Cory's Corner: Jordan Love Is A Franchise Quarterback
The Packers had a question mark at the game's most important position. That question mark has been lifted.
Now that the season is over, I still cannot believe what I’m hearing. Many still think that Jordan Love has not earned a seat at the franchise quarterback table.
Excuse me? What was that?
The Packers had been sitting on pins and needles waiting to find out who Love was going to be. They traded up to draft him 26th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. Many — including me — were surprised when Green Bay made the bold move, essentially putting the entire franchise on notice.
Whether you wanted to believe it or not, from that point on, the future of the Packers was about to change. Obviously Rodgers wasn’t thrilled about it.
“Just look at the facts,” said Rodgers in 2020 after the draft. “They traded up. They drafted him. I would say they like him. They want to play him.”
One year prior in 2019, Rodgers completed 62 percent of his passes and in 2018, his percentage was 62.3. That was the first and only time in his career as a starter that he tallied back-to-back seasons of less than 63 percent. Of course he bounced back in a big way in 2020 by posting a 70.7 completion percentage coupled with 48 touchdowns and only five picks and his third NFL MVP award. He followed that up with his fourth NFL MVP in 2021 after throwing for 37 touchdowns and four picks.
But that’s when something happened. Something that never happens. Rodgers threw one pick. Then another. And another. He tallied 12 total in 2022. That’s the most since his first year as a starter in 2008 and a big reason why the Packers were mired in a 8-9 record.
Even though Rodgers had just wowed stadiums two years prior, the Packers had seen enough. And not to mention, they also wanted to know if their hunch was correct about this athletic kid from Utah State.
So Love started the year. Many were fine with it, but I’d say that more were still gnashing their teeth about letting a first ballot Hall of Famer go in favor of a guy that still had a huge question mark over his helmet.
So Love started this past season. After two games, he had six touchdowns and no picks. But it took until Week 7 before he finished a game by passing for more than 64 percent. He did the same thing two games later by passing for 76.92 percent. And then after struggling in Pittsburgh with just a 52.50 percent clip, he reeled off five-straight games over 64 percent. That included a remarkable 27-19 win at home over the eventual back-to-back Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
That was a seminal moment for Love. The Chiefs were a stout defense this past season. Coming into that game, they were fourth in the NFL with 37 sacks and three players had more than five. Not to mention, cornerback Trent McDuffie had 13 pressures as a blitzer.
Many picked the Chiefs to walk into Lambeau Field and come away with an easy double digit win. What they didn’t plan for was an efficient quarterback to shock the Kansas City defense.
That game in Week 13 was when I knew that Love was a franchise quarterback. The Packers truly had something amazing and if the Vikings, Bears and Lions were honest with themselves, they all yelled in unison, “Oh come on! Not again.”
You can say that Love isn’t worthy of the franchise quarterback term, but it’s unfortunate. He has proven that he can attack defenses with multiple arm angles, he can handle pressure and heavy coverage and he doesn’t let third downs, late games or losing situations get to him.
Most of all, Love gives the rest of the team someone to believe in. They know that he is always going to be that trusted guy that will never go away. He succeeded with young receivers and instead of pouting when things got tough in October he made a resolve to work even harder.
If that isn’t the definition of a franchise quarterback, then I don’t know what is.
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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 (99)
stockholder
March 05, 2024 at 06:59 am
Ok- so you want LOVE to get paid.
But he is replaceable.
Because I don’t believe Love is the best
Player on the team.
There is always Fault, when you want to find it.
And as much as Rodgers might have sounded
like a broken record to the Brass.
The truth is; They only cared about the transition.
Untylu1968
March 05, 2024 at 07:34 am
Who would be the "best player on the team"? At this point, he's the most important one..
stockholder
March 05, 2024 at 10:00 am
Aaron Jones is the best player.
Without him. This isn't a playoff team.
Coldworld
March 05, 2024 at 11:38 am
Was Jones the best in 2022 as well? This time last year you wanted to replace him.
Sorry, Jones is very very good when healthy. Whether he’s the best is debatable but he’s not the most valuable to other teams or to our performance, which is what matters.
DoubleJ
March 05, 2024 at 08:10 am
"But he is replaceable."
Really who would replace him? Did you forget that over the last 8 weeks of the season that Love played like at a QB level not seen since Rodgers 2021 season? Literally Love played 8 weeks worth of MVP football so who would replace him?
"And as much as Rodgers might have sounded
like a broken record to the Brass.
The truth is; They only cared about the transition."
No Rodgers only cared about himself and getting as much money as possible. He is like a CEO in that he assigns his self worth to his paycheck. If he isn't being paid like a top QB then his self worth is less. The Packers brass was tired of Rodgers BS. Rodgers has been a big PITA to the Packers since 2015/16. They dealt with it because he was still young. Well he got old and expendable. We know that you don't like Love because he replaced your favorite player. Guess what this is the NFL and that happens all the time. Get over it.
murf7777
March 05, 2024 at 08:31 am
Rodgers had a lot of issues, but why single him out like he is the only one getting his market value when his contract was up. Almost every player, will do the same thing, some even while they’re under contract. I don’t recall Rodgers ever holding the Packers hostage during a contract.
DoubleJ
March 05, 2024 at 08:35 am
"I don’t recall Rodgers ever holding the Packers hostage during a contract."
That is because the Packers bent over backwards to appease his ego. IMO the Packers should have traded Rodgers to Cleveland in 2018 when they had the 1st and 4th overall picks. At that time Rodgers was considered to be the best player in the NFL and still young enough that the Packers could have gotten a Hershel Walker level of compensation. Trying to run it back consistently with Rodgers is what put the team in salary cap hell. He didn't trust young players around him so you had to pay a premium for average veterans. Again this is all to appease Rodgers. The man had been a cancer in the locker room since at least 2018, probably 2017, and needed to be jettisoned way sooner than he was.
stockholder
March 05, 2024 at 10:34 am
You keep bringing up the past.
