The emotions in Green Bay are starting to calm down with eyes now turning towards 2021 and another run at a Super Bowl.
You could hear the panic coming from all parts of Wisconsin late Sunday afternoon. Not only had the Green Bay Packers lost to Tom Brady and Tampa Bay, but now their Hall-of-Famer-to-be quarterback Aaron Rodgers was wondering out loud if his Packer’s career may be over.
“A lot of guys’ futures, they’re uncertain, myself included,” Rodgers said.
Whoa. Let’s settle down 12. It’s one thing to lose a really important football game, but this is no time for the Jordan Love experiment to commence. Quickly, and thankfully for Packers nation, logic seems to have been restored.
Rodgers made his scheduled appearance on the Pat McAfee show earlier this week saying “I don’t think there’s any reason I won’t be back.”
Even better, Rodgers is hanging out with his teammates including tight end Robert Tonyan who is expecting to build upon his relationship with Rodgers come 2021.
“He (Rodgers) will be back,” Tonyan told FanSided. “We just had dinner last night. It’s all good. He’s fine.” Alright then. We have a dinner. Food is being consumed. This feels better.”
Tonyan did his best to explain Rodgers’s mindset right after the loss.
“Him talking and just saying the reality of the league and the business aspect of it, everyones job is always up for grabs everyday no matter who you are it’s just the reality of it,” Tonyan said. “I think some people took that the wrong way because they were emotional about our loss as well and they’re obviously just trying to grab onto anything at that point because it is a tough loss.”
Tonyan’s performance this season is one reason Rodgers should be optimistic about being back in 2021. The two connected 52 times last season on only 59 targets, the best catch percentage in the NFL. That should only grow come next season.
Tonyan knew he needed to come through often to gain Rodgers’ trust as quick as possible.
“For someone in my situation, you don’t get the opportunities as some of the other guys in the league or on your team do,” Tonyan said. “Whenever it came to me, I went up there and had to go get it.”
It has been quite the journey for Tonyan to get to this point. He was undrafted out of Indiana State and cut by Detroit before ultimately getting a chance to learn the tight end position on the Packers practice squad. Tonyan credits Marcedes Lewis the most for mentoring him along the way. Playing with Rodgers isn’t too bad either.
“He’s the best,” Tonyan said. “He’s always challenging you asking you questions. I’m always ask him questions. He’s not really the Aaron Rodgers superstar that everyone on the outside thinks. He really wants everyone to be their best self.”
The Packers’ best self would be getting over the hump and winning the Super Bowl in 2021. Tonyan is confident the Packers can finish their unfinished business from 2020.
“If I am putting my money on it, bet on yourself for sure.”
Tonyan is resting up for next year working with the Sleep Number 360 smart bed to effortlessly improve the quality of your sleep.