By Chris Havel

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The arrival of the NFL’s first mock draft is like seeing the first robin of spring. It is guaranteed to put a smile on your face as you daydream about all the grand possibilities that lie ahead.

When the first 2022 mock draft lit upon my laptop screen it was pure delight.

This particular draft expert had the Green Bay Packers, with the 28th overall pick, selecting, “Jordan Davis, defensive tackle, Georgia.”

I’ll co-sign on that … in blood … in front of a notary public … under oath.

Davis is that good. Heck, he’s that BIG. It’s like a two-for-one deal.

Now, it isn’t surprising that the Packers would select the 6-foot-6, 341-pound monster to pair with All-Pro Kenny Clark. It’s surprising that he was on the board.

Davis blew away NFL scouts with a 4.78-second 40-yard dash at the combine. He also had a 32-inch vertical leap and a 10-foot-3 broad jump. Those are incredibly explosive numbers for such a big man.

This falls in the “pinch me” because “it’s too good to be true” category.

Clark and Davis would be the NFL’s No. 1 defensive tackle duo. Edge rushers would be drooling and inside backers would be getting in line to play behind them. Some NFL scouts believe Davis is a one-dimensional run stuffer. The truth is they’ve only got it half right. He can do it all.

Davis, like Clark, appears to be underrated as a pass rusher.

If the Packers somehow land Davis the frozen tundra would shake in the wake of the footprints this pick would leave behind, literally and figuratively.

By way of coming back to Earth, I dialed up a second 2022 NFL mock draft to see where another of the experts had Green Bay going in the first round.

It wasn’t Jordan Davis big, but it proved to be a pleasant surprise.

Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams, who is coming off a torn ACL, was this expert’s Packers’ selection with the 28th pick.

Clearly, it’s a futures pick given Williams’ injury status.

However, there is no reason to think he will be impeded in any way. He is a top 10 talent at a position of great need that could be available late in the first round. The injury component is the only reason the Packers might have a chance to pick him.

Williams (6-2, 198) is a record-breaking hurdler with long, smooth strides.

He was injured in the National Championship game and didn’t run at the combine. However, Alabama officials say they have clocked him at 23 mph in practice with a GPS tracker, which is another way of saying nobody’s catching him from behind.

Williams scored 11 touchdowns of 30-plus yards last season.

If Williams is paired with a big-time quarterback such as Aaron Rodgers, and an All-Pro receiver such as Davante Adams, he will light it up. Here’s the good news: Williams’ recovery would coincide with a late-season playoff push.

If the Packers don’t draft a receiver in the first round, a great Day 2 prospect would be North Dakota State’s Christian Watson. The 6-foot-4, 208-pound receiver is the son of former NFL safety Tim Watson.

Watson is an exceptional athlete. He ran a 4.36 40-yard dash with a 38 ½-inch vertical leap and an impressive 136-inch broad jump.

He plays fast, but will have to elevate his play to match the upgrade in competition. He also is an accomplished return specialist who would immediately fill one of the Packers’ most glaring, ongoing needs on special teams.

In the second round, the Packers would be wise to consider a pair of inside linebackers or a tight end. With the unknown status of All-Pro inside linebacker De’vondre Campbell and tight end Bobby Tonyan, the Packers must be covered.

Campbell’s breakout season proved the importance of the position. Campbell’s return would be preferable. The next-best thing is to replace him with a player possessing a similar skill set.

Georgia linebacker Quay Walker (6-4, 241) would be one possibility. Walker is almost identical in size to Campbell, and he ran a 4.52 40-yard dash with an explosive 32-inch vertical jump at the combine.

Wyoming’s Chad Muma is a solid Day 3 prospect with the potential to be a starter and the ability to bring immediate help to special teams.

Muma (6-3, 239) didn’t run at the combine, but he did bang out 27 reps at 225 pounds on the bench press and had an explosive 40-inch vertical leap. Muma’s skills need polishing but he would represent a nice upgrade to the ILB position.

At tight end, the Packers may be in the market if Tonyan moves on and they don’t re-sign Marcedes Lewis.

One prospect that caught my eye is Colorado State’s Trey McBride.

The 6-foot-4, 246-pound tight end is a willing blocker in the run game and as a pass protector, attributes which are coveted by Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. McBride lacks top-end speed, but is a precise route-runner with sticky hands. He knows how to win the battle on contested footballs.

** AARON RODGERS AND DAVANTE ADAMS UPDATE

The Packers have until Tuesday at 3 p.m. to decide whether to assign Davante Adams the $20.1 million franchise tag for receivers.

It would give the Packers and Adams more time to reach an agreement on a long-term deal. It also would let quarterback Aaron Rodgers know that his pass-catching counterpart will be on the roster.

It’s been 3 ½ weeks since Rodgers said he would make his decision “soon.” It’s possible he will make an announcement during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” podcast Tuesday noon.
Meantime, the Packers and cornerback Jaire Alexander are working on a long-term contract extension.

Alexander currently counts $13 million against the 2022 salary cap, so it would be in both side’s best interest to strike a deal. It would allow the Packers to add much-needed cap space, and it would give Alexander long-term financial security.

NOTE: Event USA will be posting a Chris Havel column when news regarding Rodgers’ or Adams’ contracts breaks.

By Chris Havel

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers’ defense improved by Lambeau leaps and bounds under the direction of first-year coordinator Joe Barry in 2021.

Green Bay (13-4) finished as the NFL’s ninth-ranked defense under Barry, who replaced Mike Pettine in the previous offseason. It was interesting that the Packers retained every defensive assistant coach except Pettine, which could have been problematic with Barry coming in as “the new guy.”

The Packers’ 38-3 blowout loss in the season opener did nothing to engender confidence in Barry’s scheme, either.
Nevertheless, he quickly ingratiated himself with the players through his passion, consistency and scheme. He also got his assistants on board by giving them the latitude to have meaningful and significant input. In other words, Barry put his players in position to succeed, and allowed his coaches to be “hands on.”

They rallied after the humiliating loss to New Orleans and stayed the course.

