Cory's Corner: Aaron Rodgers is most deserving MVP

Aaron Rodgers has had a soap opera season this year.

It started off with him not pulling the trigger to open receivers. He then held the ball too long (and still does) without running or throwing it away.

Now, after all that drama, Rodgers is having an impeccable closing act. In his first three games, he completed 59 percent of his throws, averaged 206 yards a game, had seven touchdowns and one interception. Compare that with the last three. He’s completing 74 percent, averaging 256 yards, has seven touchdowns and no picks.

And now Rodgers is doing it with an injured calf and a nagging hamstring.

Derek Carr has had a terrific season in leading the Raiders to 10-3. Dak Prescott’s poise is why the Cowboys are 11-2 and then you have Tom Brady. The Patriots are 11-2, but how much does Brady get downgraded because he was suspended the first four games?

Despite all those guys and situations, if Rodgers carries the Packers to the playoffs with hobbling injuries, then he is the NFL MVP. I didn’t say he should be considered. He is the MVP.

Mainly because of who else this team has. On offense, the tight end position has been a huge disappointment mainly because of Jared Cook’s health. Jordy Nelson has needed time to get his footing after two major surgeries and Randall Cobb still has shown trouble getting off the line of scrimmage.

What helps Rodgers even more is the number of injuries the defense has suffered. The defensive backs and linebackers were constantly shuffling guys in and out.

And finally, look no further than the running game. A quarterback’s best friend is a great running game to open up passing lanes and to keep defensive backs honest. The starter, Eddie Lacy went down. Then James Starks clearly regressed. Knile Davis was gone before people knew who he was and Christine Michael still doesn’t know where he’s going.

Let’s face it; this team is Aaron Rodgers and a cast of misfit toys. If Rodgers isn’t on this team, the Packers likely go 5-11. He is carrying this team. And you can make the same argument for Carr or Brady, but Rodgers is on another level.

And with Rodgers limping down the field, he is moving into mythical status. He won’t be able to extend plays as well as he did earlier in the year, but he will just be forced to use his arm and impeccable accuracy even more.

Rodgers is far and away the best player on the Packers. That’s great for Rodgers, but it’s also a little scary for the Packers. Remember that he just turned 33 earlier this month. He needs more weapons to get back to another Super Bowl.

That doesn’t mean the Packers cannot get to a Super Bowl this year, Rodgers just has to be Superman to do it.

Rodgers hasn’t had his best season from the opener until now. But he’s proving that he is the most valuable player in the league. And in the next three games, he’s going to show it. 

 

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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn

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Comments (24)

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TommyG's picture

December 17, 2016 at 06:34 am

With the way this team is run by TT, AR will always be an MVP candidate. And why not? His skill carries this team. This year is no different. If not for AR's personal turnaround we would be looking at a far worse record. He isn't no doubt the MVP of the packers. He is therefore the MVP of the league. The other candidates have better talent around them (except for maybe the o line; ours is badazz). AR is the MVP because no other team is dependent on one person as our packers.

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NickPerry's picture

December 17, 2016 at 08:11 am

TommyG has hit it right on the head, Rodgers is always at a disadvantage because of Thompson. The Raiders had a putrid OL so Reggie goes out and builds what is probably a Top 3 OL over the last 2 years. Teams like the Patriots always seem to add that key veteran player before or during the season. But Rodgers is expected to carry this Franchise with no real help from anywhere other than the draft. He makes everybody better around him, just ask Greg Jennings. IMO this might be one of Rodgers most impressive seasons. The Packers have been without 6 or 7 starters on Defense some games yet Rodgers has kept them in the playoff race. No Defense, TE or a WR for a RB, a 30 something WR coming off ACL surgery...No Problem.

If Rodgers completes the "Run" and the Packers win the division, I don't think they could give it to a player more deserving.

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dobber's picture

December 17, 2016 at 06:42 am

He might deserve it, but he won't win it unless he carries this team on his back with two gimpy legs to the playoffs.

