Tag: Green Bay Packers

This might be the year to win the Super Bowl for these three teams

With parity as high as ever in the NFL, a few unlikely clubs could have their best chance to get rings

Coming into the NFL season, predictions were made on who could win the Super Bowl in February, and there’s still a good amount of time to see if those views play out. The majority of those views probably had what one could call the usual contenders: the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens topping the list in the AFC, while the Philadelphia Eagles (defending champs), Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions gathered the majority of votes from the NFC. After that’s determined, the next question centers around teams who can announce themselves as a threat in their own right. The Houston Texans (who went home after the divisional round each of the last two seasons) were a trendy pick, but have been underwhelming to this point. The Green Bay Packers, particularly after they acquired linebacker/defensive end Micah Parsons in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys, became the team everyone is supposedly chasing, but many questions remain if they can even win the NFC North (let alone make a championship run). One thing (and perhaps the only item) we have learned is there isn’t a stand out team playing right now. As a result, three squads who weren’t looked at as serious contenders may have as good a chance as ever to emerge as the top dog.

The first of this trio is the Indianapolis Colts. It would be interesting to see if even the biggest Colts fan living within the Indianapolis city limits had this on their bingo card, but this team is tied for the best record in the league at 5-1. Somewhere along the line, it was forgotten how good running back Jonathan Taylor was and is. Taylor is reminding everyone up to this point, as he leads the NFL in rushing yardage (603) and touchdowns (seven). Combine that with the efficient play of quarterback Daniel Jones (yes, that guy who flamed out with the New York Giants), and the offense is on a level that makes them hard to stop. The Colts defense has been good enough to bend, but not completely break, and they have forced nine turnovers in their six games. Complementary football has been a strength for Indy, and Shane Steichen has cooled off talk of being on the hot seat to lose his head coaching job. In other words, the Colts have the ingredients to stay in the fight for a while.

Second on the list is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who is the team tied with Indy for the league’s best record. The Buccaneers could be at least 2-4 if a play or two doesn’t go their way, but they have found a way to make those plays, and the scary thing with this squad is they can become much better as the season moves on. If there is one reason why Tampa Bay sits where they are, it probably starts and ends with QB Baker Mayfield, who would probably be the MVP if the season ended today. Mayfield has been the definition of clutch, as he has been the architect of a few game-winning drives. It’s even more remarkable when considering Mayfield is playing at this level without the team’s top-two receivers (Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr.). There was a little talk about the Bucs being a contender going into the season, but the combination of how good they can be and the league being up for grabs could see them become a favorite before too long.

Finally, the Denver Broncos find themselves on the list of teams who could walk up to a championship this season. With the Broncos coming off of a wild card appearance last year, the prevalent thinking was they could continue to ascend, and perhaps, knock the Chiefs off from the top of the AFC West. The main reason is their defense, led by cornerback Pat Surtain II (the defensive player of the year in 2024) and linebackers Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper. Most people would say Denver’s defense is at championship-level, but what could make or break their visions is whether or not quarterback Bo Nix can consistently stay on the same page with coach Sean Payton, and bring the offense close to par with the other side of the ball. Throughout the year, Nix has been hit or miss with the execution of plays. If he can provide more of the good version, the Broncos could be on the cusp of a high on the Rocky Mountains.

There are other teams that could have made this list (the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots among them), but at this time, the Colts, Buccaneers and Broncos seem to have more in their favor to continue the upward trend. Of course, things can escalate quickly in the NFL, and what looks good one week might not the next, and vice versa. Who knows? Those teams who were listed as favorites might ultimately end up there come January. The beautiful thing about sports is games will be played, and everyone will get to find out as it happens. What we know is the gap between contenders and pretenders doesn’t seem to be as wide, and if that continues to be the case, don’t be surprised if this year’s Super Bowl winner is someone not exactly on the radar from the beginning.

The hype is real, but the results won’t match for these NFL teams

Disappointment reigns supreme when it comes to these overrated clubs

Here we are, at that time of the year when training camps are underway throughout the NFL. This is truly the occasion where all of the teams arrive with hopes of winning the Super Bowl. Of course, games will be played, and the field dwindles down until one squad is left standing in February. Until then, the hype trains will be gassed up in record levels, and there are a few who continue to have many fans and media try to speak a championship season into existence. Much more often than not, the results (inevitably) fall far short of the hype, and these teams fit that category perfectly.

