Green Bay's WR Duo Putting Aaron Rodgers, Packers in NFC Driver's Seat

Jordy Nelson isn't the MVP front-runner, and Randall Cobb isn't in the "best ever" conversation.

Neither is dating actress Olivia Munn or starring in State Farm commercials with Saturday Night Live alums. In a quarterback-driven NFL, that's just the way it is. When all is said and done, it always comes back to the quarterback.

But Cobb and Nelson are the driving force behind Aaron Rodgers' league-best 119.0 passer rating and why the Green Bay Packers may be the favorite to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLIX—even if the receivers aren't getting their due.

It's an impossible, chicken-or-the-egg conversation. Which comes first: the great quarterback or the tremendously talented weapons?

In a Top 100 Players of 2014 list on NFL.com, Nelson ranked 83rd overall and Cobb didn't even make the cut. Even on Monday night, in a 43-37 win over the Atlanta Falcons, Julio Jones robbed the duo of its thunder at Lambeau Field by catching 11 passes for 259 yards.

In the case of the Packers' dynamic duo, many perceive them as being dependent on Rodgers' great play, instead of the driving force behind it. That's not the case with many of the receivers who ranked above them on that Top 100 list.

Not that Cobb and Nelson mind.

"It doesn't bother me," Nelson told Bleacher Report. "I mean, there are a lot of great receivers in this league. Everyone's list is going to be different."

Cobb added: "I just want to be the best Randall Cobb I can be. If the best me is considered in that group, I'm blessed to be a part of it."

The Packers may boast the league's hottest offense on the field, but the unit's top components play defense off the field. They seemingly take pride in uttering the mundane and avoiding bulletin-board material, even if that means deflecting praise.

Against the Falcons, Nelson led the way with eight catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns. For the season, Nelson has a league-high 12 receiving touchdowns, and his 1,265 receiving yards are fifth overall. Cobb had four catches for 58 yards in the Week 14 win—three of them were third-down conversions.

Early in the fourth quarter, facing a 3rd-and-9, Rodgers completed a short pass to Cobb, who turned it into a 13-yard gain. It was Cobb's 25th third-down catch of the season, which is the sixth-most in the NFL.

On the next play, Nelson broke free for a 60-yard touchdown, his franchise-record-tying seventh touchdown reception of 40 or more yards this season.

The Green Bay offense has become more balanced this season, thanks to the running back combination of Eddie Lacy and James Starks. They are also getting meaningful contributions from Davante Adams, Richard Rodgers and Andrew Quarless among others.

But Cobb and Nelson are the key to Aaron Rodgers' passing prowess. They are the fuel that keeps the engine running in Green Bay. They are the oxygen that feeds the Packers' championship fire.

Unfortunately, the duo's days together could be numbered.

A Common Thread

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Four-time Pro Bowl receiver Donald Driver played with Rodgers, Cobb and Nelson.

Though those players come from different backgrounds (Rodgers from California, Nelson from Kansas and Cobb from Tennessee), they all are self-motivated athletes who closely study the game.

Nelson, for instance, was raw when Green Bay drafted him in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft, having only played receiver for three full seasons. Cobb started his collegiate career as a quarterback, which explains his intricate understanding of how to read defenses and consistently find their vulnerabilities.

But the key, Driver said, is not their individuality, but what they bring to the Packers as a group.

"They all make each other better," Driver said. "Aaron needs great weapons to be as successful as he is, but wide receivers also want a great quarterback."

Which leads to another similarity: Both Cobb and Nelson had to earn their way onto the field.

Neither Cobb nor Nelson topped 400 receiving yards as a rookie, waiting patiently for their time to shine—when Driver and Jennings would be closer to departing Green Bay. As both young receivers developed and the Packers started to see the writing on the wall, the growing pains subsided, and Nelson and Cobb found themselves playing much bigger roles.

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Cobb, though, had an important lesson to learn when he caught a touchdown in his first NFL game.

"That kind of set me back," Cobb jokingly said. "I had a feeling the NFL would be a lot easier than I thought. I had to go through a lot of growing pains [in] my rookie year."

