Very Good Points.
Terrific Article.

You've said it all, Wendell. I have nothing to add. Except that one night recently I had a dream that it was the first week of the season, and the Packers were off to a rough start, then they showed a highlight of Aaron Rodgers throwing a TD pass to give the Jets an early lead. It was stressful. I was relieved when I woke up.

Hopefully we'll see another gut-wrenching loss, but this time in the AFCCG.

I agree totally with the substance of the article.
I totally disagree with the title - " . . . The 2023 Packers Season Is Tied to the Jets"
a couple of observations:
We don't play the jets
We aren't in the same division as the jets
We aren't even in the same conference as the jets.
Our season is on a parallel, non-connected path to the jets.
here's to ar8 playing 2/3 of the snaps for a team that doesn't win a game!
GPG!

Surely everyone has to know that the Packers draft pick is conditional upon ARod's playing time (and not the number of wins), and so the Packers have an obvious interest in what happens there. But to say that the Packers SEASON is tied to the Jets is a truly absurd comment. There's a hell of a lot more to a season than figuring out where a conditional pick will land.

If the Packers win the Super Bowl, what the hell do the Jets have to do with anything?

Or if the Packers shed an onerous QB contract and the 39 year old diva who owned it, and get out from under a crippling cap situation and set themselves up for future success, what do the Jets matter?

Even if the Packers struggle, but it is clear that they have found their long-term QB of the future, no one in Green Bay should give a damn about the Jets, even if they win the Super Bowl.

And are we really worried about this "public perception?" Give me a break. Viking fans, Justin Jones, Skip Bayless and Mike Florio aren't going to like you one way or the other. Get used to it.

SOMEONE is going to win the Super Bowl next year. Either it will be A) the Packers, or B) someone else. And if it's not the Packers, I really couldn't care less who "B" is. Well... not the Vikings anyway.

Miscellaneous notes:

I would think the path to that second ring is a lot more difficult in the AFC as opposed to the NFC. With the acquisition of Rodgers, the Jets have vaulted to either sixth or seventh (depending on which site you check) in the odds outlook. Still, it would be very tough getting through a thicket of experienced playoff teams.... Curiously enough, the Lions are ranked either ninth or tenth--so that shows you how much offense rules the roost these days.

The Vikings were an eyelash away from at least getting to the Super Bowl, and would have had an excellent shot of winning it if it hadn't been for our old friend executing the most bone-headed play of his career. I remember hearing audio clips of the Vikings broadcasters describing the action, and the air went out of them quicker than a pricked balloon after the interception.

To be honest, I would probably root for Rodgers if the Jets were to make the Super Bowl. I don't have any bitterness. Players move on, and it's better to get excited about the guys we have now and how they develop in order to make our next run.

The scenario with the Broncos and Russell Wilson isn't likely to happen with the Jets due to better and more harmonious coaching, and a blend of talented young players to go along with a couple of Rodgers' trusted friends signing up.

Unless the Jets offensive line completely flops at pass protection or Rodgers suffers a freak injury, we will get that first round pick--although it's probably going to be on the back end. It would be great if our own first round pick was a bit late too, because that means we're moving along nicely with our rebuilding efforts.

Interconnected?
Rodgers is no longer a Packer.
His contract is now the Jet's concern.
MLF is free.
The ball is in Love's hands.

Sorry, but the value of a conditional draft pick does not leave me feeling interconnected. Rodgers is now, like any other who left the Packers, inconsequential to what this team does going forward.

Every article that is about Rodgers seems more like regret, or has Rodgers donned the chains of Jacob Marley paying nighttime visits. Will the weekly play of Rodgers hold more credence and article space here than that of Love? Let's move on, and keep Rodgers out of mind here, since that was what near all wanted.

I dont even care about the draft pick. I just want to watch the Rodgers experiment go up in flames. I can think of no player more deserving of a serious helping of humble pie.

Thank you Leotis. That did cheer me up. I laughed so hard when that happened that my ribs hurt for two days. Predicted all year long by yours truly....I KNEW he was going to crash their season.

Worst case scenario: Rodgers gets injured, the Jets suck, and we only get their 2nd round pick, which will probably be in the 40s. Most likely is that he'll play well enough and the Jets will make the playoffs and we'll get a pick around 25. Best case is that Rodgers meets the quota and the Jets still suck and we get a higher first round pick.

Either way, I just don't care. It's all free beer. PLUS we took a huge step towards reestablishing fiscal sanity, which was seriously needed. AND we upgraded the position, IMO. This just looks like win-win-win for the Packers.

"Green Bay Packers to receive a first-round pick next year. That means if Rodgers gets hurt for a significant period of time, the Packers will receive just a second-rounder."
---
A pure "Kiperized" comment. Think of this: if the Jets make it deep into the playoffs, the difference between a number 1 and a second rounder won't be that much. C. Watson was a second round pick. He could tear up the league this year. Did it really make that much difference whether he was a first rounder? If the Packers get an extra two regardless, they will have three picks in the top 64 players in the land. The draft is not the be-all and end-all of rebuilding though it is important.

