Anyone who has met me more than once knows how I am a diehard Green Bay Packer fan. Born on Milwaukee’s North Shore (Mequon for those who are familiar with the area) in 1990, I was given the pleasure of being raised during the Brett Favre era of Packer football. As many of you know, Favre was traded to the Jets this past off-season. After 11 games, Rodgers and the Packers are 5-6 and Brett Favre and the Jets are 8-3. However, I support Rodgers and the trade. Here’s why: it isn’t Rodgers fault the Pack is 5-6. There are a number of reasons for the Packer’s subpar season.

Let us start with injuries. Injuries plague every NFL team. But, the Packer’s star players have suffered from them in particular. The offensive line of Green Bay has been by committee. All-pro tackle Chad Clifton has been beat up all season, as has center Scott Wells, which has created a shuffle of players moving positions on the O-line. These injuries are miniscule to the ones suffered by Pro Bowler AL Harris (CB) and defensive captain Nick Barnett (MLB). Harris missed 4 games, 2 of which the Packers lost. In the Packer’s loss to Atlanta, the receiver Harris was supposed to cover (Roddy White) went for 132 yards and a touchdown and the Packers lost by 3 points. Nick Barnett has missed the past 2 games, losing 1 of those games embarrassingly on Monday Night Football to the Saints. In that loss the Packer’s defense looked terrible. They were confused and all out of position, probably because Barnett was not there to offer leadership. In addition, medium passes gained a number of first downs and touchdowns over the middle, right where Barnett should be covering. Harris has returned, but the Packer’s don’t expect to get Barnet back this season. The Green Bay Press-Gazette reported that 1/3 of the Packer’s 53-man roster were listed on the team’s weekly injury report. Ouch.

Next, I must question the play calling. The Packer’s refuse to commit to the run game. In 6 losses the Packers have rushed for an average of 18.8 carries a game (by running backs). In 5 wins, the Packers have rushed for an average of 29 carries a game. RUN THE BALL! In order to be successful in the NFL you MUST be able to run the football. Defensively, the play calling has also been hit or miss. During a crucial 3^rd and 15 against the Saints early in the game the Packer’s rushed only three down lineman and dropped the rest into coverage. The only thing that slowed Saints’ QB Drew Brees was pressure thus far into the game. The result? 15 yard completion to get the first down. Maybe the result would have been different if the Pack rushed more than three lineman. Maybe the Pack would have stopped the Saints and swung the momentum in their favor. Maybe.

Lastly, GIVE RODGERS A BREAK. Before this season, the man had not started a game since college. He is in the NFL now, he is playing the most demanding position in all of sports. It is going to take him more than 11 games to fully understand the system. The fact that he has won 5 games in impressive.

Aaron Rodger’s will only get better. As he matures and as the Packers themselves mature (they are the second youngest team, behind only the Chiefs), they will learn more about the game and become smarter about the game. Brett Favre might be good this year and maybe next year. Aaron Rodgers is going to be good for 10 years. He has the tools. He has the ability. Give him a chance to be the face of the franchise. Let Brett Favre go. Rodgers isn’t trying to be Favre, he is trying to be Aaron Rodgers. So let him.