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Phoenix – At the NFL Owner’s Meeting . . .
I heard somebody who covers Green Bay talking about expecting a lot of 1 pm games this year.
As you know, the NFL likes to put the marquis matchups in the 4 pm window on Sunday or Monday, or primetime on Thursday, Sunday and Monday.
The Jets haven’t been in the late windows on Sunday or played night games much the last few years while going through some rough seasons.
The Packers, on the other hand, with Aaron Rodgers, were in those prominent time slots regularly.
The reason the reporter from Green Bay probably said what he said was he thinks with Aaron Rodgers likely going to the Jets, the Packers are going to start unproven Jordan Love at QB, and could struggle as he gets comfortable as a starter. So when NFL schedule gurus Mike North, Howard Katz and Charlotte Carey put together this year’s schedule, they will likely cut back on premium slots for Green Bay from past years and put them a lot in the early window.
The Jets on the other hand, if they land Rodgers, which is highly likely, they will be playing a lot more games at 4 pm on Sunday, and in prime time.
This shows you the impact of having an elite franchise QB.
One team’s TV value will likely be diminished, and the other increase exponentially.
So the Jets’ Q-Rating will change once Rodgers arrives?
When will that be?
“I feel like there have been productive conversations, but we are not where we need to be,” said Jets GM Joe Douglas. “Still positive this process is going to play out in a positive way. We are on a path, we have a plan and we are going to let it play out.”
The fact that the Packers don’t need to get a first-round pick for Rodgers, according to their GM Brian Gutekunst, will help this process resolve sooner rather than later.
How did we get to this point where Rodgers is actually available for the Jets to trade for him?
Let’s just cut to the chase – he forced his way out.
How else does a franchise QB get away from his current team?
Look, Rodgers isn’t an angel, but he’s clearly fed up with the Packers’ brass.
He knows darn well that he has a lot more to do with the success of the Packers than their brass, and he clearly thinks in recent years they have made some dubious decisions and he’s sick of it.
Elite QBs make everybody look better. They are like a rising tide lifting all boats. They raise the collective IQs of all the decision-makers. Look at Tampa Bay. When they won the Super Bowl with Tom Brady. Their GM, who survived three coaching changes, suddenly was viewed as one of the NFL’s best. Robert Kraft became an iconic owner when Brady was there.
So let’s be honest, Rodgers wanted out, and by ignoring the GM’s calls, and saying certain things on the McAfee Show, he’s about to get his wish. It was a Machiavellian way to get what he wanted.
And the Jets are close to getting what they wanted, and will likely be placed in a lot of premium TV spots, with the Packers, likely, not so much.
March 30, 2023
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