Purple Insider - a Minnesota Vikings and NFL podcast - Aaron Nagler believes Aaron Rodgers is coming back

Episode Date: July 14, 2021

Aaron Nagler of Cheesehead TV joins to explain why he thinks Aaron Rodgers will be returning to the Green Bay Packers and what that means for their short and long term future. How many games would the Packers win if Jordan Love started the full season? Who are the Vikings players that Aaron respects the most and why do the Packers need to win this season because of their salary cap situation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another episode of Purple Insider presented by Scout Logistics. Matthew Collar here along with Aaron Nagler of Cheesehead TV. And Aaron, before I welcome you in, I want to, people like when I sing on the show. So I want to sing a theme song that I wrote for you and your appearance. Okay. Here it goes. Here it goes. Aaron Nagler, the man Vikings fans love to hate, but you mustn't hate.'s up aaron that's that's quite the intro and i'll i will wear it with a badge of honor i think that's going to be my new ringtone i like it i like it i'm all in a thousand percent i'm happy to be the man your listeners love to hate yeah i mix the bond song with how

homer simpson sang the bond song so that's good. I like it. That's what we always aspire to be a bond villain. You know, it was my chance. Well, you are a villain to Vikings fans, which is why I like having you on because we have, well, you,

I think you called the franchise plastic and said you hate them more than the bears. So, Hey, before soul, I could go on. Yes. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Which I find hysterical. Like anybody who gets mad at you that's a Vikings fan what are you doing I mean this is like come on just rise into the bait that's what they're doing fine by me uh but can can I ask a follow-up on that before we get to the you know what we're

going to talk about of course yeah um hating the Vikings more than the Bears as a question as a Packers fan and having it not even be close. See, I think that let's say you were a person who lived in Jacksonville, Florida, and you just knew the NFL. You'd be like, Oh, the Packers hate the bears the most. Cause when they play each other, that's what the announcers tell me. So I want you to explain why the Packers hate the Vikings more. You just want me to do this. So you, like, people riled up on the list.

I know what you're doing. I know your tactics. Well, you know, it's just because there's nothing authentic about the Minnesota Vikings franchise. Like, everything about it. Like, they got bought by some real estate magnate from Jersey. You know, they stole their chant from a soccer team. Their bird-killing stadium made out of glass that cost a billion dollars. There's nothing authentic. There's's no history there's no roots i mean i can't i can't remember the last time i think steve weish was the

last person i talked to in the nfl sphere who mentioned like you know the days of the fearsome the purple people eaters and things like that like i don't ever see vikings fans leaning in to their history and i understand why because they've never won anything but it's like you still have like really good teams and players to rally around, but y'all get caped up for Kirk cousins. Like, I just don't get it. I just, there's nothing there. There's nothing authentic. It's an empty vessel.

That is what I think of the Minnesota Vikings. And I think I get a lot of Packers fans in response agreeing with me. So I think I'm on the right track in that regard but i do know there are certainly packers fans who hate the bears more than the bike so there's no doubt that those people exist i'm just not one of them i just think it's a funny rant and you i mean when you check that was a tamed down version right you get me going it's early today but when you check off the boxes of the things you said you're like well the stadium does kill birds i mean there's really no question about it and the owners do live in new jersey that's also true they do spend a lot

of money on the roster that's true that hey that you can't fault them as far as like trying to build a winner i mean the emphasis on trying obviously also they have an owner so there is that thing hey the packers have an owner they have many owners including myself okay myself here's the here's the transition from that though and i actually totally agree with you about the the background and how fascinating the teams from the 60s and 70s are it's just a really long time ago at this point it is and i know most modern fans are not in tune with that right it's not how they come to the game and i get that i understand that we're we're a weird breed in green bay in that regard so but there is a tie-in to the aaron rogers situation with not having an owner because one thing that i actually have wondered on the show

here is i wonder how it would be different if it was the vikings with owners who try desperately to make every good player happy you even look at you know daniel hunter where there could have been this long standoff with daniel hunter and instead it's just like i'll just give him some money he'll just do that and that's been their answer right delvin cook will delvin cook sign his i'm like i'm like this is a huge deal right i'm just done with even worrying about these things because they'll just give the person the money for better or for worse. How do you think this situation would be different if you had an owner? I've had I've gotten this question a lot, and I understand the idea, especially because the one kind of comparable we have right is in New England towards the end with Tom Brady. Kraft loved Tom and clearly didn't bend over to keep him around or anything but there he was always

kind of the buffer if you've read Seth Wickersham stuff on the Patriots and kind of the end of that dynasty all the things going on behind the scenes I do think it would make a bit of difference because Aaron would have probably a connection and or someone he would consider a confidant and or a sounding board in a way that he clearly does not because I think when you boil this down and this is all on the outside looking in we don't really know because the man has not spoken about what is true and what isn't but it sure seems like his major grievances are with Mark Murphy and Brian Gutekunst neither of which obviously are a true owner but at the end of the, I don't think it would make that much of a difference.

