered its bases by re-signing Jones to a three-year, $11.75 million deal and also keeping Hawk at a reduced salary. Hawk is set to make $10.6 million the next three years.

"It's a smart thing to do," Bishop said. "It's understandable."

Bishop also released his own statement via Twitter.

So much fun, so many memories & friendships forged in Green Bay. Ups & downs, wins & losses! Even a XLV championship. Forever grateful #Pack
— Desmond Bishop (@Desbishop55) June 17, 2013

It's worth appreciating Bishop's mature attitude towards his release. People in all walks of life struggle with being fired, let alone losing millions in potential earnings and having to relocate to another state. Even if Bishop wasn't going to be the same player post-injury, losing a quality character guy is going to affect the Packers.

Bishop has maintained that he is completely healthy and is ready to go for training camp. The Packers passed Bishop on his physical indicating that his torn tendon had indeed healed. However, there were other medical factors that played a role in his departure.

What held the linebacker out of organized team activities and minicamp, he said, was not the tendon tear itself. Rather, a muscle strain on the inside of Bishop's hamstring was the problem. Bishop admits he probably tried to run and cut too quickly, saying, "that wasn't the smartest thing to do." That tweak, "a couple-week injury," is what Bishop said held him back this past month.

Green Bay's medical staff has historically taken a conservative approach to injuries. As such, it seems likely that the linebacker's muscle strain worried Packers' team physical Patrick McKenzie. As Bishop pointed out himself, the fact the Packers re-signed Brad Jones and restructured A.J. Hawk made Bishop expendable. Given Bishop's new hamstring complications, it's understandable why the Packers decided the smartest move was to move on.

As we wrote about last week, Bishop's release saves the team over $2 million in 2013 and nearly $5 million the season after. That money is expected to go towards extensions for Sam Shields, B.J. Raji, Morgan Burnett, and the cavalcade of Packers approaching free agency. The release also opens up opportunities for several of Green Bay's young linebackers.

Jason Hirschhorn covers the Green Bay Packers for Acme Packing Co. He has previously written for Lombardi Ave, College Hoops Net, LiveBall Sports, and the List Universe. He is also currently a senior writer for Beats Per Minute, an indie-music webzine. Follow him on Twitter: @JBHirschhorn

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Donald Driver Ready to Return if Packers Call

2013-06-17T18:01:31Z

More so than any Packer of recent vintage, Donald Driver knows how to handle PR and say the right thing.

During his charity softball outing, Driver informed the assembled media that while teams have called the retired wide receiver about making a comeback, he'd only return for one team.

"I love the game, but I only love one team," Driver said. "When you love the game, you'll play for anybody. Anybody who offers you something, you're willing to step on the field and play for them. I decided that I love one team. But I do love the game. At the end of the day, if I get that itch, it would only be for the green and gold."

For the record, I'm of the belief that playing for only one team isn't a virtue. No one begrudges Johnny Unitas for his final year in San Diego, nor will Peyton Manning's time in Denver or LaDainian Tomlinson's move to New York be held against them. It's never been a guarantee or even a safe bet to assume a player will only play with one team.

But fans don't think that way. They love their team to such a degree that the idea of one of "their players" wearing another jersey, even if their team no longer wants that player, invokes rage and other powerful emotions.

All of which is why Driver's words are perfectly selected. In reality, the Packers will not call Driver, who only caught 8 passes on 13 targets last season, to come out of retirement for them. It's even dubious whether any team would seriously consider the 38 year old wide receiver.

But fans hear Driver saying, "While I have options, I will never leave you," and it warms their hearts. This is why Driver will always have a paycheck in Green Bay, even if it isn't coming from the Packers.

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Poll

Would your opinion of Donald Driver be negatively affected if he returned to play for another team?

APC Lunch Break: Which Rookie Wide Receiver Should Make the Team?

2013-06-17T17:00:06Z

The Packers have a lot of wide receivers on the roster at this point. Kevin mentioned that in Cheese Curds this morning, and that got me thinking about all the players at that position and how the team will make its roster decisions at the end of camp. Today's lunch break question is this:

Which of the Packers' young receivers will make the team out of camp?

We'll refresh your memory on the candidates below, and for this exercise we're assuming that the following five players will be on the team:

Randall Cobb
Jordy Nelson
James Jones
Jarrett Boykin
Jeremy Ross

With Ross primarily focusing on special teams and returning kicks, that means four of these players will actually contribute on offense, and we'll say for the sake of argument that the team will choose to keep one more wideout. Who will it be?

Name	College	How Acquired
Charles Johnson	Grand Valley State	7th-round pick
Kevin Dorsey	Maryland	7th-round pick
Sederrik Cunningham	Furman	Free agent
Alex Gillett	Eastern Michigan	UDFA
Terrell Sinkfield	Northern Iowa	UDFA
Tyrone Walker	Illinois State	UDFA
Myles White	Louisiana Tech	UDFA

So who's it going to be? Which of these players do you think the Packers would keep in this scenario, and which would you like to see them hold onto? Discuss!

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Cheese Curds: Green Bay Packers news and links for June 17, 2013

2013-06-17T14:51:20Z

Hey everyone, I'm going to need you to pray for Tex/keep him in your thoughts, depending on your religious affiliation or lack thereof. He has to go to Fresno for work. Seriously, I hope his job pays him an astronomical amount of money because no one should ever have to go to Fresno.

Donald Driver thanks fans for street and statue | Packers.com

And I thank Donald Driver for being awesome.

Donald Driver Doesn't Rule Out Midseason Return to Packers | Cheesehead TV

But he won't go anywhere else, because why would he jeopardize his current situation where he's going to get broadcast jobs and endorsements into his 80s?

DuJuan Harris on camp: 'I'll be ready' | Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

I know I'm not the first person to mention this, but: Guys. We have four good running backs. You guys.

McCarthy finds balance between personal, professional lives | Green Bay Press-Gazette

"Why can't you do that?" -My girlfriend, probably.

An early look at the depth chart | Jersey Al's

We have a lot of WRs.

Five Years of PFF Grades: Top 10 Edge Rushers | Pro Football Focus

Clay Matthews makes the list.

Word of Muth: Church of the Outside Zone | Football Outsiders

Nerrrrrrrrrd.

The class of 2014 arms race | National Football Post

Learn about Aaron Rodgers' future understudy five years ahead of time!