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Click here for the interview posted on Wisconsin On Demand.
Packers legend Brett Favre has one of the most unusual perspectives available to understand the situation which longtime current Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and first-round draft pick Jordan Love face. To a large extent, he was in Rodgers’ current shoes in 2005, as Rodgers was in Love’s.
But Favre tells ESPN Wisconsin’s Wilde And Tausch that the real determinant of why he feels Rodgers will leave Green Bay is not necessarily emotion-centered, but mainly based on contract and salary cap situations for the Packers.
“With Aaron…when his contract gets close to running out, it also will be running out for Jordan Love,” Favre said.
“At that point, do you re-up Aaron for a long-term deal, with $40 million or $50 million a year, or do you go with the young guy and give him a new deal? I don’t see the young guy getting a blockbuster deal without really ever proving himself. That’s really why I said Aaron will probably play elsewhere.”
Both Rodgers’ and the new first round draft pick’s contracts end after 2023, though the Packers have an option year for 2024 with Love.
Per Sportrac, the Packers will only lose $17 million in dead cap money if they let Rodgers go after 2021, compared to $68 million in cap hits if they keep him both years.
So it is very conceivable that a decision for the Packers and Rodgers could come within two years.
That means, realistically, at least two years for Love to have to learn at the feet of the statistically highest-rated quarterback in the history of the NFL, based on passer rating.
Favre believes Rodgers’ main responsibility needs to be to create productivity for his team, and not to focus on developing his supposed successor.
“Aaron’s job is not to mentor Jordan Love. Aaron’s job is to win football games for the Green Bay Packers. That’s what he’s paid to do,” said the Pro Football Hall of Famer.
“I think Aaron is motivated. I don’t see any decline in his play at all. In fact, I think from an athletic standpoint, he moves as well as he did 10, 15 years ago. He’s going to be sharper, and another year into this offense with Matt LaFleur. I think he’s only going to be better, but he can’t do it alone. That’s been proven. I don’t think there’s any added motivation because they drafted a quarterback. There’s no threat to replace him unless he chooses to be replaced.”
Favre also shared why he believes Rodgers may have a chip on his shoulder toward the Packers organization, and it’s not personal to Love himself, or even about the fact that another talented quarterback is on the roster and may become his successor.
“I don’t think for a second he is upset (about) the fact they drafted a quarterback, to replace him. He won’t be replaced unless he chooses to go elsewhere or he gets hurt. The guy is arguably the best player in the history of the game,” said Favre.
He feels it’s because the Packers did not draft a wide receiver to bolster their depth at that position, though they added free agent Devin Funchess and are expected to have Equanimeous St. Brown back after he missed 2019 with injury.
“I just thought they (should have given) him some immediate help.”
As for Love, Favre gives the first-round draft pick from Utah State advice that reflects how Rodgers learned from the first of consecutive quarterbacking masters who have given the Packers arguably the best combined quarter century by two players at the same position in the history of the NFL.
“He can learn a lot from Aaron just from a mental aspect of it. I don’t want to say shortcuts, but tricks of the trade. Snap count things, quick throws on runs, things of that nature,” explained Favre.
“You can pick up on things like that and kind of get a head start. He’s got to do that, and meanwhile be lower man on the totem pole and show what you can do in practice. That’s hard to do. It’s hard to get motivated every day to be your best to practice when you’re not the guy, but he’s got to do it.”
Favre warns it will be doubly hard, because of the fact two legends preceded him.
“It’s going to be very difficult, because there’s been (28) years with two quarterbacks and pretty good play. That may be an understatement. The best thing he can do is go in, be naive, and not try to go in to fill Aaron Rodgers’ shoes or Brett Favre’s shoes,” he said.
“Try to be the player you are and learn some tricks of the trade.”