I mean, because in the end, Tom Brady did end up leaving. You know, it's clearly, you know, it's not like Kraft kept him around and booted Belichick. Eventually, Father Time is undefeated, right? And this idea that you are looking, trying to look out for the long-term kind of health of your franchise. Yes, Tom went down to Tampa Bay and did his thing and won a Superbowl.

There's no doubt there's, you can't take that away from him, but at some point you've got to move on as a franchise. And I think most smart businessmen, which craft is, which a number of NFL owners are not all of them, but most of them are, they understand that. And I think with you are the general manager in this case, Brian Gutekunst, that is the picture making like, look, Brian Gutekunst, that is the picture making like, look, I'd rather get out a year too early than a year too late.

And I think that's what the Packers have tried to do. So this is the thing about this whole situation. And, uh, you know, I'm sure you've spent much, much time on it, but what's really just a couple of minutes. Right. Yeah. And, and also you're welcome because I was, uh, you know, I don't know, drafting animals or something last. So, you know, right.

But now something that I wonder, though, is along this path to Aaron Rodgers being disgruntled. Like what what could have changed? Because I think that even Aaron Rodgers would have to admit I am X number of years old and I was once this draft pick that Jordan love is. So I think he's even though a spiteful human being, he's reasonable enough to come, you know, get to bring that all together in his mind to be okay with it. But what is, what is the thing that seems to have shifted it to where we are now. It is definitely the separation between personnel and, say, players and the coaching staff that has frustrated him. And that has built up over the years. 2018, just prior to signing his big extension, he had a quote where he said, it's very clear.

They've made it clear that my job is to play quarterback and to do that at the best of my ability. This was in response to some of the Jordy Nelson stuff that had been kind of going on. We always kind of like as far as we I mean, the people in the locker room media wise, it was always kind of bubbling. He would always make these kind of offhand remarks. And I know Ian Rappaport put that thing out there about the cutting of Jake Kumro being quote, the final straw. Again, I can't speak to that. Aaron would have to say yes or no, but I do know that bug the hell out of him. And that's the kind of thing where he's not given any input whatsoever.

It is an absolute Chinese wall as far as, okay, that's great. We understand what you want, but we're going to operate from the side of, we are personnel people, pros in this league who have worked decades on our side of things, as far as in the college game, in the pro scouting game. And we are going to construct the roster the way we see fit. We being Ted Thompson, Brian Gutekunst, whoever, I think Aaron has kind of chafed at that. And I understand his frustrations. There's no doubt about, you know, the fact that especially coming off this year

where you saw Tom Brady go to Tampa Bay and kind of be able to, you know, have some input and say, oh, I'd really like to get this guy. And then they go get that guy. I have zero doubt Aaron saw that and said, okay, this is it. Especially after the drafting of Jordan Love, it's clear that that is the heir apparent. You know, he saw his Packers mortality, and I still maintain. Now, you can bookmark this and come back to it, throw it in my face, whatever.

I still maintain that the moment that Schefter bomb dropped on draft day, that was Aaron Rodgers having sat on this for a year after the drafting of Jordan Love and saying, okay okay you dropped a bomb on me last year I'm dropping a bomb on you this year and I'm going to watch you squirm all summer long I still think he shows up at the start of camp maybe even a bit after the start of camp but I think he's there under center week one that's my guess well this that has been exactly my take the entire summer long as Vikings fans get like, Oh, could he maybe buy like, all right, don't get excited yet. Everybody,

because he has not at all said that he's not coming back. And to me, he probably wants his teammates to be like, come on, man, we need you. Let's say, you know, have that far thing of Ryan Longwell wanting to be wanted. Right. You know, I get, and I get that. And look, I don't discount his frustrations for a moment, but I do find it interesting. This idea that, you know, my goodness, my inbox and my mentions have been filled with mostly Broncos fans all off season about how, Oh, Aaron's come to Denver, blah, blah, blah. The Packers, if they were going to trade

