The NFL always is changing different things about how they operate. The Green Bay Packers have a dramatic difference for the start of the NFL season this year compared to where they were a year ago. Last season, the Green Bay Packers community was in this constant debate of which quarterback was better, Graham Harrell, former quarterback of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, or B.J. Coleman, the recent seventh round draft choice from the Chattanooga Mocs. When the Packers brought Vince Young in during preseason, it was clear that neither of these guys were very good. Harrell has joined the coaching staff of Mike Leach at Washington State, and Coleman has not signed with an NFL team since the Packers cut him last year. They also had a rookie quarterback on their roster named Matt Brown who was undrafted from Illinois State. He was cut before the preseason ever even got started. So, to start the list, it is the quarterback who is a certain top 5 if not top quarterback in the league, Aaron Rodgers.
Nobody doubts what they have in Rodgers at this point and it is clear that it was the best move for the franchise when they kept Rodgers and traded Favre to the New York Jets. The idea was to develop their young quarterback in Rodgers and actually get him on the field. Rodgers was not one hundred percent last season after having a strange collarbone injury that kept him off the field longer than originally expected. He is back healthy and last year was his first season as a starter in which he missed playing time due to injury.
Rodgers backup is someone that he is very familiar with, since he gave up the start for him in week 17 in the final game of the 2011 season. Matt Flynn came in and set a Green Bay Packers single game record with 6 passing touchdowns. Since that time Flynn has been on 3 different teams, signing a large contract with Seattle in the 2012 off-season, but being passed over by Pete Carroll for a rookie quarterback named Russell Wilson. Flynn started with the Oakland Raiders in 2013 after a trade, but wound up being benched by coach Dennis Allen. If Flynn should get hurt at any point in the 2014 season, they know who his backup will be as well.
It's another quarterback that started for them during the quarterback shuffle in 2013, former Wisconsin Badger Scott Tolzien. Tolzien ended up with the Packers when the San Francisco 49ers cut him from their team in August 2013. He was originally on the practice squad because they had Seneca Wallace, but was put on the 53 man roster after Rodgers' injury. Tolzien came into the game against the Philadelphia Eagles, and threw his only NFL touchdown pass in that game. He was pulled for Flynn part way through the game on November 24th against the Vikings that later ended in a tie thanks to Flynn's efforts.
The Packers currently have another quarterback on their roster that is a longshot to make it to the NFL season and that is Chase Rettig. Rettig is an undrafted costless agent out of Boston College. Rettig completed 162 passes for 1,995 yards and 17 touchdowns with only 8 interceptions as a senior. In addition, he started all 13 games for Boston College at quarterback. His best game was against the Villanova Wildcats when he threw for 285 yards and 2 touchdowns. Rettig could end up on the practice squad if he shows enough value in training camp.
With Rodgers at the helm, Packers fans know they are fortunate and they have a much better situation than they originally did this time last year.