The formula worked to great success.

The Packers allowed 328.8 yards per game (10th vs. the pass; 11th vs. the run) and yielded 21.8 points per game to rank 13th overall. They ranked 16th in sacks with 39 and opposing quarterbacks’ passer rating (86.9) was 10th.

All reflect significant improvement from the 2020 season.

The Packers’ defense had a particularly dominant seven-game stretch from Oct. 3 through Nov. 14. Green Bay went 6-1 during that span while allowing its opponents to score an average of just 11.5 points per game.

The stretch concluded with a 17-0 shutout of the Seahawks and Russell Wilson. The defense also played a key role in narrow wins over Arizona, Baltimore and Cleveland in the regular season.

Then, it stymied San Francisco’s attack in the NFC divisional playoffs but it wasn’t enough to overcome awful special teams’ play and a sluggish offense. Green Bay lost 13-10.

Now, with Aaron Rodgers’ pending decision regarding his future as the backdrop, Packers’ GM Brian Gutekunst and coach Matt LaFleur are tasked with reloading on defense despite considerable salary cap challenges.

Last week, a look at the Packers’ offense revealed reason for optimism going into this season. The offensive line and running back positions are loaded. The receivers and tight ends need to be retooled, but if Rodgers and Davante Adams return LaFleur’s attack undoubtedly will rank among the NFL’s finest.

This week, I’ll take a look at the Packers’ defense going into 2022.

The salary cap challenges are daunting, to be sure, but not impossible to navigate.

The Packers have slashed $23.2 million from its cap in the past week. They restructured the existing contracts of Kenny Clark, Aaron Jones and David Bakhtiari with more to come.

The Packers are about $20 million above the cap, which means edge rushers Za’Darius and Preston Smith, kicker Mason Crosby and offensive lineman Billy Turner are candidates to have their contracts restructured or be given their release.

Safety Adrian Amos and defensive tackle Dean Lowry also may be asked to restructure their deals, too.

What we do know about the Packers’ returning defenders is promising.

The defensive line will be led by Clark, a young and ascending player who already ranks among the NFL’s best at his position. Rookie T.J. Slaton flashed glimpses of his play-making ability up front. Slaton appears to have a nose for the football.

Lowry played well after a subpar 2020 season and looks to build on that. Jack Heflin also is expected to be back and try to win a role as a rotational player. Kingsley Keke’s failure to grab a terrific opportunity is disappointing.

Clearly, Gutekunst needs to consider drafting a defensive lineman no later than Day 2 given the unit’s lack of depth and top-end talent behind Clark.

Rashan Gary provides juice to a rejuvenated pass rush. The third-year pro out of Michigan has steadily improved to the point where he’s been impacting games on a weekly basis. Gary has “All-Pro” written all over him after his 9 ½-sack season.

Preston Smith provided an excellent counterbalance to Gary. Smith’s nine sacks were second on the team. He also had two passes defended and two forced fumbles. Preston Smith was a key voice in the locker room. He won’t easily be replaced if it comes to that.

De’Vondre Campbell’s emergence in the heart of the defense was instrumental in Barry’s ability to build a competent unit. Campbell stuffed the stat sheet on a weekly basis to finish with a team-high 146 tackles (102 solo), six tackles for loss, five passes defended, two sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

Campbell’s projected market value, according to Spotrac, is $6.2 million. He was working on a one-year “prove it” deal. Boy, did he ever prove it.

Clearly, the Packers’ defense needs Campbell to return, or Gutekunst to acquire another defender with a similar skill set. Anyone that doubted the defense’s ability to function at a winning level without a stud at inside linebacker was wrong.

The Packers’ secondary remains a bright spot.

Eric Stokes had a wonderful rookie season and is entrenched opposite All-Pro Jaire Alexander. The Alexander-Stokes tandem could be among the NFL’s finest cornerback duos before it’s all said and done.

Stokes finished with 55 tackles, a team-high 14 passes defended and an interception. Opposing quarterbacks tried to pick on him early. Then they decided to look elsewhere.

In-season acquisition Rasul Douglas also was a key contributor. Spotrac projects his market value to be $9.2 million per year, which seems a bit high for a player that was signed off another team’s practice squad.

Hopefully the Packers and Douglas can reach an accord, which is possible depending on how much the scheme and Douglas’ gratitude play a role. Chandon Sullivan also had a productive season before being injured in December.

The safeties are set with Darnell Savage and Amos.

Amos had 93 tackles and eight passes defended with two interceptions. Savage recorded 63 tackles and nine passes defended with two interceptions. Henry Black proved to be a valuable reserve.

The defense’s framework remains in place.

Clark, Gary, Stokes, Alexander and Amos are all key veterans. An influx of talent via the draft and lower-tier free agency, coupled with continued good fortune signing “street” and “practice squad” free agents, has the future looking bright.

An edge rusher, an interior defensive lineman and a talented inside linebacker appear to be the obvious areas Gutekunst will go hunting in the draft.

By Chris Havel

GREEN BAY, Wis. – While the “Aaron Rodgers Watch” rolls into late February the Packers are playing out the scenarios with, and without, their star quarterback.

This week, I’ll take a look at the Packers’ offense going into 2022.

The specter of life without Rodgers is daunting, but it’s not all doom and gloom.

A look at the Packers’ offensive players currently under contract should be reassuring to fans.

The offensive line will be (left to right): David Bakhtiari, Jon Runyan, Josh Myers, Royce Newman and Elgton Jenkins. The Packers could restructure Billy Turner’s contract, which currently includes a $9.1 million salary cap hit, to keep him.

If they let Turner walk, which seems likely, the Packers’ offensive line will feature a trio of ascending young players sandwiched between a pair of All-Pro tackles. That’s a strong group whether it’s Rodgers or Jordan Love barking out the signals.

Bakhtiari is coming off an injury and may be asked to restructure his contract. Jenkins is due a healthy extension at some point. Those are just details, though. The Packers’ offensive line enters 2022 in excellent shape.

