A new era has seemingly arrived in Green Bay, Wisconsin. One that many saw coming throughout the last three years. While no trade has yet to be authorized, it’s clear that the Jordan Love era will officially begin this season, marking the end of another. However, until the Aaron Rodgers trade goes through between the Green Bay Packers and the New York Jets, Love will be forced to ignore the noise.
The noise in question is coming from all over. When will the Rodgers trade actually be finalized? What will the compensation look like? Is moving on really the right direction for this franchise? Has Love proved he’s ready to take over as the starting quarterback?
Since being selected with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Love has been a master at ignoring the noise surrounding him. The noise began and was loud as soon as the card was read by Roger Goodell that night.
Love never wavered under the noise and the pressure. For three years, he kept his head down behind the shadow of one of the league’s best and continued to work toward this moment. Throughout that time, only those within the Packers’ organization have seen the progress the quarterback they traded up in the first round to select has made. The people inside the building know and “absolutely” believe that Love is ready for this moment.
“I have complete confidence in his ability, but also just his approach,” head coach Matt LaFleur said. “It’s been fun to watch him mature as a football player, as a man, over the course of these last three years. And just the way he walks around the building, his approach, his urgency, his fundamentals, everything that goes into being a quarterback, I think we’ve seen significant growth from him.
However, the noise will continue for the foreseeable future. Love continues to take the high road and work in silence, surrounded by the pandemonium happening around him. While the news continues to circulate regarding the now-expected trade, Love has been in California this month preparing for the start of the offseason program. On Monday, it was reported that running back Aaron Jones, wide receiver Christian Watson, and wide receiver Romeo Doubs joined Love in California to “workout and start to try and get their timing down.”
Love has always handled his career with the utmost professionalism but the loudest noise will come during the season. When Rodgers took over as the starting quarterback in 2008, the Green Bay Packers finished with a record of 6-10 and ended up missing the playoffs. If history truly is to repeat itself in Green Bay, the Packers fans will need to tone down the expectations of this upcoming season.
However, with Love at the helm in Green Bay, things should eventually start to ascend with the franchise. Not saying the Packers will return to the Rodgers-led expectations and outcomes, although who’s to say that they won’t? At the end of the day, the decision is all but finalized and the Jordan Love era has begun. Here’s to hoping that the new franchise signal-caller can continue doing what he’s done best once the bright lights come on.
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Kole Noble is a lifelong Packers fan currently living in North Carolina and is a huge NFL Draft nut. You can follow him on twitter at @SlawSportsShow.
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