Yet you posted this below; questioning Cory-
"To Anoint him as “the man” or “franchise QB” after 9 really fantastic games is blind faith"
So is Love a Franchise QB or not?
My answer to you and Cory was-
He is replaceable!
Which doesn't make him a franchise QB.
It only makes him a starter.
Coldworld
March 05, 2024 at 10:52 am
He’s not yet a franchise QB, just one of the very very few who have shown a level of play in the NFL that, if sustained, would make him one. That fact alone is why your position that he’s replaceable by any rational franchise is so wrong.
stockholder
March 05, 2024 at 11:55 am
No - It is what it is.
He isn't there yet!!!!
Then he isn't. Period.
DoubleJ
March 05, 2024 at 11:45 am
"You keep bringing up the past.
Yet you posted this below; questioning Cory-
"To Anoint him as “the man” or “franchise QB” after 9 really fantastic games is blind faith""
Apparently you do not understand quotation marks. I copied and put in quotation marks the "To Anoint him as “the man” or “franchise QB” after 9 really fantastic games is blind faith" to show I was responding to that comment by Murf. I said to him "Did you feel the same way in 2008 when the Packers extended Rodgers mid season and called him a franchise QB?"
"So is Love a Franchise QB or not?
My answer to you and Cory was-
He is replaceable!
Which doesn't make him a franchise QB.
It only makes him a starter."
Yet again picking and choosing things to respond to and not actually responding to what was asked, said, or even close to anything else. I replied to your initial comment about the "He is replaceable" part with: "Really who would replace him? Did you forget that over the last 8 weeks of the season that Love played like at a QB level not seen since Rodgers 2021 season? Literally Love played 8 weeks worth of MVP football so who would replace him?"
Tell me are you allergic to responding to comments without avoiding questions asked directly of you? Or do you just avoid questions directed at you so you can repeat your comments and try to come off as all high and mighty.
WestCoastPackerBacker
March 05, 2024 at 04:34 pm
Exactly how would you replace him? The rest of the teams in this division are still looking for franchise QBs after decades of trying.
How you gonna replace Jordan Love?
Coldworld
March 05, 2024 at 08:22 am
If Love were now a free agent, he’d be the first QB on everybody’s list after last year. That’s a pretty good definition of irreplaceable in practical terms.
Love isn’t a franchise QB yet. Although he’s shown he can play at that level, it takes doing so consistently for a season or two in my mind before being so anointed. However, of all the QBs out there, including those in the draft, he’s probably the one most likely to become one based on what he has done already. He’s going to get paid accordingly because if we don’t 25 teams would be all to happy to.
stockholder
March 05, 2024 at 10:14 am
Don't argue the FA probables.
He is replaceable,
or just Stop drafting QBs.
Love isn't a franchise QB yet?
That was Corys point. He is!
Coldworld
March 05, 2024 at 10:59 am
And I explicitly disagree with Cory, as is often the case. That disagreement has has nothing to do with Love’ replaceability or even relevance to it.
In my stated view, no QB after one season can have proved themselves a Franchise QB. I said the same while defending Rodgers against your invective in 2008, 2009 and, yes, into the 2010 season. You did not think him a keeper during that time or even worthy to be deemed “replaceable”.
Since there is no link, hiding behind Cory’s provocation does not mask the fact that your statement that Love is a replaceable player at this point is risible.
So no, Love is not yet a franchise QB, but he is about as far from replaceable at this time as anyone who isn’t can be. That leaves maybe 2-4 other QBs one could plausibly argue are less replaceable today.
DoubleJ
March 05, 2024 at 11:53 am
Tell me if the Packers were to put Love on the trading block right now how many teams would not be talking to them about a trade for him? In my guess the teams that wouldn't be trading for him would be: Houston, Buffalo, KC, Baltimore, Chargers, Philly, and Cincinnati. I might include Carolina and Jacksonville. That means more than 2/3 of the teams in the NFL would be quite happy to trade for Love. Now as I have said many times before in threads all over the place, one good year doesn't make a player top 5 at their even though they had top 5 play. A player needs 2+ years of top 5 play to be considered top 5 at their position in my book. That said right now Love is a top 10 QB in the league with how he played last year.
Cheezehead72
March 05, 2024 at 08:36 am
I agree Love and every player on the team is replaceable. But the thing is can we replace him with someone better?
It is a gamble to pay a player. Look at the contract the Packers gave AR and what did he do his last season.
Love is young and he is improving and we should expect him to continue to get better. He is already better than more than half of the starting QBs. If the Packers are going to take a chance on a guy this is the guy you take a chance on. He is young, improving, and the most important position in football.
I expect the contract to be about 200 mil for 4 years. Anything less is a bonus.
dblbogey
March 05, 2024 at 09:57 am
double post
dblbogey
March 05, 2024 at 10:00 am
Why don't you become a Bears fan since you seem miserable all the time anyway?
stockholder
March 05, 2024 at 10:19 am
Rodgers owned them.
Packers0808
March 05, 2024 at 10:58 am
No Rodgers OWNS you now and always will! You are a shill!
Coldworld
March 05, 2024 at 11:46 am
What’s Loves win percentage against the Bears? I will help you out: 💯%. Love managed a passer rating of 129.3 with 561 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2 games versus the Bears last year.
Does that mean you can’t head down there because Love owned them too? Since he is replaceable, surely the door is wide open for you?
jannesbjornson
March 05, 2024 at 11:31 am
Well, the transition was successful, to date. The mind bender was having him Inactive in year one. He showed his stuff vs Philly in '22 and they managed to pull in value picks for the witch doctor. I still place Love behind Herbert as the two best QBs in the 2020 draft. Burrow is outstanding, when he isn't injured. The next two picks in 2020 hurt the value chart. This front office is not as aggressive as Lynch, playing the QB long game.I would put his paycheck into 2025.