In the backfield, Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon rank among the NFL’s top one-two backfield tandems in the game. Their diverse skills make them the embodiment of “Thunder” and “Lightning.” Kylin Hill’s return from a knee injury adds depth.

Dillon has developed into a short-yardage jackhammer with exceptional vision and really good feet. He also has soft hands out of the backfield and is a rising star. Jones had an “off” season by his standards, but should rebound in a big way.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur has shown a willingness to run the football. It remains the key to success in his play-action centered attack. So long as defenses have to honor the run it gives the coach and quarterback the ability to throw when they want to as opposed to because they have to.

The tight end position returns Marcedes Lewis, although his age (37) and cap number ($2.4 million) could lead to a restructure or release. Josiah Deguara will be counted on heavily as he enters his third season. Robert Tonyan is coming off a knee injury and currently not under contract. Common sense suggests Tonyan’s value is greatest in Green Bay, and that he’ll reach a deal with the Packers.

Tyler Davis and Alize Mack are the backups.

If the quarterback position raises the $46.6 million dollar question (Rodgers’ scheduled salary for 2022), the receiver position raises the $25.9 million dollar question (Davante Adams’ calculated market value for 2022).

The NFL’s window for designating the franchise tag begins Tuesday (Feb. 22) and runs through Tuesday, March 8.

The Packers are likely to tag Adams for the one-year, $18.5 million price tag. That is the precursor to a long-term deal or perhaps a tag-and-trade maneuver.

My best guess is that if Rodgers is here, so is Adams, which means salary cap manager Russ Ball will have to do a lot of tap-dancing to make it work. I still believe if Rodgers is traded, the Packers will try to extend Adams.

The Packers’ history shows they don’t let their best players walk.

The rest of the receiving corps is in a state of flux.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard and Equanimeous St. Brown are without contracts. MVS’s calculated market value is $8.7 million. Lazard’s is $7.7 million. Amari Rodgers, Juwann Winfrey and Rico Gafford are currently under contract.

The return of Adams and MVS or Lazard, plus the obvious need to draft and integrate a talented rookie, should be enough to carry the Packers’ receiving corps. The prospect of Adams opposite the next Justin Jefferson is exciting. The contributions of MVS and Lazard can’t be discounted, but neither has developed into a reliable WR2 due to injuries and inconsistency.

Whether the Packers keep MVS or Lazard likely depends on who they draft. If it’s a tremendous deep threat with marginal blocking ability, keeping Lazard makes sense. If it’s a bigger, stronger receiver with decent speed then it’s MVS.

Randall Cobb’s cap number is $9.5 million for 2022 so he’s going to have to restructure his deal in order to stay. I suspect Cobb will leave if Rodgers does, though he may not be back either way.

Meantime, LaFleur has completed his coaching staff.

He hired Rich Bisaccia to coach special teams and Byron Storer, a former teammate of Rodgers’ at Cal, to assist him.

He also hired Tom Clements to be the quarterbacks coach. Clements is credited by Rodgers for helping him develop into a perennial All-Pro quarterback.

Furthermore, the Packers aren’t entertaining any trade talk involving Rodgers.

Some Packers fans have extrapolated all of that to mean Rodgers is returning. Frankly, that’s mostly fans weaving pieces of information into a narrative that’s to their liking. The fact is the Packers have agreed to give Rodgers time to make the best decision for his NFL future. To enter into any trade talks would be unnecessary and could blow up the bridge to Rodgers’ return.
Once Rodgers makes his decision, and the NFL draft draws closer, the Packers will have plenty of willing trade partners. Until then it’s way too premature.

It’s been six weeks since the season ended. After 17 seasons in Green Bay, Rodgers has earned the time necessary to get this decision right.

By Chris Havel

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The next play is Aaron Rodgers’ to call.

The Packers made news on the NFL’s newsiest weekend with reports, according to sources, that they are willing to make Aaron Rodgers the league’s highest-paid quarterback with a three-year extension.

Their plan is to spend as close to the salary cap as they can this year and spread it into future years, according to ESPN. The Super Bowl LVI champion L.A. Rams are perennial cap pushers and look where it got them. The New Orleans Saints used a similar cap strategy to retain Drew Brees before he retired.

Not so long ago, the very idea of the Packers pushing money into the future to pay for today was considered heresy at 1265 Lombardi Ave.

Now, given Rodgers’ unique circumstances, it may or may not be the way to go. It’s certainly one way to go.

Whether Rodgers stays or goes, the Packers’ pre-emptive “offer” puts the football squarely in their four-time MVP’s hands. It was a shrewd PR move by the Packers, who can’t be blamed for not doing enough to retain one of the NFL’s top QBs.

Some fans would be hard-pressed to forgive the Packers if they traded away Rodgers without at least making a significant offer. Clearly, the reported offer falls into the “significant” category, and I have no reason to doubt its validity.

The Packers did what they had to do. They calculated their return-on-investment scenarios and decided, “We can do this. We can retain Rodgers AND build a championship-caliber roster.”

It doesn’t mean they can, or will, but believing is the first step … I suppose.

If Rodgers declines the offer, and it’s possible because he’ll become the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback wherever he plays, the trade winds will begin howling. Many of those scenarios were discussed in last week’s column.

If or until that happens it’s one step at a time.

First and foremost, we’ll see where Rodgers’ football interests and pursuits lie.

Many NFL observers insist Green Bay gives Rodgers his best opportunity to win Super Bowl LVII. One reason is his success with Packers coach Matt LaFleur.
Another is the belief that he’ll be surrounded by a highly competitive roster.

The fact is it’s impossible to know the Packers’ potential without knowing the short- and long-term cost of retaining a 38-year-old back-to-back MVP QB.

Will the roster be gutted of key players such as Davante Adams, Aaron Jones, Allen Lazard, Billy Turner and De’Vondre Campbell?

Undoubtedly, the Packers are better with Rodgers at quarterback. Then again, the same could be said for two dozen or more NFL teams. But having Rodgers wouldn’t guarantee them a Super Bowl title, as Packers’ fans are painfully aware.

