With the Packers’ winless record since Aaron Rodgers’ injury, word has begun to spread that Rodgers may miss the remainder of the season. There has also been speculation that he could return as soon as Sunday to play the Falcons.
If, by chance, he does not play Sunday and the Packers’ playoff chances vanish, Rodgers should not opt to miss the rest of the season.
I understand the coaching staff’s thought process when deciding to bench Rodgers for the season, but you have to think about what it does to the team as a whole.
What does it say about your team if your leader, best player and team captain sits out games in which he is capable of playing while the rest of the team grinds out the rest of the season? The captain of the team should be right there with his teammates on the field earning his paycheck.
Likewise, what would happen to the NFL if every time a team dropped out of playoff contention it sat its best players for the remainder of the season? Half the teams in the NFL would be playing with their second string. Think about the chaos this would cause for fantasy football owners. Players should play if they are able, regardless of the circumstances.
Now, if Rodgers sustained an injury worthy of sitting for the remainder of the season, things would be different, but Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone, an injury that generally has a speedy recovery with few repercussions afterward.
First, Rodgers should come back for the sake of his teammates. I don’t know how long Matt Flynn or Scott Tolzien will be able to last behind the offensive line that played against Detroit on Thanksgiving Day. Green Bay also has some of the best fans in the country, and Rodgers owes it to them to suit up.
There is still a chance for the Packers to make the playoffs if they can manage to win out and get a little luck along the way.
Even if the Packers stand zero chance of making the playoffs, losing to the Bears in the last game of the season would be an absolutely terrible way to go out. Based on what I’ve seen from the Pack without Rodgers, I’m not sure a win against Chicago is realistic. Rodgers’ return and a win over the Bears could at least put a somewhat positive feel on top of an overall sour season.
I don’t like speculating, but I don’t believe Rodgers is the type of guy to sit out the rest of the way. Hopefully this is the case, because his teammates and fans could certainly use his help.
How do you feel about the loss of Aaron Rodgers and the future of the Packers’ season? Email bwduffin@wisc.edu to let Blake know.
