Matt LaFleur, the Green Bay Packers head coach, gave Jordan Love a word of praise in an interview after a match against the New Orleans Saints in the 2022 preseason.
The Packers have pocketed a 20-10 win over the Saints, and LaFleur complimented Love’s performance in this match, saying that Love was “light years ahead” of where he was last year.
Four highlight reel incompletions from Jordan Love. Two straight up drops, one that is probably complete if it's to a WR, and one where the WR adjusts to the ball the wrong way (he didn't have to adjust to it). pic.twitter.com/loRwtxy8RD
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) August 20, 2022
“I think the game has slowed down for him,” LaFleur said. “I see a much more decisive player. I think that’s going to lead to a much more effective player.”
Love said that he is more at ease as he obtains more NFL experience.
According to Gerard Samillano on ClutchPoint, the discourse around Love’s performance has been quite divisive for the Packers’ supporters.
Meanwhile, as Aaron Rodgers may conclude his time with the Packers is in the future, and the quarterback position will most likely fall on Love.
#Packers HC Matt LaFleur says Jordan Love is “light years ahead” compared to where he was at this point last season.
— Pablo Iglesias (@PabloIglesiasTV) August 20, 2022
“When Aaron Rodgers inevitably retires in the near future the quarterback role is likely going to Love,” Samillano said.
“Some fans are convinced that he has room to grow and is already showing signs of good play. Others, though, are not impressed, and continue to call for Love’s head.”
Rodgers’ retirement
According to CBS, over the past few years, there has appeared to be tension in the relationship between the Packers and Rodgers.
Allegedly, in the last offseason, Rodgers threatened to retire and told the Packers that he wanted out.
Matt LaFleur said he talked with QB Aaron Rodgers for a while today.
"We're hopeful he'll be back next year."
"I want to be respectful of his process…we'd love for him to be a Packer, and be a Packer until the day he decides to retire."
— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) January 24, 2022
The incident repeated again this summer, during which Rodgers once more considered his retirement before signing a rumored three-year, $150 million contract extension.
This topic resurfaced once again in June when Rodgers told the Atlantic he would definitely retire.
Rodgers told reporters that the three-year, $150 million contract extension he signed in March shouldn’t serve as proof of how many more seasons he would play. Still, he admitted that he didn’t know where he would end his career.
“If you say I’m for sure playing two more, three years and then you have a magical season that ends with a championship and think that that might be the best way to ride off, I don’t want to commit to something,” Rodgers said, via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.
“You say, I’m only playing one more year and you have a bitter taste in your mouth and still got the drive and the passion to play one or two more years, I just don’t want to get pigeonholed into it.”
Rodgers dispelled all doubts regarding his retirement after the Pakers’ first required minicamp practice. Prior to this, he had skipped most of the optional offseason program in favor of working out in Southern California.
“I’m just here so I won’t get fined,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers said that last June when he didn’t appear in the mandatory minicamp, the team had sent him a warning letter that forced him to attend, or he would be fined.
When asked about his plans after this season, Rodgers responded he is only considering the present season. He even described his contract extension as a series of one-year agreements.
“So I’m focused on this season. I’m never gonna drag it out in the offseason,” Rodgers said. “The conversations I’ve had with Brian have been very honest and direct, and that’s not going to change, and we’ll sit down after the season, hopefully after a championship and figure out what the next step is.”