him, it would have happened by now and they are they have made it very clear that that is not happening not this season they're not trading him so Aaron who had the opportunity to opt out of this season the COVID protocol would have allowed him to a couple weeks ago and he chose not to do that he has two choices play for Green Bay or sit for the year and or retire and I just I mean if there's a guy who's going to walk away like Barry Sanders did, yeah, I wouldn't put it past Aaron Rogers, but I would have thought we'd probably know something by now. Uh, I I'm still going to be shocked if he's not under center for the Packers this season. Well, the other part of it is the team is good. Like with,

with Barry, it's legit. Exactly. The Barry Sanders thing, people talk about the Carson Palmer kind of corollary, same agent, what have you. It's like, yeah, Carson Palmer was sick of losing. Aaron Rodgers is sick of winning lots of football games. Like that just doesn't make sense to me. And again, I understand he's frustrated and he probably has a legitimate gripe in a lot of these cases. But this is a team that is constructed for him to make another, maybe last run at a Superbowl wearing the green and gold. I mean, guys like David Bakhtiari, Kenny Clark, Aaron Jones, Mercedes Lewis,

one of his closest friends on the team. They're all back in the fold to make one last run at this. Now he's going to turn around and say, nah, guys, I'm not coming along. Really? I just, again, I would be absolutely shocked. Yeah. And I know you've been on with the guys for pff eric and george but i was listening to them talking about and they focus on the gambling element about how the markets have swung back the other way like like you said if it hasn't happened by now then it's not going to happen and even if san francisco was involved somehow

and they could have picked another quarterback at the very top and they still decided not to which actually would have made logical sense if you could get your justin fields or trey lance and they could have picked another quarterback at the very top and they still decided not to, which actually would have made logical sense if you could get your Justin Fields or Trey Lance, and they still said, no, they have to believe that he's coming back. Now there's something lingering that I wanted to ask you about that. I just wonder if it's a part of it at all, which is the field goal at the end of the NFC championship championship game because i if i was him i might be more upset about that than i am about whatever roster decision jay kumaro or drafting a corner again and right like all those things but to take the ball out of my hands it kind of reminds me of like scotty pippen and how he's still super mad at tony kukoc getting that last decades later right

yeah only this one didn't work out or Or Marshawn not getting the handoff. Not getting the handoff and the Super Bowl. Look, here's been my steady response to this throughout the offseason. He had three chances to get it in the end zone prior to fourth down. Didn't get it in. In fact, his last pass as a Packer,

if he were to retire or was to sit out, would be throwing it away and into the dirt in front of Devante Adams feet he had a chance to make a play three times and didn't I understand they took the ball out of his hands but it's a smart football decision as far as I'm concerned Matt LaFleur was trying to win the game in regulation not trying to play for overtime I'm fine with that you know you got to stop Tom Brady either way look, it's been pretty clear these last two years general and he's very much done that I don't get how Aaron can then turn around and go oh you made this coaching decision in the NFC championship

game well you know you missed Devante Adams earlier in the game in the end zone you know so I like look at yourself first and I don't believe I would find it very very hard to believe that that decision though he has spent the entire summer kind of having fun at that decision's expense, whether it's on jeopardy or with a Tom Brady poking fun at it, et cetera. I just don't think that has much to do with it. But isn't this the most interesting part of Aaron Rogers is it doesn't have to make logical sense for him to have a beef with it. Right? No. Well, Hey man, if the man is famous for anything,

it's holding an incredible grudge for the most infinitesimal slights so and i do respect him for that because i'm kind of the same way uh but i i remember uh ryan riddle who was his college teammate uh wrote a bleacher report article about what it was like to be his teammate in college and ryan riddle tweeted that aaron was like super mad at some of the stories he told even though they were mostly like kind of all you know i remember that well they were roommates too that was the other thing like they they uh they roomed together while they were teammates so that's why ryan had you know some bit of an inside perspective so to speak but i do remember rogers like really dismissing that

entire article so let's play let's play this game then though let's just say you and i are on the same page we agree aaron rogers is going to be there week one but let's play, let's play this game then though. Let's just say you and I are on the same page. We agree. Aaron Rogers is going to be there week one, but let's just say, so what do we even know about Jordan love? Because again, this is from a Vikings perspective. I think a lot of fans are going like, ah, Jordan love. I mean, heard of him like, uh, he has a first round draft pick, but not a high first round draft pick. There is some concerns about the, this, that, and the other thing, accuracy and so forth. What do you know about Jordan love? I mean, all the tools are there. He's got everything you could ever want from a physical ability standpoint,