Oppy
March 05, 2024 at 04:30 pm
Hater or profoundly clueless?
Can't call it, bro.
Duhawk_47
March 06, 2024 at 02:04 pm
Anyone who has been around longer than me (most of you) recall the # of stock's most downvoted comment? This is one of the higher ones I've seen in 3-4 years of following CHTV pretty closely. GPG!
Oppy
March 06, 2024 at 07:42 pm
Perhaps before your time, but there used to be a poster that went by the name of "Cow42" around these parts- he was easily a more disliked poster on a day to day basis than Stockholder.
The thing is, Stockholder is truly is a Packers fan. I often disagree (vehemently) with his takes, but he's a fan with very strong opinions but I believe he wants what he truly thinks is in the Packers' best interests.
Cow42, now that guy.. he just loved to be miserable.
GregC
March 05, 2024 at 07:14 am
I think it was after the win over the Lions on Thanksgiving that Cory posted an article under the title, "Pay the Man!" I was in full agreement. It became a moot point when we found out that Love's contract could not be renegotiated until May. That gave him the rest of the season to win everybody else over, which he pretty much did.
Looking back, I think the season opener against the Bears was an important game. It showed everyone Love's potential right away, so even when he struggled somewhat in the next several games, we knew what he could do. The struggles were largely due to injuries on the O-line, no Aaron Jones, and the new WRs and TEs learning the offense. Love's inaccuracy on deep throws was another problem. When it all came together halfway through the season, it was something to see.
The main thing he needs to work on is end-of-game situations. He got impatient too often, which is a common mistake for young QBs. I think he'll get that figured out. He's pretty much figured everything else out already.
dobber
March 05, 2024 at 07:35 am
"I think it was after the win over the Lions on Thanksgiving that Cory posted an article under the title, "Pay the Man!" "
Didn't he also post an Anti-Love piece in September?
Coldworld
March 05, 2024 at 08:27 am
Cory’s modus operandi has always been to take exaggerated positions and often fluid ones to generate traffic by provocation. I can’t be the only one who has realized that or who views his pieces accordingly. It’s kind of his thing.
Packerpasty
March 05, 2024 at 09:26 am
Very true...he cant be taken seriously on most of his articles....clickbait stuff...as far as Love being "the guy", it looked like it for 8 1/2 games, now give me a full season and not a good game, bad game type of season...for the sake of the Packers I hope he is the QB from the last half of the season and not the last half of the Niners game..
CheesedDeadHead
March 05, 2024 at 09:31 am
" It’s kind of his thing."
Well when ChatGPT improves a bit there won't be any need for Cory so he's getting paid while he can...
WestCoastPackerBacker
March 05, 2024 at 04:36 pm
Yeah, kinda Cory crap blanket statements. Most common in the offseason dead zones, like now.
murf7777
March 05, 2024 at 07:32 am
Damn, I hope your right Cory…………For the record, I’m excited about Love’s potential to be a Franchise QB, in fact, I’m one of the few who liked it when he was drafted. Based on watching him, I’d even say the odds are better than not. BUT, To Anoint him as “the man” or “franchise QB” after 9 really fantastic games is blind faith. The NFL is littered with “one hit wonders QB’s” over the years.
What do you think the fan base thought about the following QB’s after their big year or stretch?
Foles
Grappollo,
Cassel
D. Anderson
Our own Magic man
V. Young
Griffin III
The list goes on….
Yes, they all felt a similar way. I guess it comes down to how you describe a “franchise QB”. My definition is someone who will be the team’s QB for the next 15 years with a possible HOF career. That is rare. If that’s how you define it, I’d say let’s see year 2 before we anoint him.
dobber
March 05, 2024 at 07:47 am
I'm glad I read your piece before I posted, Murf. I'd add Danny Jones to your list. After an injury plagued 2023 where Jones was mostly inept when he did play, they're married to him for 2024, but are already talking of moving on. The cases are admittedly different in that the Giants had seen a lot more of him before he had a good 2022 and the Giants paid him, but his first few years in the league were full of turnovers and lackluster play--if anything, it shows the desperation behind how teams approach young QBs and their contracts.
You and I sit in pretty much the same place right now: we saw half a season of really good football from Love against a fairly weak schedule. That's a great start. It's early to say "franchise QB"--I tend to say that guy is a team leader who wins football games--but he did some really good things in 2023 that will all but force the Packers into a long-term commitment and to cross their fingers at the same time.
TKWorldWide
March 05, 2024 at 08:08 am
I think GB has managed Love’s contract very well so far. I think KC in SB 58 was the first time a team won the crown with a QB making 14% or more of the cap.
Remember not long ago before the rookie salary scale? The first few picks commanded such enormous $ that mistakes were crippling to the cap? That’s fixed now, but the QB $ has started to do the same. (Russel Wilson, anyone?)
They can only blame themselves, but herein lies the conundrum: you gotta have a franchise QB to seriously contend. Sooner than later you gotta pay that QB. Once you pay that QB, the impact on the cap is so great that it makes it hard to win the SB.
Round and round and round we go.
I’m no big NBA fan, but I wonder if the NFL could borrow the idea of some kind of “max contract” for QB’s.
murf7777
March 05, 2024 at 08:24 am
TK, I agree you have to pay the QB, having a franchise type QB is the only way to win consistently, year after year. I disagree that it hampers winning a SB. I’d say the opposite. Look at the past 10 SB winners salary cap hit for QB’s. Mahommes, Brady, Manning & Stafford all were paid highly. Only Foles wasn’t paid highly. Some might say Brady took a discount, maybe to some extent, but in the end he still was paid.
I’d say the biggest loser in the QB salaries escalating higher is the RB position. Over the past 10 years or so, the SB winning teams starting RB average salary cap hit was 1.5M. That position has been devalued so much in the past 10 years.