It probably shouldn’t be much of a shock the Dallas Cowboys are amongst the top when it comes to results and hype not matching. If marketability and business is the topic, there isn’t a team on this planet that beats the Cowboys, with their value being over $10 billion (with a “b,” according to multiple sources). While Dallas is on top of the franchise value world, games are actually played on the field, and the Cowboys aren’t thriving between those lines. The normal talk has already started. Quarterback Dak Prescott will be looked at as a potential MVP candidate. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb will get pub as someone who can break the receiving yards record. Defensive end/linebacker Micah Parsons (who’s in a contract dispute with the team, much like Prescott and Lamb was at this time last year) will get built up as the best defensive player in the league, not just currently, ever. What has happened in previous years is Prescott, Lamb and Parsons have inflated their stats against inferior opponents, only to get exposed when a step-up in weight class occurs. That’s Dallas as a whole, and if they didn’t wear that blue star on their helmets, the hype isn’t nearly as loud. It’s widely know the Cowboys haven’t been to the NFC Championship Game since the 1995 season, and there is no indication that changes as long as Jerry Jones remains the team owner in Dallas.

Speaking of clubs that can’t get right, there’s no need to look past the Los Angeles Chargers. How many years (in a row) have people waited for the Chargers to take the next step toward becoming a championship contender, especially since Justin Herbert has been the QB? Now, that talk has only amplified since Jim Harbaugh took the reins as the head coach before last season. Harbaugh made some interesting comments a few days ago, saying everyone else on the team has to get on Herbert’s level. If that’s the case, higher levels need to be strived for, because there hasn’t been a playoff win with this “elite” quarterback leading the pack. Football is the ultimate team sport, and there is probably truth to what Harbaugh is saying. With that said, multiple things can be true, and if Herbert is the top QB everyone seems to think he is, then he will elevate his teammates to a level where they can challenge the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC West crown (and beyond). For a reminder, titles cannot be given to someone. They have to be earned, and while Herbert has shown signs of brilliance throughout his career, it’s not worthy enough to match the hype. It’s past time for the Herbert and Los Angeles to put some substance behind the style, and it’s questionable whether or not that happens in a few months.

While this team may not be on the level of disappointment the Cowboys and Chargers have given the hype pushers, the Green Bay Packers are starting to enter that territory. This goes back to the latter years of the Aaron Rodgers (now with the Pittsburgh Steelers) era, and has carried on with Jordan Love as the triggerman. Like Prescott and Herbert, Love is in the conversation for MVP, but with the exception of the second half in the 2023 campaign, the performance has been a little underwhelming. This is supposed to be the season where it all comes together for Love and the Packers. The roster looks like it’s one of the best in the league, and they have a good coach in Matt LaFleur. Now, there’s no excuses, and it’s time for Love to lead the charge bringing another championship back to “Titletown, USA.” It won’t be easy, especially considering Green Bay plays in the NFC North, which might be the toughest division the NFL has to offer.

With these three teams (and there are others), the noise surrounding them has been loud, and the hype has been just as blinding. After a while, the truth always comes to the light, and people can only believe the words without substance and action for so long. No matter how hard many try, there’s no argument for results, and if the Cowboys, Chargers and Packers want to change their respective narratives, then it’s time to actually win on the field. Hope springs eternal, and there’s every reason to be optimistic. Based on past history, it shouldn’t be a surprise if (and probably when) these clubs have a derailment of the hype train.

It’s past time for the media to stop catching blame

When athletes get frustrated, media members catch the wrath, but they’re the wrong people to direct anger at.

As someone who has spent a portion of life in the journalism industry, I’ll be the first to admit the media is far from perfect. In the age of the 24/7 news cycle, the priority has changed from making sure a story is accurate to being the first to bust out the breaking news label. The change in priorities has led to (at best) sloppy and lazy journalism, and ultimately, distrust towards the media world. Yes, there are people who work in the industry that are about being the headline themselves, but that doesn’t mean there’s a lack of individuals who still understand the foundations of what journalism is about. Therefore, the attacks on media when they are actually doing the job is unwarranted and ridiculous. When athletes in sports have bad games, that’s not the fault of the media. Unfortunately, there are many players who fail to take responsibility for their actions.

