The Lass Word: Starting at the Bottom Again
Green Bay QB waits for his chance.
By KenLass
When the 2024 Green Bay Packers take the practice field for their first public training camp workout in July, the eyes of most fans will immediately go to the quarterbacks. All will recognize number ten as Jordan Love. Many will identify number six as Sean Clifford.
But only the most ardent of fans will be able to name the player wearing number two. Even fewer will know how to pronounce his name. This anonymity must seem strange to Alex McGough, whose name is pronounced “Ma-Goo”. It was just a year ago that the Tampa, Florida native was establishing himself as the preeminent star of the United States Football League. The USFL was in the second season of its reincarnation from the original version of the early 1980s.
Playing on national television every weekend, McGough led the Birmingham Stallions to an 8-2 regular season, completing 67 percent of his passes for 2,105 yards and 20 touchdowns. In the playoffs he was even better, completing 70 percent for 553 yards and 8 scores in just two games, while running for 148 yards and another touchdown. He skillfully led the team to a championship for the second year in a row. The previous season he entered the title game after starting quarterback J’Mar Smith was injured, and threw a late touchdown to clinch the trophy.
The Fox networks, trying their best to hype spring football, easily chose McGough as the face of the league and, as a result, the 27 year old veteran was a shoo-in as the 2023 MVP.
It’s a very long way from the USFL to the big show, as McGough knows after being drafted in the seventh round by Seattle, and failing to stick with the Seahawks, Jaguars and Texans. But the Packers took note of his spring football efforts. They were in search of quarterback depth, and still uncertain as to whether Jordan Love was their franchise signal caller, so they signed McGough to the roster in July shortly after his spring football season ended. Unfortunately, he would arrive in Green Bay only to find the coaching staff was focused on getting Love ready to take over the reins, and trying to see what they had in Clifford, their fifth round draft pick. Meaningful snaps were hard to come by.
McGough finally got somewhat of a look in Green Bay’s final preseason game which, ironically, was against Seattle, the team that drafted him. Entering the game in the fourth quarter, with the Packers trailing 15-12, McGough took the team 75 yards in nine plays for the winning touchdown. Along the way he completed a 52 yard bomb to Jadakis Bonds, and a clutch third down conversion in the red zone to Cody Chrest.
It was too little too late to make the regular season active roster. The Packers were committed to Love and Clifford as their quarterbacks. They thought enough of McGough to put him on the practice squad, where he spent the entire season, waiting for a chance that never came. He’ll be back again this summer.
The odds of the former Florida International standout ever getting a decent shot in Green Bay don’t look good. Love has now proven himself as the franchise starter, and the team seems invested in Clifford as the back-up. McGough’s odds get even longer if the Packers draft a developmental quarterback, which may well happen in the late rounds. Even if they don’t, he figures to remain third in line.
One factor working in his favor is that coach Matt LaFleur is probably not going to play Love much in the coming preseason, if at all, to make sure he is healthy when the games count. That could open up more playing time for McGough. It will be critical for him to put something impressive on tape, something that might catch the eye of another team that is quarterback needy.
It’s quite a change from the stardom he enjoyed just last year in spring football. But players will tell you its worth starting at the bottom again for a chance, however slim, at making it in the most popular sports league in America, if not the world.
So, by this time next year, Alex McGough is hoping fans know his name, and how to pronounce it.
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
Ken Lass is a former Green Bay television sports anchor and 43 year media veteran, a lifelong Packers fan, and a shareholder.
__________________________
Comments (47)
TKWorldWide
April 08, 2024 at 06:29 am
I wonder how many QB’s get downgraded the moment they suffer an injury?
Also, Josh Jacobs will wear 8, so Clifford changed to 6. I wonder if Josh compensated Sean with a gift card of some sort.
dobber
April 08, 2024 at 07:15 am
A Seroogy's Valentine's Day sampler!
LeotisHarris
April 08, 2024 at 08:14 am
Josh should tuck a $50 Kohl's gift card in the bag, too. Be nice for Sean to shop for a nice new outfit after he plows through those delicious Meltaways.
