Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers Ruled Out Tomorrow
by Greg Knopping on Dec 18, 2010 12:58 PM EST
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Things just got a hell of a lot easier for the New England Patriots tomorrow. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been ruled out for tomorrow's game against the New England Patriots, Pro Football Talk reports:
Aaron Rodgers felt good enough to make some jokes in the Packers locker room on Friday, but he's not ready to play football again.
The Packers ruled Rodgers out on Saturday after the medical staff did not clear him for the game. Rodgers is expected to still make the trip to New England, but Graham Harrell was activated off the team's practice squad. Harrell will back up Matt Flynn on Sunday.
Rodgers is expected to be on the sideline to help Flynn during the game. The team placed safety Anthony Smith on injured reserve to clear roster space for Harrell.
While, on paper, this news is excellent news for Patriots fans, the football fan in me really wanted to see a Rodgers-Brady duel on Sunday Night Football. Without Rodgers and without a reliable running game (24th in the league), the Patriots defense, which has allowed just 10 points over the last 9+ quarters, should have an easier time.
While Matt Flynn is probably an above average backup quarterback, he will not be able to do some of the things that Rodgers can do, in terms of mobility, and making something out of nothing. While Flynn was a decent game manager against the Lions last week (throwing just one interception and completing 57% of his passes, although scoring just three points), the Packers offense will be a lot more conservative. This certainly should work in the Patriots favor.
For the Packers, it will now likely be up to the team's top-ranked scoring defense to keep their team in the game.
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saw that...bet Brady was disappointed
Non Sibi Sed Patriae &I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
Toy Story wears no. 39 100x better than D.D.R
Pat McAfee -Colts punter-"@StampedeBlue I hope your website gets exposed for a complete joke. There’s no reason for you to do that, and its completely ridiculous."
"Stampede Blue-North Korea of SBN"-Colt's fan
I don't doubt our ability to score on anyone
Now with Rodgers out, I don’t think this is even going to be close. An inexperienced QB forced to throw due to the lack of a run game and likely playing from behind early sounds a lot like a Brandon Meriweather field day to me.
Deep in enemy territory
The thing is, I don't think they're going to try to force Flynn to throw
Based on what I saw against the Lions last week. And I sincerely doubt John Kuhn or Brandon Jackson are going to pick up a lot of yards against us. Which means that Flynn isn’t going to be throwing if/when the Packers are behind, and like you said, once that happens, it could be a field day for Patriots defenders.
by Greg Knopping on Dec 18, 2010 1:29 PM EST up reply actions
I'm actually interested to see how they go about it
I never thought of the Packers as a ‘trickery’ kind of team, but they might try to get creative with us. As long as our guys aren’t caught napping I think this is going to be a solid win.
Deep in enemy territory
I don’t think there will be too much trickery. Flynn’s been with us for 3 years now, and McCarthy prides himself as a Qb developer. I kind of think we’ll see a pretty similar game plan from the offense. The difference of course will be that Flynn is not Rodgers. He doesn’t move around in the pocket nearly as well as Rodgers does, and doesn’t have that ability to make something out of nothing.
I also think we’ll try to run but then will stop when we have the first few go for a loss of yards. Our offensive line is just pitiful at run blocking.
by packallday555 on Dec 18, 2010 5:34 PM EST up reply actions
This is not good. I was hoping the defense would get some experience facing an elite NFL QB heading into the playoffs
The last elite QB we faced was an out-of-form Manning and he torched us… Despite McCourty’s ascendance, I still think the secondary is vulnerable.
Fitzpatrick almost played like he was elite against us...
by UtopianAverage on Dec 18, 2010 1:34 PM EST up reply actions
Totally
I’m not saying he’s anywhere near an elite QB. Just saying he looked the part week 3, and made us look pretty bad.
by UtopianAverage on Dec 18, 2010 2:16 PM EST up reply actions
Does this list scare anyone else that's a pats fan?