Let’s start with Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers for the first example. Excuse me if I can’t narrow down the number of flops to a single case when it comes to Rodgers. For starters, he lied about his COVID vaccination stance last season, and when the media remembered what was said, he said they were out to get him. This season, the reigning two-time NFL MVP isn’t playing up to that standard, and not only is it the media’s fault, it’s everyone else around him. Receivers, coaches, the front office, pretty much the whole organization not named Rodgers have passive-aggressively caught some wrath. The bottom line is if A-A-Ron (Google Key and Peele if you don’t understand where I got that from) wants to be snippy, he should look in the mirror for who’s catches the brunt of his frustration. He stunk against the San Francisco 49ers in last year’s divisional playoff loss, and he couldn’t do anything with three second half interceptions from (Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB) Tom Brady in the NFC Championship Game the year before. Those opportunities slipped away, and it looks like a far cry for Rodgers and the Packers to get a chance like that anytime soon. I get the hurt feelings, but the media is the wrong place fight.

For the second example, let’s go to the NBA and discuss Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. This man actually has people in the media afraid to criticize him, and I have no idea why. James may be a once-in-a-generation player, but he, or no other human being, is above criticism or questioning. So when media members ask him questions about the terrible play of guard Russell Westbrook, they’re probably asking because it was James who wanted him on the Lakers in the first place. Keep in mind I’m not the only one who felt bringing Westbrook to the team would be a horrible fit, but LeBron the general manager didn’t listen. Now, Westbrook is doing what he has always done, building whole neighborhoods with bricks from three-point land (along with committing the careless, back-breaking turnovers like he’s still a rookie), and the Lake Show is officially unwatchable. Meanwhile, the leader of the player-empowerment movement lets Westbrook take all of the darts, knowing he was the ring leader for this transaction. Instead of taking responsibility, James acts like he’s just a player, and says the media is trying to “bait” him into saying something messy. No, the press is asking simple questions, and it’s not critical just because people aren’t worshiping the ground he walks on. What’s happening is LeBron can’t overcome deficiencies to flawed rosters anymore, and the realism of that is something he’s having a tough time dealing with.

Finally, let’s come back to the NFL and look at what Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams. This case is particular damning because unlike Rodgers and James, Adams actually put hands on a media member. After the Raiders lost to the Kansas City Chiefs on the road Oct. 10, a pissed off Adams shoved a photographer to the ground, resulting in misdemeanor assault charges. I want someone to explain to me what that photographer did to deserve that treatment. If Adams is going to be upset at anything or anyone, maybe it should be the fact Las Vegas blew a 17-0 lead, or perhaps at fellow receiver Hunter Renfrow for tackling each other on a fourth down pass that sealed the Raiders’ fate on that night. I guess Adams figured pushing on media would be better than injuring himself punching a wall or locker. Needless to say, this is not the way to deal with anger, and no matter how upset a player is, there’s no excuse for coming after press in that manner. Let’s make sure you don’t run into your teammate before acting that way Davante.

Trust me when I say I can understand why there are serious trust issues with the media. The actions of some within the industry can be enough to set off emotions that are better off being left alone. With that said, it’s not the media’s fault if a player is performing below standards. It’s not the media’s fault when said athlete wants to call himself a leader, but deflects and hides when accountability is called for. It’s not the media’s fault when a player and his (or her) teammates let an opportunity for a big win slip away. The actions of Rodgers, James and Adams are just a few of the many cases where public figures want to go after the media when things don’t go their way, or are questioned about their actions (see Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving from the past weekend). If they want all the spoils of success, then they should know criticism comes along with the status from it. The local boxing gym would be the place to find a punching bag, but for the foreseeable future, the media will continue to be a suitable substitute for receiving frustrations…and shoves.

Talent over leadership: Why the latter is often forgotten across the NFL and NBA

When it comes to dealing with a star player, there’s no doubt talent is the first thing front offices look at in trying to determine whether or not to sign a long-term commitment. Coming through high school and college, being the biggest, fastest and/or strongest was enough to get by. In the NFL and NBA, those advantages are gone, because it’s truly the best of the best, and everyone has talent at that level. This means there has to be another factor that separates the great from the good, and if we’re talking about a franchise quarterback in the NFL, or elite player in the NBA, management is expecting them to be a leader and elevate the team around them. Therefore, many teams get blinded by someone’s talent, and find out the hard way they aren’t what they thought they were. Here are a few cases where leadership is lacking, and talent isn’t enough to overcome the headaches and heartbreak that come with it.

