Tag: Love

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) during the second quarter in a 2024 NFC divisional round game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Packers focus on draft; contract for QB Jordan Love on radar

Posted on | by Field Level Media

More than a part of the long-term plan for the Packers, quarterback Jordan Love is the long-term plan in Green Bay.

Following the path of his scouting predecessors, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst plans to place contract negotiations with Love on the frontburner as soon as the 24-7 focus on the draft passes this weekend.

Gutekunst holds a league-high 11 draft picks and wants to add to his playoff roster behind Love, who is first eligible for a contract extension on May 3, one year after his most recent pact with the Packers.

“We believe in that process very, very much,” Gutekunst said. “Whether it goes back to Ron (Wolf) and Ted (Thompson), all the people who have left here and had success other places. … We believe in that. The draft is the lifeblood of this organization.”

Sean Clifford currently slots at Love’s backup, but the 2023 fifth-round pick can expect some company on the depth chart.

“Getting back to drafting multiple quarterbacks is something that I’ve wanted to do,” Gutekunst said.

Love, a first-round pick in 2020, overcame a shaky debut as the starter for the Packers to deliver an emphatic response to questions about his status as the heir to Aaron Rodgers. He finished second in the NFL with 32 touchdown passes in the regular season.

Love’s record-setting showing at Dallas in the Packers’ wild-card win and another strong showing on the road at San Francisco the following week, despite two interceptions, convinced Gutekunst and the scouting staff he was deserving of the mantle. Love played the 2023 season on a modified contract that replaced the fifth-year team option.

Last month at the owner’s meetings, Gutekunst confirmed preliminary negotiations were underway with Love, 25, targeting a long-term agreement.

“We want to make sure we do it the right way,” he said. “We’ve started, but it’s not something that’s going to go quickly, I don’t think. It’ll take some time.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 14, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) reacts after a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of the 2024 NFC wild card game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Smitten with Playoff Jordan, Packers shift focus to 49ers

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Special. Surgical. Home run.

All of those terms applied to Packers quarterback Jordan Love in his first playoff start, a stunning 48-point effort at Dallas on Sunday that is shifting the trajectory for Green Bay in real time.

Love completed 76.2 of his attempts with three touchdowns and narrowly missed a perfect quarterback rating with a late incompletion. He posted the highest QBR, a metric created by ESPN to measure QB play, in playoff history and no opponent has ever scored more points in a postseason game against Dallas.

“We believed in him from the beginning,” Packers running back Aaron Jones said. “We know it’s a process. It wasn’t all on him when we couldn’t pick up a first down. All 11 across the board have to be on the same page. We knew it would take time. You heard it from me and other players, ‘We were right there, right there, right there,’ and we’ve been able to get over that hump.”

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur also said he believed in Love when the franchise decided to dump Aaron Rodgers in an offseason trade with the Jets that cleared the stage and spotlight for Love.

Even LaFleur seemed shocked by what Love did in Dallas on Sunday.

“He’s a dude. He’s a real dude,” he said.

Love put the Packers in the end zone on six of their first seven drives.

Jones said he can sense defenses aren’t able to anticipate what’s coming and felt a shift that started with Love against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 17.

“From then on, teams who tried to pressure him, he’s not exposed them, but had a good day against them,” said Jones. “We have dogs at receiver waiting to get one-on-one matchups. All we have to do up front is give Jordan a little bit of time and he’ll find an open receiver.”

Dallas didn’t record a sack or pressure for the first time this season and Love averaged 13.0 yards per attempt and 17.0 yards per completion. Those numbers put him in the top 10 in playoff history in both categories.

Love and the Packers, the youngest team to win in the playoffs in 50 years according to NFL Research, are on the road again in the divisional round. The NFC’s No. 7 seed goes to Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday night to measure up with the No. 1 seed San Francisco 49ers, who are rested after a bye week.

“We’ve been counted out a lot of the season, but everybody keeps battling, keeps competing,” said Love, whose team started 2-5. “I think it’s just noise on the outside. We’re not worried about it. We keep coming out here and showing what we’re about, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 9, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) prepares to take the snap against the Las Vegas Raiders in the second half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Packers profess belief in QB Jordan Love

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jordan Love and the Packers are determined to end a three-game losing streak, and head coach Matt LaFleur believes the best way forward is together.

Green Bay lost consecutive games in failed bids to take the lead or win the game on a final drive, instead ending with Love interceptions.

“He’s done enough for me, to show me, that it’s all right there,” LaFleur said. “The better everybody is around him, the better he’s going to look. Our confidence is not wavering in him one bit.”