TKWorldWide
March 05, 2024 at 09:24 am
Yeah, it was that 14% thing that blew me away.
I know another way is to load up while that franchise QB is still on his rookie deal. That gives you 4 (or 5) years, as long as you go in right away his rookie year.
Brady was an outlier, giving up top $ so they could put in/keep a team around him. (Thanks, Giselle)
I’d love to know how these negotiations go. As much as players like to say “I let my agent handle that”, I’ve gotta believe that the player has input. Probably somewhere between “get every dollar you can” and “heck, as long as I can get X, we’re good”.
Another thing about QB pay: The highest paid isn’t necessarily the best, it’s just the one who signed most recently. GB knows if (when) Love continues at a high level, the cost only goes up.
We shall see!
Oh, here’s a thing: https://www.spotrac.com/spots/super-bowl-qb-cap-percentages-1397/
murf7777
March 05, 2024 at 11:13 am
It is a lot, but if you can get one, there worth every penny. You're right the highest isn't always the best, as you said, it's the next man up for a contract.
Someone said on this thread that Love is in the right system with the right coach. That very well might be true and could factor in on how Love and his agent negotiate. Being I don't see Love as a Prima Donna I think GB might just fit his personality as well!
Coldworld
March 05, 2024 at 08:34 am
To me a franchise QB is one a franchise has become demonstrably confident enough in to build its offensive roster around already and for the future. In Love’s case we aren’t there yet because that takes a couple of years of consistent play.
Love has already shown that he is a starting level QB but he still needs to settle and grow to solidify the undoubted potential to be more than that. He’s shown the physical skills and temperament, but the excitement is in considerable part the perception that he’s yet to fully ascend.
He’s done enough at this point that the team will bet on that happening and rightly so. Now it’s a question of time and staying healthy.
Bitternotsour
March 05, 2024 at 09:19 am
He processes quickly, he's running a sophisticated offense. He can make every throw, he's calm in the pocket. He is the man. The Packers don't get to delay paying him. He's due. He has the team by the short hairs, like it or not.
Gutekunst staked his career on that draft pick, and he won his bet. Jordan is going to get paid and he's going to get paid at the going rate for face of the franchise quarterbacks.
CoachJV
March 05, 2024 at 08:12 am
Majik would have been great had he not gotten hurt and lose the job to Brett... He towers over everyone else you named. Injury hurt him, not lack of ability.
You're right, it comes down to how you define it. HOF potential is meaningless to the definition of Franchise QB... HOF is a whole different discussion. You sound like an ARod sympathist eating sour grapes.
murf7777
March 05, 2024 at 08:39 am
So Coach, how do you know Majik Man’s career would’ve been great after his one great year? Do you have some crystal ball or are you a specialist in all knowing of QB’s after watching them. Shoot, the Packers should pay you 10’s of million’s, so they can be assured of bringing in the next greatness.
I have no sympathy towards Rodgers and not even sure why you would state that based on my post.
Coldworld
March 05, 2024 at 09:17 am
Majik looked like he could have a great career. It’s obvious in his case that injury prevented proving that one way or the other (as opposed to some other cause). Sadly that question will never be resolved. Sport is cruel like that. No QB is immune.
I do think some attributes increase the chances of longevity. One is a preference for play from the pocket as opposed to reliance on legs/personal athleticism. Of course one can also point to the protection given by their teams too. It’s historically very hard to stay healthy as a RG III or Fields type. A number of which are typically listed in ones who flamed out. The player has to want it too, not coast like Vince Young supposedly did.
They also have issues if they can’t transition as they age and learn touch and reading defenses and processing progressions. Rodgers and Favre were athletic but it didn’t define them and was used relatively sparingly. Love seems to be the same. For the most part how they played at 25 is how they played at 35 and beyond. They could play well through niggles mostly. Brady and Manning never had that aspect. Loves chances of longevity are therefore better than some.
Majik’s rotator cuff and ankle are a good reminder that everyone needs some luck. He was still decent later, but never looked the same. Flynn had a couple of stupendous games, not a standout season, but I’ve often wondered what would have been his upside had his throwing elbow not gone.
We’ve not just been blessed with great talent at QB since Majik, that talent has also been fortunate enough to avoid debilitation other than through age. Let’s hope that is true of Love too, however good he becomes.
CoachJV
March 05, 2024 at 10:13 am
How do I know? Because I got to watch it unfold. Did you?
It was pre-free agency... when you had to build teams the hard way and nobody wanted to EVER come to GB... But somehow, in 1988, the Pack's Offensive starters were Majik, a damn good FB in Brent Fullwood and some rookie dude out of South Carolina by the name of Sterling Sharpe. Oh... and a guy named Ed West. And even though they only went 4-12 that season, the was "Majik" in the air and people were feeling EXACTLY the hope and anticipation we all feel right now with this exciting change.
And like now, the D was suspect with the only good player being the ball-stripping, fumble-recovering ILB Brian Noble (he was badass).
In 1989 the same crew took us to 10-6... In 1990, we went 6-10 but that was on the D with only 1 good player. 1991 is when Majik got wrecked... 1992, Majik got wrecked again early in the season and Brett took over.
The rest you probably know...
The guys I just spoke of brought respect and excitement back to GB for the first time since the glory days before I was born. Respect them... without them, we might still be in the gutter.
crayzpackfan
March 05, 2024 at 10:54 am
I agree with everything you typed except saying Brent Fullwood was a damn good FB. Are we talking about the #1 pick (4th overall) RB from Auburn? The Same Fullwood who in just 46 games played managed a whopping 1707 yards rushing for a 3.9 yards per? His career was a staggering what, 4-5 years of longevity that took only Tom Brady to show how amazing that truly was.
Sorry..I'm just goofing ya. But old Mr. Fullwood by all accounts was a complete bust. But I agree with the rest of what you said.