Regardless of what the 'narrative' is, the Packers went all-in, got left out, and are in full rebuilding mode. Not only did Rodgers exit, but many of his pals too.

It's time to put this statement on this off-season: "Aaron who?"

But it's not tied to the Jets season in anyway. Something totally out of their control determines the round of the pick next year. Even if the Jets win the superbowl, it just shows that AR was more motivated with the Jets. He has already done more offseason work this year than in the past 2 or 3 years.

Also, I have no issue if AR wins another superbowl, as long as it's not against packers. I don't hate the guy.

I can't wait to see how the coastal elitists writers & sniffs tolerate AR's self serving play & post game limp answers. Fun to watch. Wonder how long Iong before they through him under the bus, the "honeymoon" should be short lived. GPG!!!!

And if Rodgers wins with the Jets, would that mean he would have won here? Until he tore his bicep in game ten, Favre was lighting it up with the Jets. Did that make it a mistake to have moved on from Favre? Was it in 2009? 2010?

Sorry, the only relevance of Rodgers is 65% of the snaps to get us a first rounder and insight into the main culprit of the dumpster fire O we saw run last year—LaFleur, Rodgers or just the combination? This season could very well see both vindicated or consigned to league history, not merely the Packers.

What this season is is the chance to see if LaFleur is the genius wasted on Rodgers or the pretender who wasted Rodgers last years as a Packer, even more than it’s about Love.

I know it seems unpopular with the posts here but except for the fact that I hope the Packer's get a higher 1st round pick (with Jets having a poor record), overall I usually feel hopeful and want success for former Packers who I feel an attachment to. Recent years a few examples, I keep an eye on players like Corey Linsley and like to see him do well with the Chargers, Davante and his 1,500 yard season for the Raiders was pleasant to me. Before that Micah Hyde I regretted that we lost him but was happy he played at Pro Bowl level for the Bills for several years.

I could go on with many more examples but as long as they were not playing for the Bears or Vikings I generally cheer for former Packers and I realize it is kind of irrational but I feel like I know the guys and keep cheering for them. The Lions have been irrelevant for so long I don't mind seeing guys like Jamaal Williams have a good season in 2022.

Going way back, I wanted Favre to do well when he was with the Jets but obviously wanted the Packers to beat the snot out of him when he joined the Vikings.

I'm right there with you Ray!
Go Packers and best of luck to former Packers!
GPG!

I wish the man good health this season and continued success in ... 2024!

No matter how much you like the guy or want to see 12 succeed you gotta hope he plays all year and they just don't win many games.

The Packers season is not tied to the Jets. What the Jets do and how well they play is pretty irrelevant to how the Packers season plays out.

Do the Jets affect the Packers AFTER the season, well yes, it determines the draft pick the Packers get, tied to Rodgers playing time, but I can't say I care about this because, well, Que Sera Sera (Doris Day 1956).

To be honest I don't care how many games the Jets win or lose - I'm a Packer fan and it is their results I pay attention to.

As for the hindsight after the season on whether the Packers should have moved on..............like most 20/20 observations it makes no difference. The dice have already been rolled - and whether they turn up double sixes or snake eyes doesn't alter what was done.

My preference would have been for the article to conclude after the 4th sentence. However, Wendell is a fine writer so a few comments.

"....there would be questions about why the Packers didn’t go all-in with their veteran QB instead of drafting his replacement in 2020."

There were over $150 Million reasons that they did go "all in" with their veteran QB. And he left $40 Million residual reasons of dead cap behind as an exclamation point. To my knowledge...I don't believe Rodgers ever offered to shave HIS salary demands to add more "all in" parts to the team.

"Brady got his wishes with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers..." The bulk of Bradys wishes were in place when he arrived in Tampa. The defense was loaded and well coached. Years of drafting in the top end of rounds filled the roster with top players. He brought in Gronk, etc...but the Bucs defense led the team to the SB. Brady was the final piece as a solid field general.

Rodgers is entering into a similar situation with the Jets. Here is where the comparisons should be. How did Rodgers compare to the GOAT during his NFL Swan Song?

The Packers? Their only tie to the Jets this season is if Rodgers takes 65% of the snaps on O. That's it. And that tie is a thread of silly string...it will either be a low 1st or a high 2nd. That's pretty much it.

Let us please now embrace Wendell's 4th sentence of the article.

There are 2 reasons for Packer fans to be interested in the Jets season;
1) AR’s snap percentage which determines whether we get a #1 or a #2.

2) The Jets’ overall record which determines the draft ORDER.

There is no way I want to see the Jets in the AFCCG…that means a lower pick in whichever round on the 2024 pick we get from them.

We want them to be competitive enough to keep AR on the field and still suck as much as possible!

We all know we had just one title with AR because of him. After 2011 was not special at all in big games. As bigger the game as worse AR has been. And that was not because of the lack of help, it was because of him.
He got more help than most if not all top 10QBs. Good D, good o-lone, lot of weapons. So dont buy this BS, it was all on AR. With any other QB, a strong one, who is also a leader and not a blamer, we would had way better spirit and chemistry.