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- Reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers isn’t immune from criticism and we’ve seen it in all forms throughout the NFL season
- Long-time Packers beat writer Bob McGinn served up some of Aaron’s harshest criticisms yet and accused the QB of ‘hurting the team’ with timid play
- Read more articles on BroBible right here
Aaron Rodgers has been finding out all season that being the current and/or reigning NFL MVP doesn’t make you immune to criticism. Most of Rodgers’ criticisms through the 2021 NFL season didn’t pertain to his on-field play. He put up incredible numbers and led the Green Bay Packers to another #1 seed in the NFC.
But then came the NFL playoffs and the Aaron Rodgers everyone is used to seeing on the field didn’t show up.
In the latest Football Morning in America from Peter King, he includes a pretty scathing quote from long-time Green Bay Packers beat writer Bob McGinn. In the quote, McGinn accuses Rodgers of “hurting his team” and says that Jimmy Garoppolo ‘wasn’t afraid’ in the game, implying that Aaron Rodgers was afraid of damaging his personal stats to the detriment of his team.
Aaron Rodgers Criticized For ‘Hurting His Team’ In Scathing Comments
“Rodgers … for years has played a careful, calculating game understanding that number of interceptions plays a disproportionate, nonsensical role in the passer-rating formula. Bad interceptions are, well, bad. Then there are interceptions that are the cost of doing business for unselfish, competitive, stats-immune quarterbacks battling to make plays and lead comebacks until the bitter end.
When a quarterback, especially one with a powerful, usually accurate arm like Rodgers, deliberately minimizes chances to deliver a big play for fear of an interception … that’s just hurting his team. In the playoff game, a modest talent like Jimmy Garoppolo was under every bit as much pass-rush pressure as Rodgers but drilled more tight-window completions down the field largely because he wasn’t afraid of a pick and the moment.”
It’s hard to fault Aaron Rodgers for much on the field. He’s a Super Bowl winner. A multi-time MVP award recipient. But his playoffs record is suspect. He’s 11-10 in the NFL Playoffs in his career and has an incredibly low interception rate of 1.7%.
Aaron Rodgers is definitely averse to turning the ball over, as he 100% should be, and now many suspect it’s gotten to the point that many accuse him of being too safe. Just looking at the replies to Bob McGinn’s tweet on his latest Rodgers story shines a light on how many feel.
How Are Packers Fans Feeling About Their Quarterback Lately?
Send him packing. Why pay the guy that much? Has shown that he just can't win the big game
— BlahDiddlyBlah (@ErikW0917) February 19, 2022
Trade him
— ThisGuy (@schulzjj) February 19, 2022
How safe was Aaron Rodgers really being in the Packers’ final game?
Wish he played it safe on the last throw of the season and not thrown into double coverage instead of taking Lazard who would have had us in 49ers territory.
— Ch33seWeasel #LoveSZN (@Ch33seWeasel) February 21, 2022
He didn't play it safe when he chucked it up to Adams in double coverage in the playoffs. I legit thought I was watching Brett Favre
— Fetty (@ChiefJustice106) February 21, 2022
Did he play it too safe or did he force a deep ball to Davante in double coverage with the game on the line? Can’t suggest opposite extremes about the same guy.
— Jon Cogan (@therealjoncogan) February 21, 2022
As a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan, I 100% agree with the sentiment that the Green Bay Packers should trade Aaron Rodgers. The Bucs will happily swap Green Bay Rodgers for Kyle Trask and Blaine Gabbert, straight-up. If the powers that be are actually worried about Aaron being too timid then surely that will be a fair trade.