The Aaron Rodgers Argument

[brdmaverick]

I just don't get it. Why do many national media pundits still think Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback now and of all time?

It still boggles my mind. I mean, are people that starved to put up a contrarian point of view against Brady? People are always so eager to hype 'the next guy' and put far more weight on someone's potential versus looking at others have already done.

I realize I'm preaching to the choir on this forum, but I think the argument ends with this statement that is true..........

Aaron Rodgers can only dream about doing what Tom Brady has already done.

Think about that, Aaron Rodgers would have to be insanely fortunate to win 5 titles, a feat already achieved by Tom Brady.

Sure, I could understand the 'want for a debate' if Brady's best years were behind him. Because (unrightly so), people always put more emphasis on the 'here and now' than the past, but in this argument Brady wins both the PAST and the HERE AND NOW! It's not like all of his titles and regular season success came 10 years ago. Brady is still going strong and continues to (obviously winning two of the last three titles).

And this rant is coming from someone who actually really likes Aaron Rodgers. I've said on this forum a few times before that the Packers are my 'nfc team' and that I really enjoyed watching Favre play and now Rodgers. But for people to try to elevate him over Brady is just plain crazy.

Sorry, had to vent.

 

[XLIX]

I don't mind the venting, but I haven't seen a single conversation about Rodgers being the greatest of all time since the GB-Atlanta game.

 

[brdmaverick]

I don't mind the venting, but I haven't seen a single conversation about Rodgers being the greatest of all time since the GB-Atlanta game.

More or less just dealing with some jerks in the office.

But the fact that this conversation even existed during the GB-ATL is still mind blowing right? After all, at that juncture, Brady was still 3 titles up on him and had just as good of a shot (if not better due to homefield) of winning the title for the current year.

 

[BobDigital]

If someone wants to say right this minute in time Rodgers is better than Brady that is fine. I would disagree but that is okay.

All time it's no contest.

 

[AtomicDawg]

I can understand making the argument when it comes to physical attributes, but NOBODY is better pre snap at reading coverage and blitz, or during a play for that matter. Rodgers escapes pressure by running out of the pocket and relying on strength and speed; Brady fixes that before the snap with superior intelligence.

And then with a sub-.500 record in the playoffs (yes the 1 SB included), that conversation should end right there.

 

[sphen22]

People are just arguing physical talent, not determination, leadership and team mentality.

Brady is the ultimate quarterback because he has every box checked.

 

[PatsBoy12]

I don't mind the venting, but I haven't seen a single conversation about Rodgers being the greatest of all time since the GB-Atlanta game.

I never heard him talked about as the greatest of all time before the GB-ATL game. He's simply not and will never be, no matter his stats. He doesn't have the heart. Still, I would take him if I could not have Brady. He's probably the second best QB in the league present day.

I don't know why it bothers anyone what the media says at this point. Brady has won two Super Bowls and Super Bowl MVP's since the media started predicting his decline. They have him voted most likely to decline next season. Who gives a f*ck?

 

[BobDigital]

I can understand making the argument when it comes to physical attributes, but NOBODY is better pre snap at reading coverage and blitz, or during a play for that matter. Rodgers escapes pressure by running out of the pocket and relying on strength and speed; Brady fixes that before the snap with superior intelligence.

And then with a sub-.500 record in the playoffs (yes the 1 SB included), that conversation should end right there.

Rodgers is actually 9-7 in the playoffs these days (it says 10-7 but that first win was with Favre and him as a backup in to end the game so that doesn't count).

I actually think he is okay in the playoffs. Not particularly clutch though. Rodgers is the ultimate front runner and interestingly enough never passed 50 times in a playoff game. Even when down.

 

[Simpelton]

I could see an argument that Rodgers is the best quarterback playing the game today. Brady is a legend but he's solidly on the back 9 and Rodgers is in his prime. But in terms of all time greatness, that's a lifetime achievement kind of thing, and Rodgers, as good as he is, simply isn't the achiever Brady has been.

He's very, very, very good, but my impression of Rodgers is either as a great QB with mediocre teams, or a QB who while exceptionally talented, lacks that extra clutch gear that Brady has in the critical moments of playoff games. Can't decide which, but either way, it puts him firmly out of the running for GOAT.