Love, who turns 25 next week, was intercepted six times in the past three games, including his final throw of the Week 7 loss at Denver on Sunday. He was also picked on his last throw the week before, a 17-13 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

LaFleur said the message to the entire team this week is “find a way to win a game.”

“But by no means is this any fun going through this. It’s a grind. It really tests you mentally and it can be extremely frustrating. I realize that,” LaFleur said. “We’re all frustrated because there’s a lot of time, energy, effort that goes into this thing, and when you’re not getting the results it can be demoralizing — if you allow it to be.”

October has not been kind to the Packers of late. They were 1-4 in October 2022 as part of a five-game losing streak.

Green Bay (2-4) welcomes the Minnesota Vikings (3-4) on Sunday. The Packers beat the Vikings 41-17 at Lambeau Field last season and lost to them in the season opener in Minneapolis 23-7.

–Field Level Media

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur talks with quarterback Jordan Love (10) during organized team activities Tuesday, May 23, 2023 in Green Bay, Wis.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur ‘excited’ for Jordan Love era

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One of the few educated opinions on the matter of the Green Bay Packers changing quarterbacks belongs to head coach Matt LaFleur.

LaFleur was supportive of Aaron Rodgers during off-field drama involving the front office over the past several years, but the end of the road came for the two sides in April. Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets, ushering in the Jordan Love era.

“There’s a lot of things I’d like to see out of (Love),” LaFleur said on Tuesday. “It’s more or less just the process of becoming better each and every day and the command that he has. Certainly, you want to give him every opportunity. You can’t give him enough reps. Just making those incremental improvements and becoming more consistent on a daily basis.

“I’m really excited. He definitely has complete command of our offense. There’s no doubt about it. He’s put the work in, he knows the ins and outs. Now it’s going to apply that in a real situation.”

LaFleur said he’s excited to get Love as many snaps and experiences as he can before the regular season begins at Chicago in September. That means “potentially” playing a lot in the preseason.

General manager Brian Gutekunst cautioned there is a measure of risk with playing Love “too much” in preseason games and plans to work with LaFleur to weigh the downside as camp progresses.

Team president Mark Murphy said the franchise likely will need up to half the season to determine if Love can be the long-term answer replacing Rodgers, a four-time MVP.

LaFleur said there will be a cautious approach in terms of asking too much of the 24-year-old. One such example is punting the coach-QB meetings to discuss the game plan that were built in for Rodgers, largely based on his experience and proven performance.

“The last thing I want to do for him is have him paralyzed thinking of too many things at the line of scrimmage. I think that takes time,” LaFleur said. “It takes experience and once he shows that, it kind of happens organically throughout the process.”

–Field Level Media

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) warms up before playing against the New Orleans Saints football team Friday, August 19, 2022, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Mjs Apc Packvssaints 0819220249djp 113468428

Packers OC: No scaling back offense for Jordan Love

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Jordan Love knows the system, and the Green Bay Packers are planning no revisions to reduce the playbook in his first year as the starting quarterback.

“From a playbook standpoint, pretty much all of it’s on the table,” offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said. “He’s been around for three years. He really attacked. Even last year, feeling comfortable and coming into his own.”

In his fourth season in the NFL, Love has had the keys of the offense since Aaron Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets. The transition could bring major changes to the Packers, as well as to how teams plot to stop Green Bay.

Rodgers won four NFL MVP awards; Love has three career touchdown passes. Rodgers has 5,001 career completions; Love has 50.

The Packers are stressing to the 24-year-old Love and to others that he doesn’t need to strive to be Rodgers.

“Usually, the simplest things are the best things,” Stenavich said, noting marked improvement in Love’s approach since the start of the 2022 season. “(Love’s) ability to translate the meetings to the field, and then see the game from a quarterback perspective — not processing too fast, getting the ball out on time, getting guys out of the huddle.”

Stenavich conceded the youth of the team’s wide receivers and tight ends might be a reason to feed the offensive scheme in smaller portions. He said the Packers will emphasize blitz periods and pressure fronts in preparation for the regular season.

“It’s kind of trial and error. A lot of it is that,” Stenavich said. “Just going out there, getting him with these young receivers and tight ends, allowing him to put his leadership on there and put his stamp on it, then go in that direction.”

The direction of the offense has never been more in the control of head coach Matt LaFleur. He remains the playcaller, but the odds of Love overriding plays at the line of scrimmage as Rodgers did are greatly reduced. For that reason and others, Stenavich said this might become one of LaFleur’s favorite offenses.

“And it’s not just because of not having Aaron Rodgers,” Stenavich said. “It might just be these other pieces that we’ve added as well. So, again, it’s (organized team activities) right now so we’re just going to kind of see how it all fits and once we figure out kind of how we’re going to attack defenses, then we’ll roll from there. But I think it might.”