In prepping for the 2008 NFL draft, former Indianapolis Colts head coach and current NBC analyst Tony Dungy was doing some homework on Aqib Talib, a highly regarded cornerback who starred at Kansas. Dungy, though, was disappointed by Talib's initial tape.

"He was going to be a first-round pick, and I watched Kansas against Kansas State," Dungy recalled. "And I said, 'He can't even cover Jordy Nelson.'"

Dungy now knows Nelson and understands why Talib struggled with the 6'3", 217-pound wideout.

In fact, Dungy considers Nelson an "elite" receiver because of his size, catch radius and speed.

"He's a top-10 receiver," Dungy said of Nelson, "no matter who he is playing with."

But due to his inexperience at the position, Nelson said he had a lot of growing to do, particularly in his release and route running. He also said he was too "robotic." He flashed potential in each of his first three seasons, but he broke out in 2011 by posting 68 catches for 1,263 yards and 15 touchdowns.

After an injury-shortened 2012 season, Nelson rebounded last year by setting career highs in catches (85) and receiving yards (1,314).

He also proved something to himself and others.

Nelson shined, even though Rodgers missed seven games with a broken collarbone.

"You have to step up as a leader and make plays with the quarterback carousel that we kind of had," Nelson said. "It gives you confidence."

That kind of production with Rodgers on the shelf proved Nelson wasn't just a product of a great quarterback but someone who can make a great quarterback something almost mythical. In July, the Packers rewarded him with a four-year extension worth $39 million, including $11.5 million guaranteed.

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So can the Packers invest even more money at the receiver position?

Two years ago, two-time Pro Bowl receiver Jennings signed a five-year, $45 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings. But Jennings was 29 at the time, and his production was trending downward. The Packers simply couldn't justify giving him that kind of money.

That's not the case with Cobb.

He turned 24 in August, and he's just 20 yards shy of reaching 1,000 yards on the season. But what's hard to quantify with Cobb is his versatility, a threat to run the ball, throw the ball and return punts and kickoffs.

"Cobb is a do-everything guy," former Colts GM and current ESPN analyst Bill Polian said. "You could put him in the backfield if you needed to."

The Packers will have 11 unrestricted free agents next offseason, but Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Cobb is the priority. And he should be.

But even if there's a will, there may not be a way.

No Hard Feelings

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The most talented receivers often have diva qualities, preening for the cameras, campaigning for more balls, awards and money.

But Cobb and Nelson insist they care more about team than themselves and willingly follow the lead of their signal-caller.

"[As a receiver] you always know Aaron will be prepared and accurate and not give up on big plays," Driver said, "so you better do the same thing."

The chemistry is built on the practice field and in film sessions, but Nelson added that they don't do anything exceptional or extraordinary.

"Every once in a while, we'll meet and go over stuff we might want to put in for a game plan, but a lot of it is just conversations during practice, when there's dead time or during special teams," Nelson said. "Sometimes it's over lunch. But we have plenty of hours [at the facility] [in which] we can communicate."

Tellingly, though, Cobb and Nelson spend a lot of time together away from team headquarters. Cobb is among the players who regularly attends a Bible study Nelson usually hosts at his home. And Nelson's family also hosted Cobb, his mother and his sister at their home for Thanksgiving last year.

They dine together on the road and watch games together on off days.

So when Nelson got his sizable contract extension, Cobb was thrilled, even if that may ultimately hurt his chances of returning in a Packers uniform next season.

"I've been here and watched Jordy every day for almost four years," Cobb said. "He works his butt off, day in an day out. His work ethic is unmatched."

"To see him get rewarded is unbelievable. I'm excited for him, just as much as he was. I think Jordy is worth more than he got. But at the end of the day, it is what it is. I have to do my part. And one day, hopefully, that time will come."

Given his production this season, Nelson clearly provided the Packers a healthy discount.

But will Cobb follow suit?

Dez Bryant of the Dallas Cowboys, Demaryius Thomas of the Denver Broncos, Michael Crabtree of the San Francisco 49ers and Jeremy Maclin of the Philadelphia Eagles are among the top receivers who have contracts that expire after this season.