TKWorldWide
April 08, 2024 at 09:05 am
Pssst….you heard it here first: Kohl’s is having a sale!
stockholder
April 08, 2024 at 06:57 am
Forget the Needs.
It's time to draft a QB again.
You heard Gute-
So instead of a OL.
Let's cut the chase, and take Nix.
Bitternotsour
April 08, 2024 at 08:19 am
Picking Nix would give you 4 years + worth of material, Gutey's ego, traitorous toward Love, sacrificing the super bowl. Rinse and repeat.
stockholder
April 08, 2024 at 10:05 am
I truly was being sarcastic.
Because Gutey didn't draft a WR
when he took Love.
He also didn't take Wilkins when we needed
a Dt.
And Miami took him a pick later.
So much for all in.
So much for a Lombardi.
And we know how the rest of those drafts went.
WestCoastPackerBacker
April 08, 2024 at 11:04 am
So what that MIA has Wilkins. Jordan Love has more playoff wins than Miami does since that draft, even with Wilkins. And now they lost him cuz of salary cap issues anyway.
Which would you rather have? A stud DT or a franchise QB? Which is harder to find? Which is more important to playoff success?
If you can answer those honestly, it would be something.
jannesbjornson
April 08, 2024 at 11:16 am
Wilkins was in the 2019 Draft. Him vs Gary was the difference of opinion and pick up Montez Sweat vs Savage and losing two Four Picks.
Bitternotsour
April 08, 2024 at 11:27 am
I was being serious. You being you will continue with the same narrative regardless of the picks. Besides being humorless, your posts are repetitive and tedious. Every year, some perceived miss (with the benefit of your remarkable hindsight). I'm not really sure of whether you get enjoyment out of the interplay, but you certainly put in the work.
I give you credit though for your asymmetrical syntax, it's endlessly entertaining. A sports related automatic writing, the surrealists might have welcomed you, were Man Ray not already dead. So you have that going for you.
stockholder
April 08, 2024 at 05:00 pm
Cheesehead TV isn't the "wheel of Fortune'.
& (I 'm not Vanna White; clapping my hands.)
Every Time Gute does a spin; you find a way
to applaud it.
IT's Just crazy;
the support he gets when he's SOOO wrong.
AshleyFuentes
April 08, 2024 at 02:22 pm
You see... even after achieving success, obstacles and challenges can arise on the path to reaching new goals. Despite Alex McGough's previous recognition as a leader in his field, he finds himself starting over in a new environment. This reminds us that at every stage of life, readiness for challenges and adaptability to new conditions are necessary. It also underscores the importance of resilience and dedication to our dreams, even in difficult times when the path to achieving goals may seem challenging.
Bitternotsour
April 08, 2024 at 05:15 pm
If you didn't construct this on ChatGPT, well, you could have. Next time ask it to present in iambic pentameter. You know, for fun.
AshleyFuentes
April 08, 2024 at 02:20 pm
What's with this strange dude writing stuff like that? What does it mean? Because I'm out of the loop.
"Forget the Needs.
It's time to draft a QB again.
You heard Gute-
So instead of a OL.
Let's cut the chase, and take Nix."
PS. I recently used a very helpful website called https://papersowl.com/examples/social-media/ to write an essay for college. This article strongly reminds me of the samples from this resource, and I believe that reading them would be interesting to everyone.
T7Steve
April 08, 2024 at 02:47 pm
You'll get the hang of him shortly.
AshleyFuentes
April 09, 2024 at 03:17 am
What could this mean? Are you trying to offend me with this?
T7Steve
April 09, 2024 at 08:08 am
I'm sorry. I didn't think I'd said or meant to say anything remotely offensive to you.
I just meant SH takes getting used to. Like with my comments, most people just breeze by and don't read them anymore.
AshleyFuentes
April 09, 2024 at 03:21 am
I've already caught on to what he means, thanks for explaining.
dobber
April 08, 2024 at 07:19 am
I would have to work 3 years in my job, with a Ph.D. in Chemistry, to make one year of practice squad money (about $220k). That's not a bad gig.
