Best Fill-In QB for Aaron Rodgers

The world shook yesterday using Minnesota as its axis, but as we all know, there aren’t many earthquakes in the midwest. Some would say it was the earth-shattering hit put onto Aaron Rodgers by Minnesota Vikings LB Anthony Barr, a “dead fish” tackle as categorized by the crew on CBS’s postgame, one where the body makes contact and just goes “limp” as the tackler plows the person being tackled into the ground with their shoulder. Others would say it was the multitude of Packers fans and Wisconsinian’s alike, as their realities were not only altered, but torn away at the seams. No matter what caused the quake, the aftershock is this: Aaron Rodgers has a broken collarbone and is likely out for the rest of the regular season. He could never be "replaced," so we must be careful about our next words, but the next obvious question is, who is his fill-in?

Good!

When thinking about any QB going down at this point in the season, society, or in this particular saga, you have to think about Colin Kaepernick’s name. On top of the fact that he is better than any backup playing, better than anyone you could pick up off the streets, and better than some current starters in the NFL, Kap has had a certain degree of success against the Packers. In three career regular season games against “the Pack," Kaepernick has almost a 65 percent completion percentage and a 3-1 TD-INT ratio. On top of the raw numbers, he has a QB rating of 100.5 in those games against Green Bay. Now, we must keep in mind that head coach Mike McCarthy came out today and said they the team is not interested in signing Kap, but that begs the question, is winning really all that matters?

If Kap is a bit too controversial for you, there are always a few other names floating around out there. A guy who was once looked at as a savior to a franchise and was “all in on day one" doesn’t even have a job now. Yes, if you guessed Robert Griffin III, or RG3, his moniker, you would be correct. Although maybe not having quite the levels of success that Kaepernick did, what Griffin offers can also be valuable. If he still has any “juice” left, Griffin not only offers at least a semblance of the mobility that Rodgers offered; when he is on, he can be among the most accurate of passers. Granted, three things have to happen correctly for this to work. Griffin has to want to play, still have something left to offer, and be able to re-call quickly, but if these are present, he could possibly step in and help them bridge the season until A-Rod makes his return.

Better!

It started as soon as the word came down about Rodgers' situation. Fortunately for him, he wasn’t subjected to it, as he was calling a game in Kansas City. It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no, it’s: Tony Romo. The one time Eastern Illinois QB, who just so happens to be from Wisconsin, was among the first names mentioned when this injury happened. Romo has not been shy about keeping the controversy going either, as just last week when his colleague Jim Nance turned a phrase that referenced him being retired, he rebuffed him by saying, “Am I?"

Well, that “break just in case of emergency” glass that everyone has been speculating about may have just been cracked, but not in Big D where we all thought it would be. Could Tony’s hometown Green Bay Packers come calling? It would be a great pairing as Tony and A-Rod are similar players, in my opinion. They are both magicians of spontaneity with the abilities to make every throw. While Tony hasn’t had quite the success of Rodgers, only due to the early Super Bowl from Rodgers which technically is a lot, I would called Romo a “middle class man’s” Aaron Rodgers. He isn’t quite the “poor man’s” version because that just isn’t giving Romo enough credit, and again, save for an early career Rodgers Super Bowl, they would be on a similar plateau. In any event, if it were to happen, Tony Romo would make a great replacement for the Packers.

Best!

Even though any of the above could come in and potentially more than get the job done, the Packers seem to know what they are doing, and this is confirmed by their current maneuvering. Like me, they believe the best option to replace Rodgers is the QB they already have on their roster: Brett Hundley. Not only was Hundley Rodgers-esque at UCLA, but he actually showed a bit in the rest of the game he finished after Rodgers left. He is an accurate passer who can make all the throws, and also shows that mobility A-Rod has come to be known for. On top of everything, he already knows this system, his teammates, his coaching staff and this culture, and he would be the best fit to replace Rodgers until he is healthy.