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Three and Out's picture

December 17, 2016 at 06:50 am

You make a very compelling argument...trouble is, the guys who vote won't see it that way and honestly, it doesn't bother me. Everyone knows he's the best, it doesn't take a trophy to prove it.

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MarkinMadison's picture

December 17, 2016 at 07:15 am

The Pats did o.k. without Brady. Dak's stats are awesome for a rookie, but I think the reality is that the offensive line is the MVP of that team. I think it will probably go to Matty Ice this year, but I don't know that there is a clear winner right now.

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phillythedane's picture

December 17, 2016 at 07:38 am

We fans like to read nearly everything Packers, so thanks for writing. But MVP on a 7-6 team is silly talk.

If GB makes the playoffs - a pretty big 'if' - then indeed you do have a whole 'nother kettle o' fish.

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Finwiz's picture

December 17, 2016 at 10:26 am

@phillythedane - nailed it!

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Barfarn's picture

December 17, 2016 at 08:07 am

STOP IT!

History since 2015 bye: Rodgers purposefully refuses to correct his mechanics and execute the game plan and/or playbook because he willfully refuses to trust his mates and literally pouts and throws passive aggressive temper tantrums on the field. He holds grudges, behaves like an anti-leader, a cancer, and narcissisticly and publicly blames others for his troubles. Finally, after one and half years the media ceases making excuses and universally excoriates his play, his childish/stunted emotional attitude and correctly identifies him as a well below average player. At the same time this criticism hits its nadir, Dunne publishes an article indicating that Rodgers’ messiah complex permeates every relationship he has…if you dare disappoint Lord Aaron you will be punished.

The result: vast improvement in his play.

You don’t give a QB credit for a 4th Q comeback when the deficit overcame is 100% of his own making. Moreover, the Media’s treatment of Rodgers is working as therapy helping him manage his messiah complex and this talk about his being MVP threatens to undermine that therapy, so please just stop it.

Talk instead about things like: his fear and refusal to get hit has improved. Talk about how he has been standing in the pocket a tick more over the last 3 weeks, but still needs some improvement to return to his play of 2014.

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marpag1's picture

December 17, 2016 at 08:10 am

LOL. Been waitin' a while to let that one out, eh?

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Finwiz's picture

December 17, 2016 at 10:28 am

@Barfarn - very good post

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4thand1's picture

December 17, 2016 at 01:40 pm

OK, now do Brady. WTF, players who don't preform should be called out. You don't have a clue what his relationship with the rest of the team is. I'm perfectly fine with him holding the ball, at least you know it won't be a pick. Rodgers is a perfectionist in IMO, and some players aren't. He reads defenses as well as any QB ever and changes plays. Everyone else should be on the same page but doesn't appear to be.

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Bert's picture

December 17, 2016 at 08:20 am

I would say AR is certainly an MVP candidate at this point. Still three games to go though before we start getting too excited about MVPs. Seems like these things can change week-to-week.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

December 17, 2016 at 08:34 am

No way.

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barutanseijin's picture

December 17, 2016 at 08:59 am

Who cares. Did it matter to any one that Rodgers didn't win it for the 2010 season? Did the 2011 & 2014 MVPs make up for the playoff collapses?

At any rate, the award goes to the NFLs leading man, Its poster boy, not the most valuable player. Rodgers has had too much negative press this year. He's not getting an MVP for this season's work.

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dobber's picture

December 17, 2016 at 12:30 pm

"Rodgers has had too much negative press this year."

For what? Maybe he started the season on a sour string on the field, but they were 2-1 after three games when the bottom fell out of the defense. He's played very well as the season has progressed...even during that multi-game losing streak, he wasn't losing games. That was mostly on the defense. He's very visible in terms of advertising and promoting the league. He IS a league golden boy, and his level of play (and doing it on essentially no legs) should he carry this team to the playoffs will make his effort "legendary" to league promoters.

No domestic violence. No PED or recreational drug issues. No auto accidents or public outbursts. If you're pointing to his personal relationships, what's been the problem there? So he has a Hollywood girlfriend. I think there's been much more "negative press" in the Packer bubble than there has been nationally.