CoachJV
March 05, 2024 at 11:50 am
Don't confuse Tailback with Fullback. FB's don't get the carries that RB's do, even back then. Looking at FB numbers, he was pretty damn good, and I remember plenty of times he stuffed the blitzer so hard they had snot bubbles.
crayzpackfan
March 05, 2024 at 12:26 pm
Coach- I’ll give ya the FB not getting carries, but….
How many RB’s, I mean FB’s get/got drafted #4 overall? He was a highly touted RB who sucked at it in the NFL and was forced into a FB roll. Look, that era was a fun time for me as a packer fan. I was about 16-17 years old then. They were finally giving me hope. Majik was insanely important to me then. He represented a turning point. Dickey too gave me hope before then, but the defense then was God awful. Long story short, Fullwood was a bust. High pick, Injuries, lack of production and a very short career made it so. However, I do thank you tons for taking me back to the big pad, 4:3 aspect ratio, and those late 80’s, very early 90’s GB days. Just had to bust your balls a bit calling Fullwood a really good FB. Thanks for sharing though. I appreciate you.
CoachJV
March 05, 2024 at 12:57 pm
Thanks... and no worries. I've got thick skin and zero shame, so I take a busting pretty good. I did miss how high he was drafted, I came to be a Green Bay fan along with the drafting of Sterling Sharpe. I guess my memory only recalls his big runs, which I thought was awesome for a FB.
I'm in that same age group as you BTW... Go Gen X!
Leatherhead
March 05, 2024 at 12:26 pm
Let me tell you a Brent Fullwood story. He looked at his coach, Forrest Gregg, and asked him "Did you ever play in this league?". This guy was a meat head, and I believe it was the last time we drafted a RB in the first round, or one of the last times.
His wonderlich was rumored to be between 1-9 (20 is average). He took himself out of a game because of a sore throat and tummy ache. He was traded shortly after. He had a career total of about 2000 total yards in four years, and had 17 fumbles in 477 touches. Do the math. That's a fumble about every 26 touches. How are you going to win doing that. Meanwhile, our QBs are throwing 17 interceptions in about 455 attempts. How are you going to win doing that?
When you google "Packers busts", his name is right there along with Rich Campbell and Tony Mandarich.
CoachJV
March 05, 2024 at 01:21 pm
Well MAYBE I was wrong.... LOL.. I'll concede the fumbles. But I still liked him. 2000 yds in 4 seasons ain't bad at all for a FB... unless you're Mike Alstott. We didn't have any good RB's. I think Majik was always our 2nd leading rusher back then.
murf7777
March 05, 2024 at 11:29 am
Coach, he was exciting to watch I give you that. I remember finally being really excited about the team's future with him at QB. And, of course our fan base was hungry to win and reach the playoffs as we came off two decades of losing. That said, he was a gunslinger, not unlike Favre, but IMO without Favre's great talent and ability to stay injury free or play through it at a high level.
He had a very good season in 1989 where he threw for over 4000 yds, 27 TD's but with 20 Int's. He got away with it that year, went 10-6 and most, if not all felt we found our QB. Then in 1990 before his injuries and after Defenses had more tape on him and he had 10td's and 12 int's. The team was 4-4 at the time of his injuries. In those 1 & 1/2 seasons he didn't even throw for a 59% completion.
Who knows, with the right coaching he might have reduced those Turnovers and completed passes at a higher %. Based on my definition, I highly doubt he ever would've been a franchise QB, no problem you have your opinion and I have mine....all good to disagree.
CoachJV
March 05, 2024 at 11:56 am
Consider that his Completion rate was due to having only 1 WR and 1TE to throw to, and the TE was blocking most of the time. Can't compare that percentage to today's numbers. QB's today are just far more deadly.
Also consider with those passing stats, Majik was also good on his feet and had a bunch of rushing TDs and yards as well, which running QB's in that era were highly likely to get injured.... and Astroturf didn't help Majiks ankle any. By today's standards, Majik wouldn't be all that... but in that Era, he was a rockstar for us. And had the mullet to prove it!
murf7777
March 05, 2024 at 12:04 pm
He did have one fine Mullet:) And, he might've been all that now as well. I think the reason QB stats are better now is because of rule changes. The WR can't be grouped after 5 yards and QB's being so protected, that allows for more completions. In the 90's brought the West Coast offense, short passes easier completions as well. It was a time where I was the most excited about their future and I've been watching since the late 60's.
CoachJV
March 05, 2024 at 12:14 pm
That's true... The rule changes have made it much easier for QB's and WR's... I think the NFL took note of that when Montana and Rice started their dominance and realized it was more exciting that 3-5 yard runs every down. As you say, it was the introduction of West Coast style Offenses and the NFL created rules to protect it. Lot's of things would be different if not for those rule changes.
crayzpackfan
March 05, 2024 at 01:05 pm
Murf- His mullet was my inspiration. I had a beautiful, blonde mullet back then. If we could post pictures I’d show ya. It wasn’t a redneck, Joe Dirt mullet either. I kept that shit up. When the wind blew on it, people could only watch it slow motion while hearing Hot Chocolate, I Believe in Miracles. Yes! It was that kind of mullet good. LOL
CoachJV
March 05, 2024 at 01:10 pm
LOLOL.... "I Believe in Miracles"... I can see the Head and Shoulders commercial now... followed up by Cindy Crawford at the Pepsi machine!!! LOL
Oppy
March 05, 2024 at 04:25 pm
The fact that you're touting Majkowski as the guy who "brought respect and excitement back to GB for the first time since the glory days before (you were) born" suggests to me that you were either asleep or you weren't a Packers fan during the Lynn Dickey / James Lofton era.
Dickey is easily twice the QB Majkowski ever could have been, and while Sterling Sharpe is an all-time great, the Packers offense in the early to mid 80s was far and away superior to the Majik Man's short lived era.