Darius Butler CB Probable Thigh
Deion Branch WR Probable Knee
Tom Brady QB Probable Right shoulder, foot
Kyle Arrington CB Probable Elbow
Mike Wright DT Questionable Concussion
Gerard Warren DT Questionable Knee
Myron Pryor DT Questionable Back
Devin McCourty CB Questionable Rib
Aaron Hernandez TE Questionable Illness
Ron Brace DT Questionable Concussion
Jonathan Wilhite CB Injured-Rese Hip
Stephen Neal G Injured-Rese Shoulder
Stephen Gostkowski K Injured-Rese Thigh
Nick Kaczur T Injured-Rese Back
Kevin Faulk RB Injured-Rese Torn right ACL
Kade Weston DT Injured-Rese Undisclosed
Brandon McGowan S Injured-Rese Chest
Darryl Richard DT Injured-Rese Foot
Bret Lockett S Injured-Rese Chest
Leigh Bodden CB Injured-Rese Shoulder
Josh Barrett S Injured-Rese Shoulder
Ty Warren DT Injured-Rese Hip
That’s WAY too many people on our defense. Seriously, McCourty, Arrington, AND Butler are playing hurt? There’s more DT on that list than I really want to pay attention to. I’m also not keen on seeing Branch and Hernandez on there.
Then again, seeing Brady on there makes me feel better for some reason. :P
He's on the Dolphins
He plays with Polite.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
by Comedic.Sans on Dec 18, 2010 4:48 PM EST up reply actions
Most of those players have been on there since early in the year
so it’s not at big as that seems.
I don't think so. Homey don't play dat.
Creator of the moniker "DDR©"
That's true
The thing that concerns me is that the healthiest cornerback on our roster is Chevis Jackson.
by Greg Knopping on Dec 18, 2010 2:49 PM EST up reply actions
That is scary
But at the same time I kind of want to see what the kid can do.
He’s picked off Drew Brees for 95 yards and a TD, and he was a 3rd round pick not too long ago.
I know we only got him cause Atlanta cut him, but hey we only got Woody cause he was cut by the Jets.
by UtopianAverage on Dec 18, 2010 2:50 PM EST up reply actions
Here's scary
we just signed Tony Carter off the practice squad, apparently. I bet McCourty sit tomorrow and one of the D-linemen goes to IR.
Deep in enemy territory
Tony Carter had a few practice-player-of-the-week awards
Seems he’s doing pretty well.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
by Comedic.Sans on Dec 18, 2010 4:50 PM EST up reply actions
True
And apparently Jackson was released to make room, rendering my doom-and-gloom scenario wrong again lol
Deep in enemy territory
Yeah they released the kid
That I just said earlier, I want to see what this guy can do…
Shows what I know ! But hey, In BB I Trust.
by UtopianAverage on Dec 19, 2010 12:10 AM EST up reply actions
Dude...
Half the guys on that list are already on the IR.
And are you really counting Tom Brady? XD
That’s 10 guys on the injury report not on IR, including Brady. 4 are probably (again including Brady), so that’s 6 guys we have to worry about playing or not playing. Out of those guys, McCourty and Gerard Warren practiced, so they have a chance. Hernandez didn’t practice, but he has the flu, so if he’s better when he wakes up Sunday, he might get SOME run. That leaves Brace, Wright, and Pryor as the guys least likely to play.
Debbie Downing isn’t healthy, man. : (
Read the last sentence
I’m not downing anything .. i’m just pointing out that there’s alot of important people on that list.
I might be slightly worried about Hernandez and the flu
If the flu gets it’s hooks into a team, that could spell trouble. But, better to have that unfortunate possibility now, in the situation we are in, then, say, mid January.
If all goes well, the Pats will be able to rest up for the last couple games
AND they’ll have a bye week. I’m not worried. Now, if they lose a couple in a row and the Jets catch fire…we’ll have to talk.
Oh, if a man tried to take his time on earth, and prove before he died
What one man's life could be worth--oh, I wonder what would happen to this world.
by LegendaryTadpole on Dec 18, 2010 3:56 PM EST up reply actions
The Jets catch fire...
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
by Comedic.Sans on Dec 18, 2010 4:51 PM EST up reply actions
That's the thing I'm concerned about
Inexperienced QBs seem to have good days against the D (Bradford, Fitz)…but after watching that Lions game, he was fairly adequate. And that’s not going to get anybody by this team the way it is currently constituted.
I don't think so. Homey don't play dat.
Creator of the moniker "DDR©"
Only 3 rook QBs have ever beaten Belichick's Pats
Sanchez (1 from 2), Roethlisberger, McCoy.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
by Comedic.Sans on Dec 18, 2010 4:52 PM EST up reply actions
hatt about not just rookies, but late substitution guys who
come in and play very well. For some reason, I’m thinking there might be a guy or two on that list, maybe not. It’s not just the W factor, although ultimately that’s what counts, but it seems to me there have been a lot of situations like this where the guy plays really well, even though we pull out a win. As in, we should kill this team, and then ti comes down to the wire as the guy has a career like day against us. Like, Matt shcaub with the Falcons a few years ago, and Matt Moore with the panthers last year?