–Field Level Media

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers tries to escape Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins during the first half of their game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Oct. 16, 2022. Syndication Journal Sentinel

Reports: Jets, Aaron Rodgers huddle with Packers’ permission

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Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets were in contact Tuesday morning with permission from the Green Bay Packers, per multiple reports.

ESPN and longtime Packers reporter Bob McGinn said the end of the line has arrived for the Packers and Rodgers, with McGinn citing team sources that the front office already has decided to move on from the four-time MVP quarterback.

Rodgers, 39, has direct ties to Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who was hired in January.

A trade for Rodgers could be executed on the first day of the NFL league year, March 15. Similar deals in recent years involving Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions to Los Angeles Rams), Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks to Denver Broncos) and Deshaun Watson (Houston Texans to Cleveland Browns) brought significant draft capital in return.

Rodgers was named NFL MVP in 2011, 2014, 2020 and 2021, but his 2022 numbers weren’t up to his own standards as the Packers rebuilt his receiving corps and dealt with injuries on the offensive line. He completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 3,695 yards and 26 touchdowns while tossing 12 interceptions.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said last week at the NFL Scouting Combine that the team was waiting to hear from Rodgers about his 2023 plans. He also said the Packers knew backup Jordan Love was “ready to play and needs to play.”

The Jets made “veteran quarterback” a top priority in the offseason at the direction of team owner Woody Johnson. Johnson said the need was the “missing piece” after New York pushed for a playoff spot behind a youth movement that included NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner and Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson.

Under terms of his existing contract, Rodgers is scheduled to make $58.3 million in 2023 as part of a three-year, $150 million contract he signed last year.

Rodgers spent four days on a “darkness retreat” in Oregon, confined to a 300-square foot dwelling that was partially underground, in February. He said the point of the exercise was to be alone with his thoughts, to find full clarity and peace, and calibrate his emotions.

“There’s a finality to the decision. I don’t make it lightly,” he said on a podcast last week. “I don’t want to drag anybody around. I’m answering questions about it because I got asked about it. I’m talking about it because it’s important to me. If you don’t like it and you think it’s drama, and you think I’m being a diva or whatever, then just tune it out. That’s fine. But this is my life. It’s important to me. I’ll make a decision soon enough and we’ll go down that road. I’ll be really excited about it.”

Hackett was a first-time head coach with the Denver Broncos last season. He was fired in December.

The Packers traded Brett Favre to the Jets in 2008, clearing the way for Rodgers to start. Favre announced his retirement in March, but reversed the decision in June.

–Field Level Media

Green Bay Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst talks to the media about the 2022 NFL Draft on April 25, 2022, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Gpg Gutekunst 042522 Sk23

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst: ‘All options on table’ with Aaron Rodgers

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Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst is ready and waiting, but hasn’t heard from Aaron Rodgers since they met two days after the regular season ended in January.

Rodgers’ future is the wildcard looming over the offseason for the Packers and other teams hopeful that he could decide to play next season outside of Green Bay.

Gutekunst said he hopes to have a decision from Rodgers on his 2023 plans before the start of free agency on March 15.

“He’s a great player, but until we have those conversations, I think all options are on the table,” Gutekunst said. “We need to have those conversations. We want what’s best for the Green Bay Packers, what’s best for him so we’ll get to that coming up.”

Conversations with other teams have taken place, Gutekunst said, but none specific to trading the Packers’ 39-year-old franchise quarterback.

“I have conversations with teams all the time. I’ve talked to a lot of different teams about a lot of different things, but actually talking about trades — not yet,” Gutekunst said.

Rodgers’ backup, Jordan Love, is being apprised of any developments and decisions by Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur. Gutekunst said Love is ready to be a starting quarterback and keenly interested in the direction the team and Rodgers plan to go this spring.

“That communication has been pretty constant,” he said.

LaFleur is not meeting with media this week but instead stayed in Green Bay with his coaching staff while entrusting the scouting department to navigate all things at the NFL Scouting Combine.

The Packers are working on restructured contracts with left tackle David Bakhtiari and nose tackle Kenny Clark, Gutekunst said.

–Field Level Media

Nov 27, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) and quarterback Jordan Love (10) lead their team out of the tunnel before action Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

In dark about Aaron Rodgers, Packers learn cost of keeping Jordan Love

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While waiting for Aaron Rodgers to shed light on his future plans, the Green Bay Packers learned the cost of keeping backup Jordan Love on his fifth-year option.