Calvin Johnson is the league's highest-paid receiver, signing a seven-year, $132 million contract in March 2012, which included $60 million in guarantees. Receivers such as Mike Wallace of the Miami Dolphins and Dwayne Bowe of the Kansas City Chiefs have since signed five-year deals for $60 million and $56 million, respectively.

The floor for the market, though, would appear to be the five-year, $31 million contract Golden Tate—who didn't top 1,000 receiving yards in four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks—signed with the Detroit Lions last March. McGinn also suggested that Cobb's agent, Jimmy Sexton of CAA, will push for a deal that surpasses Nelson's.

Cobb admitted that he was "pressing" and "trying to do too much" at the start of the season, managing just 126 receiving yards through the first three games.

"Trying to do everything that wasn't me," Cobb said. "But I had a couple of conversations with a couple of people I'm close to, and I re-centered my focus on what's most important. That allowed me to have peace, and allowed me to be me."

Over his next seven games, Cobb topped 120 receiving yards three times and scored seven receiving touchdowns.

"At any time," Nelson said, "he can make a play and change a ballgame in a heartbeat."

You Can Keep Your Rankings

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During the Packers' current five-game win streak, Rodgers has thrown 16 touchdowns with no turnovers.

No quarterback is playing better than him, and he owes a big chunk of those massive numbers to the tremendous play of Cobb and Nelson. Both are playing as well as any receiver in the NFL right now.

So where do Cobb and Nelson rank among receiver duos?

How do they compare with Johnson and Tate in Detroit, Jones and Roddy White in Atlanta, Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders in Denver? And how much are they responsible for Rodgers' success?

Team	Players	Yards	Touchdowns
Broncos	Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders	2,474	17
Packers	Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb	2,245	22
Falcons	Julio Jones, Roddy White	2,132	12
Lions	Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate	2,068	9
Colts	T.Y. Hilton, Reggie Wayne	1,936	9
Steelers	Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant	1,828	18
Texans	DeAndre Hopkins, Andre Johnson	1,827	8
Eagles	Jeremy Maclin, Jordan Matthews	1,818	17
Bears	Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery	1,670	16
Bengals	A.J. Green, Mohamed Sanu	1,664	11
Redskins	DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon	1,544	8
Cowboys	Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams	1,516	16

Well, Cobb and Nelson may not have a future in politics, because neither seems to like campaigning much.

"I believe we're in the conversation," Nelson said. "I think the numbers show that. I think the great thing about us, we're two completely different receivers, so it makes it hard for defenses. But everyone has their different criteria, and everyone has their opinions."

Driver is biased, of course, having produced such a terrific career in Green Bay, but he said his former teammates distinguish themselves from the others in two key ways:

"They are consistent, and both guys can make big plays. You can't say any other group is better than our guys."

The Arizona Cardinals are technically the top seed in the conference, but they have struggled since starting quarterback Carson Palmer was lost for the season with a torn ACL. The Packers and Seahawks are the NFC's hottest teams.

The Packers offense is balanced and ranked sixth overall, but the Packers are first in points scored. On defense, though, they are 18th in points allowed and 26th in yards allowed per game. That isn't wholly different from 2011, when the team was first in points for and 19th in points allowed, with the offense carrying the league's worst defense.

"If it takes scoring 38-plus points to win, then that's what we [have] got to do," Rodgers said Monday. "There's no excuse with our offense."

The Packers are taking nothing for granted with three games remaining. They play the Bills and Buccaneers on the road before returning home for the regular-season finale against the Lions at Lambeau Field.

The Bills and Lions boast top-five defenses.

Nelson is coming off one of the biggest games of his season, and Cobb—whether he wants to admit it—has every motivation possible to finish strong, with free agency just months away.

"The victory is big," Nelson said of the Packers' 10th win. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us. Detroit is right there. Every win down the stretch is going to be big."

Neither Cobb nor Nelson is talking about his statistical goals or potential accolades. They're not talking contracts or how many balls they want to catch. For the dynamic duo of Green Bay, it's all about winning—even if that means deflecting the fame and glory their quarterback seems to attract.