The Packers are at a crossroads of two widely held NFL beliefs.

The first is that it’s a death sentence to trade an MVP-caliber quarterback who can still play at a high level despite his advanced age. The Packers traded Brett Favre to the New York Jets on Aug. 7, 2008, and were celebrating a Super Bowl championship in Rodgers’ third season.

Meantime, neither the Jets nor Vikings reached the Super Bowl with Favre.

The second is that a team never gives up on a first-round QB without checking its hole card. The Packers should have a grasp of Jordan Love’s potential – and perhaps his ceiling – by now.

Then again, Love has thrown a whopping 62 passes thus far. He’s completed 58 percent of them for 411 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s been sacked three times and owns a 68.7 passer rating.

That’s scarcely skimming the surface.

At any rate, news of the Packers’ offer to Rodgers leaves Love’s future in limbo.

It also means the Packers don’t view themselves as being in “rebuild” but rather “all-in” mode. Rodgers has said he has no interest in being part of a “rebuild.”
I still believe Rodgers will be playing elsewhere in 2022. His value is never going to be higher, and it presents a rare opportunity for the Packers to square their salary cap, capitalize on the motherlode of draft picks and build a winner around Love.

That’s what I would do, but it doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do.

If Rodgers returns and the Packers win Super Bowl LVII it’ll be the right move. If he leaves and they reload and win around Love, there’s nothing wrong in that, either. It’s all about what the Packers make of it.

While Green Bay was shifting the focus to Rodgers and his decision, the Rams were proving that a team can push money into forever and still win a Super Bowl. The Rams’ narrow 23-20 victory over Cincinnati Sunday proved that sacrificing draft picks and spending like crazy can bring the desired result.
In fact, if Odell Beckham Jr. hadn’t been injured, the Rams blow out the Bengals. Their midseason acquisition of OBJ was a key factor in winning the Super Bowl.

When the Rams landed OBJ the Packers were reportedly in contention. I didn’t think they needed OBJ to win it all. Then again, I didn’t know Marques Valdez-Scantling wasn’t going to be available. Apparently the Packers didn’t, either.

Now we must wait while Rodgers decides whether he wants to be the NFL’s highest-paid player in Green Bay or someplace else.

By Chris Havel

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Parting is such sweet sorrow.

The sorrow comes with the realization that Aaron Rodgers likely has taken his final snap at quarterback for the Green Bay Packers.

The sweet part is daydreaming about how to spend all that draft capital.

Rodgers, who is coming off a second-straight MVP-caliber season, should command a king’s ransom on the open market.

In 2016 the Vikings included a first-round pick in a package deal with Philadelphia to acquire Sam Bradford, who played poorly and sparingly with Minnesota. In 2018 the Cardinals signed him to a one-year, $20 million deal with $15 million guaranteed. Bradford never played any meaningful snaps in Arizona, either, making it one of the worst free agent signings of the decade.
The lesson: Teams are forever willing to overpay at quarterback.

The list of top-notch quarterbacks who might be available this offseason features Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson and Jimmy Garoppolo. There have been strong indications that teams would part with a second-round pick and perhaps a third- or fourth-rounder to acquire Garoppolo.

If that’s the going rate for a QB with Garoppolo’s abilities, it’s not absurd to suggest Rodgers would command a first-round pick, a pair of seconds and a third. There’s always the possibility that Packers GM Brian Gutekunst could pry two first-round picks from another team, and to that Packers fans say, “Go get ‘em.”

Rodgers would stand head-and-shoulder pads above the other available QBs.

He had a terrific 2021 season. He completed 68.9 percent of his passes for 37 touchdowns, four interceptions and an NFL-best 111.9 passer rating. Any decline seems minimal despite the fact that he’ll be 39 when Super Bowl LVII kicks off.

The problem is Rodgers’ contract. He is due $46.6 million on his one-year deal. The Packers would have to do some major tap-dancing to find a way to keep him.

They also might be pressed to use the franchise tag on receiver Davante Adams as a condition of Rodgers’ remaining in Green Bay. SPOTRAC has Adams’ estimated market value at $25.8 million annually, so a five-year deal would net the perennial All-Pro $129.3 million, with a fair portion guaranteed.

It is doubtful Al Capone’s bookkeeper could squeeze all that under the cap.

Clearly, the Packers are better with Rodgers at quarterback than anyone else. But that just may not be realistic, unless the Packers are willing to mortgage their future on a 38-year-old quarterback without knowing what they have behind him.

Jordan Love has had flashes and played well enough in the Packers’ 13-7 loss at Kansas City in November. But this isn’t about Love. It’s about Rodgers. It always has been and always will be until he exits stage left.

Andrew Brandt, the Packers’ former salary cap guru and esteemed college professor and NFL pundit, predicted Rodgers would play in Green Bay in 2021. Brandt’s prescient view came with a warning: It will be Rodgers’ final season here.

Let’s say Brandt is correct, a solid bet given his track record, and Rodgers is gone.

The Packers still could franchise tag Adams and work out a long-term deal to help give Love a fighting chance. That would give a measure of stability to a receiving corps in which Marques Valdez-Scantling, Allen Lazard and Equanimeous St. Brown all have expiring contracts. Tight end Robert Tonyan’s contract also is up.

If Adams signs elsewhere it would be unfair to thrust Love into that situation and expect him to succeed. Then again, in yet another draft loaded at receiver, the Packers would have the ammunition to take a highly-rated pass catcher or two.

The Packers’ draft needs – with or without Rodgers – appear to be the usual suspects. A receiver or tight end with big-play potential would be exciting. There’s always room for another defensive lineman to pair with Kenny Clark and pals.

Offensive linemen are always in style in Green Bay, and you can never have too many pass rushers or cover cornerbacks.
Just think what the Packers could do in the draft following a trade that sends Rodgers to the Denver Broncos. Let’s say the Packers receive Denver’s first-round (9th overall), second-round (40th) and third-round (75th) picks this year.