 

[TB_Helmet]

People don't understand football. They get too caught up in fantasy football. They only watch it on a surface level and on the surface Rodgers often looks better than Brady.

If Rodgers could read the defense better and set protections, maybe he wouldn't have to constantly be running scramble drills.

 

[Deus Irae]

Rodgers is the Elway of his era, albeit with less overall playoff success, and with the one SB win earlier in the career. All the proclaimed talent in the world, for whatever various reasons, doesn't quite translate to equivalent postseason glory.

 

[XLIX]

More or less just dealing with some jerks in the office.

heh heh, yes office environments tend to have a couple of those.

But the fact that this conversation even existed during the GB-ATL is still mind blowing right? After all, at that juncture, Brady was still 3 titles up on him and had just as good of a shot (if not better due to homefield) of winning the title for the current year.

It is because of how incredibly short sighted the modern day media is. Aaron Rodgers had a phenomenal game against Dallas, no doubt about it. So all the mediots spent the next week saying he was the greatest ever.

Then all that talk completely disappeared after they lost to Atlanta.

 

[Gronkowski123]

Rodgers is an overrated front runner. He had 1 lucky postseason run, since then his teams have constantly flamed out. I think he has a losing record in the playoffs since his SB win.

 

[Nehalem]

I could see an argument that Rodgers is the best quarterback playing the game today. Brady is a legend but he's solidly on the back 9 and Rodgers is in his prime. But in terms of all time greatness, that's a lifetime achievement kind of thing, and Rodgers, as good as he is, simply isn't the achiever Brady has been.

And that argument would be wrong. Looking at the stats the better argument is Rodgers outplayed Brady from 2011-2014. Brady outplayed Rodgers from 2015-2016.

 

[scott99]

It's because Manning retired. The haters HAVE to have someone they say is better than Brady.

 

[Nehalem]

Rodgers is an overrated front runner. He had 1 lucky postseason run, since then his teams have constantly flamed out. I think he has a losing record in the playoffs since his SB win.

From 2010+ excluding his Super Bowl season Rodgers is 6-6. Doesn't sound too good.

The problem with that argument is for the same 7 years, excluding the 2 SB winning years Brady is 5-5 in the playoffs. Simply put pretty much the only way to have an impressive playoff record is to win the Super Bowl.

 

[letekro]

Nobody is arguing he has better accomplishments or resume. The argument is that he is more talented and if he had Belichick and the Patriots system and Bradys longevity he would match or exceed his accomplishments. That can be legitimately argued although it requires somehow extricating Bradys greatness from Belichicks, which is impossible.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

People don't understand football. They get too caught up in fantasy football. They only watch it on a surface level and on the surface Rodgers often looks better than Brady.

If Rodgers could read the defense better and set protections, maybe he wouldn't have to constantly be running scramble drills.

I would add to this that pundits and many reporting probably have no idea what it takes for a QB to actually play the position and probably have a "fan" level of knowledge.

Their stories look at only what they can see and assume that what they see somehow infers some type of known quality. I don't think we'd argue that Rodgers has better physical traits than TB. He can run better, make throws on the run better, has a stronger arm (though there was never anything wrong with Bray's). He's accurate and careful with the football.

The mental aspects, reading progressions, processing speed, intangibles (leadership, getting players to reach their ceiling or even set a new ceiling, ...) aren't obvious or quantifiable to them. They don't even take the time to dig into the depth of a subject (like what he does during his offseason to keep getting better).

I'd listen to the people who know what they are talking about and ignore the noise.

 

[Nikolai]

I noticed the OP is saying that people in his office are saying this, not necessarily pointing to media.

Honestly dude, they're just trying to get a rise out of you. I've had people come up to me and say Fivehead was better, or Flacco is better. Laugh a bit. And ponder aloud how many rings you think Brady might get on his other hand.

 

[Wheelman]

One of the big issues when people debate between Brady and Rodgers is people end up debating who's the better passer. Obviously Rodgers is the better passer. But Quarterbacking takes more than just passing ability.

Tom Brady is without a doubt the better Quarterback.