How many times lately have you heard Green Bay Packers fans or commentators panic, saying the chances of another Super Bowl for an Aaron Rodgers-led team are running out?
The best comparator for Aaron Rodgers is New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Rodgers is beginning his 12th year in the league. Brady is five years ahead of him, about to begin his (delayed) 17th season.
Both players have been relatively healthy. Brady missed almost all of his eighth season (2008), whereas Rodgers lost about half of his ninth season in 2013. Brady has been a starter since his second year, while Rodgers had to wait until his fourth year.
Aaron, however, had his first 4,000-yard passing season in his fourth season (his first as a starter), while Brady didn’t get there until his fifth year.
We can only directly compare each QBs first eight years. Brady had 4,000 passing yards only in his fifth and seventh years. Rodgers hit the 4,000-yard mark in years four, five, seven and eight.
What has Brady done in his years nine through 15? He’s reached the 4,000 mark in all seven years, save being 100 yards short in 2010.
Brady turns 39 on August 3 – there’s no sign yet that he’s slowing down.
If Rodgers, who is off to the better start, mirrors Brady’s career path, he’ll have at least 3,900-yard years through 2022!
By the end of that season, Rodgers will be 39.
Most players at other positions are retiring between 30 and 35. Quarterbacks, meanwhile, seem to be extending their careers. Brett Favre had a 4,200-yard season when he was 38. Peyton Manning brought home the Super Bowl trophy last year at 39. Even Favre’s former backup, Matt Hasselbeck, was still winning some games last year for the Colts at age 40.
Rodgers says he wants to play until he’s at least 40 and has expressed a desire to remain in Green Bay the whole time.
So, as the man says: relax!
Can Rodgers take a pay cut to improve the team? I know the last time his contract was re-negotiated, it was not him but the club who said “look, we are going to make you the highest paid QB”. He was making much less, if I remember correctly, around 12M. Underpaid in elite QB terms. But… couldn’t he have just stayed at 18M instead of 22M? No, he just took the money. Then we are struggling to keep players that end their rookie contracts, or, god forbid, hire free agent (yes, it happens, but once in a blue moon). Matthews did the same. Just took the money, becoming by then the highest paid OLB. Look, I can’t blame guys for looking for financial security for themselves and their families, but a team with a player like Brady will have some cap salary advantages. That, and a good administration result in a team that is a consistent contender, which in turn draws other talented players to accept smaller contracts to play for a contender (rings, baby, rings!). And the team has the following negotiation argument: “Our QB is taking a team friendly contract, so who are you to demand more money? What are your accomplishments? Go play for the Jags if you want money and a losing team to play for!”
You’d take the money too MJ. “Cheapo” Tom’s cap hit for 2016 is $14M so he’s not playing for free.
I haven’t had that kind of money, so I don’t have a reference. 14M is peanuts for an elite QB, who now make on the 20M range. With 6M you can have a decent/good veteran, or two slightly average/(above average) ones, making a rough estimate.
So tom Brady didn’t suggest anything, but nice headline that led me to read this useless,, piece of crap article