Bitternotsour
April 08, 2024 at 08:20 am
You're worth what you get paid matey. That one is on you.
That said, your likely lifetime earnings are significantly higher than a practice squad player, with the added advantage of not suffering from CTE.
dobber
April 08, 2024 at 08:53 am
"You're worth what you get paid matey."
I'm good enough
I'm smart enough
and, doggone it, people like me!
;)
TKWorldWide
April 08, 2024 at 09:06 am
Hells yeah we do!
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
April 08, 2024 at 05:27 pm
Dobber, you certainly are a talented participant who I enjoy here at CCTV anyways. :)
Bitternotsour
April 08, 2024 at 11:42 am
As a counterweight, a 22 year old, coming from a top computer science program and adept at AI engineering, can anticipate an entry level salary around 1 million dollars a year from the big players in AI (Facebook, MSFT, Nvidia, Google, Apple) - from what I understand, Amazon underpays.
Just a small sample. Entry level. They'd also get stock warrants worth god knows how much.
TKWorldWide
April 08, 2024 at 07:37 am
Sure, if they can draft a developmental prospect at QB, but they’d have to like him more than Alex.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
April 08, 2024 at 05:28 pm
Joe Milton from Tennessee? I'd take a chance on him and have him sit as the #3 QB and try to develop him. You cannot coach speed or arm strength and Milton certainly has the arm strength. Does he have the ability to learn and develop sitting behind the other two QBs for the next 3 years?
Clifford has playing experience knowledge and awareness going for him with a very average arm. A guy like Milton has the arm and you pair him up with QB coach, Tom Clements and Sean Mannion, a former NFL quarterback, to the coaching staff as an offensive assistant and who knows what you might end up with after a couple of years?
Coldworld
April 08, 2024 at 07:43 am
I don’t know how much Love will play in preseason, of course, but I’d expect it to be more than suggested here. Love isn’t a veteran with decade or more in the league, he’s an ascending player with things still to work on.
There are only 3 preseason games now, so the chances for back ups are reduced. If they have Clifford pencilled in as the number 2 then I’d expect them to want to get him as many snaps as possible. Whoever is the 3 is going to have to rely on scraps with the back of the roster types, probably in games 2 and 3.
The only way I see that changing is if a QB really makes a push to unseat Clifford through camp, sufficiently to raise a genuine question. Clifford did surprisingly well in preseason last year. I don’t see the Packers moving on from him at this point without a clear and sustained demonstration of better play over the whole summer.
We have typically had 4 QBs in summers to share the load generally and for split practice. That could be McGough and a draft pick, a UDFA or an SFA. If it’s a draft pick, will McGough even be in the top 3 of the pecking order to start?
JJB
April 08, 2024 at 08:14 am
The Packers will be taking a qb in the draft. FSU qb would be a good one to take. They can sit him a yr to let him get fully healed and have Travis and Clifford battle it out in 2025 season
LambeauPlain
April 08, 2024 at 08:26 am
Happy The Great Gig in the SkyDay!
While I do not expect McGough to "eclipse" Clifford during TC, the Packers have a well deserved reputation for developing QBs. And it may get Alex a shot with another team and the Packers a decent draft pick for their developmental work.
I am pleased Tom Clements is back. And while I expect McGough to improve under Tom, I expect Cliffy will improve much more. Clifford has played A LOT of solid football against good teams.
While I hope McGough does well...I am hoping Clifford really grows this year...becoming Love's potential Zeke Bratkowski, Doug Pederson, Matt Flynn...as valuable helping his QB with game planning as he is prepared for spot duty. And by spot duty...I mean really tiny spots.
RCPackerFan
April 08, 2024 at 08:40 am
I would not be surprised if GB drafted another QB late in the draft. With the rules allowing teams to elevate a PS QB every game, I think they will look to draft and develop another guy. Perhaps they like McGough and he will be that guy, but I could see them looking for the next Brock Purdy.
LLCHESTY
April 08, 2024 at 08:43 am
🎶And you look like a QB but you're really out on parole. All the way from Birmingham??🎶
LLCHESTY
April 08, 2024 at 08:52 am
Dude should get some more tattoos on his right arm. Maybe a solid sleeve of screaming skulls like out of a Bosch painting would slow down the pass rush a little.
