State of our former QB, Aaron Rodgers

[OldSchool101]

Good point. I think CW is a v good QB, but the Bears pulled off a lot of comebacks last season, too many to count on it continuing. They will still be a tough out this year.

Yes. I think we felt it more than anyone. Caleb had 3 of his 9
4Q Comebacks against Green Bay in 2024-2025. Matter of fact his final 2 Comebacks were against Green Bay to close out the season. That said much of that is credit to OL. His OL won’t fall off a cliff, but it’s very likely we see some form of regression in 2026. They lost a ProBowl Quality Center to a surprise retirement. Then their Rookie LT, Ozzy Trapilo went down with a ruptured Patellar Tendon on Jan 26th against us. Chicago did invest at Center but imo did not do anything to “improve” either. If I’m Gannon I’m stressing that Left or revamped side of the Chicago OL and doing some change up Pass rushes off the opposite side to keep them guessing.

I’m with you on Rodgers. He’s not bad by any means. He’s just floating in the middle spectrum of QB’s production. He used to silently use his legs to extend quite a few plays and that’s been diminishing now for a decade. Although I will give him credit for continuing to play and remain competitive. He didn’t ever “fall off a cliff” either. We’ve been very fortunate to witness a good career, although we were a little light on Super Bowls.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Yes. I think we felt it more than anyone. Caleb had 3 of his 9
4Q Comebacks against Green Bay in 2024-2025. Matter of fact his final 2 Comebacks were against Green Bay to close out the season. That said much of that is credit to OL. His OL won’t fall off a cliff, but it’s very likely we see some form of regression in 2026. They lost a ProBowl Quality Center to a surprise retirement. Then their Rookie LT, Ozzy Trapilo went down with a ruptured Patellar Tendon on Jan 26th against us. Chicago did invest at Center but imo did not do anything to “improve” either. If I’m Gannon I’m stressing that Left or revamped side of the Chicago OL and doing some change up Pass rushes off the opposite side to keep them guessing.

I’m with you on Rodgers. He’s not bad by any means. He’s just floating in the middle spectrum of QB’s production. He used to silently use his legs to extend quite a few plays and that’s been diminishing now for a decade. Although I will give him credit for continuing to play and remain competitive. He didn’t ever “fall off a cliff” either. We’ve been very fortunate to witness a good career, although we were a little light on Super Bowls.

Thanks for the intel on da Bearz OS. I didn't know about the changes to their OL. Chicago went all-in last year on offense and the plan was to beef up the D for this season. Losing a starting C to retirement and LT to a ruptured patellar tendon (these injuries can be career-ending) means they have to spend more on the OL than planned.

As for Rodgers, I was pretty irritated with him in his last few years with the Packers - never accepting responsibility for the bad games, the ayahuasca stuff, misleading everyone on Covid immunization, the darkness retreat, and on and on. But he has toned down the ultra-weird stuff lately and I do hope he has a good, final season in Pittsburgh.

He recently said that after this season, he is going to (more or less) disappear from the public eye. That is probably best for Rodgers and the rest of the world. I can't see him doing color commentary, he's too arrogant and dismissive to make that work. Let him and his new wife move on to whatever is next, quietly please. We're sure to see him one more time when his name is added to the Lambeau ring, and #12 is retired.

 

[OldSchool101]

Thanks for the intel on da Bearz OS. I didn't know about the changes to their OL. Chicago went all-in last year on offense and the plan was to beef up the D for this season. Losing a starting C to retirement and LT to a ruptured patellar tendon (these injuries can be career-ending) means they have to spend more on the OL than planned.

As for Rodgers, I was pretty irritated with him in his last few years with the Packers - never accepting responsibility for the bad games, the ayahuasca stuff, misleading everyone on Covid immunization, the darkness retreat, and on and on. But he has toned down the ultra-weird stuff lately and I do hope he has a good, final season in Pittsburgh.

He recently said that after this season, he is going to (more or less) disappear from the public eye. That is probably best for Rodgers and the rest of the world. I can't see him doing color commentary, he's too arrogant and dismissive to make that work. Let him and his new wife move on to whatever is next, quietly please. We're sure to see him one more time when his name is added to the Lambeau ring, and #12 is retired.

Sure. There’s no question he deals out a larger dose of arrogance than most of us. It doesn’t have to be that way, but I believe it’s that “stubborn” that propels him in this sport.

