If Packers’ Aaron Rodgers performs to 45, would he high Tom Brady’s data? – Inexperienced Bay Packers Weblog

GREEN BAY, Wis. – On the day Tom Brady turned 45 years outdated this summer time, Aaron Rodgers didn’t hesitate even for a second to say whether or not he deliberate to play within the NFL at that age.

“No, no,” Rodgers mentioned. “However blissful birthday, Tom.”

And with that, his Aug. 3 session with reporters was over.

Practically two months glided by with out a follow-up query on the topic. However as Rodgers and the Inexperienced Bay Packers (1-1) ready for Sunday’s street recreation (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox) in opposition to Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0), naturally it got here up once more.

Rodgers’ reply didn’t change.

“I received’t be, I’ll be doing one thing else,” Rodgers mentioned this week. “I’ve lots of different pursuits outdoors the sport. Sport’s been actually, actually good to me. I really feel I’ve given my all to the sport. Sooner or later, it’ll be time to do one thing else, and I strongly imagine that’ll be earlier than 45.”

What if Rodgers’ robust perception modifications within the subsequent six-and-half years? At 38 years, 9 months, 2 weeks and 6 days outdated, there’s loads of life between right here and 45.

Overlook the cash for a second — Rodgers has a mean wage of greater than $50 million a yr — consider the data and milestones he might pile up.

Only for enjoyable, take into account this: He might find yourself first in NFL historical past in go completions, first in passing yards and first in touchdowns thrown. And for those who imagine wins are a quarterback stat, he might find yourself second — behind solely Brady — in profession wins.

What would it not appear like if he performed by way of the 2028 season (turning 45 on Dec. 2) or by way of 2029 (45 for a lot of the season)? Utilizing his per-game averages over the previous 5 seasons, relationship to 2018 (massive sufficient pattern measurement to account for every type of seasons; lacking the playoffs, coping with accidents, two MVPs), listed below are the projected numbers, per ESPN Stats & Data analysis:

Probably the most eye-popping stat of all of them is the one which has outlined his profession: Interceptions. Or a scarcity of them.

When he threw his four-hundredth profession landing go late within the 2020 season, he had solely 88 interceptions. He was the one quarterback with fewer than 100 interceptions on the time of their four-hundredth landing. On the time, he mentioned he wished to get to 500 touchdowns with out hitting 100 interceptions. He’s greater than midway there. He threw landing Nos. 450 and 451 in final Sunday’s 27-10 win over the Chicago Bears, and he’s sitting at 94 profession interceptions.

“So 5 to return in below 100,” Rodgers mentioned doing the maths. “That may be a very good stretch of ball to get to that. See if I play that lengthy, see if I get there.”

By comparability, Brady at the moment has 204 interceptions to associate with his 626 touchdowns. On the time of his 450th landing, he had been picked off 152 occasions.

Their fashion of play has at all times been totally different. Brady has been extra of a pocket passer, whereas Rodgers has thrived on off-schedule performs. To make sure, Rodgers doesn’t transfer round as a lot as he used to and isn’t as adept at avoiding stress, however he appeared a lot cell on a 7-yard scramble in opposition to the Bears.

Nonetheless, it’s a good distance from the place Rodgers is as we speak at 38 to age 45. And nobody is sort of positive how Brady has performed it for thus lengthy.

“That’s a hell of a query,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur mentioned. “I feel all people wished they knew the reply to that. The man positive seems to be like he’s in phenomenal form. Definitely he’s at all times been one of many sharpest guys when it comes to his thoughts, his capability to go on the market and course of and see issues and go on the market and execute. It doesn’t appear like he’s misplaced something on his ball. We confirmed some clips as we speak within the crew assembly of him throwing strikes down the sphere. He nonetheless seems to be like he’s taking part in at a extremely, actually, actually excessive degree.”

Brady and Rodgers solid a friendship later of their careers. It started once they would meet up on the Kentucky Derby and developed into golf companions, most lately this previous summer time within the made-for-TV match in opposition to Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes.

However even Brady mentioned he didn’t know if Rodgers might play at age 45.

“He is an incredible participant, has been for a very long time,” Brady mentioned this week. “So I really like watching him play and, he is from California, too, so I really feel such as you at all times have a bit of little bit of a connection. He is an older man now. He is been an ideal participant in the identical place for a very long time, so there positively has some challenges with that, however he is navigated fairly nicely. … I knew Brett [Favre] fairly nicely. These two guys are two fairly nice quarterbacks for an extended time period in a single place.”