Elite means top 10%. so there are only 4 or so elite QBs in the league. we have 1. the odds of facing one of the other 3 are slim
by quadruple option on Dec 18, 2010 2:33 PM EST up reply actions
Let's make it easy and say there are 3
Brady, Brees and Manning. It’s not our fault we only get to beat one of them once a season and the other is in the NFC :)
Deep in enemy territory
Agreed. Some idiot on ESPN had something like 15 “elite” qbs.
Sorry? Half the starters are elite?
by quadruple option on Dec 18, 2010 7:00 PM EST up reply actions
Rodgers is elite. Have you seen him play?
So I guess it’s 4 definitely elite qbs.
by bbismyhero on Dec 18, 2010 7:10 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
And Vick can take over a game
I’m not sure if he’s an elite QB per se, but I could happily call him an elite football player.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
by Comedic.Sans on Dec 18, 2010 7:22 PM EST up reply actions
Now 1/6th of the QBs are elite.
Elite is a relative, not absolute scale. I have issues saying 1/6th of any group are “elite”.
think about it – within any group 1/2 are below average. now you’re saying 1/3 or the competent group are elite?
by quadruple option on Dec 18, 2010 9:20 PM EST up reply actions
4 QBs, 5 elite players who happen to play QB
If that makes sense. I’d still put three on the top tier, although Rodgers would enter it if he won a Super Bowl (or maybe if he got to one).
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
by Comedic.Sans on Dec 18, 2010 9:23 PM EST up reply actions
Brady, Brees, Manning are locks.
The next tier: Rapistberger, Rivers, Rodgers, Ryan (I think he’s there, but open to arguments), and any other QB who’s name begins with an R. Freeman could make it to the second level, while Bradford has Elite potential.
"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West
by insertscreenname on Dec 19, 2010 4:16 AM EST up reply actions
I'm good with that list
I’m still struggling with what to call Vick. I’m not sure he’s an elite QB… but he’s a good-to-great QB and a great RB all rolled into one. So he’s an extra player on the field at any given time, and that deserves some sort of extra recognition.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
by Comedic.Sans on Dec 19, 2010 4:29 AM EST up reply actions
Vick was never a throwing QB
in the same mould as Brees, Brady or Manning. However, if he continues to throw as well as he is this year, he would fit in with the Rs. His running ability is akin to a RB dump-off (good for 10 yards or a 1st), but he’s never had that pocket presence. He may be the best playmaker in the league, but he doesn’t belong on the same list as the best QBs.
"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West
by insertscreenname on Dec 19, 2010 6:12 AM EST up reply actions
Ah, that could be the category
‘Playmakers’.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
by Comedic.Sans on Dec 19, 2010 3:50 PM EST up reply actions
I think it's fair to include Vick
In a list of good to great, possibly even elite QBs. It’s the position he plays so why not ?
Noones calling him a prolific pocket passer… that’s not what he is.
But he’s a great scarmbling QB, and a better passer this year than I remember him being years ago.
by UtopianAverage on Dec 19, 2010 3:52 PM EST up reply actions
I could watch his long throws all day quite happily.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
by Comedic.Sans on Dec 19, 2010 4:03 PM EST up reply actions
But until this season, he was never very good throwing the ball.
Now, maybe this is how he will play for the rest of his career, or he will regress back to where he was in ATL.
"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West
by insertscreenname on Dec 19, 2010 11:00 PM EST up reply actions
I get what you're saying
Some more experience against top QBs would be great, but with all the minor injuries on the D right now I’d hate for people to push themselves too hard against Rodgers and get something more serious. Instead of the starters getting experience against a maestro, some of the bench/new guys might be able to get more acclimated to the Pats D and gain a little more confidence.
Also home field advantage is right there for the taking now, and Manning and Rivers might have a little more difficult time racking up yards on a January day in New England.
by Aluminum Penguin on Dec 18, 2010 6:00 PM EST up reply actions
Pats are bringing up Tony Carter from the PS...
…which leads me to believe that the Pats were waiting for the Rodgers signal to see if they should play McCourty. I think now that Flynn is starting, the Patriots will sit McCourty a week and led Carter play a little. He’s been practice player of the week 4 times, but he’s 5’9 175 lbs. Small guy, big heart, big team player. Let’s see how he does.
They could write him off the 45 man roster, or they could suit him and sit him.
