Aaron Rodgers has always been a great quarterback. But this year, he’s been absolutely on fire, boasting a 135.4 QBR along with 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions. And perhaps this is why Green Bay backup quarterback Scott Tolzien thought it appropriate to compare No. 12 to basketball great Michael Jordan.
“I mean, it’s like watching Jordan in his prime,” Tolzien told ESPN Wisconsin. “He’s at the top of his game. He makes it go.”
Tolzien’s comments came after the Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 38-28 last weekend. In the game, Rodgers was near perfect, completing 24 of 35 passes for 333 yards, 5 touchdowns and no interceptions. If there was any downside to the performance, it’s that the game dropped his outstanding completion percentage down to 73.6% on the season. Given the constant blitzes that Kansas City was throwing at Green Bay’s signal caller all game, one can’t blame him for missing a few throws.
So what does Rodgers think of the comparison to Jordan falling the Chiefs’ victory?
“Well, I appreciate the kind words,” he said regarding Tolzien’s comments. “I don’t know if the comparison is … I’m not worthy of that comparison. I enjoyed watching Michael. I was a big fan as a kid.”
Rodgers added, “It’s a nice comparison. I’m just trying to be a guy they can count on every week. I know my play is very important to this team, but it takes all the guys that dress playing well for us to win.”
He’s being more than just a guy who can be counted on to help the team win. Few would argue that there’s a better QB in the league right now, and Rodgers continues to amaze, despite losing one of his top-two receiving options, Jordy Nelson, at the beginning of the year. And it doesn’t really seem to matter who Rodgers is throwing the ball to on a nightly basis.
Davante Adams had to leave the contest against the Chiefs, so in stepped long-time veteran James Jones, who capitalized with 139 receiving yards. After the game, Jones wholeheartedly agreed with Tolzien’s comparison to Jordan.
“I think Tolzien said it best the other day, it’s like watching Michael Jordan in his prime,” Jones said. “Every time he goes out there, the dude does something special. Like I’ve been saying these first three weeks, we’re all witnessing something special. We probably won’t realize it until he’s done and retired how good he was.”
If there’s one distinction that the 31-year-old quarterback needs to make to equal Jordan’s greatness, it would probably be a few more Super Bowl rings. While Jordan was a prolific scorer in his career, he was best known for winning six NBA Championships during his prime. Rodgers did win Super Bowl XLV along with the game’s MVP award, but his Packers have been looking for another title the past four years. Given the way that Green Bay is playing to open the year, they are certainly playing like a team that could win its second championship in five years.
