Packers Daily Links: Aaron Rodgers Ranks No. 11 On NFLN Top 100 List
By Brian Carriveau on Jun 27, 2011 with 22 Comments
On the Packers calendar today is the Elite 3 Football Camp in Nashville, Tenn. where safety Anthony Levine is an instructor…
Aaron Rodgers checked in at no. 11 the NFL Network’s top 100 list as voted upon by NFL players. Of course, the debate has centered around whether he is ranked too high or too low. Marshall Faulk, who now is an analyst at the NFL Network, thinks Rodgers should be higher. “When I look at the list, I base it off last year’s stats,” Faulk said. “And last year’s stats say the best quarterback in the league won the Super Bowl.” Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who is also interviewed, said Rodgers might be higher overall but is still behind Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Tom Brady.
Bucky Brooks of the NFL Network writes that, if anything, Aaron Rodgers is ranked too high. “Even though Aaron Rodgers has put together an impressive résumé that includes a Super Bowl title and an MVP award, he is not in the same class with Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees,” writes Brooks. “In fact, he might not even be worthy of being placed above Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger on a list of the league’s best quarterbacks.” Personally, where Rodgers is ranked isn’t going to change whether I have a good or a bad day, but I know Packers fans, and and I know Bucky Brooks is going to be very unpopular today.
A podcast hosted by Dave Dameshek on NFL.com delves into why Aaron Rodgers was robbed of a higher spot on the NFL Network’s Top 100 list.
Clay Matthews wasn’t asked specifically about the Top 100 list, but he did come to the defense of Aaron Rodgers yesterday while at the College of William and Mary football camp in Williamsburg, Va. “This is Aaron’s team,” Matthews told Melinda Waldrop of the Daily Press. “The quarterback is the most important position in any sport, and he’s definitely going to take us far. Obviously you need other players around him. He’ll be the first one to admit that, but without him, we wouldn’t be in the position we are today. He’s a fantastic athlete and he’s a fantastic person.” Matthews acted as a guest instructor yesterday, and Rodgers will be there on Tuesday.
Clay Matthews also spoke to the media about the lockout while at William and Mary’s football camp yesterday. “I’m just as much in the dark as you guys are,” said Matthews in the Daily Press. “We are making strides, or so I hear. I would like to think sometime in July, so we can get back at it and not miss any games. But we’ll see.” Matthews also talked about receiving his Super Bowl ring and the Super Bowl victory over the Steelers.
A photo gallery from Clay Matthews’ appearance at the football camp also appears at the Daily Press website.
Josh Sitton is ranked as the no. 1 guard in the NFL by Andy Benoit for the New York Times Fifth Down Blog. “Shows off rare strength in the way he absorbs contact in pass protection,” writes Benoit. “Moves supremely well in the run game and dictates once he locks onto a target.” It’s a shame that Sitton can be considered the best guard in the NFL––including the NFL Alumni Association too–– and not even make the Pro Bowl last season. There’s got to be a better way to vote on it.
Speaking of Josh Sitton, he’s considered the player most likely to receive a contract extension by the end of next season by AllGreenBayPackers.com.
The decision the Packers have to make on wide receiver James Jones as a free agent is examined by Bill Huber of Packer Report (subscription required). “Jones’ has undeniable talent, which he has shown frequently, but his inconsistency is maddening,” writes Huber. “The Packers will have a difficult decision to make if he winds up being unrestricted but a couple factors might bring him back to Green Bay.” I personally think there will be at least one team that will make him an offer he can’t refuse even if the Packers are allowed to match the offer.
A statistical analysis of Jermichael Finley is noted by Acme Packing Company.
Brett Favre makes the list of 42 of the most despised players in the NFL by Bleacher Report writer Tony Santorsa.
Lombardi Ave. makes note of two other players appearing on the NFL Network’s Top 100 list––Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson.
Packers wide receivers are discussed by C.D. Angeli of Tundra Vision.
The 2010 loss to the New England Patriots is reflected upon by Bob Fox at Packer Chatters.
Colleen Brenton of Pocket Doppler will be happy when the lockout is over.
A picture of Jim Taylor appears at Packerville, U.S.A.
Brian Carriveau is the editor of the Maple Street Press Packers Annual. To contact Brian, email carriveau@uwalumni.com.
Filed Under: Daily Links • Packers News
You guys always do a great job ..keep it up
Bucky Brooks needs his head examined. I can see Tom, Payton, Ben ahead of Arod. But brees no equal maybe. What has phillip Rivers won?? Nothing hasn’t even made it to the super bowl and its not like he is smashing marinos records or anything.
I thought Bucky Brooks did an o.k. job until he started arguing for Rothlisberger over Rodgers. Big Ben presents unique problems for defenders, but the total package isn’t that great. I think most GM’s would take Rodgers over Ben.
Bucky’s argument for Manning (winning without a great D) doesn’t hold for the year Manning actually won the Super Bowl. Nor has Brady managed to win a Super Bowl since the NE D went into decline. It goes without saying that Big Ben has won zero SB’s without a great D.
So forget the D. Forget the Super Bowl rings. It’s not about the resume. It’s about who do you want running your team, and making the throws, right now, today? I’m not smart enough to rank them. I’ll just say that for a West Coast-ish offense there is no world in which I’d take Big Ben over Rodgers.