 

[rmontro]

Go check out Rodgers stats in the 4th quarter of the last 4 season ending losses in Green Bay. At one point I compiled them but I forget the numbers now… but it was less than 50% completions, minimal yardage… a couple picks… ZERO touchdowns. QBR was abysmal. When it was time for him to step up he disappeared. Great regular season stats… crunch time? He folded like cheap lawn furniture. The numbers don’t lie. Pull up his stats in the 4th quarter of his last 4 season ending losses in Green Bay and prove me wrong. Plus he was a disruptive head case we should have dumped a year earlier. Instead we kissed his butt … let him hang around … missed the playoffs… (thanks to another 4th quarter choke job by Rodgers… multiple picks as I recall) and Seattle moved Wilson for a pile of draft picks and won the Super Bowl last year. Again… irrefutable… their trophy is in the case. And what has he done since? He’s handpicked 2 teams and taken them nowhere.

I don't really like blasting Rodgers because he was a good quarterback. But I agree that he wasn't clutch like Brady. He never put the team on his back and said okay boys, I'm taking us to the promised land.

 

[milani]

Sure. There’s no question he deals out a larger dose of arrogance than most of us. It doesn’t have to be that way, but I believe it’s that “stubborn” that propels him in this sport.

ARod has a subtle way of expressing displeasure or disagreement. But, yes, that sometimes acts as a propeller. I recall the tennis great, John McEnroe who was entirely driven by the most childish instances when not getting his way. He played his best when he was mad at the world.

 

[rmontro]

John McEnroe who was entirely driven by the most childish instances when not getting his way. He played his best when he was mad at the world.

I was a huge fan of Johnny Mac back in the day. Not because of his childish outbursts, but because his all court, aggressive style of play was so entertaining to watch. You don't see that anymore, tennis is so comparatively boring today, since the advent of oversized alloy rackets and interchangeable slowed down surfaces (which were a result of the rackets). Now everyone plays basically the same style of game. There used to be a lot more variety.

 

[gopkrs]

I hated McEnroe. Always liked Connors.

 

[OldSchool101]

ARod has a subtle way of expressing displeasure or disagreement. But, yes, that sometimes acts as a propeller. I recall the tennis great, John McEnroe who was entirely driven by the most childish instances when not getting his way. He played his best when he was mad at the world.

Finally! That’s my generation. I watched him often as a teenager. Sometimes those conversations became very heated with the Judge
Great Example @milani

 

[milani]

I was a huge fan of Johnny Mac back in the day. Not because of his childish outbursts, but because his all court, aggressive style of play was so entertaining to watch. You don't see that anymore, tennis is so comparatively boring today, since the advent of oversized alloy rackets and interchangeable slowed down surfaces (which were a result of the rackets). Now everyone plays basically the same style of game. There used to be a lot more variety.

Exactly. I saw Johnny Mac win the US Open in NY in 1979 over Vitas Gerulaitas. The year before I saw Connors beat Borg. 3 of the 4 had wood racquets and Connors used the aluminum T 2000.

 

[milani]

Finally! That’s my generation. I watched him often as a teenager. Sometimes those conversations became very heated with the Judge
Great Example @milani

" You cannot be serious! " Or " Call it, JERK! " Mac was a spoiled kid hoping to grow up. But he was a darn good player. I recall in his last year or so he took Pete Sampras to 5 sets.

 

[milani]

I hated McEnroe. Always liked Connors.

Connors was intensely fearless and gutty. His mother was his instructor as a kid. At age 39 he made it to the semis of the US Open.

 

[OldSchool101]

" You cannot be serious! " Or " Call it, JERK! " Mac was a spoiled kid hoping to grow up. But he was a darn good player. I recall in his last year or so he took Pete Sampras to 5 sets.

Yes Sampras grabbed the tennis torch into the 1990’s with dominating performances. I’ll never forget a video of him practicing and hitting balls out of the court into the street into a cars sunroof while parallel parked nearby. When the driver opened the door dozens of tennis balls came out. I’m sure it was a setup but really did knock several in a row that hopped into the passenger seat. Pete just dominated for a few years there.

I do seem to remember McEnroe in his later years still playing competitively. I think he went on to be a commentator with like Everett Lloyd I’m just going off memory on that.

 

[rmontro]

I hated McEnroe. Always liked Connors.

I was big fans of both of them, both were so fun to watch. The US had great tennis players back then.

Exactly. I saw Johnny Mac win the US Open in NY in 1979 over Vitas Gerulaitas. The year before I saw Connors beat Borg. 3 of the 4 had wood racquets and Connors used the aluminum T 2000.

