As we inch closer to the Super Bowl, we need to reflect on how wild this year’s football season was. We have a Super Bowl with none of the top-three seeds from either conference for the first time. Both teams were fan favorites throughout the playoffs. It’s a perfect setup for the big game: a young quarterback bringing his team to the Super Bowl for the first time in 30 years versus a veteran quarterback who was stuck with a poverty franchise but is now on the cusp of glory.
And even though the Green Bay Packers made an early exit from the playoffs, their storylines dominated much of this wild season.
(Also, Allen Lazard agrees with me.)
Started With Rodgers
The 2021 season kicked off with a focus on Aaron Rodgers. Adam Schefter later admitted that there were no big stories or news on draft day, so they decided to run the story claiming Rodgers was unhappy and wouldn’t be returning to the Packers.
No one will ever know if that was really true. He was just unhappy with not being included in conversations about the direction of the team. That led to Randall Cobb coming back and boosting Rodgers’ morale before all the other drama unfolded. So the season started with drama before the draft was even complete.
Having Cobb back was great, and maxing the cap to make a run was admirable. But it also didn’t end up working. Now the Packers are over the cap, have a new offensive coordinator, and need to replace their current special teams coordinator. It will be a hectic offseason.
Covid Covid Everywhere
I know, we are all sick of talking about it. But COVID was a big part of the season, and the Packers became a lightning rod for the debate. Before the season, the NFL stated that unvaccinated players would be out longer than vaccinated players, and that if a team had too many positive cases, they would forfeit. That was when the vaccine was still freshly out and before the variants hit.
As the virus changed, so did the NFL. After Rodgers tested positive, we later learned that his definition of “immunized” didn’t involve a vaccine. After expressing his frustrations with the league, he also revealed he presented documents to try and have the rules adjusted. The NFL changed its policy after teams were basically wiped out with positive cases. It appears that certain quarterbacks forgot that science and businesses can adapt to new information.
NFL Had to Adapt
It just shows how much has changed in our world since the season started. Teams were supposed to forfeit games, but the NFL did adapt along with the virus. We have all been through a lot, including the players. It couldn’t have been easy to travel, wear masks in some places, to have some players making up their own science, and to be worrying about what your teammates are thinking — instead of focusing entirely on winning a Super Bowl.
Also, it was pretty darn convenient that all of a sudden there were no positive cases when it came playoff time. It was probably the right call, though. We are all still adapting and trying our best as hospitals remain full and short-staffed.
New Quarterback Class
And now, with Rodgers’ status uncertain yet again, it’s weird to realize that No. 12 is no longer part of the young group of quarterbacks. He is the aging veteran. Ben Roethlisberger and Tom Brady just retired. Rodgers is among the last of his elite QB group. No more Drew Brees or Philip Rivers. Matt Ryan is close to retiring as well. And plenty of quarterbacks from around his draft class have been gone for a few seasons already.
Rodgers has said he would like to play into his 40s, but we have no idea what he will do. He could retire, but that is doubtful considering his two-straight MVP seasons. Fans have to prepare for either additional option as a possibility. Rodgers could easily decide to stay with the Packers. They could franchise tag Davante Adams, restructure a bunch of contracts to address the salary cap, and hope to draft some impact players. Oh, and fix their special teams immediately. If not, the Packers will have the same disappointing season once again.
It’s also possible Rodgers just wants a fresh start. If he’s traded, the Packers would receive plenty in return.
The North Isn’t Enough
Winning the NFC North is fun, and home playoff games are great for the city. But the Green Bay Packers need to bring home the Lombardi Trophy again. Yes, Packers fans have been spoiled, and it proves how hard it is to win a Super Bowl. Do the Los Angeles Rams make it if Jaquiski Tartt didn’t drop that interception? Would the Cincinnati Bengals make it if Patrick Mahomes doesn’t throw that overtime pick? Do the Packers make it if they tried at all on special teams? We will never know.
It’s been a crazy NFL season, and this offseason might be even crazier. Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Josh Allen, and Patrick Mahomes now run this league. And Aaron Rodgers could be in different colors for the first time.
