Former Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings made some pointed remarks on Aaron Rodgers this week, noting that the quarterback is a "sensitive" player who is finally getting some of the heat for Green Bay's struggles offensively.
James Jones, another receiver during that era, is taking a different route.
During a segment on NFL Network's* Up To The Minute* on Thursday afternoon, the former Packers standout said that chemistry is the source of Rodgers' recent slip (as much as you can call it that for a player who has completed 62 percent of his passes for 758 yards, seven touchdowns and three picks over the last three weeks, two of which resulted in wins).
"Aaron did miss some throws that he wishes he could have back," Jones said. "He knows he needs to play better. Trust me, I've been around Aaron for eight years. He's been a competitive guy. I know he's been in the film room, I know he's studying this Bears defense to go out there and play better.
"He does need to go out and make those throws. That is very true," Jones continued. "But for this offense to click it's all about chemistry and getting out there with Aaron knowing what the guys are going to do on the football field. And I think he's still trying to find that with Jeff Janis, Davante Adams, (Jared Abbrederis). He's still trying to find that chemistry to go out there and know where those guys are going to be and trusting those guys to be in the right spots and make plays.
"So it's not to put the blame on one person or to say that it's Aaron's fault. Yeah those are throws that he missed and I'm sure he'll make those throws if he has them again. But it's the chemistry, too, man."
Jones, in my mind, was the perfect example of this. After returning to Green Bay in 2015, he caught eight touchdown passes in 15 starts. During the team's playoff victory over the Redskins, Rodgers was leaning significantly on his long-time teammate when ancillary parts like Davante Adams weren't flashing when needed.
Predicting Rodgers' demise, whether it be due to personal or professional reasons, is a fool's errand at this point. His valleys are still stats that many NFL head coaches would pay $80 million for over the next four seasons.