Don Majkowski was a glimmer of hope for a Packers fan base desperate for the glory days, but he wasn't a great QB and he didn't even have the potential to be a great QB. He was just another guy who had a little success and a hungry Packers fan base latched on to with hope but not a lot of substance.
Sterling was the man, though.
DoubleJ
March 05, 2024 at 08:29 am
"To Anoint him as “the man” or “franchise QB” after 9 really fantastic games is blind faith"
Did you feel the same way in 2008 when the Packers extended Rodgers mid season and called him a franchise QB?
"What do you think the fan base thought about the following QB’s after their big year or stretch?
Foles
Grappollo,
Cassel
D. Anderson
Our own Magic man
V. Young
Griffin III
The list goes on…."
None of those players EVER had a stretch of games like Love had last season. No QB in the NFL played better over the 2nd half of the season than Love. Love did that with the 2nd youngest supporting cast since 1990, the only one younger was the 2017 Browns who went 0-16. It was the youngest WR group since at least 1978 who's group was 24.3 vs the 2023 23.3 average age. Overall the odds are better that Love isn't a flash in the pan like those other players you listed.
Oppy
March 05, 2024 at 04:29 pm
None of these guys sniffed the kind of QB performance that Love put on display for nearly 10 consecutive weeks, though.
That ceiling he hit is pretty unique.
fireball
March 05, 2024 at 07:58 am
Way too early yet to be calling Love a " franchise quarterback. " Way too early.
Maybe in a couple of years. Maybe.
Like Murf said, so many well-known names have flamed out after two or three years.
So let's wait. Be patient.
TKWorldWide
March 05, 2024 at 08:09 am
7:58 AM??
I’d wait until at least noon!
Razer
March 05, 2024 at 09:08 am
...Way too early yet to be calling Love a " franchise quarterback. " Way too early.
...So let's wait. Be patient.
Thank you for the balance. Teams saw what Love could do and how the Packers offense was designed last year. To be the man, Love will need to continue his growth. Lot of good QBs can put up a good season (Prescott, Cousins, Wilson, etc.) but can you do it better the next season?
Untylu1968
March 05, 2024 at 09:23 am
The same goes for players who are deemed a bust after a year or two. People are way too quick to judge on both ends of the spectrum!
I can't wait until that first draft pick, and some people instantly lose their shit . You know it's coming!!
CoachJV
March 05, 2024 at 08:07 am
For whatever reason, I've not heard anyone OUTSIDE of the fandom say that Love is NOT a franchise QB. In fact, most fans of other allegiances can't believe that "Lightning Strikes 3 Times". Whomever isn't convinced that Love is our QB for the foreseeable future is just eating sour grapes.
Now, will he be HOF and/or leave a legacy as big as the 2 before him??? Nobody can say. What I WILL say is that Jordan Love is the FOURTH good QB1 in a row who is good enough to keep us contending every year. (The 1st would have if he didn't get hurt and lose his job to #4). So if you don't like what is happening, go be a Bears fan...
Turophile
March 05, 2024 at 09:16 am
Is grass green ?
I absolutely agree with this. Love is the main man for the Packers, going forward.
I don't think everyone has the same idea of exactly what a franchise QB is, but the Packers are committed to Love and the only question you could reasonably ask, given his play through the second half of last season, is whether he turns out to be only a top 15 QB, or a top 10, or a top 5.
I personally think he is right at the top end of that projection and (assuming good health) will be a fixture in Green Bay for a long time. I don't see any way that he is not a franchise QB.
LLCHESTY
March 05, 2024 at 08:26 am
Odd time to post this story with everything else going on NFL wise. Is this what's called filler?
Razer
March 05, 2024 at 08:44 am
Or fruit on the ground.
Packerpasty
March 05, 2024 at 09:27 am
its whats called JennerJohn journalism...
dblbogey
March 05, 2024 at 10:01 am
I guess they could post 10 more mock drafts instead.
Razer
March 05, 2024 at 08:43 am
I am not sure that anointing someone "franchise" anything is of any value. Any good or great QB in this league has a team and coach married to their success. Without Matt Lafleur putting Love in a position to be effective, we would all be hedging our bets on Love. The offense worked and Love ran it well. Move Love to Atlanta, Carolina or a dozen other teams and Love would have struggled. Like Brock Purdy, our QB needs a good system and supporting cast to be the QB that we saw last year. I like Love but giving him Rodgers' WWF belt and contract isn't where I want to go.
LeotisHarris
March 05, 2024 at 08:47 am
Always remember, when lifting a question mark, please, please, please use proper body mechanics to avoid lower back strain. Bend at your knees, not at your waist, and if you need to make two trips to carry the dot do so. Safety first.
CoachJV
March 05, 2024 at 05:35 pm
Hehehe
ricky
March 05, 2024 at 09:05 am
I think it's time to put the assumptions about how the fan base felt about Rodgers' departure to rest. This incorrect narrative that a vast majority of the fans wanted to keep Rodgers around is simply mistaken, IMO. If anything, I believe that a majority of fans would have been happy to send him to Denver for multiple players and picks, and then install Love as the starter. What people wanted last year from Love was sustained improvement as the season went on. That happened. sometimes in a spectacular way (kicking Cowboys butt in the playoffs has become as predictable as beating the Bears). I also believe most were getting more tired of Rodgers' theatrics, and were ready for a breath of fresh air. And Love is definitely that. A revamped defense, some more confidence from the team in general, and the future could be so bright, we'll all need "shades".
WestCoastPackerBacker
March 05, 2024 at 04:42 pm
There were also plenty in the fan base, like me, that didn't want to lose a Hall of Fame QB and replace him with an unknown. I looked at the following and wanted to keep Rodgers:
PIT without Big Ben - barely makes playoffs
NE with out Brady - dumpster fire
NO without Brees - can't sniff the playoffs
NYG without Manning - can't sniff the playoffs
IND without Manning or Luck - can't consistently win
Yeah, these teams scared me into wanting to hang on to Rodgers, believing his final year was due to a broken thumb and having no reliable TE and very little experience at WR.
