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This excerpt from Warren Sharp’s ‘2021 Football Preview’ book gets you prepared for the NFL season by delivering the smartest information & analysis in the fastest, most direct way possible.

Although it’s easy to do because both were legendary quarterbacks for the Green Bay Packers, too many people are comparing the end of Brett Favre’s tenure in Green Bay with what is happening to Aaron Rodgers. They are making it seem like a natural progression. Like it should be expected. Perhaps due to age and due to the Packers drafting a quarterback in the late first round.

Favre was 38 years old in his last season as a Packer (2007). Aaron Rodgers will turn 38 this December. The Packers drafted Favre’s replacement with the 24th overall pick (Rodgers). The Packers drafted Jordan Love, Rodgers’s presumed replacement, with the 26th overall pick.

But that’s about where the similarities end.

Although this is in the history books, clear as day, I think people are ignoring the most important difference between the two Packers legends.

Favre was badly on the downside of his career.

His final three seasons in Green Bay?

2005: 20 TDs, 29 INTs
2006: 18 TDs, 18 INTs
2007: 28 TDs, 15 INTs

Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers has thrown 99 TDs to 11 INTs the last three years.

Only seven times in NFL history has a quarterback thrown 500+ attempts with five or fewer interceptions.

Aaron Rodgers had one of those seven seasons in 2020 (48 TDs, 5 INTs on 526 attempts).

Even more insane?

Aaron Rodgers has pulled off that historical feat THREE YEARS IN A ROW:

2018: 597 attempts, 2 INTs
2019: 569 attempts, 4 INTs
2020: 526 attempts, 5 INTs

Compare Favre’s final three years as a Packer with Aaron Rodgers using standard passing metrics:

Favre: 61% completions, 3.8% TDs, 3.5% INTs, and 6.8 YPA
Rodgers: 65% completions, 5.9% TDs, 0.7% INTs, and 7.5 YPA

They aren’t even close.

Favre chucked 62 interceptions in those final three seasons.

Rodgers? Only 11. Rodgers is mastering his craft. His 2020 season was arguably his best ever. Most touchdowns, highest touchdown rate, highest completion rate, and highest QBR of his career.

Favre was in the twilight of his career and well past his prime. Aaron Rodgers may not be young, but not many quarterbacks are playing as well as he is right now. It’s a totally different situation.

We need to stop with the comparisons.

The Packers’ front office is trying to make this seem like a natural progression. Rodgers is old, so we drafted a young quarterback to take over. Except the way Favre was playing was nowhere near the way Rodgers is playing.

Now we’re hearing reports that Rodgers turned down a two-year extension to stay with the Packers and would have made him the highest-paid player in the NFL.

Rodgers declined the money.

That report came from the Packers camp, solely to make it seem like Rodgers wants out and they did everything they could so it’s not their fault.

But that’s also wrong. They didn’t do everything they could. It wasn’t about the money. It wasn’t just about drafting Love. It was about the Packers not incorporating Rodgers enough.

Right or wrong, if the Packers management runs Rodgers out of town because they didn’t do enough to make him feel loved, wanted, incorporated, etc., when he’s playing like this, they should all be fired. If Rodgers is out, so are they. I don’t care how good Love will become, and I hope he is great for the sake of our sport.

But Love isn’t going to come close to delivering the efficiency that Rodgers has delivered in recent years. And that means a step back in 2021 if he’s the 17-game starter.

So instead of improving at quarterback, like the Packers did when they sent Favre packing and welcomed a young Aaron Rodgers, the Packers will be taking a big step back in 2021.

This was a team that was off back-to-back NFC Championship game appearances. With a quarterback playing at a MVP level. If you’re responsible for running him out of town, you too should be gone. Just like the hopes of another deep playoff run in 2021 if Rodgers isn’t on the roster.

For the complete Green Bay Packers chapter, including a dozen more visuals & info-graphics, defensive breakdown, and detailed Fantasy football implication — plus the other 31 team chapters — pick up a copy of Warren Sharp’s new ‘2021 Football Preview’ book