whether it's his arm, there's no question there. He can make a throw anywhere on the field, his ability to work outside of the pocket, his maneuverability, his work inside the pocket and kind of reading pressure, avoiding pressure, etc. All of that he's got. Now, the history of the league is littered with guys who had all the physical tools, who could never put it together at the NFL level. Absolutely, I know things got blown up one day in mini camp because he missed a couple of

guys who were open. You know, who else did that? Aaron Rogers. I can go back and show you plenty of updates from camp. I was there that showed Aaron kind of spraying the ball over the map. You know, you're a young quarterback. These are your first kind of reads and throws in the NFL, especially that most people have seen. I understand the, especially in this kind of modern media landscape, every single mistake is going to get blown up and every good day is going to be chalked up as, Oh, he should be doing that. He's a first round pick. Um,

there are going to be ups and downs. And I don't doubt for a second that this offense will help him as far as the scheme and how it works. As far as we've seen, whether it's McVay, Shanahan, what have you, guys can utilize this scheme to make lesser quarterbacks at least look competent, if not pretty good. But ultimately, at some point, Jordan Love is going to drop back on third and eight and have to make a play from the pocket, going to have to make a read, going to have to make a throw. And I expect him to struggle just like any other young quarterback. There is zero doubt. The question is, is, can he learn from those mistakes? And that's the only way you can figure that out is by letting him play. And I don't think that's going to happen this year. I do think there's a good chance that happens next

year, but at this point we know he's got all the tools. He's got probably another year to kind of work on stuff from the bench. And then next year, it's time for him to start on-the-job training. And that's what I think they have in Jordan Love. Well, you know what's great about this is I've never been so excited for preseason games in my life. I mean, first because they're bad. I literally just got done doing a video about this. Like most fans, I asked our fans, our viewers and listeners to send in voicemails about what they're most excited about. And I think the first 10 voicemails I got were about Jordan love and seeing

Jordan love and preseason. Everybody's kind of waiting to unwrap that Christmas present. I know. I mean, even with like the Vikings and having a quarterback like Kellen Mond, but just even having preseason games in general, right. And the Vikings will have never thought we'd miss them,

but we certainly did. Right. The Vikings will have two in the bird killing stadium. And then, you know, it'll be, it will feel, it will feel great. Even reporter wise to go into the stadium with people there because it was spooky being in there for games. Yeah. Very weird. Right. No doubt about it. How about the difference in wins for the Packers? If Jordan love starts versus Aaron Rogers, I'm sure here's what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to ask you a question that no one's asked you yet about Packers and I don't think I've gotten there I'll let you know well I mean these are but these I get it though because these

are the things people are wondering about right um I think it's obviously somewhat significant I don't think there's any question there I think there's a really talented team but if you put Jordan Love there as the starter as opposed to Aarongers, that's got to count for a bunch of wins going off the board, right? I just think if you're a now with a 17 game season, if you're a 12, 13 win team, which I think the Packers are with Aaron under center, I think there are a anywhere from an eight to 10 win team with Jordan under center. I think they have to win a lot of close games to get there that could easily swing to even six or seven wins if things go wrong. But, you know, that's the mystery of a young quarterback. And I do think they're a Super Bowl contender with Aaron. Without him, they put

Jordan in there. I think they compete for the division, struggle to make the playoffs as a wild card. And that would be probably what most people would expect. Now, could they surprise? Sure. Either way, they could completely bottom out and like shock us all. And oh my gosh, he's totally incompetent. What does he do? He needs way more work or he hits the ground running. The scheme really helps them and they barely miss a beat. Now, I'm not going to sit here and tell you that's what I expect, but anything is possible, especially in this day and age of the NFL, where so much is kind of handed to the offense. Hey, everyone, I want to tell you about our friends at Scout

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check out scoutlogistics.com or call 855-217-2688 extension 232 to connect with them directly to find out how Scout Logistics can minimize risk and overperform and go the extra mile for your company well and that's the thing you talked about where they are as a roster right now and it's a very strong roster which is why i wouldn't and i didn't when i did the thing that everyone does which is right the little w's and l's you know yeah go down the list right i will forever split with vikings packers i just no matter who's your quarterback no matter what's going on yeah i'm just i will forever do that when i'm trying to pick the schedule because i mean just even look at the

vikings win in green bay last year it was ridiculous it was like 50 mile an hour win that was such a weird game such a weird game with the long possessions in the first half and then the packers just kind of stubbing their toe on offense in the second half the defense i thought the vikings played extremely well better than they had most of that year up to that point and look if there's a team even with aaron rogers under center if there's a team that challenges the packers this year it's the vikings like the way they've gone about reshaping that defense that's legit man i don't zimmer hasn't forgotten how to coach they've've gotten so much better up front. And I think they've really done a good job retooling their secondary. As you said, they went into Lambeau one last year. Nothing to say they can't do that again.

