Aaron Rodgers had an idea.
He often does. Not all of them are great. However, who’s to blame him for calling up his buddy, Kevin O’Connell, and pitching him on a one-year run at the Super Bowl?
For no extra charge, he said he’d mentor J.J. McCarthy.
Rodgers took a similar approach with the New York Jets. On Hard Knocks, he said he’d take over and win with a contending roster, then hand the reins to Zach Wilson. Two years later, the Jets went 5-12, fired Robert Saleh, and star corner D.J. Reed begged out of New York. The Miami Dolphins signed Zach Wilson as a backup in the offseason.
Rodgers is only so culpable for that mess. The Jets are the Jets, and Wilson isn’t a franchise quarterback.
Still, Rodgers’ play is declining. In 2020 and 2021, respectively, his final two All-Star seasons with the Green Bay Packers, he had a 121.5 and 111.9 quarterback rating (QBR). However, he had a 91.1 rating in his last season in Green Bay and a 90.5 rating last year in New York. Rodgers blamed his declining play for Saleh’s firing.
At 41, Rodgers is likely Minnesota’s best backup option, strictly from a talent standpoint. Carson Wentz had a similar QBR in 2019 (93.1), his final full season with the Philadelphia Eagles. He also had a 94.6 QBR in 2021, his lone season with the Indianapolis Colts. However, that was in his prime. Wentz is entering his age-33 season and has made two starts in the past two years.
The Vikings could go back to Kirk Cousins. They could bring in Taysom Hill, try to mine the UFL, or use a late-round draft pick. However, Rodgers or Wentz are better players than 37-year-old Kirko, 35-year-old Hill’s 2,437 career passing yards, or a Kellen Mond redux. Wentz won’t demand to start, though.
O’Connell is exhibiting restraint by not flipping the keys to Rodgers. It has to be tempting. Rodgers is motivated, wants to be in Minnesota, and has won a Super Bowl! Can’t you envision it? Two California boys sipping ayahuasca and thinking big thoughts?
However, McCarthy is O’Connell’s master plan. KOC wants to deliver him into the league with clean hands and swaddle him with a competent offensive line. McCarthy may have fallen, but he will rise and bring the Vikings to the promised land. Or so we’re told.
McCarthy is the future. The Vikings need to grab a backup, someone like Wentz, and they can break the Rodgers glass in case of emergency. If Rodgers is considering retirement instead of playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers, he’ll be around if McCarthy falls for a second time.
Minnesota won’t have to trade for the Passtronaut again. They’ve got someone who will already be in outer space when his phone rings.
McCarthy doesn’t need another mentor. O’Connell can teach him footwork and how to run an NFL offense. Brian Flores will show him how defenses will attack him. McCarthy already has a good routine. He meditates daily, sits in meetings throughout the building to learn each aspect of the team, and takes care of his body. He already approaches the game like a veteran.
If the Vikings must dial the Rodgers Bat Phone, his only influence on McCarthy should be on-field strategy. O’Connell called Rodgers “a supercomputer” before overloading Gotham’s AI node in London. Perhaps Rodgers could give McCarthy tips on how to beat cover 2. Wes Phillips can also do that.
Every team needs a backup plan to the backup plan. The Vikings learned that two years ago. However, an emergency solution is always inferior to a master plan.
