The summer was a period of significant change for the Green Bay Packers. There is constant turnover among the players. Mike McCarthy used to predict that around 25% of his team would be replaced annually.
However, it’s different when a club swaps out its starting quarterback. A quarterback openly feuding with his team because they picked a man he repeatedly alluded to as his successor is an even rarer occurrence, especially when that quarterback is probably the greatest player in the history of a legendary organization.
It all started when Brian Gutekunst selected Jordan Love in the first round. The locker room may become upset if you do that. An adverse reaction is possible. The worst-case scenario is if it divides the locker room.
One of the simplest ways to wreck a ship before it ever leaves port is to partition the locker room. The 2005 Philadelphia Eagles serve as a historical example. There were others on the team who supported the quarterback, Donovan McNabb. When star wide receiver Terrell Owens had a falling out with the team and quarterback over a contract issue, the other players rallied to his side.
Force the fumble. Recover the fumble.
Sheesh, @_kingsleye! 💥#NEvsGB | #GoPackGo
📺: Packers TV Network pic.twitter.com/gEoJzFv4rY
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 20, 2023
The Super Bowl champions of the previous season finished dead last in their division. The squad was in flux with the release of Owens. The potential for division in Green Bay was significantly greater than it would have been in Philadelphia.
The Packers are youthful overall, but they have a few veterans who are approaching the conclusion of their careers. If Preston Smith, Aaron Jones, and Kenny Clark all wanted the Packers to keep Aaron Rodgers for another championship run, who could blame them?
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David Bakhtiari has described the current Green Bay Packers era as a reconstruction. Without being too technical, the Packers were favored to win the Super Bowl with Rodgers as quarterback. They aren’t anymore, at least for the time being. That’s how it is when the quarterback position is up in the air.
All the proper things have been said by the players this summer. Since Gutekunst selected Love, they’ve said all the right things. Unfortunately for the players, that’s just the way NFL business goes. The acclaim for Love has been more evident since Rodgers’ departure. Sometimes even without any prodding.
“He’s more than ready,” Jones said in an interview with Rich Eisen. “He’s very poised, he’s calm in any situation and he’s a true leader. Us guys who have been there with him over OTA’s and camp and all that, we know what kind of player we are getting, and we are excited to go lay it on the line for him and make his job easier.”
Making plays may be a placing it on the line. Sometimes it involves rescuing a downed teammate. On Saturday’s third drive of the Packers’ preseason game, Love saw an opportunity and sprinted down the field. Sam Roberts of the Patriots’ defensive line caught Love as he was sliding.
It wasn’t to Love’s taste. A red banner was raised because of the performance. The play’s climax was the following events. Offensive lineman Zach Tom and Jon Runyan, two of Love’s teammates, took exception to the play, leading to a brief scuffle. While the Packers’ week with the Patriots had included its fair share of chippy moments, this was an encounter that the quarterback enjoyed.
“For me to feel that those guys have my back, it’s awesome,” Love said after the game. “I feel that already, but to see it you love to see that, and I appreciate those guys stepping in and having my back right there.”
Even though it was only a brief scene during a preseason game for a rookie quarterback thrust into a leadership position for the first time, it meant everything.
“I think it does build some community, camaraderie,” Love said.
They say a picture is worth 1,000 words.
I think the team is behind Jordan Love. pic.twitter.com/cdFHh0AzDW
— Jacob Westendorf (@JacobWestendorf) August 20, 2023
“Obviously going back to practice, some of the incidents that happened in practice, you love to see guys having each other’s back and fighting for each other, just not letting any of that kind of stuff slide.”
This is a transitional year for the Packers. Some bumps are to be expected. The offensive line having the quarterback’s back is the kind of thing that will assist the team’s success. This much seems to be true. The Packers’ lack of success this year won’t be because of uncertainty about their new quarterback.