Happy to say I was proven wrong. Yet would still have loved to see Rodgers have a great year for the Jets, after all the entertainment he's given me as a Packer fan.
T7Steve
March 05, 2024 at 09:34 am
Love has just a couple steps to go to become a true franchise QB. That's not to say he's not a keeper already, but even he'll admit to his shortcomings and be trying to improve.
Deep rout passes.
End of half drives (when behind or ahead).
Drive continuation when leading and using up the clock. This wasn't all his fault. It had a lot to do with Jones being hurt and the O-line issues. These last two were things that we wouldn't let the previous QB get away with either.
harleycops
March 05, 2024 at 09:43 am
Let's take a deep sigh of relief. I, for one, was ticked at Love's 1st rd pick. But he has given us reason to eat crow and get on his side as our Pack QB for the next 10? 12? years. This year's OTA and training camp will address any weaknesses that turn up. For the 1st time, Love is the man and everyone on the team knows it. No more guessing, no more wishing. Is he franchise? Who cares about that? We have a QB that has proven himself in TWO playoffs games, winning one and nearly winning two. Can't wait for free agency. Can't wait for the draft. At least we have a QB in the fold.
Now excuse me. I have to eat my crow for dinner!
Starrbrite
March 05, 2024 at 05:17 pm
Me too Harley—sort of.
I was however, more upset because I believed we drafted Love earlier than needed. I owe Gutey an apology.
golfpacker1
March 05, 2024 at 09:47 am
Jesus people, I was so happy to not have to argue about Aaron Rodgers for a nice, not long enough, time period. Everyone agrees that Rodgers was a great QB. But he is gone. Get the hell over it. Jordan Love is our QB and you know what? He seems to be pretty freaking good. Why doesn't that make all Packers fans really happy? There is a good chance we bucked the odds again by getting a player with great potential @ QB. How many teams don't?
Rodgers was the QB on ONE Super Bowl team. With all that talent, ONE. God, you would think we lost a family member. He was a great QB, but he was an even bigger tool. And he put his goals above the teams. He is gone and doesn't need to be talked about anymore until his ring of honor ceremony. But would it surprise anyone if he didn't even show up?
We have been lucky as Packer fans to have had 2 great QBs back-to-back, and from the early indications we might just have a third. Love is going to get paid whether any of us like the amount of money or not. Starting QBs command big salaries and that's a fact of life in the NFL. Stop with the stupidity and just support the team.
Tundraboy
March 05, 2024 at 12:07 pm
Thank you!
Boneman
March 05, 2024 at 10:14 am
I'm all for 'getting your value' and 'taking care of your family' but $50 Mil a year! C'mon man. Remember that teams have a salary cap so in essence these QB contracts are HURTING the rest of the players on the team. The pie is only so big. There has to be some sanity and if it takes drafting a QB every single year then I may just be on board. I think Gute alluded to this type of strategy recently too. Brock Purdy anyone?
WestCoastPackerBacker
March 05, 2024 at 04:44 pm
Yeah, better keep drafting QBs, cuz Jordan Love is going to take a huge chunk of the salary cap before too long. That's just the way the NFL is set up man.
golfpacker1
March 05, 2024 at 11:17 am
Purdy was actually a pretty good QB for 4 years @ IA ST. He holds all the passing records there. He was rated as high as a projected 3rd round pick. He probably fell because he didn't fit the NFL criteria for QBs as he is not much over 6'0. He is a real gift for the 49ers after failing miserably on Trey Lance. Hitting on him saved their salary cap for 2-3 years.
Thats why the drafting a QB every year theory doesn't work. Teams only hit on 1 above average pro QB in probably 20 tries I am guessing. It is looking like GB has hit on 3 in a row, although Love is still pretty new in the scheme. There is no legitimate option to not paying him the money because he will get it from someone else if we don't pay him. And I think we have used all 9 lives of getting lucky on great QB picks.
Leatherhead
March 05, 2024 at 12:14 pm
I don't think you need to draft a QB every year. But I do think that if you have a QB on the bad side of 30, who hasn't been back to the Super Bowl in several years, you might want to seriously consider replacing him. I'm not a fan of hanging onto these guys until they're ancient.
Since the advent of FA and the salary cap 30 years ago, the overwhelming majority of Super Bowls have been won by QBs under 30 (or Tom Brady), and Love will be 30 when this next contract expires.
His window is now, and it's not as long as we'd like to think it is.
I'm not sure about your 1 in 20 tries theory. Assuming there are 3 good QBs in each draft , and assuming that about half the teams aren't even looking for a QB in the draft (I think it's more than that), I think your odds are better than 1 in 20. The odds of drafting a Super Bowl QB after the first half of the first round are poor.
It's also becoming increasingly clear that what happens after the QB gets drafted is really important. Look at Justin Fields and Jordan Love. They're the same age. One joined a bad team and was thrust into the fire. The other one was inactive his rookie year. Now, he's looking like a premiere QB while Fields career is on the rocks.
If we had taken somebody other than Love, like Jalen Hurts, who was taken after him, and made him an inactive his rookie year,and brought him along slowly behind Rodgers, I think we'd have gotten very similar results. It's not just the player, it's the organization.
Leatherhead
March 05, 2024 at 11:24 am
Let's take a trip in the wayback machine. It's 2020. We just went to the Championship game in LaFleur's first season. And rather than get another weapon for Rodgers, we drafted Love. People said it was a huge mistake, and they blamed Gutekunst for alienating Rodgers (but not for the two MVPs that resulted).
Other teams passed on Love. Las Vegas passed on him twice for two guys who are already out of the league. Do you think they maybe wish they had another swing at that?
