During my visit to Green Bay in training camp, I noticed how intense and upbeat the practice was the day I was there — young guys getting after it, jawing with each other.
After a bad pick thrown by quarterback Jordan Love, veteran cornerback Jaire Alexander screamed at him to basically get his head right and pick up his play, only in a more blatant tone and with words that can’t be printed here.
At the time it happened, I wondered if there was something else at play. Then after talking to Alexander and several other players, the truth came out.
It was tough love for a player they truly believed in as the replacement for Aaron Rodgers. Then after talking with Love, he was fine with it and it was clear he felt he would become a good player. He came across as a player who truly believed in himself, one comfortable with the idea of following a star.
I left that day thinking the Packers would be the surprise winner of the NFC North, a group of young players mixed with veterans who could grow together. Then, when they got off to a slow start, coupled with Love struggling early on, the thinking was that maybe I was way off base, and that the many skeptics of Love were right.
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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-14-power-rankings-jordan-love-has-packers-soaring-and-theres-a-new-no-1-after-eagles-loss/
Author : Pete Prisco
Publish date : 2023-12-05 14:12:31
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