I used to have a T 2000. It was like a trampoline on the end of a handle.

I do seem to remember McEnroe in his later years still playing competitively. I think he went on to be a commentator with like Everett Lloyd I’m just going off memory on that.

McEnroe is still a regular commentator, along with his brother, Patrick.

 

[Voyageur]

I think Evert and Connors changed the game of tennis forever. They grunted and spoke their mind, not pretending it was a game played by ladies and gentlemen who didn't sweat, nor work a day in their lives. Essentially it was a sport that only the wealthy were involved in.

I have a cousin who loved tennis. He was good enough that he was a 3-time letter winner at the University of Illinois and won a Big 10 doubles title with another player from the Chicago suburbs.

Though he wasn't good enough to go on playing, and wasn't wealthy, he opted to work with his brother who had two seats on the Chicago Grain Exchange and ended up getting wealthy after tennis.

 

[gopkrs]

used to have a T 2000. It was like a trampoline on the end of a handle.

Funny. I had T 5000. Just about the same. A little round circle at the end of a metal stick. If you hit right; it had good power.

 

[rmontro]

Funny. I had T 5000. Just about the same. A little round circle at the end of a metal stick. If you hit right; it had good power.

The T2000 was kind of gimmicky, but I thought it was a fun racket to play with. It was known for being hard to control, but supposedly Connors had some tricks to keep it under control.

 

[gopkrs]

The T2000 was kind of gimmicky, but I thought it was a fun racket to play with. It was known for being hard to control, but supposedly Connors had some tricks to keep it under control.

I think he just hit it exactly where he had to. He used to practice returning serves in a gym using superballs.

 

[milani]

Yes Sampras grabbed the tennis torch into the 1990’s with dominating performances. I’ll never forget a video of him practicing and hitting balls out of the court into the street into a cars sunroof while parallel parked nearby. When the driver opened the door dozens of tennis balls came out. I’m sure it was a setup but really did knock several in a row that hopped into the passenger seat. Pete just dominated for a few years there.

I do seem to remember McEnroe in his later years still playing competitively. I think he went on to be a commentator with like Everett Lloyd I’m just going off memory on that.

They both did. It was so generational watching them both playing in their teens, then later moving on and raising families while passing the torch. Now they are seniors and grandparents I reckon. Or close to it.

 

[milani]

I was big fans of both of them, both were so fun to watch. The US had great tennis players back then.



I used to have a T 2000. It was like a trampoline on the end of a handle.



McEnroe is still a regular commentator, along with his brother, Patrick.

We did have great US players back then. And those players helped to create the tennis boom here before it eventually faded. And with the Williams sisters finished the game may never reach that pinnacle of fan interest again. Young American athletes choose other sports.

 

[rmontro]

We did have great US players back then. And those players helped to create the tennis boom here before it eventually faded. And with the Williams sisters finished the game may never reach that pinnacle of fan interest again. Young American athletes choose other sports.

True. But like I said before, it's not really the same sport anymore.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Sure. There’s no question he deals out a larger dose of arrogance than most of us. It doesn’t have to be that way, but I believe it’s that “stubborn” that propels him in this sport.

Yeah Rodgers has lived life with a chip on his shoulder. Not really sure why. Some people are built like that.

Even so his play on the field overshadowed most of his character defects. And I wish him well in his last season, and whatever comes after.

 

[Heyjoe4]

We did have great US players back then. And those players helped to create the tennis boom here before it eventually faded. And with the Williams sisters finished the game may never reach that pinnacle of fan interest again. Young American athletes choose other sports.

I never thought about it, but the last time I actually watched a tennis match was when Pete Sampras won the US Open in I think 1996. I forget who his opponent was in the final, but Sampras gave everything in hot weather. He was literally out of gas near the end, leaning on his racket for support between points. I enjoyed watching tennis around that time, but now I never watch it.

 

[milani]

True. But like I said before, it's not really the same sport anymore.

Definitely not. It is all power. Even the women's game.

 

[gopkrs]

I never thought about it, but the last time I actually watched a tennis match was when Pete Sampras won the US Open in I think 1996. I forget who his opponent was in the final, but Sampras gave everything in hot weather. He was literally out of gas near the end, leaning on his racket for support between points. I enjoyed watching tennis around that time, but now I never watch it.

Sinner against Alcaraz is amazing. Also amazing is seeing how much Djokovic has left in his tank.