A year ago, we were sitting here with a declining QB who was costing a fortune. We had missed the playoffs. We were in a really bad cap situation. You heard the usual crowd talking about the 1265 Clown Show, and throwing around words like "incompetence" and "malfeasance". Now, Love looks like a guy who we can get to the Super Bowl with, our cap situation is going to allow us to pursue some FAs, and I'm wondering how those people feel about the Clown Show now.
murf7777
March 05, 2024 at 11:35 am
Many of those same folks the past 4 years stating, vehemently what a terrible Love's pick was, now are the one's arguing that he is definitely a franchise QB.....LOL.
Leatherhead
March 05, 2024 at 12:01 pm
Yeah, I see that one of the chief culprits already gave me a chickenshit anonymous thumbs down. Let's see, a guy who's on the site a lot, who disparages Murphy, Gutekunst, LaFleur, and a bunch of the coaches, and who downvotes me all the time was on this within a minute or two. Who could that possibly be?
Bitternotsour
March 05, 2024 at 12:13 pm
votes up or down are meaningless. perhaps other than notifying you that someone bothered to read the post.
i sort of love people who get wound up enough to be upset by things that they have no ability to influence. i especially am fond of the "Gutekunst should have drafted (insert name here) instead of wasting a pick on (insert name here)" with the fervor and gusto of someone whose sole point of reference is hindsight. it's a great time of the year.
murf7777
March 05, 2024 at 04:20 pm
hear hear! hindsight makes a lot of folks really smart.
Coldworld
March 05, 2024 at 04:46 pm
If you do not get down votes you probably aren’t saying anything original or contrary enough to be controversial. I don’t know about Gute, but I would qualify with the respect to the others. So far today you haven’t had a down vote from me. We must both try harder. As to your 2 minute thumbs down fan. Wear that with pride. It’s a badge of common sense.
Bitternotsour
March 05, 2024 at 05:14 pm
he knows it's not you.
Bitternotsour
March 05, 2024 at 12:04 pm
I read it differently, those are the folks that are desperately clinging to the Gutekunst is incompetent narrative, and are steadfast that Love has yet to prove himself to be a "franchise quarterback". They've backed themselves into a corner, now are grasping for a lifeline for their documentable stupidity.
fortunately the franchise isn't run through a message board or by TV shit-merchants, or pod casting subnormals. There is a significant vein of stupidity that runs through a fan base (not just ours) and we get to witness it (our version of it) daily on this website.
Like it or not, call him franchise or not, Jordan Love is the face of the Green Bay Packers.
Leatherhead
March 05, 2024 at 12:18 pm
'''....... folks that are desperately clinging to the Gutekunst is incompetent narrative""""
That's exactly right. "Clown show", "incompetents", and "malfeasance" were all words that a couple of posters repeatedly threw out there. They were wrong then, they're wrong now. They can't make a coherent argument as to why they were (and are) so wrong, so they just resort to the anonymous downvote.
Bitternotsour
March 05, 2024 at 12:33 pm
you should get over that. it's just a button click, devoid of actual meaning. If you really want the approval of the stupid, you'll need to start posting stupid commentary.
Leatherhead
March 05, 2024 at 12:41 pm
Yes, but it's so Chickenshit. It doesn't enhance the discussion. It provides no clue as to what the downvote is fore. And of course, it's anonymous. I know who it is, but I don't want to embarass him.
T7Steve
March 05, 2024 at 01:24 pm
He probably doesn't even read your posts, let alone disagree with them. So he probably won't be embarrassed either.
I'm putting all my wishes into Gute hitting a home run on the O-line. If he does that, Love will be great.
I see they're working on Runyan today. Hope they can keep him. If not, you know who has all the money in the NFCN. I'd HATE that.
Leatherhead
March 05, 2024 at 04:52 pm
I'm hope-hope-hoping they can keep Runyan. He doesn't miss games or practices, he loves playing in Green Bay, and if he can't win the RG starter spot, he's at least backing up two guys. He pushes Newman down the depth chart.
This morning's simulations....via mockdraftdatabase....were pretty close to exactly what I hope we could do.
#25 Still Graham Barton. We could start him at any spot if we chose to, and we could shuffle around the line if we wanted and he'd fit right in anywhere. Next year, he'd be our starting Center.
#41 I keep getting Tyler Nubin here. Personally, I think he'll go before that but for now, that's the guy.
#58. Johnathan Brooks, who I think can help this offense right away, and for the next four years.
#89. Max Melton, CB. Yes, that Melton.
#91 Cooper Beebe!!, of course. Personally, I think he'll be gone by then, but he wasn't today.
Duneslick
March 05, 2024 at 02:18 pm
WAAAY to early to say that.
golfpacker1
March 05, 2024 at 04:16 pm
I will be honest that I was a Packers fan that was not happy when we traded up to grab Love. It wasn't because I didn't like Love, more because I thought we had other actual needs, and I also knew absolutely nothing about Love because I hadn't researched any QBs at all.
But I also honestly don't understand the hate that's still out there on a daily basis. What is not to like about Jordan Love and his great upside at this point? How lucky is Green Bay? We might have hit the QB jackpot for the 3rd time in a row. The Bears haven't had one in 20 years.
And the comments about him not deserving the money that all just decent QBs have been getting for years now in huge salaries is just ignorant. How about we all try not to alienate the guy, so he has second thoughts about signing a contract extension. Or piss him off to the point he holds out to see what he can get from other teams, whether to sign with them or drive the price up on the Packers.
I am a bigger trade back guy vs a trade up guy. I always want the extra picks if we can't get the guy we want. I would not have traded back with the Packers for only a 4th round pick that year. That's all that cost us, a 4th round pick. What a bargain that looks like it is going to be. Let's put Rodgers in the rear-view mirror and give Jordan Love 100% of our support. Go Pack Go
cdoemel
March 05, 2024 at 06:09 pm
Fuck yeah!!!