“Aaron Rodgers is a bailer” – NFL analyst rips QB after Packers’ meek loss to Commanders
Aaron Rodgers has hit a rough patch in 2022. After winning 13 games in each of the last three seasons, it has only taken him seven games to lose more this year than in the entirety of 2019, 2020, or 2021. Speaking on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, NFL analyst Colin Cowherd claimed Aaron Rodgers' soft followthrough has trickled down to the rest of his team.
Here's how he put it:
"I've been saying this for years. You become your quarterback - you take the personality. Josh Allen will run over people. Buffalo is physical. Mahomes is flashy and coachable. That's what Kansas City is."
I’m so glad Drew Brees knew when it was time to retire. Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers are embarrassing themselves.
He went on, applying the theory to the Green Bay Packers:
"Aaron's a bailer. He's not a baller. When the sun is shining, he's great. When the clouds roll in, he hides. This team is lousy in the second half. They're lousy against adversity and crisis and trouble. The first sign of storm clouds rolling in, they curl up. That's Aaron Rodgers."
Green Bay Packers are 10.5-point underdogs at Buffalo in Week 8, and as @BFawkes22 points out, Aaron Rodgers never has been a double-digit underdog during his NFL career.
He continued, explaining that the signal-caller works well when he's winning, but once trouble arrives, he hides:
"He's great when he's comfortable. He's a passive-aggressive personality guy. He doesn't like conflict. It's eye rolling, it's finger pointing. And too often I hear, and this is what drives me nuts, it's always 'he's above it all.'"
How do Aaron Rodgers' projected statistics compare to previous years?
Through seven games, the quarterback has thrown for 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. This means he's on pace to be in the mid-to-late-20s in terms of touchdowns and at about eight interceptions this season. Through seven games, he's thrown for about 1,600 yards, meaning about 3,500-4,000 yards is likely where he'll be at by the end of the year.
If that comes to pass, the quarterback will have had the worst production he's had since 2019. If the pace slows down, one may need to look back to 2017, when he missed half of the year due to injury to find a worse season. Put simply, the quarterback will need a swift kick in the pants to avoid landing in the 20s this season.
If Rodgers ends up with around 25-30 touchdowns this year, a swift trend down in his production would be noticed. In 2020, he threw for 48 touchdowns and five interceptions. In 2021, he threw for 37 touchdowns and four interceptions. In 2022, he's on pace to throw for even less.
Whether it's age, the loss of Davante Adams, or a little bit of both, fans are bracing for questions about his future once again.
If any of the above quotes are used, please credit the Herd with Colin Cowherd and H/T Sportskeeda.