Jordy Nelson on if Aaron Rodgers is a System Quarterback: That’s a Joke

In 20 years, asking for the name of the quarterback who holds the Packers’ record for passing yardage and passing touchdowns in a single game could be a terrific trivia question.  Unless Aaron Rodgers or some other Green Bay quarterback can throw for more than 480 yards and 6 touchdowns in a game, the answer will be the incomparable Matt Flynn.  Guesses are sure to include Rodgers, Brett Favre, and Bart Starr.

With Flynn turning in a record-breaking performance and leading the Packers to a Week 17 victory over the Lions, there have been some rumblings about Rodgers’ success being a product of a great offensive system in Green Bay.  If Flynn can do it that means anyone can, right?  Jordy Nelson laughs at such suggestions.

“That’s a joke,” Nelson said during an interview with WSSP in Milwaukee. “I think that’s very disrespectful for people to say that about Aaron. The year he’s had, the past couple years he’s had, have been incredible. I think that’s very disrespectful for a guy who’s put a lot of time, a lot of effort, a lot of work into his game. To have a great year, as he’s had … and now all of the sudden he’s a system quarterback. I don’t agree with any of that.”

Neither do we.  What Flynn did last Sunday was truly remarkable.  When you consider the fact that Rodgers, Favre, and Starr have over 30 years of Packers starts between them, it is amazing that someone like Flynn would hold those two records.  That being said, people love to overreact.

What Flynn did on Sunday may have earned him a rather large payday in the future, but it says nothing about the season Rodgers had.  Rodgers is surrounded with weapons on offense, but he just turned in arguably the greatest single season by any quarterback ever.  An accomplishment like that takes a combination of a great system and a great starter.  When you’re talking about 45 touchdowns, over 4,600 yards, and only six interceptions, the latter holds far more weight.