Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has already given the team an ultimatum and it appears he is close to signing a deal with them. Former Green Bay Packer linebacker A.J. Hawk, who played alongside Aaron for over 10 years says that “the QB should stay” because of how much time they’ve spent together on and off the field throughout their careers.
The “a.j. hawk aaron rodgers” is an article that argues the case for Aaron Rodgers to stay with the Green Bay Packers.
The great majority of Green Bay Packers supporters want quarterback Aaron Rodgers to return to the state of Wisconsin for the 2022 season and beyond. Fans of NFC North clubs are hopeful he moves on to another team next season. A third group of supporters (the Raiders, Broncos, and Steelers) wants him to find a new team. As long as it’s at their preferred location.
Ex-NFL player A.J. Hawk, a Packers fan with more clout than most since he spent nine seasons at Lambeau Field with Rodgers, recently pushed the quarterback on sticking in Green Bay. Rodgers’ argument was backed up by some mind-blowing facts concerning his relationship with his favorite wide out.
With the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers and A.J. Hawk won a Super Bowl together.
Aaron Rodgers and A.J. Hawk (from left to right) | Stacy Revere/Getty Images; Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
A.J. Hawk and Aaron Rodgers are polar opposites.
Rodgers is a self-described “Cali Boy” from California. He couldn’t get a full ride out of high school, so he went to Butte Community College. He received a scholarship at Cal-Berkley after a solid season there, and two more excellent seasons (albeit not good enough to make him a top 10 Heisman Trophy contender) made him a high prospect in the 2005 NFL Draft.
Despite his potential and the fact that he was regarded a top-five selection by NFL clubs, he was selected 24th overall by the Green Bay Packers.
Hawk, on the other hand, was a high school All-American from Centerville, Ohio. He joined with the Ohio State Buckeyes, a powerhouse in his native state, and appeared in 51 games over his four years in Columbus. As a freshman, the linebacker earned the National Championship. As a junior and senior, he was named a consensus All-American and earned the 2005 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Vince Lombardi Awards. He also placed sixth in the 2005 Heisman Trophy race.
Hawk’s great collegiate career earned him the No. 5 overall pick by the Packers in 2006.
In the NFL, Rodgers and Hawk’s trajectories differed even further.
Hawk established himself as a competent, dependable starting linebacker in the league, where he spent 11 years. He didn’t make the Pro Bowl, and he never quite lived up to the potential that drew the Packers to give him a top-five choice in the draft.
Rodgers, on the other hand, has become one of the finest quarterbacks in NFL history, with 10 Pro Bowl appearances, three All-Pro selections, and three NFL MVP Awards to his credit. He’s been in the NFL for 17 years and counting, and he’s still an MVP candidate.
Despite their disputes, Rodgers and Hawk enjoyed a great deal of success together, including a Super Bowl victory in 2010. They’re still excellent friends, appearing on the Pat McAfee Show regularly as guests (Rodgers) and co-hosts (Hawk) respectively.
Hawk said that the QB should remain in Green Bay because of his friendship with All-Pro WR Davante Adams.
Following Aaron Rodgers’ discontented offseason, one widespread theory is that 2021 will be Rodgers’ and No. 1 receiver Davante Adam’s last season in Green Bay.
Since then, the Packers’ front management has made it clear that, whatever Rodgers does this summer, he will not be bringing his favorite target with him when he departs Wisconsin. On this week’s Pat McAfee Show, A.J. Hawk explained to the quarterback:
We know what you think of [Davante Adams] and how unstoppable you two are, which makes for entertaining viewing. However, if they don’t come up with a long-term [contract] solution for him, he’ll be tagged next year, according to rumors. So Davante will almost certainly be a member of the Packers next season.
The bond between Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams, according to A.J. Hawk
McAfee came in and offered some incredible numbers on the duo’s connection when Hawk pointed out that leaving Green Bay also meant losing his connection with Adams behind.
Rodgers’ stat line when throwing to Adams since 2020 looks like this:
- 223 successful completions
- 2,812 feet
- 29 total touchdowns
- a score of 133 on the exam
Even more astonishing is Adams’ full dominance in the first half of the 2021 season. He leads all Green Bay pass catchers in three important statistical categories heading into Week 18, and the second-place player in each isn’t even close:
- There are 151 targets in all (most by 88)
- There have been 108 receptions (most by 58)
- 1,411 yards receiving (most by 984)
Consider that for a moment. In terms of targets, yards, and receptions, Adams is a near-Pro Bowl season ahead of the second-place Packer in 2021.
This unusual bond between the quarterback and the catcher might be enough to persuade Rodgers to extend his stay in Green Bay beyond this season.
Another Packers fan on the ‘Pat McAfee Show’ made a different case for Rodgers to remain with the club.
On the Pat McAfee Show, A.J. Hawk isn’t the only Green Bay Packers fan. Ty Schmit, the show’s producer, is a hardcore Cheesehead as well.
Schmit has taken a different approach in the hopes of achieving the same result as Hawk: retaining Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. Following Rodgers’ guest appearance on the Manning Cast during what seemed to be Ben Roethlisberger’s last home game as a Pittsburgh Steeler, the talk show producer attempted to appeal to the quarterback’s emotions:
I’m not sure how much of the Big Ben postgame show you watched last night. And, as you said, you’re definitely focused on what’s going on right now. But you’ve also said how much you admire players like Kobe [Bryant] and Tim Duncan, who spent their whole careers with the same franchise. … Do you ever think to yourself, “It would be wonderful if, when my time is up, it’s in Green Bay?” And then I receive that reaction and my career is over?’
Aaron Rodgers’ ambition to play for just one team in his career, according to Ty Schmit
“Of course,” Rodgers said, “you think about such things when you’re me.” “It’s part of the viewpoint and sentimental fondness after 17 years in the same place.”
The former Cal Bear spoke more about Roethlisberger, but never directly answered Schmit’s question about how strongly he wants to remain with one club for the rest of his career.
The main lessons from Hawk and Schmit’s proddings for Rodgers to remain in Green Bay are straightforward. Rodgers has a lot of practical, common-sense reasons to continue with the Packers. Few NFL quarterbacks, though, have ever marched to the beat of their own drum as much as Rodgers.
As a result, no one — even Rodgers — knows what the future Hall of Fame quarterback will do this summer, despite all the reasons he should remain.
Pro Football Reference and Sports Reference provided all stats.
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The “packers schedule” is a blog article written by A.J. Hawk, who used to be on the Green Bay Packers. The article discusses Aaron Rodgers’ decision to stay or leave the team.
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