That way if the secondary suddenlt makes Flynn look like Manning, McCourty could go in.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 19, 2010 1:21 AM EST up reply actions
The Tony Carter promotion/Rogers inactive status
definitely makes sitting McCourty sound very possible
I don't get why everyone thinks Flynn isn't mobile.
The dude would take off in college and get decent gains. That being said, Pats better crush him.
I recall him making a nice run in the Lions game for a first down
and in the process he took a vicious shot to the head and got some serious angry eyes from McCarthy.
I think Flynn after a full week of getting all the reps in practice
will be a lot better than last week.
That being said, this is a game the Patriots should win. My biggest concern is protecting Brady from Clay. If we do that, we should roll.
CB Jackson waived to make room for Carter
Non Sibi Sed Patriae &I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
Toy Story wears no. 39 100x better than D.D.R
Pat McAfee -Colts punter-"@StampedeBlue I hope your website gets exposed for a complete joke. There’s no reason for you to do that, and its completely ridiculous."
"Stampede Blue-North Korea of SBN"-Colt's fan
I kind of wanted to see Jackson play
But small and scrappy players have been working so far, so we might as well see if lightning can strike again. Keep the pipeline going with players who show a lot of heart (with a Boston accent).
by Aluminum Penguin on Dec 18, 2010 6:06 PM EST up reply actions
Me too.
But hey, I trust what BB does. He’s been right more often than not.
by UtopianAverage on Dec 19, 2010 12:13 AM EST up reply actions
O'Brien is the KEY
If the new O’Brien [ I am amazed at his improved performance!] continues with his superb play calling, NO team has a chance against the PATS. Period.
The PAT’S offense will shred any “D”, they’ll get an add to an early lead, they’’ll chew up clock, and they’ll turn every opposing “O” into a one dimensional attack. The PAT’S TE’s are the unstoppable option. Their increased use has been the difference, IMHO. Forcing the “D” to monitor these three TE’s has created phenominal mis matches for Welker, Woodhead, Branch, and Tate.
I am so pleased that O’Brien has turned the corner and has begun to integrate the TE’s into the offfense as key players.
I agree in that
O’Brien has been superb.
I’m not as sure that we’re unstoppable. But I do love our new look O.
I think I’ll refer to Mike Reiss here. Although I don’t have a specific link off the top of my head, in his mailbag and chat and such whenever he got questions about O’Brien being horrible, he always said that he was a good coach and was going through growing pains. Part of me could not believe it at the time, but now I believe he was right.
by UtopianAverage on Dec 19, 2010 12:17 AM EST up reply actions
They have great corners and # scoring defense...
…but their schedule doesn’t seem all that strong in terms of offense. Am I being too overconfident?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/schedules/2010/green-bay-packers/index.html
Eagles (pre-Vick explosion), Vikings (1st time), Detroit (1st time), and Falcons were still able to put 20 or more points, though none over 30.
I really hope the Pats can do it.
Those corners could turn a game
Remember, a pick-6 can take 7 points off the board from the Pats and put 7 on the board for the Packers in one play. I’m thinking of Champ Bailey being raced down by Ben Watson; it was a 14 point play (even if not quite a pick-6). Woodson’s in the same category as Bailey, and Tramon’s not far off.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
by Comedic.Sans on Dec 19, 2010 3:45 AM EST up reply actions
Bah
Now I’m less confident that Brady’s interception-less streak continues. He was extremely lucky last week. Can’t count on that.
The good thing is the CBs can't cover everyone
I wouldn’t complain at all if Branch and Welker were shut out this game, as long as that means Brady is targeting Gronk, Hernandez, Tate and Woodhead a lot. Avoid their CBs and they can’t get picks.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
by Comedic.Sans on Dec 19, 2010 3:51 PM EST up reply actions
It would also be nice if Edelman gained some confidence and started to catch again.
He’d be a nice guy to have in the mix if he found his hands.
Julian, meet the the JUGS machine. JUGS machine, meet Julian.
Oh, and you catch the ball by watching it come into your hands.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 21, 2010 3:24 PM EST up reply actions
Their DBs have the potential to change the game
I sincerely hope they don’t, but acknowledge it as a possibility.
Hey Woodson is reigning DPOY for a reason right ?
by UtopianAverage on Dec 19, 2010 3:39 PM EST up reply actions
Something I completely forgot
Flynn is an LSU boy. Belichick is friends with Meyer and Saban so he can EASILY learn about this kid. Couple that with the fact that Spikes, who can’t play but can advise, knows very well what LSU looked like with Flynn in and this could be a rough game for Flynn.
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