Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers Could Have Been a Tampa Bay Buccaneer

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Packers.com

By Jason Shubnell
NFL Writer

Two of the best young quarterbacks in the NFC will make their way to Lambeau Field on Sunday. One is having a career year while the other is reeling in what was supposed to be his breakout year.

As Tampa Bay gets ready to face Green Bay, one can't help but wonder where these teams would have been had Jon Gruden’s plan gone right.

In 2005, Gruden informed Aaron Rodgers that he was going to be the fifth pick of the 2005 NFL Draft. Gruden even brought along Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice for a private pre-draft workout with Rodgers in California.

Rodgers instead fell to the 24th pick, which was a surprise to many then, and is even more surprising now.

Gruden worked under Mike Holmgren in Green Bay, who was considered one of the best offensive minds to take over the league following the departure of 49ers legend Bill Walsh. Gruden was one of Holmgren’s bright young minds, eventually working his way up to head coach of the Oakland Raiders and then landed in Tampa Bay via of all things, a trade.

The Buccaneers were always known for their defense in the early parts of the 2000s, leading to their Super Bowl XXXVII victory. Their West Coast offense relied on smart, quick throws with a balanced running attack. To better serve that attack, the Bucs drafted Carnell Williams with that 2005 selection, which looked smart after “Cadillac” took home rookie of the year honors.

With all of the love he showed Rodgers back then and now on ESPN Monday Night, you’d think Gruden might be regretting that decision a little bit.

Rodgers would have stepped into the starting role almost immediately, a far cry from the wait he saw in Green Bay. With quarterbacks like Brian Griese, Tim Rattay and Jeff Garcia leading the way, the California kid likely would have been thrown into the fire early. But would he have been prepared?

Rodgers fit the bill perfect for the West Coast offense. A very mobile runner who puts the ball on a dime to his receiver, opening up the field for later on. Working under a coach who had seen the likes of Brett Favre and Joe Montana on a daily basis, it could have been the perfect match.

The 2005 Bucs receiving corps featured a young Michael Clayton, Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard. Despite a terrific rookie year, Clayton never got much going in the league. Hiliard was looking to reboot his career that season and Galloway was still stretching defenses at his advanced age. The 2011 Packers boast a much better roster for Rodgers to throw to, including an elite tight end.

That Bucs team finished the year 11-5, getting to the playoffs. They would have the 23rd overall pick in the 2006 draft, selecting guard Davin Joseph out of Oklahoma. Joseph has started at least 11 games each season in Tampa, but is coming off a poor 2010. Players selected after Joseph (in the first round) include Santonio Holmes and DeAngelo Williams.

Could the Bucs have better set themselves up for the future by taking the franchise quarterback they originally wanted? It’s possible Gruden may still be coaching had Tampa realized this is a passing league. But would Rodgers be the lights out, Super Bowl MVP we see today?

Close, but probably not.

Rodgers got to spend three years learning what can be a very intricate offense. Despite not accepting or participating in a mentor’s role, Favre gave Rodgers an invaluable experience just by watching him play week in and week out.

In Tampa, Rodgers would have had a great coach to learn from, but would not have been surrounded by the talent he has in Green Bay. And who knows how he would have been played without the chip on his shoulder he has been playing with ever since taking over for the Packers' legend in 2008.

Meanwhile, what would Ted Thompson have done with Green Bay? With such a light quarterback class, would he have given Favre a playmaker in Roddy White? The next season, Thompson had the fifth overall pick in the draft (he chose linebacker A.J. Hawk). But would Matt Leinart or Jay Cutler have been the choice? Thompson wanted to establish his legacy early in Green Bay, wanting Favre to get out quickly in his tenure (in particular after two sub-par seasons). Could Cutler have taken over the gun slinging role from Favre?

The franchises probably don’t think too much about that 2005 draft anymore. The Bucs, despite having a disappointing season, are one of the youngest teams in the league, with a talented passer leading the way. But the Packers look set for the decade, with the ideal quarterback for the league’s future.

Rodgers may have become Pro Bowl player in Tampa, but it’s doubtful he could have written the story he’s writing right now.


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