Stephen A. Smith is primarily a basketball guy. This has remained the truth for a long time. So when ventures outside that sport, it starts to get a little dubious. Especially football. He’s made some pretty rough assessments in the past. That being said, people continue listening to him. Why? Probably the same reason people listened to Howard Stern. They want to hear what he’ll say next.
One thing people have learned about Smith? He’s a diehard Aaron Rodgers mark. The Green Bay Packers legend is probably his favorite quarterback in the NFL. So one can imagine how he felt when the team went ahead and drafted Jordan Love in the 1st round. Here Rodgers is going 13-3 and reaching an NFC championship. Yet they draft his replacement instead of more help to try reaching a Super Bowl?
Smith was not pleased. That is why when asked whether he’d be interested in seeing Rodgers in a Chicago Bears uniform, he fully embraced it. Both because the Bears have long needed a QB of his caliber but more as a well-deserved screw you to the Packers.
Stephen A. Smith didn’t exactly have a proper look ahead
It’s definitely a fun topic of discussion. When Rodgers himself was asked about the idea, he predictably sidestepped it. The truth is nobody is going to get an answer to this question anytime soon. The earliest Rodgers could be out is 2021 and even that is unlikely. Most feel 2022 is the offseason where the Packers would almost have to make the switch to Love.
Subscribe to the BFR podcast and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
What people aren’t grasping is will the Bears defense be what it is now by that point. Most of their core stars like Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, and Kyle Fuller will be in their 30s. To say nothing of the fact that cap issues may force the team to cut or trade one or two of them in that time. That’s not to say the Bears can’t continue to find great pieces but it wouldn’t be easy.
If they want to get Rodgers, their primary job would be to build an array of weapons on offense that would make the QB starting job look attractive. At present, that wouldn’t be the case. Maybe that changes in two years.