They would have the 9th, 28th, 40th, 60th and 75th picks.

Merely contemplating the possibilities triggers a flood of anticipation.

Perhaps the Packers have determined that inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell is vital to their defense. If that’s the case the cost to re-sign him (he played on a one-year, $2 million deal in 2021) would be $6.2 million annually. For three years at $18.8 million, according to SPOTRAC, it’s a bargain.

Then again, the Packers may be convinced their defense NEEDS a stud linebacker such as Campbell and is compelled to draft fairly high at that position.

All of this begins with whatever Rodgers decides.

He might retire but that seems unlikely.

He could stay in Green Bay, but given the salary cap constraints it seems doubtful. Furthermore, Rodgers has more negotiating leverage this offseason. The Packers have to get out from underneath the $46.6 million he is owed for 2022.

Their decision: Mortgage the future or lay the foundation for future success?

The choice seems fairly obvious. The tricky part will be getting there without the Packers or Rodgers alienating one another. The odds of that happening increase with each passing day that Rodgers takes to make his decision.

If he wants to play, which is likely, the Packers will accommodate him – one way or another.

They don’t need the PR disaster and Rodgers doesn’t need a tarnished legacy.

In an informal poll on Sports Line (my radio show) last week, Packers’ fans were divided almost equally on what they wished to see happen with Rodgers. Slightly more than 50 percent want to see him traded for a boatload of booty. The rest would like the Packers to do what it takes to sign him to a three-year extension.

There is no right or wrong answer.

What matters most is what the Packers do to build a strong team around Rodgers should they re-sign him? That or what they do with all those draft picks to build a strong team around Love.

By Chris Havel

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Matt LaFleur has accomplished a great deal in three seasons as the Packers’ head coach.

His 39-10 regular-season record makes him the all-time winningest coach in NFL history in their first three seasons. He also was integral in Aaron Rodgers’ return to MVP form, Davante Adams’ record-breaking play and the development of a dynamic running game featuring Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon.

LaFleur didn’t have to do it alone, either.

He assembled a crackerjack coaching staff in the days after he was hired in 2019.

All that success brings an inevitable tradeoff. If your team is well-coached and worth a damn – and you can’t have one without the other – the staff will be raided.

So it goes with LaFleur’s top assistants.

Nathaniel Hackett, who was LaFleur’s offensive coordinator and right-hand man, was hired as the Denver Broncos’ new head coach. Based on all the accolades from current Packers, it is clear Hackett was exceptional.

LaFleur also lost talented Luke Getsy, his quarterback coach and passing game coordinator, who exited to become the Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator.

Getsy will work under the Bears’ new head coach, Matt Eberflus, who was the Indianapolis Colts’ defensive coordinator. Getsy’s promotion will earn him the opportunity to call plays while continuing his journey to become a head coach.

Oddly, there isn’t anyone panicking at 1265 Lombardi Avenue.

That’s because LaFleur has built such great trust in matters such as putting together a cohesive, dynamic staff.

LaFleur will fill Hackett’s vacated OC job by promoting offensive line/run game coordinator Adam Stenavich. The Marshfield native was promoted to that position (OL/run game) on March 1, 2021 after it was clear he could coach at a high level.

Stenavich, who starred at left tackle at Michigan (2002-05), had a brief NFL career before diving into coaching.

Stenavich, 39, is credited with the development of Elgton Jenkins, Jon Runyan and many others.

LaFleur will continue to call plays with Stenavich taking over Hackett’s duties. It will be interesting to see if there is a heightened emphasis on the running game with Stenavich as the OC and the possibility of Rodgers’ departure.

The Packers’ staff also may lose tight end coach Justin Outten if he chooses to tag along with Hackett and become his OC in Denver. If Outten leaves it will be interesting to see if LaFleur dips into his current staff once more.

Getsy’s vacancy is being filled by offensive line coach Luke Butkus.

Who would’ve imagined a “Butkus” coaching in Green Bay? LaFleur did when he hired him Feb. 7, 2019. By all accounts Butkus is an intense, fiery competitor who brings a decade’s worth of experience to the job.

Butkus, 42, is in his 11th season coaching in the NFL. He previously worked for Jacksonville (2013-15), Seattle (2010-11) and Chicago (2007-09). He is the nephew of the Bears’ Hall of Fame linebacker, Dick Butkus.

In other Packers news, LaFleur and his staff have been chosen to coach the NFC in Sunday’s 2 p.m. Pro Bowl at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. LaFleur’s NFC squad will face an AFC team led by Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel and his staff.

LaFleur was Vrabel’s offensive coordinator for one season before being named the Packers’ head coach.

The Pro Bowl can be a terrific recruiting tool for prospective free agents. It provides LaFleur and his staff a chance to showcase their program to players. It also will give NFL fans plenty of time to get familiar with LaFleur.

The coaching honor typically goes to the conference’s highest-remaining seed that didn’t reach the Super Bowl.

As an aside, it may be small comfort to Packers’ fans, but Green Bay went 3-1 during the regular season against the NFC and AFC Championship participants. They beat the Bengals, 25-22, in overtime at Cincinnati. They defeated the 49ers, 30-28, at San Francisco. And they beat the Rams, 36-28, at Lambeau Field.

Their only loss was 13-7 at Kansas City in a game Rodgers didn’t play.

** THE AFC AND NFC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

The Bengals and Rams will face off in Super Bowl LVI on Sunday, Feb. 13, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.

The Bengals upset Kansas City 27-24 in overtime at Arrowhead Stadium on Evan McPherson’s 31-yard field goal. The Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes opened an early 21-3 lead, but Cincinnati and quarterback Joe Burrow kept on coming.

In the NFC, the Rams trailed the 49ers by 10 points going into the fourth quarter. They exited with a 20-17 victory when Cooper Kupp corralled an 11-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to make it 17-14.

Matt Gay added field goals of 40 and 30 yards to seal the victory.

By Chris Havel

GREEN BAY, Wis. – So this is how it ends, not with a bang, but a whimper.

