For the past three decades, the Green Bay Packers were considered the model franchise of the NFL. They had Hall of Fame quarterbacks, steadiness at the head coaching position, and were constantly in the playoffs. The only controversy that the team ever encountered was the Brett Favre retirement fiasco, which wasn't the fault of the organization. Their reputation remained squeaky clean.
Well, all good things come to an end as they say. The past calendar year has been a consistent nightmare for the Packers franchise. Not only did they fail to make the playoffs for a second-straight time. Their power structure was thrown for a gigantic loop as GM Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy were both removed from positions they'd held for over a decade.
All this while it came to light that their superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers had developed a reputation behind closed doors of being difficult to work with. A major reason why McCarthy was fired. Now it appears there is already some tension between the future Hall of Famer and new head coach Matt Lafleur.
Something that NFL insider Jay Glazer warns has a strong chance of getting worse.
"I think the noise will continue to get louder and louder now that there is even more of a microscope on it. The Packers brought this drama and attention on themselves over the last half a year.
I think it will get harder and harder for the team to quiet that noise, unless the Packers are absolutely lights-out on offense. That’s what can quiet the noise but there has been an awful lot of drama in Green Bay, a place that really hadn’t been filled with a lot of drama in the past."
Green Bay Packers caused this rift from the very beginning
This entire situation was a mess from the start. Packers team president Mark Murphy hired Lafleur without even consulting Rodgers on it. All he said when placing the phone call to the quarterback was "don't be part of the problem." For a man who's given his entire career to an organization, a run that involves almost nonstop success? That had to burn him deeply.
Some might even say it was a poison pill in this relationship. Lafleur is only a few years older than Rodgers. He has a deep background coaching quarterbacks but has only been an offensive coordinator for one season. Suddenly the Packers are telling Rodgers to take orders from this guy? One who never played a single meaningful snap in the NFL.
It is little wonder the quarterback is resistant to the scheme changes the coach is trying to implement. Specifically in regards to the ability to audible. One former Bears coach who helped run a similar offense in Baltimore responded to the news with mild amusement.
"Not surprised Rodgers is having issues with the new offense. Requires to be under center more. Rely on the zone run game first then push the ball downfield with run action passes, nakeds, keepers and boots. Shotgun isn’t the priority...With anything, you gotta go all in."
It doesn't sound like Rodgers is even close to going all in.
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