Yeah, that's a team that I think is going to be right there in the mix. I don't think there's any doubt about that. And I was ready to be old takes exposed, by the way, because after that game, I said the Packers can't go to the Super Bowl. They can't not with that defense. And then the defense remembered how to play like the rest of this. And that's just been that has been the M.O. in Green Bay for the longest time, regardless of who the defensive coordinator is. It's the weirdest thing. I don't know if it's because they have offensive minded head coaches or what, but they always kind of start rough in the beginning of the year on defense. And then things start to gel and coalesce. And I remember asking Matt at the end, towards the end of last year,

I think it was week 15 or so we had them on our show. And I said, you know, Matt, cause he had mentioned in the press, one of his availabilities about, Oh, we need guys to be a little bit more aggressive at the line of scrimmage on third and short talking about the secondary. And I'm like, Matt, it's like week 15. is this not brought up in training camp you know this is your team so for whatever reason that has been a real bugaboo for green bay but to your point they played a lot better down the stretch on defense um hopefully now they've

got a new scheme and you got to expect some growing pains in that regard but hopefully they can play a little bit more consistently uh right out the gate in 2021. How weird is it that the Packers and Vikings don't see each other till late November? Like, you know, the scheduling guys love that. You know, they love it. They love holding all the rivalries and or division games to late in the season. And I like it. I'm all for it. I would much rather play division games late in the year. I like that aspect of it, especially for the North when,

especially green Bay getting the elements you know you guys don't know anything about that your cozy little confines but i'm all about the cold and the snow bring it on uh yeah that's a that's a debate uh to be had um where i come from in buffalo they want there is no debate sir i hear you i hear i know there's people that prefer one or the other. Well, one thing that I like about it from a reporter perspective is just that you can be in with the crowd when it's indoors. And so you get that full story. But no one cares about the reporter perspective. No, they don't.

That's the thing. No one cares. We get free food, and we get to sit in a box and whatever. No one cares, man. The fans don't care. That's for sure. Here's what I'll give you. The press box

food in green bay is fantastic i mean they've done a really good job and there are some horrific like tennessee what are you doing washington my god but you know green bay is good dallas is good minnesota's actually got a good spread i'll give minnesota props for that the spread there is always nice so yeah chicago is one of the worst, which is. How do you do that too? Like you're Chicago. You're Chicago. You have got access to some of the greatest food on earth. And you put up the one of the worst, probably the worst spread in the division. There's no doubt.

Yeah. No question. Like Detroit does it right. Detroit does good. The Detroit spread is good. Like Chicago. Terrible. Yeah.

Just terrible. Anyway, speaking of things people don't care about. Truly. Hey, but it's important. These are important things. Here's what I have is the last question. terrible yeah just terrible uh anyway speaking of things people don't care about truly hey but it's important these are important things here's what i have is the last question and then i've got a trolley question for you uh which is so the but the rogers coming back thing is also like how they've built this and how they've handled their salary cap it's like all right kind of chips to the middle of the table we saw this with the vikings in 2019

where they just made sure they kept everybody and then by 2020 uh you probably look at the vikings roster went uh whom are some of these players i don't recognize especially adding what they have like 15 draft choices or something right exactly and so these aren't the guys that i've seen since 2015 um is that going to happen to the Packers? Like, is it, is it in terms of the next five years? Is it going to be a real overhaul of the players that we've seen year after year after year? It's interesting because I think a big part of that is what happens with Aaron Rodgers, because if they can move him after this season, which I would think is their plan, that opens up a significant amount of salary cap space, right?

If Aaron is sticking around for whatever reason, maybe they extend him, guarantee some of his bonus money, et cetera, then yeah, I think there's going to be a pretty decent, I'm not going to call it a bloodletting, but there's a pretty big reshuffling of the depth chart, so to speak. They have done a lot this off season as far as pushing money to next year. And it is very much set up to make one last run with this core group. That quote core group is going to look very different next season. If Aaron is still around, there's no doubt about it. They have, uh, gone about as far as they can with this group. I know there's guys like Adrian Amos, who they could extend and lower his cap.