The Packers’ most recent ill-fated Super Bowl run was laid to rest Saturday night, another postseason gone way too soon. The postgame autopsy merely confirmed the suspected cause of death: The Packers choked on a lethal combination of their own noxious special teams’ play and the 49ers’ suffocating pass rush.

Indeed, the Packers’ stunning 13-10 loss to San Francisco in the NFC Divisional playoffs offered a fitting final play. While the 49ers’ Robbie Gould lined up the game-winning 45-yard field goal, Green Bay only had 10 men on Lambeau Field.

It was as if Maurice Drayton, the Packers’ special teams coach, decided to go with five pallbearers, rather than the customary six, only to wonder why they dropped the casket. Not that it mattered much. By then, the Packers were already gone.

“This is a tough pill to swallow for all of us right now,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said afterward. “That’s a really disappointed locker room. I hurt for them.”

The Packers (13-5) saw their third-straight 13-win season come to a bitter ending.

They had everything going for them. They were in front of a raucous crowd on a snowy, frigid and blustery Wisconsin winter night. They had beaten the 49ers earlier this season. They had the great Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, compared with the 49ers’ mediocre Jimmy Garoppolo. They even had an opponent whose special teams’ units were almost as awful as their own.

Then the tragedy unfolded. And the Packers unraveled, with only Green Bay’s defense standing tall, and playing way too good to lose. Joe Barry’s crew was a perfect 3-for-3 in the red zone. It forced a turnover. It made a valiant fourth-down stand to preserve the Packers’ 10-3 lead with five minutes to play.

And still it happened. The NFL’s worst special teams’ unit picked the absolute worst time to reaffirm its ineptitude. Meantime, Green Bay’s offense turned its opening drive into its best drive of the game.

A.J. Dillon bulled his way for a 6-yard touchdown to cap a 10-play, 69-yard drive that gave Green Bay an early 7-0 lead. After that, Rodgers and pals went: punt, punt, punt, blocked field goal, punt, FG, blocked punt for a TD and punt.

Rodgers was 20 of 29 for 225 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions and a 91.9 rating. He was sacked five times, hit six times and pressured constantly. Afterward, he was solemn, disappointed and reflective.

“A little numb, for sure,” Rodgers said. “(I) didn’t think it was going to end like this.”

Who did? The Packers were 6 ½ point favorites. The only two questions were:

** How badly would they beat the 49ers?

** Who would they host in the NFC Championship?

It turns out they didn’t, and they won’t.

Now what?

LaFleur, Rodgers and obviously Drayton must lug around the burden of defeat.

The Dallas Morning News’ Rick Gosselin released his annual “Special Teams” rankings. The 49ers were 25th. The Packers were dead last. It turns out LaFleur and Drayton never really fixed the special teams’ woes. That’s on them.

The Packers watched as Mason Crosby’s 39-yard field goal attempt was blocked at the end of the first half. It effectively wiped out Rodgers’ 75-yard pass completion to Aaron Jones, who was a whisker away from going the distance.

What should’ve been a 10-0 halftime lead was an uncomfortable 7-0 score.

The Packers did get a 33-yard field goal from Crosby early in the fourth quarter to push Green Bay’s lead to 10-3. It should be noted that the 49ers’ opening drive of the second half, which led to a field goal, was sparked by a big kick return.

Then, the Packers’ defense made a glorious fourth-and-1 stand at its 19-yard line. Rashan Gary and De’Vondre Campbell stopped Elijah Mitchell for a 1-yard loss.

The Lambeau Field faithful celebrated what they thought was the game-clincher.

That’s when history repeated itself, fate intervened and Corey Bojorquez’s punt was blocked and recovered for a touchdown by the 49ers’ Talanoa Hufanga. Suddenly, shockingly, it was 49ers’ 10, Packers 10.

The 49ers’ game-winning field goal drive seemed almost a formality at that point. That’s because Green Bay’s offense couldn’t get it together.

LaFleur and Rodgers weren’t able to resist the temptation of becoming pass crazy at the expense of the running game. Obviously, Dillon’s chest injury, which limited him to 25 yards on seven carries, was a significant blow. But that’s no excuse for LaFleur’s offense rushing just 20 times for 67 yards.

Jones rushed 12 times for 41 yards and caught nine passes for 129 yards, but none of that led to touchdowns. Davante Adams grabbed nine passes for 90 yards but also couldn’t get into the end zone.
Marcedes Lewis’ fumble on the Packers’ second drive also hurt.

Meantime, Green Bay’s defense was driving the 49ers’ Garoppolo nuts. He took forever to complete his first pass and finished 11 of 19 for 131 yards and a 57.1 passer rating. He was sacked four times and hounded constantly.

His poor throw to George Kittel was intercepted by Adrian Amos at Green Bay’s 4 to kill a 49ers’ drive late in the first half. It set up the Packers’ final drive that ended in the blocked field goal try.

Green Bay’s defense allowed just 212 yards and it held do-everything Deebo Samuel fairly in check. Samuel had 10 rushes for 39 yards and three receptions for 44 yards, but didn’t find his way into the end zone.

Ultimately, Green Bay’s offense needed to put more points on the board.

“Ten points is obviously not enough,” Rodgers said. “The defense, man, played outstanding. Special teams obviously hurt us, taking points off the board and giving them points – but offensively, scoring 10 points, never good enough.”

Rodgers lamented the lost opportunity.

“We truly had a Super Bowl-caliber team,” he said. “In other years, it feels like sometimes you need things to go your way, but that didn’t feel like this season.

“It felt like getting these guys back and the way we were playing on offense, and the way we could play on defense with those guys – and obviously they played excellent tonight – you just felt like this was a team that could really win it and didn’t need a bunch of things to go their way. We just needed to make the plays in all three phases and then one of the phases played excellent, we didn’t have a great night (on offense) and obviously special teams didn’t either.”

Rodgers declined to speculate on his future.

“I don’t think it’s fair to anybody or myself to really go down those paths at this point,” he said. “It’s disappointing, sad and fresh. I’ll have conversations in the next week or so and start to contemplate after that.”

