Back To The Backup Question

August 13, 2008
posted under: free agency, Packers, Ted Thompson

Back To The Backup Question

Remember back to those heady days of spring when Brett Favre retired and we thought he would stay retired? Ah, those were good times. But there was also the question of whether or not the Packers should be in the market for a veteran QB to back up Aaron Rodgers during his first year as a starter, a question that seemed to get answered with a resounding “no” by Ted Thompson because he didn’t sign anyone.

Now that we’ve had a chance to see Rodgers and his understudies play in an exhibition game, it’s fair I think to revisit the question because neither Brian Brohm nor Matt Flynn showed anything to suggest they could be an adequate backup at this point. Jason Wilde in today’s Wisconsin State Journal managed to ask TT about this and got the stock “we’re comfortable with our guys” answer, but the general manager also left himself some wiggle room by saying, “You can never say never.”

I read this to mean that Mike McCarthy still thinks he can turn one of those guys into a servicable backup in the next couple weeks. And who knows, maybe he can. I also think that neither TT nor MM is too thrilled with the talent out there looking for work, which by my reckoning is a pretty small group consisting of Daunte Culpepper, Tim Rattay, and Chris Weinke. Culpepper, of course, visited Green Bay this spring without any deal being done and just turned up his nose at a backup job in Pittsburgh, so I doubt his name is being discussed much. There didn’t seem to be much interest in Rattay at 1265 Lombardi Ave. earlier this year despite the protestations of Cheesehead TV. Minds may have changed, but probably not. Weinke? We might be better off with Flynn.

There is, of course, Craig Nall still waiting out in the wings. He might have a better grasp of the system than any other free agent candidate, he’s got some playing experience, and I’m guessing he still has a reserved seat at Brett Favre’s Steakhouse. Could Nall get his third act in Green Bay? You can never say never, I guess.

Jeremy Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 11:28 am

No matter how much confidence TT and MM have in Brohm and Flynn, I still say we need to bring in some kind of veteran or serviceable backup for Rodgers, either via trade or free agency. There’s not many guys out there to sign right now besides Culpepper and he’s gone crazy, considering he didn’t sign with Pitt because he thought he should have been given a chance to start. Forget him. Maybe TT will work his magic and trade away a 6th rounder for a quality backup later on in the preseason.

Personally, though, I think we definitely need to bring in someone. I think Brohm might have a bright future and even Flynn could turn into a decent #2 guy. But the fact of the matter is, this year, they are both ROOKIES. Rodgers himself said it took three years for him to fully understand the WCO. And I haven’t done the research on it, but you’d be hard pressed to find a rookie QB who was thrown into the mix right away who succeeded and led their team to the playoffs.

You can’t count on or anticipate injuries to happen, but if Rodgers does go down for an extended period of time, I think we’re in trouble if Brohm and Flynn are back there, no matter how much the run game or defense would step it up. Like I said, I think Brohm can turn into a good starting QB in two or three years, but a rookie is a rookie and I don’t want to see him or Flynn on the field too much this season.

Look at all the teams who had QB injuries last season. It happens alot and having a quality backup, I believe, is very important. I’m just not comfortable with two rookies as our backups right now, but maybe I’m wrong. Like I always say, there’s a reason Thompson and McCarthy, are an NFL general manager and head coach, respectively. Time will tell.

Anyhow, just wanted to tell you I read your blog everyday, just never really comment. I go by “TheVegas” on the internet and I recently started blogging over at PackOne’s blog: http://citizenwausau.com/packone/.

Just thought I would introduce myself.

Take it easy.

Jeremy (TheVegas)