Johnblood27
April 08, 2024 at 12:49 pm
You mean the Randy Orton "Viper" screaming skull sleeve?
dobber
April 08, 2024 at 08:54 am
Best wishes to McGough, but replacement level QBs can start in the NFL. I'll leave it at that.
golfpacker1
April 08, 2024 at 09:10 am
UFDA. Jordan Travis is a 4th round pick. The next 3- Joe Milton, Austin Reed, and Sam Hartman are probably 6th rounders. I can't see wasting a 7th round pick for what is left @ QB then. Fly with what we have, no need to draft one late just to say we did.
2025 is the year to draft DT & Edge as our top 2 needs, and we can also take a developmental QB late as well.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
April 08, 2024 at 05:35 pm
I think having the 'Rattler' sitting on the bench would make the 2 QBs ahead of him very nervous. :)
T7Steve
April 08, 2024 at 09:54 am
I still can't believe how good an athlete you have to be to be considered a scrub 3rd stringer on an NFL practice squad.
These guys have so many hurdles and competition to overcome just to get a look.
Bitternotsour
April 08, 2024 at 11:33 am
I had a client who had a 6 year career in the NFL as a journeyman special teams player, and undersized back-up linebacker. Every year he put in an unbelievable amount of effort into keeping his body tuned (yes, he likely used illegal substances). He risked life and limb for that payday, and really sweated out getting himself vested in the pension system in the hope he'd carry some health insurance with him into retirement. It was a brutal life.
I have nothing but respect for those back of the roster "just a guy" guys. The effort, the toll on their bodies, and the mental aspects of staying on a roster are unbelievable. When people denigrate or otherwise downplay them as somehow substandard it makes my blood boil. They are in a group of 1200 people on the planet who can do what they do.
T7Steve
April 08, 2024 at 12:31 pm
That's a weird downvote for such a straightforward honest comment.
Who'd you piss off?
Someone thinks these aren't otherworldly athletes?
Bitternotsour
April 08, 2024 at 02:04 pm
up and downvotes are meaningless. but yeah, it's weird.
T7Steve
April 08, 2024 at 02:19 pm
Not meaningless, cowardness.
Maybe they don't want to take the time to comment about something stupid, but ones like that don't make sense.
PhantomII
April 08, 2024 at 12:05 pm
Damn you " OFFSEASON ".
fireball
April 08, 2024 at 12:09 pm
I actually liked McGough ( what little I saw of him ) more than Clifford.
And I still ain't convinced, yet, that Love is the guy.
Johnblood27
April 08, 2024 at 12:51 pm
Healthy skepticism?
or...
Blind stupidity?
You be the judge...
fireball
April 09, 2024 at 06:28 am
Healthy skepticism?
cdoemel
April 08, 2024 at 04:09 pm
Obviously he had a rocky, learning first half, and even made some mistakes late. But there are players and coaches much closer to the situation than we are who seem excited. And if you’re a ‘glass half empty’ guy you’ll say, “OFC, what else are they going to say?” Nothing. They could say nothing, with tempered expectations. But from Murphy to McKinney I’ve read nothing but excitement about Love’s future in GB. I’d much rather spend my time excited and hopeful, than doubtful and displeased. Go Pack!
Alberta_Packer
April 08, 2024 at 01:53 pm
I know that Gutie talks about taking a QB this draft but I think that he'll bypass this year (unless it is a UDFA as a 4th training camp arm). Thus allowing Clifford another year to develop - while giving the Packers an additional year for assessment. Because whomever the Packers would select in this year's draft (assuming a Day 3 pick) - none are likely to leap frog Clifford as the back-up to Love.
As for McGough - there is a real value for a team having a PS QB - who on a scout team - can mimic the opposing team's QB - for the purpose of game preparation. From what I've read apparently McGough is pretty good at this role. If so, then it could be a lovely little career (at the bottom)- as a 3rd String QB - making 200K+ per year - for several years. It would sure beat working for a living.