LaFleur didn’t place blame on Rodgers for the offense’s woes.

“I think Aaron did everything he could,” LaFleur said. “He was under a lot of duress. I think it’s more to do with I didn’t put our guys in position to make enough plays. I take that very personally.”

Now, Rodgers will begin determining his future – and the team’s – this offseason.

A year ago, the future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback criticized the Packers’ culture, questioned his desire to play here and wondered if he might be playing elsewhere in 2021.

That seemed to clear the air and set the stage for what proved to be one of Rodgers’ finest seasons in Green Bay.

Most fans still worshipped him, while some may have soured, but all wanted him to lead their Packers to victory in Super Bowl LVI.

Like Rodgers said. This isn’t how they thought it would end.

By Chris Havel

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Those Green Bay fans who preferred their Packers not play Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys in the NFC divisional playoffs got their wish.

They also got a harsh reminder why McCarthy is no longer coaching the Packers, and of the wisdom in the old adage, “Be careful what you wish for.”

Fourteen penalties, five sacks allowed and poor clock management proved to be the Cowboys’ undoing in a 23-17 loss to San Francisco in their NFC wild-card game Sunday at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium.

It sets up an interesting rematch in the NFC Divisional Playoffs between the Packers (13-4) and the 49ers (11-7) on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. at Lambeau Field.

Green Bay edged the 49ers 30-28 on Mason Crosby’s walk-off 51-yard field goal in Week 3 at Levi’s Stadium, where the temperature was 69 degrees at kickoff.

The Green Bay forecast for Saturday night is unseasonably mild, with temperatures expected to be in the high teens along with 12 mph winds at kickoff.

Saturday night’s matchup will be the ninth postseason meeting between the teams. They have split the first eight, but San Francisco has won three straight, including the 2019 NFC Championship.

Tampa Bay (13-4) awaits the winner of Monday night’s Cardinals-Rams game.

If the Packers and Bucs advance to the NFC Championship it gives Green Bay an opportunity to eliminate the teams that knocked them out the past two postseasons.

It also means Green Bay is going to have to earn it.

The Packers’ Week 3 victory at Santa Clara triggered a stretch in which San Francisco lost five of six games to fall to 3-5 on the season.

Obviously, the 49ers have figured things out since then. They come into Saturday night’s game having won five of six with their only setback a narrow 20-17 loss to the AFC’s top-seeded Titans.

The Packers also come into the game having won five of six with their only loss coming at Detroit in a meaningless regular-season finale.

The 49ers and Packers are similar in their approach offensively, the greatest difference being at quarterback, where future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers has a distinct advantage over the 49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo.

Whereas Packers head coach Matt LaFleur can count on Rodgers to win games, such as the wild 30-28 affair last time these teams met, the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan does his best to make sure Garoppolo doesn’t lose games.

Consider Garoppolo’s performance Sunday at Dallas. He was a pedestrian 16 of 25 for 172 yards, one interception and a 67.8 passer rating. He wasn’t sacked, though, and the 49ers rushed 38 times for 169 yards (a 4.4 average) and two touchdowns.

Clearly, the 49ers are going to try to run in order to set up play-action passes.

They also are going to come at the Packers with an array of screens, jet sweeps and an intricate short passing game. The Packers’ defense is going to have to be as disciplined as it has been all season.

The 49ers’ top weapons are do-everything Deebo Samuel, tight end George Kittle and wide-out Brandon Aiyuk. Samuel rushed 10 times for 72 yards and a touchdown against Dallas, while Aiyuk had five catches for 66 yards. Kittle was limited to one catch for 18 yards, but that doesn’t make him any less dangerous.

San Francisco’s offensive line is among the NFL’s best do to its talent and Shanahan’s offensive line-friendly scheme. The 49ers’ plan hinges on running effectively, getting the football out of Garoppolo’s hands quickly and enabling their top weapons to make plays.

Garoppolo was asked to list the keys to the win at Dallas.

“Guys just stepping up big in big, key situations – that’s really what it was all day,” he said. “Early on, we got it rolling with the offense and the defense just throughout the entire day. We got some dogs on our defense, man. It’s fun.”

The 49ers may have two less dogs on Saturday night.

Perhaps the most important storyline out of the Cowboys-49ers game is the status of Pro Bowl pass rusher Nick Bosa and All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner. Bosa exited in the second quarter with a concussion and didn’t return, while Warner limped off in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury.

Nevertheless, the 49ers’ defense held up thanks to Charles Omenihu (1 ½ sacks), Arik Armstead (four tackles and a sack) and Emmanuel Moseley (12 tackles).

Some of that was because of Dak Prescott’s subpar day.

Prescott was 23 of 43 for 254 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also was sacked five times and finished with a 69.3 passer rating.

The 49ers can’t expect to sack Rodgers five times, or to hurry him into bad decisions. What they can do is shut down the running game, make the Packers’ offense one-dimensional and take their best shot.

The Packers look to be healthier than they’ve been in while on both sides.

The return of All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari is timely. The last time these teams played Yosh Nijman made his first NFL start at left tackle. That was precipitated by Elgton Jenkins’ season-ending injury.

On Saturday night, the Packers’ offensive line (left to right) is likely to be Bakhtiari, Jon Runyan, Josh Meyers, Lucas Patrick and Billy Turner.

Defensively, the Packers anticipate the return of cornerback Jaire Alexander and edge rushers Za’Darius Smith and Whitney Mercilus. It is possible defensive coordinator Joe Barry will play Alexander as the slot corner while deploying Za’Darius Smith and/or Mercilus in obvious passing situations.

The Las Vegas odds-makers have installed the Packers as 5 ½ point favorites.

By Chris Havel

GREEN BAY, Wis. –The Packers got most of what they came for Sunday in their regular-season finale at Detroit’s Ford Field.

Davante Adams grabbed a pair of team receiving records, David Bakhtiari started at left tackle for the first time in more than a year and the NFC’s top-seeded Packers got in some good work without sustaining any notable injuries.