As the NFL prepares to start their season in a couple of weeks, there might not be a team with more question marks than the Arizona Cardinals. The offseason for the Cardinals was, to say the least, noisy. Their quarterback, Kyler Murray, went into brat mode and scrubbed his social media accounts of anything associated with the team, setting the stage for a contract dispute. Eventually, the sides got a deal done, but there were stipulations (which were later taken out) that basically said Murray needs to show more leadership and stop acting immature. On the field, it’s true Arizona has shown improvement each year he’s been the starter, but when things go bad, Murray has shown a tendency to quit on his team and throw teammates under the bus. Now the Cardinals are stuck with him for a while, which really says a lot about the league’s quarterback market (way overrated in my humble opinion). It’s time for Murray to grow up, because talent can only be hidden behind for so long.

In the NBA, the obvious example to look at for a lack of leadership is the Brooklyn Nets. During the summer of 2019, the Nets decided to make a splash in free agency by signing forward Kevin Durant and guard Kyrie Irving to huge contracts. Prior to these deals, Brooklyn had a team with a number of good young players, but they decided to mortgage the future for an attempt to win right now. Fast forward to current times, and it’s been nothing but disaster, mainly because Durant and Irving have been either injured, or malcontents, the whole time they’ve been there. The two stars have all-world talent, but if a team is counting on them to lead to the promised land, that’s going to be a long wait. The only times ultimate success occurred for these players are when they were supporting actors. It’s understood Durant was a two-time NBA Finals MVP during his days with the Golden State Warriors, but most know there wasn’t much he had to change in joining a championship-ready team. Irving hasn’t done a whole lot if he doesn’t have a certain king he’s playing with. Bottom line, it’s different when a player has to be the one to lead, and up to this point, Durant and Irving have proven they don’t have that leadership gene. When things get tough, they want to run and make excuses, and lash out at the media (because it’s always the media’s fault of course). Unless things drastically change, the Nets will continue to find out their investment in talent is going to fall flat.

Back in the NFL, let’s take a trip to Wisconsin, where Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers continues to be productive, and a pain in the a**, at the same time. There’s no denying the immense talent Rodgers has, and in my estimation, he might be the most talented player ever to play that position. He has won the regular season MVP award four times, and has a Super Bowl MVP along with it from the 2010 season. Notice there’s a lot mentioned about individual accolades. That’s because team success has been hard to come by. In the last two seasons, the Packers have managed to be the best team in the NFC, which gives them home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Even with that, the team failed to get to the Super Bowl, and it’s because the perennial MVP candidate came up small in the biggest moments. Coming into this season, Rodgers has already criticized the young group of receivers for a lack of production in training camp. I’m not one to talk much about contracts, but Rodgers is the highest paid QB in the history of the league (in terms of annual value). He’s getting that money because the Packers believe he can uplift the team to another Super Bowl title. At the moments of truth, he has failed, and for the amount of drama he has caused, it’s starting not to be worth it. If a player wants all the money, more is going to be on his or her shoulders. When leadership is needed the most, buckling isn’t an option. Someone forgot to tell Rodgers this.

All be told, most teams are willing to get through all of the mess and drama a great player can come with because the talent is so immense. Presidents and general managers everywhere are afraid to pass on them because they don’t want to be known as the person who lets that talent get away. Leadership is hard to evaluate because a player has to be put in that position in order for that to be shown or not shown. The players mentioned above have been anything but leaders, and there’s more than enough evidence to show things won’t be any different moving forward. It’s hot in the kitchen, and these players, along with many others, have displayed they can’t handle the heat. Don’t worry…the media will be ready for the attacks when the frustrations of these players boil over again.