On Wednesday, the league finalized rates for the fifth-year option available for NFL teams to retain 2020 first-round picks as an extension of their original four-year deals signed following the draft.

Love’s salary would be $20.27 million in 2024, which is based on the average of the third- through 25th-highest salaries among quarterbacks. Green Bay has until May 1 to pick up the option, but general manager Brian Gutekunst said he “wouldn’t say that’s a given.”

If the Packers pick up the option, the salary is fully guaranteed.

Gutekunst made it clear he’s waiting for Rodgers to inform the Packers of his intentions, much like the past two offseasons.

“You’re talking about a four-time MVP, right?” Gutekunst said. “So, we are very excited about Jordan and where he’s at, there’s no doubt about that. But Jordan’s never played a 16-, 17-game season and gone through all that stuff. So, it’s no different than when we moved from Brett (Favre) to Aaron. That’s a hard thing to say but, at the same time where Aaron’s at, the level he’s at, there’s not many teams he wouldn’t give the best chance to win.”

Among the variables the Packers are weighing is where Rodgers stands. He hasn’t decided to play in 2023, and could either opt to return, retire or request a trade.

Rodgers, 39, said Tuesday he’s headed for four days of planned darkness, a solo retreat away from light and noise he believes will promote clarity about his future.

If Rodgers decides to play in 2023 for the Packers, the likelihood of restructuring his contract is strong, he admitted last week.

Without a restructure, Rodgers’ current contract brings a 2024 cap hit of $40.70 million.

Love, 24, has completed 50 passes in two seasons with three touchdowns and three interceptions. The 26th pick in the 2020 draft, Love wasn’t well received by Rodgers, who felt the Packers were passive in communications and addressing his contract at the time.

–Field Level Media

Sep 11, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) watches quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) warm up before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Rodgers open to possibly letting Jordan Love play

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Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers might be willing to step aside for backup Jordan Love if the Packers are eliminated from postseason contention, the four-time MVP said on Wednesday.

Rodgers sustained a rib injury last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, and Love performed credibly after coming off the bench in a 40-33 loss.

In his weekly appearance on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, Rodgers said regarding his status for the Packers’ Sunday road game against the Chicago Bears, “I plan on playing this week.”

However, when asked Wednesday how he would react if the Packers (4-8) decide it’s time to look at reserves with an eye toward the future, Rodgers struck a conciliatory tone.

“I’d love to finish the season out, but I understand this is a business,” Rodgers said. “There’s a lot of us kind of older guys who play a decent amount, who they might want to see some younger guys play. Hopefully, we don’t have to have that conversation. But if that conversation comes up, you know, I’ll approach that with an open mind, and without any bitterness or resentment.

“Obviously, like I said, I want to win out and then we don’t have to have those conversations. But, you know, I understand if we don’t, that it’s a possibility to have that conversation.”

Rodgers, 38, is guaranteed $59.5 million for next season, limiting the Packers’ options for the short term. Long term, Love, 24, still might be Rodgers’ replacement, which was the expectation when the team traded up to select him 26th overall in the 2020 draft.

Love has made just one NFL start, when Rodgers sat out a game in November 2021 due to a positive test for COVID-19. In nine NFL games overall, including three brief appearances this year, Love has completed 60 percent of his passes for 597 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions.

Rodgers has connected on 64.8 percent of his passes this year for 2,682 yards and 21 touchdowns with nine interceptions — his highest interception total in 12 years.

–Field Level Media

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) looks to pass the ball during Packers Family Night on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Samantha Madar/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis. Gpg Family Night 08052022 00028

Jordan Love to start preseason opener for Packers

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jordan Love is the starter for the Packers in their preseason opener on Friday with Green Bay undecided about putting Aaron Rodgers on the field before September.

Love gets all of the work with the first-team offense against the San Francisco 49ers, head coach Matt LaFleur said, giving the 26th overall pick in the 2020 draft a chance to show his strong training camp is not a fluke.

LaFleur said Love has shown “a lot of growth” this summer.

“Jordan, it’s been pretty impressive what he’s been able to put together the last few practices,” LaFleur said.

Rodgers signed a three-year, $150 million contract extension in the offseason after weighing retirement and a trade demand, which kept Love in the backup role for at least another season.

Love, 23, has appeared in six NFL games for the Packers, including a dreadful showing at Kansas City in 2021. He has two touchdown passes, three interceptions and 411 passing yards for his career.

He’s in his third season and under contract for 2023, with a team option for 2024.

Rodgers has not played in a preseason game since 2018. LaFleur said conversations about getting Rodgers reps would come “after New Orleans,” meaning the Packers are likely rolling with Love for the first two preseason games.

–Field Level Media