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Norm's picture

December 18, 2016 at 08:00 am

No auto accidents sure, but what about that golf club accident that not only broke his window but also his car window? And he clearly didn't even kill that fly because Clay was still chasing after it. And why did his house burn down? I heard he burned it down for the insurance money because State Farm wouldn't put Olivia in one of the commercials. And he doesn't talk to his family any more because they forgot his birthday one year.

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marpag1's picture

December 17, 2016 at 09:23 am

Ah, my perpetual pet peeve pops up again... arguing about ill-defined NFL cliches when nobody really knows what they mean. Who is a "franchise player?" Is Flacco "elite?" Does GB have a "shut down corner?"

I don't think I want to get caught up in an argument about MVPs when no one knows or even seems to care what an "MVP" actually is. But history probably defines the term for us better than anything else: An MVP = the Quarterback who has the best combination of A) impressive stats, and B) winning team record... with the emphasis on letter B.

To back this up, consider that a lot of people are singing the praise of Matt Stafford and Derek Carr as "legitimate MVP candidates." Neither of those two can match ARod's stats, and very very few people would prefer either guy over Rodgers, but no one is talking about Rodgers as an MVP. Why not? Lions: 9-4, Raiders: 10-3.

Unless Rodgers blasts off to another planet in the last three games and the Packers storm into the playoffs, there ain't no way in heck he's winning the MVP.

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Ferrari Driver's picture

December 17, 2016 at 09:49 am

IMO, Tommy G said it best.

Eliminate Rodgers from the Packers and I feel our overall talent level is below the league average and that is primarily the result of drafting in the bottom half of the annual draft for the past decade and we can contribute that to having winning seasons year after year...NOT A BAD THING.

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cpitt's picture

December 17, 2016 at 12:07 pm

Rodgers was awful half the season, and it appeared to be his own doing. A few great games doesnt make you mvp.

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4thand1's picture

December 17, 2016 at 01:48 pm

Awful? After the 4 game skid, he had 25 tds to 7 ints. QB rating in the mid 90's. As usual the QB gets to much blame/credit. He has to be lights out for this team to win period. Seems like you and a lot of other people expect lights out on every play. By the way he's the 2nd leading rusher on the team.

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Samson's picture

December 17, 2016 at 03:30 pm

Nothing new in this blog. -- Everyone knows that the Pack either win or lose based on how AR plays the game. --- It's been that way for the last 8+ years.

If GB had a "real" GM who used all the tools of his trade the Pack wouldn't have to rely solely on one player. ------- More SB appearances would also be the result. -- I'm going to be pi$$ed if AR doesn't see another SB (as a Packer) before he retires because TT is inept as a GM.

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NickPerry's picture

December 17, 2016 at 07:19 pm

"I'm going to be pi$$ed if AR doesn't see another SB (as a Packer) before he retires"
And
"used all the tools of his trade the Pack wouldn't have to rely solely on one player. -------"

Samson I don't agree with you much of the time but I'm right there with you on those two. One SB appearance in 12 years with the QB's he's had?? I'm sorry but that's just unacceptable, especially having #12.

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4thand1's picture

December 18, 2016 at 10:24 am

The pressure should be on TT and deservedly so. The only reason they are in the playoffs is because the Packers have an elite QB. After he cut Sitton and lost Shields and didn't resign Hayward ( huge mistake) is solely on TT. With the injuries to the secondary, TT didn't nothing to help, so the 4 game skid is squarely on his shoulders.

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al bundy's picture

December 18, 2016 at 10:34 am

Lets let him and the team play the next three. This team has accomplished nothing to date. They may not make the playoffs. If so, Rogers is not an MVP, doesnt work that way. On the other hand they run the table and its his play, then why not.
I thought he was cheated on MVP the year AP won it. AP didnt take his team anywhere but he had a lot of yards. Rogers won with a banged up mis match team and went to the playoffs.

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