It’s time to stop making excuses for “elite” quarterbacks

If we are truly being honest with ourselves, hearing the news about Tom Brady retiring, only to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers five minutes later, should come as no surprise. Besides, it’s not like Brady’s game was falling off from the standard we’ve become accustomed to. The seven-time Super Bowl winner threw for 5,316 yards, with 43 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season, which is not bad for a 44-year-old. It’s no secret the National Football League was shaken up by what Brady was able to do in leading the Buccaneers to a title in 2020. As a result, franchise quarterbacks everywhere felt it was time to flex their muscle and demand more say-so in personnel decisions. It’s one thing to demand that, but it’s another to make the sacrifices necessary to get what’s desired. Too many times, the other QBs want money and power, and that turns into a never-ending chase for glory that often ends in disappointment. As we move forward, it’s important to remember teams win championships, not individual players. The quarterbacks I will mention are supposed to be in the elite category with Brady, but have not elevated their respective teams when it matters most. Therefore, it’s time to call them out for coming up short.

Let’s start with Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers for the first example. We can all agree Rodgers is one of the most talented people ever to play the position, and the two straight regular season MVP awards add to the verification. When Rodgers and the Packers won the title in 2010, it was almost a certainty it would be the first of many coming in his career. Here we are in 2022, and the 38-year-old drama king is still stuck on that one title. When the failures occurred, many media members and fans were quick to point out the team, or the coaches, around Rodgers as to why he couldn’t get over the hump. That might have been a legitimate point in years past, but not in the last two seasons. Green Bay had the best record in the NFC in both, but were knocked out in the conference championship game (by Tampa Bay) and divisional playoff (by the San Francisco 49ers), respectively. Against the Buccaneers, Rodgers could not take advantage of three Brady second-half interceptions, and the 49ers won without scoring an offensive touchdown. The league’s MVP stunk in the playoffs, and even the biggest Rodgers supporters would have to dig deep to deny that.

For the second example, lets look at the new quarterback for the Denver Broncos, Russell Wilson. Wilson was acquired via trade from the Seattle Seahawks, and the thinking for the Broncos is the 33-year-old is the missing piece for the team to be a legit Super Bowl contender. A common phrase heard for the last couple of years is “Let Russ Cook.” Well, letting the chef cook has produced mixed results, with the bad seeing him get sacked 427 times in his career. It got to the point Wilson ran to “The Dan Patrick Show” to voice his frustration about getting hit too much. The Seahawks head coach, Pete Carroll, received much criticism for trying to establish a running game. If his quarterback is on his back all the time, who can blame Carroll for wanting to provide a little balance? While it might be true Seattle’s offensive line hasn’t been the best, Wilson does hold the ball too long at times, which contributes to the sack total. It’s also worth pointing out since the Seahawks decided to gear the offense more towards Wilson and the passing game (around the start of the 2015 season), the team hasn’t made it past the divisional playoff round. Now Wilson arrives in Denver, and there’s a lot of chatter about the Broncos being a Super Bowl favorite. That might be the case, but it’s also possible even with the upgrade at quarterback, Denver might not even be the best team in their own division.

Finally, let’s take a glance at current Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson. Yes, Watson’s off the field troubles are well-documented, but we can keep things about football for the sake of this article. Most people (including myself) would acknowledge the 26-year-old is a top-5 quarterback at his peak, but his individual success hasn’t contributed to much in terms of team wins. In 2020, Watson led the NFL in passing yards, but the Texans went 4-12 that season. Since he was drafted by Houston in 2017, Watson has one playoff win, which came in 2019. Looking forward, there are a good amount of teams willing to trade for his services, but the Texans are going to ask for a lot in return. That means there’s a good possibility the club Watson goes to won’t be too far away from what Houston was (and is) record-wise. As bad of a situation the Texans have on their hands, there’s no guarantee the grass is going to be greener on the other side, especially if Watson is running for his life from lack of protection.

So what does Rodgers, Wilson and Watson have in common? They all want to be like Brady, but they aren’t willing to do the things the greatest winner in league history does. For starters, Brady routinely takes less money on his contracts, which gives the team he’s on more flexibility to build around him. The other three have large contracts that eats salary cap room for their respective squads. While I would never fault anyone who fights for their payday, the flipside is the team around them might lack in other areas. If that’s the case, said quarterback has to elevate the club to championship heights. Rodgers, Wilson and Watson have all failed in this category in recent years, but they’re constantly called elite QBs. Is it fair to call them just elite regular season players? Maybe not, but if this is the quarterback-driven league I keep hearing about, then lets call a square a square. It’s time to question who is truly elite, and for me, there’s only one QB that at the level. That man resides in Tampa.