After a blazing start, the Packers are now 2-3, and inevitably, the conversation has turned to "what's wrong with Aaron Rodgers." Since, you know, he's responsible for the disappearance of the running game and a tackling-optional defense.
According to Football Outsiders, through five weeks, Rodgers and his bum throwing shoulder are 17th in the league in quarterback efficiency, just behind Peyton Manning and two spots ahead of Ben Roethlisberger. And while Brett Favre ranks 11th, there's the little issue of offensive balance and pass protection that also factors into the rankings.
Whatever, most rational people can agree that Green Bay's recent slide has nothing to do with Rodgers' performance. Which is why it makes perfect sense to hear Dan Marino blabbering on during this afternoon's CBS Pregame Show:
You know what, they shouldn't have traded away Brett Favre because, look it, last year, they were 13-3 with him, they went to the NFC Championship game -- what more does that prove? He's a guy who still has ability -- you saw what he's done for the New York Jets. He's healthy, you gotta go with the guy, the veteran that's there. ... I'm saying [the Packers] made a mistake trading away Brett Favre.
Wow, the stupidity is blinding, really. Look, I know this is a contrived segment made for television, and I don't even know if Marino believes what he's saying. But, jeebus, the fatuousness burns.
Luckily, Shannon Sharpe, the voice of reason, drops the logic hammer:
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The Packers' problem is not the quarterback, it's their inability to consistently run the football, and their inability to stop the run ... even if they had Brett Favre, I'm not so sure they'd be any better off because they can't run it. ...
Last year, Ryan Grant ran the football well, last year, they stopped the run ... What, was Brett Favre carrying the football last year?
The answer, Dan, is no, no he wasn't.
