It’s Time For The Green Bay Packers To Move On From Aaron Rodgers

Caddyshack remains one of the finest comedies ever created. Caddyshack II should have been killed before it hit theaters.

Jaws was one of the great horror films of its time. Turning it into a franchise with Jaws: The Revenge was a colossal disaster.

The Green Bay Packers have their own movie series going — one titled “Aaron Rodgers: Big Game, Small Performance” — that gets more and more depressing with every sequel. And whether or not the Packers can find a new leading actor will be the biggest question of their upcoming offseason.

Rodgers capped arguably his poorest season since becoming the Packers’ starter back in 2008 with another forgettable performance Sunday night.

With a playoff berth on the line, Rodgers was subpar once again as Green Bay suffered a 20-16 home loss to Detroit. Rodgers finished with an 83.1 passer rating, threw for just 205 yards and made precious few plays.

And once again, with the season on the line and Green Bay needing to drive for a potential game-winning touchdown, Rodgers came up small. His final pass of the night — and perhaps his Green Bay career — was intercepted by Lions safety Kerby Joseph.

Now, after failing to reach the Super Bowl for a 12^th straight year with Rodgers at the helm, Rodgers and the Packers must figure out if it’s time to terminate this 18-year marriage that’s ended with far more heartbreak than happiness.

“Do I feel like I have anything left to prove to myself?” Rodgers asked afterwards. “Do I want to go back and gear up for another grind? Or is it time? Is time to step away? Is it time for another voice to be leading this team?

“I think I need to get away and contemplate those things. Those are real to me. I have a lot of pride in what I’ve accomplished in this league but I’m also a realist and I understand where we’re at as a team. We’re a young team, there could be some changes with some of the older guys and it could be time to step away.

“But I could take some time and say hell no, man, I need to get back out there and go on another run. But I’ll have to see what it feels like once I’m away from it.”

There’s no question Rodgers is one of the better quarterbacks of his generation.

He’s won four MVP awards, led the Packers to a Super Bowl win in 2010 and will be a first ballot Hall of Fame selection one day.

But Rodgers has been pedestrian in huge games for years now. And his shoddy performances in big moments will be the No. 1 black eye on an otherwise memorable career.

Rodgers failing to deliver in critical moments began in 2011 when he won MVP honors and led the Packers to a 15-1 regular season. In the NFC divisional playoffs, though, Rodgers was thoroughly outplayed by the New York Giants’ Eli Manning and Green Bay was throttled, 37-20.

San Francisco’s Colin Kaepernick was the best quarterback on the field when the 49ers defeated the Packers in the playoffs in both 2012 and 2013. Rodgers then had a dreadful passer rating of 55.9 in the 2014 NFC Championship Game, a 28-22 overtime loss at Seattle.

Arizona’s Carson Palmer outplayed Rodgers in the 2015 NFC divisional playoffs, a 26-20 Cardinals’ win.

Rodgers led Green Bay to the NFC Championship Game in both 2016 and 2019. In each of those contests, though, Rodgers and the Packers went scoreless in the first half and eventually suffered humiliating losses to Atlanta and San Francisco.

Tom Brady and Tampa Bay got the better of Rodgers in the 2020 NFC title game, a devastating 31-26 Packers’ loss on their home field. One year later, Rodgers and Green Bay’s supposed high-powered offense were invisible during a 13-10 loss to San Francisco in the NFC divisional playoffs.

Green Bay took a major step backwards in 2022 and sat at 8-8 heading into Sunday’s season finale with Detroit. Rodgers and the Packers had a chance to make amends, though, against the NFL’s 32^nd ranked defense.

Instead, Rodgers was pedestrian, Green Bay was held to just 291 total yards and its season ended with a whimper once again.

“I think many times, and I’ve said this throughout my tenure here, the quarterback’s going to take the blunt of the blame when you don’t have success and a lot of the other time when you do have success, they’re going to get too much of that praise,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “It takes everybody on that field.”

While LaFleur is right in that assessment, an elite quarterback can cover up for a lot of sins. And with the Packers signing Rodgers to an NFL record three-year, $150.8 contract extension last offseason, they expect him to be great in big moments.

That hasn’t been the case, though. And Sunday was just the latest example.

Whether the Packers decide to go in a different direction after 12 years of big game heartaches remains to be seen.

“At some point the carousel comes to a stop and it’s time to get off,” Rodgers said. “And I think you kind of know when that is. And that’s what needs to be contemplated. Is it time? Also, what’s the organization doing? That’s part of it as well.”

Rodgers just completed what’s arguably his worst season since becoming a starter in 2008.

His quarterback rating (91.1) was the lowest in that time and his

yards per completion (6.8) were his second fewest. Rodgers’ 1.53 touchdowns per

game and his passing yards (3,695) were both career lows, as well, when he’s

played a full season.

Afterwards, Rodgers was asked if he’s still good enough to win at

a high level.

“The answer is yes,” Rodgers said.

Will the Packers feel the same way?

Rodgers is set to make $59.5 million in 2023 and $49.3 million in 2024. Green Bay would incur large salary cap hits if it traded Rodgers, or if he retired. With or without Rodgers, though, the Packers are in salary cap hell and facing a minor rebuild.

At some point, Green Bay needs to turn the page. And with former first round draft pick Jordan Love entering his fourth season and seemingly ready to play, the Packers might finally cast a new leading actor and try unearthing a new ending for this extremely tired movie.

“I feel good about what I’ve accomplished in this league and wouldn’t have any regrets walking away,” Rodgers said.

The Packers shouldn’t have any regrets either.

They’ve tried to turn this movie into a blockbuster for more than decade — and failed.

Now, it’s time to shut down production.