Welcome to the 11th edition of Pombo’s Weekly Football Rewind. This weekly series will go in depth about the latest news, rumors, signings, and trades of the past week.
Aaron Rodgers Isn’t Happy
After 16 seasons in Green Bay, the relationship between Aaron Rodgers and the Packers has become severely fractured.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN:
It has gotten to the point that Rodgers has reportedly threatened to retire, opposed to continuing his career with the Packers. Reports have stretched as far as Rodgers wanting the Packers to fire general manager, Brian Gutekunst.
There’s a lot to unpack here, but Rodgers has made it apparent that he won’t play one more down in Green Bay.
So, where did this all start?
Was it the selection of Jordan Love in the first-round? The lack of skill position players? His current contract? Commitment?
To me, it’s a mix of everything, but, the drafting of Jordan Love was the nail in the coffin. Rodgers doesn’t want a clock on him, or someone breathing down his neck.
Is there a way for the Packers to fix this?
I think there is a way the Packers can fix this, and it’s with a hefty raise and extension. Despite the fact, that Rodgers has three years left on his contract, the Packers can move on from Rodgers after the 2021 season. So, tinkering with his contract is a must. Rodgers is scheduled to make $22.8 million in 2021, which is the seventh highest amongst quarterbacks.
However, you slice it, it will take a major breakthrough to fix this issue. If Rodgers does ultimately get moved, the two spots I could he could see him landing are the Denver Broncos or the Las Vegas Raiders.
The 49ers Shake up the Draft
After the 49ers made the move to acquire the third-overall pick of the draft, many pegged them for Alabama’s Mac Jones. But, as time inched closer to the draft, the chatter surrounding North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, began to get louder.
But, the chatter about Trey Lance was correct, as the 49ers elected to draft him with the third-overall pick. Mac Jones ended up falling to 15-overall.
The question here is, was Trey Lance always the pick for the 49ers? I truthfully don’t believe so, I think Kyle Shanahan was favoring Mac Jones once the trade first went down. But, I believe that Shanahan talked himself into Lance, and I believe the people around Shanahan favored Lance.
It will be fascinating to see how this will all shakeout in the long-run. It’s also fair to question whether or not the 49ers gave up too much to get Lance. I feels like they could have moved up to the seventh or eighth pick, and still got him. But, it’s all gravy if Trey Lance is the true answer at quarterback.
Teddy Bridgewater Lands in Denver
Teddy Bridgewater’s future in Carolina looked bleak once the Panthers traded for Sam Darnold. His tenure in Carolina officially reached a conclusion when the Panthers reached an agreement to send Bridgewater to the Denver Broncos for a sixth-round pick. The Panthers will still pay Bridgewater $7 million in 2021, while the Broncos will only owe him $3 million.
The Broncos were always the favorite to land Bridgewater, as it has been well-documented that Broncos general manager George Paton was in the Vikings organization, when Bridgewater was drafted in 2014.
Bridgewater will compete for the starting job with Drew Lock, who will be entering his third NFL season.
After the acquisition of Bridgewater, the Broncos elected to pass on taking a quarterback in the draft, and passed on an opportunity to take Justin Fields and Mac Jones in the first-round.
Bridgewater isn’t the answer long-term, and I don’t think Lock is either. So, outside of an Aaron Rodgers blockbuster, the Broncos will still be in purgatory at the quarterback position.
Mac Jones Ends up with the Patriots
After Mac Jones began slipping in the draft, many expected a team to trade up the draft to select him. The Saints were reportedly , one team trying to trade up for Jones. But, the trade never came to a fruition, Mac Jones slipped to 15, and was drafted by the New England Patriots.
The Patriots need at quarterback hasn’t been understated, and has been an issue since Tom Brady left for Tampa Bay. Cam Newton is simply not good enough, and he hasn’t been for quite some time.
Mac Jones fits what Bill Belichick likes to do on offense. His accuracy, and decision-making are his strongest attributes. Sure, his arm strength and athleticism are underwhelming, and will be the biggest questions surrounding Jones throughout his career.
The Bill Belichick, Nick Saban connection has been a staple for the Patriots in past drafts.
Now the question is, will Mac Jones be the true long-term answer for the Patriots?
I emphatically believe he can be.
The Bears Trade up for Justin Fields
Looks like Andy Dalton’s reign as QB1 could be coming to a conclusion… before it started.
The Bears decided to leap up the draft board, to select Ohio State’s Justin Fields. The Bears traded up from #20 to #11, as they gave up a first and fourth-round draft pick in 2022. It’s a steep price, and a gamble, but at this point, Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace understand their time is dwindling.
Justin Fields was widely considered to be the second-quarterback off the board, early on in the draft process.
Taking a shot on his talent was a slam dunk for the Bears.
But, will it save Nagy and Pace? Or at the minimum, by them time?
A Tim Tebow Comeback?
I never thought this would be a topic, but Tim Tebow could reportedly make a comeback to the NFL.
After retiring from baseball, Tebow is looking to reunite with his former college head coach, Urban Meyer.
Tebow reportedly reached out to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and was granted a workout for the team. But, if Tebow were to make an NFL comeback it will not be at quarterback.
According to Jaguars general manager, Trent Baalke, the 33 year old Tim Tebow worked out as a tight end.
“Tebow worked out as a tight end and that's the position he'll be playing.”
It remains to be seen if Tebow will actually sign with the Jaguars, but I don’t rule it out.
It would be something to see Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow on the same sideline again.