Zedaria Smith has been pretty public about how he wants an extension, but I think the Packers just want to leave as many options open as they can this year. And they're going to address a lot of this after the season, when they find out what happens with their quarterback situation, what they decide to happen with their quarterback situation. And then 2023 rolls around the new media money kicks in the salary cap will most likely explode and they probably don't have as many decisions to make but i do think 2022 is set up right now that yes what you're talking about is probably going to come to fruition you

will see a large group of guys needing to be let go just to work their cap that's if aaron rogers sticks around now in the battle for who can be more passive aggressive what they should do is after next year trade rogers then sign three receivers a hundred percent yep no doubt about it all aging veterans who have a lot of talent left in the tank like to to help jordan love quote unquote and just bring back jay kumaro for the hell of it like why not we like him all the time he's sitting out there why not yeah make sure put jordy nelson in the front office or something okay so here's the trolley question because you're on this show and you knew you oh boy i want i want you to tell me over the many years that you have watched these battles between the vikings and the packers i want you to give me three vikings who you

respected the most who when you went into battle with, you said, that's not a trolly question. It's a little bit of a trolly question. I love that. Praise the Vikings. No, that's fine.

I've done that before. There's a segment of Packers fans who hate me because I'm always like talking about how much I think the Vikings are good. Like as a team, like I do get that a lot. Can I just say that I follow your work all the time. I watch your show. Sometimes I follow you on Twitter. I think that you balance the clearly a Packers fan covering the Packers and

being fair about things as well as I've ever seen someone do it. I know that's you, you have a journalism background, so obviously that's part of it, but I just wanted to compliment you on that, that you do hilarious trolling, but also in your real football analysis, very fair. And that's why I like having you on. That's very nice of you to say I try to keep it pretty real, right? Yes, I hope it's obvious when I'm just being a fan and trolling. It's very hard for some folks, I i guess out there in the public to differentiate the two but i'm very much yes a fan but i try to be realistic in my analysis of the team which is why i don't have a problem saying like oh look this viking is really good um three

vikings uh i got it it's got to start with um i will go current day harrison smith i mean uh he's just an outstanding player a guy who you talk about solving a position in a way the Packers have not been able to for a long time now I think they have two really good safeties now but man this kid every time he takes the field it's it's it's a joy to watch as a football fan not always rooting for him but I think he's a great player um he's somebody I wouldn't have any problems with rooting for being on the Packers wearing the green and gold. Another one.

He's he just single-handedly destroyed the Packers. No, he's done that a lot throughout his career. He's he's had games where he's just come kind of eliminated things. He's, he's just an excellent player. John Randall forever. John Randall,

just a joy to watch loved him and far barking at each other all the time um one of my favorite things ever was was it um a couple years later when hovan was starting to make his name and there's an nfl clips out there somewhere i can't remember who it was but someone was yelling fake ass john randall that's that's one of my favorite favorite quotes ever because john randall was the ultimate like trash talker. And I loved him. You talk about those guys who, you know, you would, you would love to have them on your team. He was a billion percent of guy I would love to have on my team. And then the final one, man, that's tough. There are a few, but I'd probably go with Robert Smith. good pick he was a phenomenal player

just steady as hell great in every aspect of the game a guy who you could count on down in down out game in game out you know probably wasn't ever the most heralded guy star studded you know put on espn kind of player but holy cow the guy was just a great football player and did the dirty stuff you know as far as like blitz pickup and getting out there and getting extra yards after he got hit and just a guy who a pure football player who i just loved watching play when he wasn't playing the packers and from a visual perspective one of the fastest people to ever just be on a football field like if he got if he got an open space it was gone right well especially on that

turf the old school metrodome turf it was just gone no no doubt about it yeah the concrete that they would call turf yeah that's that's being generous probably but yeah for sure uh well if you are so inclined to check out aaron's work which i actually suggest that you do because it's very good and here's the thing that vikings fans won't tell, but they're always interested in what's going on with the Packers. It's like people watching their money, how that works, right? They're looking out with their neighbor that has the bigger SUV and they're going, you know, like, Oh, I, you know, what do they got going on over there? Oh, something with their kit.

That does seem to be a very, very real phenomenon. It's interesting. Yeah. So at Aaron Nagler cheese head TV, it's a lot of fun and I enjoy following you. So thanks, man. I'm glad we could catch up. I'm sure we'll do it again soon when Aaron makes his announcement that both of us were wrong and he's going to be traded to Denver. Exactly. I'm looking forward to those receipts. Thanks a lot, Matthew. Thanks a lot for having me on.