I am a big fan of Colin Cowherd, host of The Herd with Colin Cowherd for Fox Sports. The Eastern Washington University alum is not afraid to speak his mind and he usually has unique takes on various topics. I know you’re not supposed to write in first person when writing this type of article, but I wanted to get the point across that I am not biased against Cowherd. However, I have to admit that his latest and continued attack of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers borders on insane.
Colin Cowherd’s Comments About Aaron Rodgers Are Without Real Merit
On Tuesday Cowherd went after Rodgers yet again; his latest comments prompted by Pro Football Focus ranking the Packers roster as the second best heading into 2016, second to only the New England Patriots. Now, how accurate and scientific PPF’s rankings are can certainly be debated, but that’s not the focus of this article.
The point of this piece is to highlight just how wrong Cowherd is in his assessment of Rodgers.
Among other criticisms Cowherd hurled in Rodgers’ direction, he said,
“He’s not the greatest leader. He can be moody and cocky.”
“Sometimes he’s a little too much rockstar and not enough coachable.”
How does Cowherd know Rodgers isn’t a good leader (from afar it seem as if he is and he’s one of the smartest quarterbacks in the league), and what evidence does the radio host have that Rodgers is a little too much rockstar? There really doesn’t seem to be any real basis for labeling Rodgers as “a little too much rockstar.” The Packers quarterback seems to be a very disciplined and hardworking individual; someone who is more concerned about being prepared to play football than he is about his celebrity.
The Fox Sports pundit also compared the Packers signal caller’s NFL resume to that of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, saying,
“Tony Romo, of the Dallas Cowboys, has 25 fourth-quarter comebacks,” Cowherd said. “Rodgers has 10.”
While that is true, that is only one statistic and it is skewed by the fact that Rodgers and the Packers do not often play from behind, which negates the need for fourth quarter comebacks. Rodgers is 7-6 in the postseason, with 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions; he’s led the Packers to the playoffs seven times and to a Super Bowl title. The former California quarterback is also 80-39 in the regular season, with 257 touchdowns and 65 interceptions. By contrast, Romo has led the Cowboys to the playoffs only four times, and he is 2-4 in those games, with eight touchdowns and two interceptions. Rodgers has only one fewer Super Bowl ring than Romo has playoff wins; Romo doesn’t even have an NFC Championship game appearance.
In the past Cowherd has also stated he would take Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton over Rodgers in a one-game must-win situation. Really? Yes, the former Auburn signal caller had an impressive 2015 campaign, but he is 3-3 in the postseason, with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions and no Lombardi Trophies.
Cowherd called Rodgers moody and cocky and said he wasn’t a good leader, but he would take Newton over him? That makes no sense. Sure, Newton is all smiles when the Panthers are winning, but when they lose he behaves like a sullen, petulant child (and that is based on more than just how he handled the post Super Bowl press conference).
Sure, out of the active NFL quarterbacks most would take Tom Brady and possibly Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in a must-win situation, but Rodgers is in the top three without a doubt. If Cowherd can’t see that, for whatever reason, he’s crazy when it comes to how he views the Packers quarterback because Rodgers is one of the best we’ve ever seen at the position.
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