What Green Bay didn’t get was a win against the Lions, whose caution-to-the-wind play calling keyed their 37-30 victory over the Packers.

“I might have a better perspective tomorrow,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “We’re all competitors and we don’t like losing. I am happy in the fact that we got out fairly healthy.”

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who exited with a sore back after 15 snaps, is the lone injury concern. The good news is that MVS and the rest have two weeks off.

Clearly, LaFleur was displeased with his defense’s undisciplined play.

The devil-may-care Lions (3-13-1) trotted out a fake punt that didn’t work and two flea-flickers that did. The first came when Jared Goff and receiver Tom Kennedy played hot potato with the football before Kennedy lobbed a pass to a wide-open Kalif Raymond for a 75-yard touchdown. The second came when Goff hit an uncovered Brock Wright for a 36-yard score after more backfield shenanigans. That put the Lions up 24-13 early in the second half.

“Defensive football in general comes down to discipline, and people owning their roles, and when you aren’t disciplined or you go outside the scheme, bad stuff happens,” LaFleur said. “We cannot have that. We need all 11 doing their damn job. And if they don’t stuff like that happens.”

The Packers wisely held out running back Aaron Jones (knee) and linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (elbow) while limiting the snaps for nose tackle Kenny Clark (28 snaps) and edge rushers Rashan Gary and Preston Smith (26 snaps each).

Despite the limited playing time Gary had a team-high four pressures while Clark and Smith combined for another three. Dean Lowry registered a sack and rookie T.J. Slaton was solid in extended time.

Offensively, the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers played well in a half.

Rodgers was 14 of 18 for 138 yards and two touchdowns Sunday. He finished the season completing 68.9 percent of his passes for 4,115 yards, 37 touchdowns, four interceptions and a 111.9 pass rating.

While Rodgers likely sewed up his fourth MVP award, Adams established a pair of Packers’ single-season receiving records. He finished with 123 catches for 1,553 yards (both records) and 11 touchdowns. His 123 catches broke his own team record, while his 1,553 yards eclipsed Jordy Nelson’s team record set in 2014.

Rodgers was sacked three times on Sunday, but that was more a byproduct of miscommunication along a reconfigured offensive line.

Bakhtiari, the five-time All-Pro, played 27 snaps without allowing a pressure. He got lathered up, moved well and looked like he’s ready to roll in the playoffs.

“Long, long journey,” he said after the game. “I was expecting to be back earlier. It was tough. Definitely wore mentally on me (more) than anything … so happy just to see the other side. I was really just pumped to be out there today. It meant a lot.”

It meant a lot to his quarterback, too.

“I’m so proud of him. It seemed like he was fantastic,” Rodger said of Bakhtiari. “He’s a great person and he makes our team better. Obviously, he’s an incredible player. To celebrate him and his happiness today is pretty special. There’s nothing like running out there and seeing ‘The Big Giraffe.’ ”

Rookie center Josh Myers returned from a Week 6 knee injury to play 32 snaps before being replaced by Patrick, who started at right guard in place of rookie Royce Newman. Newman played 36 snaps at right guard once Myers departed.

Dennis Kelly took at the snaps at right tackle, but it is possible starter Billy Turner will return from a knee injury in time for the NFC Divisional playoffs.

Rodgers reiterated a LaFleur saying: We’ll play the best five up front.

“We talked about momentum, and that was important, but I really wanted to get out there with Dave and Josh,” Rodgers said. “That was my main focus. Obviously (we) wanted to get Davante his record, but get some rhythm within the offense, get some rhythm with those two guys especially. We’ve got to figure out what our best five is and what our healthiest five is.”
Jordan Love relieved Rodgers after taking a knee to end the first half.

Love finished 10 of 17 for 134 yards with a touchdown, two interceptions and a 64 passer rating. He was sacked once and played so-so in his second-half stint.

Love’s big play was a 62-yard touchdown pass to tight end Josiah Deguara, who utilized a great downfield block by Patrick to get into the end zone. Deguara’s touchdown gave Green Bay a short-lived 30-27 lead with 4:49 to play.

Allen Lazard, who made five catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns, marveled at Patrick’s all-out hustle.

“I was screaming. I had a pretty good view of it,” Lazard said of Deguara’s touchdown. “Lucas Patrick, got to give a shout-out to him, he threw an amazing block, knocked out two guys, Josiah was able to sneak inside of him and break off one tackle … that was a huge play for him and I think it was a huge confidence boost for him.”

Back-to-back interceptions by Love led to the Lions’ final 10 points and the win.

One was a poor throw and the other was a tipped pass that rookie Amari Rodgers had in his hands but couldn’t corral.

Still, Rodgers thought Love did some good things.

“He’s a great kid. He really is. He cares about it,” Rodgers said. “He works his butt off. He asks good questions. He’s got a great, wry sense of humor. He’s a quiet kid, but I respect that. I was a quiet kid as a young player, too. I really enjoy his personality. I enjoy his friendship and we have a lot of fun together. I’m proud of the way he played today.”

Now, the Packers (13-4) get to rest and watch the NFC’s wild-card round beginning with No. 7 seed Philadelphia at No. 2 Tampa Bay noon Sunday, followed by No. 6 San Francisco at No. 3 Dallas at 3:30 p.m. The fifth-seeded Cardinals are at the No. 4 seed L.A. Rams on Monday at 7:15 p.m.

The Packers will play host to the lowest-remaining seed after the wild-card round.

If the Eagles beat the Bucs, Philadelphia is at Green Bay.

If Tampa Bay wins and the 49ers defeat Dallas, the 49ers will be at Lambeau Field.

If Tampa Bay and Dallas both win, the Cardinals-Rams winner comes here.

For his part, Rodgers said he liked what the Packers accomplished Sunday.

“It wasn’t too dissimilar to Week 2 against (Detroit),” he said. “They were ahead 17-14 at half, I believe we ended up beating them 35-17. It felt very similar to that and we feel good about offensively where we’re at and what we accomplished.”