Cory's Corner: Aaron Rodgers belonged on the IR
Clay Matthews has never been one to be a vocal leader about anything. He's the guy says that the Packers have to take things one game at a time — which drives me nuts.
Clay Matthews has never been one to be a vocal leader about anything. He's the guy says that the Packers have to take things one game at a time — which drives me nuts.
Yet, he starts a national narrative because he said, “I think we probably should have kept him off IR.” Of course, Matthews was talking about a certain No. 12.
I didn’t realize that Matthews was a Ted Thompson consultant who also possesses a medical degree.
ESPN, like it is akin to do, blew the story way out of proportion and soon enough, many around the country were wondering what Green Bay was doing. Why did Green Bay put the game’s best quarterback on injured reserve because it appears that he has healed quickly? Why did the Packers torpedo their own season by putting Rodgers on IR?
OK, stop. First of all, the Packers knew that it would be at least six weeks before Aaron Rodgers’ broken right clavicle would be fully healed.
What the Packers did was smart. The NFL is a week-to-week league. They figured they would bring in players that could help the team on a short-term basis.
The Packers knew that life without Rodgers was going to be a mysterious riddle. Stashing Rodgers on the active roster would’ve hurt the team in the short term. Not only that, but how would you know that he would be dropping 50-yard bombs in Pittsburgh in the pregame? How would you know that he would be able to heal so quickly?
Then, think the other way. If Rodgers was left off the IR and his rehab went at a snail’s pace, how refreshing would it have been to know that a roster spot was wasted?
Rodgers may come back this season — I don’t think he should. If he does come back, he’s doing it to rewrite the toughness chapter of legacy. Remember, he has played behind Brett Favre and has heard how tough that guy was. Don’t think for a second that doesn’t eat him up.
I don’t doubt that Rodgers wants to come back and I bet that he does. I just don’t think the Packers can run the table with a team that has 11 guys on the injury report this week. That includes the mouthpiece of the defense in Morgan Burnett and Kenny Clark, who had a Pro Bowl argument before injuring his ankle.
Just remember that this isn’t last year. I realize that last year the Packers were 4-6 before Rodgers proclaimed they would run the table. He played some of the best quarterback that the NFL has ever seen as he put the Packers on his back.
Can he do it again? I doubt it because the defense has been exposed and with two key injures, it is even worse.
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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 (14)
Three and Out
December 02, 2017 at 06:15 am
Hot take of the morning!
TarynsEyes
December 02, 2017 at 06:58 am
" Clay Matthews has never been one to be a vocal leader about anything."
Now we all know why.....stick to hair flipping.
jakenyffeler
December 02, 2017 at 07:19 am
Keep in mind we haven't heard a peep about any recent x-rays. Now I'm no doctor, but I'll betcha he can sling a ball around with the clavicle being less than 100%. Getting smacked by 300lb dudes is probably a different story.
J0hn Denver's Gavel
December 02, 2017 at 11:13 am
He probably won't get a bone scan done until right after the Browns game. The radiation sets back the healing process so they'll wait until the last second to do it.
carusotrap
December 02, 2017 at 07:39 am
Jeez, Cory. He was kidding. Take a deep knee bend and do some hot yoga for God's sake.
HankScorpio
December 02, 2017 at 07:52 am
If Rodgers does actually practice today, as has been widely speculated, it will cement my opinion he is playing in 2017 no matter what.
If they had the intention to shut him down if they were out of the playoffs, why let him practice one day before those hopes could be extinguished for good? Why not wait one more day until the playoff picture is that much more in focus?
And really, that Rodgers is so calculating, that he was throwing in warm ups last Sunday spoke pretty loudly already.
egbertsouse
December 02, 2017 at 08:43 am
Yeah, let’s rush him back so we can make a phantom playoff run. Maybe Spriggs can whiff a few times and get him back on IR. Give Barr another shot at maiming him. Gotta save TT, MPM, and Dim’s jobs. That’s the important thing.
HankScorpio
December 02, 2017 at 10:39 am
What is the basis of your prognosis that he is being rushed back, Dr.?
flackcatcher
December 02, 2017 at 06:48 pm
HA HA HA HA... 0:)
4thand1
December 02, 2017 at 09:47 pm
If Aaron Rodgers wasn't drafted by the Packers, what would this team look like today? Would they have hung on to Farve until they had to scrape him off the field? There is no way this coaching staff and front office would have survived. A lot of people in GB owe # 12 a lot. This team would be lucky to be an 8-8 at best. Who knows, maybe we would have drafted some studs and became a defense like Denver.
Since'61
December 02, 2017 at 09:29 am
Given Rodgers style of play he needed to go on IR. He cannot return until he can take a hit. When he runs out of the pocket and goes for a first down either sliding or head first he needs to 100%. Then there are the hits he will take after he releases the ball in the pocket.
As I've posted before I'd be fine if he remained out for the season. Our playoff chances are slim and even if we get in we would be a #6 seed and go on the road to either LA or whoever wins the NFC South assuming that Philly and Minn end up with the 1 and 2 seeds and a bye.
I don't see our defense keeping us in 3 consecutive road games to make an SB run, so what are we risking Rodgers for? Thanks, Since '61
rdent
December 02, 2017 at 05:46 pm
Since '61, I couldn't agree more.
EdsLaces
December 02, 2017 at 10:45 am
Just because you can throw a football 50 yards doesn't mean you can get tackled and landed on by a 300 lb DL.
HankScorpio
December 02, 2017 at 11:51 am
Rodgers had a healthy collarbone broken when he was tackled and landed on by Barr, who is listed at 255. So I don't think that is really the issue. It is whether the notoriously cautious Dr McKenzie clears him. They won't test it by that standard.