The Green Bay Packers season rests on Aaron Rodgers shoulders: Will he deliver?

The Green Bay Packers are one of the most historic franchises in all of football with some of the biggest names in the game. Brett Favre, Don Hutson and of course the face of the franchise right now, Aaron Rodgers.

There has been a lot of discussion surrounding the Packers loss to the New Orleans Saints this past weekend. Is Rodgers committed to the team? What happened to that defence? Will Rodgers be a Packer by the end of next year?

Rod Pedersen questions whether or not Rodgers will even make it to the end of the season as a Packer or if he will be traded before the deadline.

Tori Gurley, a former wide receiver in the NFL and CFL who played with Rodgers in 2011 and 2012 when he was on the practice roster said the pressure is on for Rodgers.

“That’s the first time in my life I have seen Aaron go out and play that bad,” said Gurley. “I call it like I see it. With all the offseason distractions, it is what it is. Aaron has to step his game up as well as the team.”

While we are only through one week, it is hard not to associate offseason distractions with a poor performance.

“If you’re out here talking about being 50/50 playing, maybe retiring, and jumping into jeopardy and some other endeavors after football, when you start playing with that retirement word, it shows,” said Gurley.

Gurley remains optimistic for the rest of the Packers season, with Rodgers at the helm.

“I believe he is going to compete and do his best for the team,” said Gurley. “At the end of the day, guys are depending on him. It’s not about Aaron, it’s about the Packers.”

The Packers organization rests on the shoulders of Rodgers right now, but so does the rest of Rodger’s career. While an all-time great talent, if other NFL teams see that Rodgers is going to be a problem in the locker room, and a headache for the organization, there may not be as many bidders at the end of the season. Is he really going to be happier playing in Denver? 

“Just as Aaron gets his money, there are people who depend on his performance,” said Gurley. “I don’t think he would be able to sleep at night knowing he let the 52 guys down in the locker room. I feel like moving forward, he’s going to get it together.”

Getting it together is his best option to win a Super Bowl. The Packers were one win away from the Super Bowl last year. With the roster and talent they have, stringing some wins together at the right time could lead them to the big game for the first time since 2011.

Many would see it as a very disappointing career for Rodgers to only reach one Super Bowl.

Now is the time.