Aaron Rodgers may not be too pleased with one of the moves the Packers made to restructure their coaching staff. While a new GM might mean more avenues to team improvement are now open, one of Rodgers’ former position coaches is now in Cincinnati. Rodgers spoke out about Alex Van Pelt not being retained as quarterbacks coach.
“My quarterback coach didn’t get retained,” Rodgers said (Twitter link via Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin). “I thought that was an interesting change — really without consulting me. There’s a close connection between quarterback and quarterback coach. And that was an interesting decision.”
Van Pelt spent six seasons on Green Bay’s staff, the last four coming as QBs coach. The Packers let his contract expire at season’s end, freeing him to join the Bengals. Frank Cignetti Jr. will now serve as Green Bay’s QBs coach, coming over after two years as Giants quarterbacks instructor. He will work under now-two-time Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin — OC for the team’s most recent Super Bowl title and Rodgers’ first MVP slate a year later. However, Rodgers won the second of his two MVPs under Van Pelt, in 2014 and threw 40 touchdown passes in 2016.
Here’s the latest from the NFC North scene:
- The Vikings have yet to make a decision about Pat Shurmur‘s replacement, but they’ve interviewed four OC candidates and are possibly waiting to talk to Eagles QBs coach John DeFilippo. Whomever the team chooses, that coach will play a key role in determining who will be Minnesota’s quarterback in 2018. “He’ll have a major part of the decision-making process. He’ll be heavily involved in that,” Rick Spielman said. “The way that we structure everything is that everybody has a part in that process … myself, Coach (Mike) Zimmer, our scouting department and all of our coaches.” With Zimmer being a defensive-minded leader, it could naturally be assumed the new OC will be the top offensive voice on the team and place him in position to help make a difficult call for a franchise with three UFA quarterbacks.
- Mike Glennon will not be Mitch Trubisky‘s backup next season, leading Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com to wonder if Chase Daniel would be an option for the Bears. Although Daniel was not with the Chiefs during Matt Nagy‘s two years as OC, he played three seasons behind Alex Smith when Nagy was the team’s QBs coach. Daniel spent 2017 backing up Drew Brees again. Dickerson listed Josh McCown, who rose back to relevance after a strong 2013 relief stint with the Bears, and Tyler Bray as other possible choices. The latter, though, having thrown just one pass in five NFL seasons could pose a problem in inspiring confidence he’s a No. 2 option.
- Although Malcolm Butler has played a key role with the Patriots ever since his era-reshaping interception sealed their Super Bowl XLIX win, two NFL personnel men are not as high on him as they are other UFA corners. Both told the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs Butler would rank third behind Trumaine Johnson and Bears emerging defender Kyle Fuller if given the choice of the three. Each pointed to Butler’s small stature as a drawback. But the Bears went after Janoris Jenkins and Stephon Gilmore, respectively, the past two offseasons. And corner remains a need area. They figure to be in the market for a top-tier UFA here, and it stands to reason these three will be on the radar.
Love A-Rodge, but the proof is in the pudding with Van Pelt. In his 3 years at QB coach, he clearly failed to get any QB prepared. Hundley looked lost. It was time to move on.
I put that way more on hundley than van pelt.
Hundley sucks, don’t blame the qb coach…lmao
WHY is Rodgers NOT a free agent as a result of being placed on IR 2X in the same season for the same injury?
It’s called ***kissing. It’s the sane reason why you can’t touch Rodgers or Brady without a flag being thrown. Meanwhile other QBs like Cam Newton get the business and refs look the other way. Bias towards certain teams and players has made the sport unwatchable for me.
Nentwigs, that rule is a joke. You probably only win at Mario Party when Chance gives you someone else’s Stars.
And quit crying ChiSox. Brady rarely leaves the pocket, so he gets those calls more often than someone who does. There’s a million other things to cry about with Brady and the Pats than that.
Cam establishes himself as a runner quite a bit, so it gets a little harder for a Ref to make those calls. And how did Rodgers make your example? Where was the flag when Rodgers collarbone was crushed? You could cry about Rodgers trying to get free plays with too many men on the field, but the refs are slowing him down with that now.
Also, the NFL is nothing but Flags if you haven’t realized that yet. Although, you probably stopped watching after years of watching Cutler ride a bike on the sideline. Go Pack Go.
Did you seriously just make a Mario Party reference? Found the dork.
The late hits and unnecessary roughness on Newton ARE in the pocket. In any event, I am sick of the no calls, blown calls and late flags that gift wrap wins for NE and make Superbowls boring and predictable. And I haven’t watched a Super Bowl in three years, so that should tell you something. I don’t know why the NFL, NBA and MLB insist in playing favorites when it comes to certain teams (I’m sure Vegas has something to do with it), but it needs to stop.
I don’t recall any flag on the play Rodgers broke his collar bone (not saying it deserved one – it didn’t)
Well why would there be a flag if there was no penalty. What is your point
Because they said it was reaggravated. You can go back on for the same injury you once had.
Even if he was a free agent, you honestly think he’d leave Green Bay? Please. There is nothing more absurd than that line of thinking.
Yeah, like Peyton Manning would never leave Indy. Oh wait….
I think he was more so getting at the fact that the packers would pay him the king’s ransom to keep him
Yeah I forgot the packers drafted Andrew luck, why would Rodgers want to come back……
Rodgers should leave Green Bay. Packers are cheap as hell. McCarthy is amongst one the worst head coaches in the game. Couldn’t even imagine what Rodgers could do in New England if he simply traded places with Brady.
I’m curious why Mark Sanchez wouldn’t be considered as a backup in Chicago. He’s been a good teammate in meetings, familiar with Trubisky and can help on/off the field. He’s cheap and won’t be totally overwhelmed if pressed into spot duty.
Tyler Bray, David Fales or Brandon Weeden could serve as the #3
I would suggest a late round developmental prospect as the #3, but with Trubisky still being a developmental guy and having given up their 3rd round pick in the Trubisky trade, they may not have the luxury to draft a QB to flip in a year or three.