Not to mention Joe Montana with the great D and Craig and Rice, Johhny Unitas with a great D and Mackey and Berry…
The argument for great teams downgrading the QB is completely idiotic.
If a QB plays poorly like Dilfer and wins the SB because of his D, that is the case. (In fact, a very strong case can be made for the Steelers’ D and Roethlisberger, who played awfully in the first SB and only average in the second).
But it’s a far cry from what Rodgers did. He was arguably the best player the Packers had last year, specially in the playoffs. In fact, he was THE best player of the playoffs, and had one of the best playoff performances EVER by a QB, if not THE best performance ever. A QB can’t win on his own, but the team didn’t carry Rodgers.
Just when you thought the nfl network couldn’t do worse than Jamie Dukes and Brian Baldinger, along comes Bucky Brooks.
For comparisons sake…
Rodgers scored as many touchdowns in last years Super Bowl run (11) as Tom Brady did in all three of his combined and one less than Big Ben did in his two combined.
Also remember that Trent Dilfer was carried to his ring while throwing 4TDs and 4 Ints yet Peyton Manning who threw 3 TDs and 7 Ints carried his team.
The last part is what really drives me nuts.
The “perception” in the NFL is still too big of an issue. Manning is a great QB, therefore he carried his team.
People talk about his amazing comeback against the Patriots (and it’s true, it was amazing) but they forget the fact that he didn’t just start playing in the 4th quarter.
The reason he had that comeback was because he played terribly for 3 quarters.
Brian,
Let’s say James Jones signs a big contract w/ another team; the comp pick should hopefully be a 4th rounder. Rumor (NFP) has it Steve Smith could be had for a 3rd rounder. He has 2 yrs @ $15M left on his contract approx what Jennings will make this year ($7.5M). I know SS is considered a hot head but it seems like it’s based in him wanting to win. He would bring an edge along w/ the guys coming off IR that would keep the team from complacency.
If you’re TT/MM, do you make the trade knowing you’re bringing in a quality WR who will be focused knowing he has a short window to win a SB?
Speaking about the short window, I got a feeling if TT doesn’t make this trade he will bring in a mid to upper tier player via FA or trade to up the likelihood of a SB repeat.
Number one, the Packers can’t afford a player with a contract around $7.5 million without significantly cutting player salaries if a salary cap returns. That alone would prevent it.
Number two, even with the loss of James Jones, I wouldn’t be too concerned with adding a receiver with Jennings, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson and Jermichael Finley still around. Especially one with questionable character.
Not too keen on the SS thing and just don’t see it happening (Ted would rather keep his draftee for that scratch), but I do like the idea of bringing in a couple of middle tier “Ted free agents”. A guy or two who are respected, hard working vets that haven’t won anything and may keep the team hungry… Don’t ask me who, haven’t even thought about it till 2 minutes ago, but that would be nice.
GBP 4 LIFE
Lists are very subjective and it’s inevitable that people generating the list have, at the very least, a historical bias where they bring the players past accomplishments into the discussion and not an analysis of what that player brings to the table today.
Rodgers hasn’t hit his ceiling yet where he generates multiple epic seasons beginning to end (like Manning/Brady), he will with good health.
That being said, Rodgers makes intermediate to deep throws with the combination of velocity and accuracy an that Brady/Manning/Brees physically cannot do. Not to mention ability to extend plays (for good and bad).
Nice to see many players grounded enough to prefer the hardware over a fictitious list (lookin’ at you, Darnell Dockett).
Bucky Brooks: “Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson, and James Jones are big, physical receivers with excellent running skills. They specialize in turning short passes into big gainers.”
Jennings is 5’11″. Driver is, what, a wiry 6′? Jordy’s big but hardly elusive after the catch. The only one this description really fits is JJ. It’s so irritating when national press makes sweeping pronouncements based on misstatements of fact that are obvious to beat reporters and fans.
I hear you. Definitely annoying.
Thanks Bucky for providing Rodgers with more motivation.
Nice to see that you’ve remarked Packerville,U.S.A!
Glauber Rocha???
Who else?
Nossa. Outro brazuca fã dos Packers! E esse ainda é um cineasta famoso, e se comunicando do além ainda por cima!
Oh GEEZ, what’s next? You foreigners gonna come take my job of being the guy who gets paid to watch the guys who lean on shovels?
‘MERICA 4 LIFE
We call that guy PRESIDENTE in here.
Oh, and I believe it’s ‘MERICA FUCK YEAH!!!!! 4 LIFE
One thing I’ll never understand….
Bill Polian is considered one of the best GMs in the league.
AND
Peyton Manning “carries a mediocre team”.
Those are two almost universally held beliefs of the “experts” yet are totally contradictory. It makes ZERO sense.
Wgbeethree, I’ve thought the same thing. Which one is it with the Colts?
Maybe Polian gets so much credit for picking Manning(and Manning in so far above any other player in the league), that it offsets his other poor selections and therefore both statements are true.
Polian build contenders with the Bills, Panthers and Colts, all franchises that were in disarray prior to his arrival.
Manning when it’s all said and done will have all regular season records in the book.
Both are great at their respective areas, but it doesn’t change the fact that they only have 1 ring to show for it.
Both are overrated, quite frankly.
But the issue is just that the argument of having a great team is just moronic. It’s so idiotic that it contradicts itself.