Green Bay Packers Notebook: Marion Barber Trade Rumors & Aaron Rodgers Struggles

When news first broke that Cowboys running back Marion Barber could be available for trade, it was only natural to connect his name with the Green Bay Packers and their need for help at the running back position. 

News flash people: it's Ted Thompson and the Green Bay Packers we're talking about here. There is a very, very minimal chance that Marion Barber is a Packer come Tuesday at 3:00 pm. 

Look, I get why people get excited about these kind of things. Every fan wants to play general manager, me included, and 99 percent of fans would immediately pull the trigger on a deal like Barber to the Packers. 

But guess what? We're not the general managers of the Green Bay Packers. We are fans. And Thompson has a plan as general manager of the Packers that he sticks to.

Do we always agree with that plan? Most definitely no, and that is our right as fans. But Thompson believes in his method, and trading draft picks for veteran players—no matter how much sense us fans think it makes—goes against that method. 

As experienced a talent rater as Thompson is, it's hard to knock him for sticking to his plan. For the most part, Thompson has been among the best in the business in bringing in talent by using his draft picks that he doesn't give away to teams for knee-jerk solutions. 

But would having Marion Barber, Deangelo Williams, or Marshawn Lynch seemingly make the Packers a better team? In Madden 2011, undoubtedly yes. But in the real world? Thompson obviously doesn't believe so, and everyone should have realized that before the hype that Barber was soon to be a Packer surfaced. 

How Much Blame Does Aaron Rodgers Deserve?

The Packers are 3-3, and the blame for that record has been tossed around to the likes of coach Mike McCarthy, the injury bug, and, of course, everyone's favorite scapegoat Ted Thompson. 

But where does quarterback Aaron Rodgers fit into that equation? 

I think most everyone would agree, the Aaron Rodgers we saw in 2009 is not the same one we're seeing in 2010. 

Rodgers has already matched his interception total from 2009 with seven this year, and his passer rating has dropped from 103.2 last season to 89.7 (14th in the NFL) in six games in 2010. 

While the typical statistics are reason enough for concern, it's the situational stats that really makes you wonder how much blame Rodgers really does deserve. 

Let's take a look at third down. In 2009, Rodgers had a sparkling rating of 133.5 on third downs, completing 106 of 157 passes for 1710 yards and 14 touchdowns and zero interceptions. 

In 2010, it's been a completely different story. Rodgers is 27 of 52 for 344 yards and 4 touchdowns and five interceptions on third downs this season. That equates to a pedestrian rating of 59.0. 

Because Rodgers has been so inefficient on third downs, the Packers have went from third in the NFL on third downs in 2009 to 22nd this season. 

Then there is the fourth quarter and overtime, where the Packers have lost all three of their games. Rodgers again has less than average stats, with a rating of 74.4 in the fourth quarter with one interception and two interceptions. 

But it gets worse. In overtime, Rodgers has a rating of zero. Yes, zero. He's only completed one-of-four passes for four yards, an interception and two sacks. The Packers have had three offensive possessions in overtime, and have yet to pick up even a first down. 

You'd expect a lot more out of three potential game winning situations than we've gotten from Rodgers and the offense. 

But should we expect more? 

I hate to do this, because I love Aaron Rodgers, but the Packers' record in close games since he began starting 38 games ago is not good. It's not even borderline average. 

In games decided by seven or less points, the Packers are 6-14, including 2-3 this season, during Rodgers' tenure as Green Bay's starting quarterback. 

But again, things get worse the more you look into it. Rodgers and the Packers record in games decided by three or less points? 

Wait for it. 

A disastrous 1-9. The only win was the two point victory the Packers secured over the Detroit Lions this season at Lambeau Field. 

Is that mark all Aaron Rodgers' fault? Absolutely not. But with stats like that, you have to wonder about Rodgers' ability to win close games. 

In the Packers' last seven games, including the playoff loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Rodgers and the Packers' offense has had five opportunities to win a game that Green Bay went on to lose. One in Arizona, one in Chicago, two in Washington, and one against Miami. 

The Packers' offense is 0-for-five in those situations. 

So really where does Rodgers rank in blame for the Packers struggles so far? In my mind, he's definitely a variable in that equation. 

Reinforcements Via the PUP List

All three players that are now available from the physically unable to perform list—Al Harris, Atari Bigby and James Starks—will practice Wednesday according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

With Brett Favre, Randy Moss, and the rest of the Vikings' "potentially" dangerous offense heading to Green Bay, it couldn't come at a better time. 

Bigby and Harris will help aid a secondary that has been ravaged by injuries, but it's unsure how much we'll see out of Starks, at least in the coming weeks. 

"I think it’s obvious that’s a huge question mark," McCarthy told Silverstein. "Atari and Al Harris have battled, have played in games here, know our system of football. You’re talking about two veterans. Starks is really, we just want to get him out and see him in pads and get him in that environment. We’re really evaluating him totally differently."

Ted Thompson Pulls Off a Trade...Wait, WHAT?

It's far from the trade Cheesehead Nation was hoping for, but Thompson did successfully add safety Anthony Smith to the roster Monday by agreeing to swap a seventh round pick for him with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

It's been an interesting journey for Smith to finally play for the Green Bay Packers. He was signed before the 2009 season from the Pittsburgh Steelers as a player who could help the Packers transition to their new 3-4 scheme. 

During final roster cuts, however, Smith was cut in an unexpected move by Thompson. Smith admits he was "surprised" he was cut but has kept a good attitude about his return. 

“It’s never anything personal unless you make it personal," Smith told ESPN Milwaukee's Jason Wilde. "I thought it’d be hard to come back, but I’m happy to be here.”

Smith continued, “I’m happy, man, excited. I know what to expect. I’m just here to help.”

Let's hope he brings a whole lot of help to a Packers team that needs it come Sunday. 

Brett Favre's Second Return to Lambeau Field

Lost in Packers fans' hurry to throw away this season is the fact that Green Bay's once darling son, Brett Favre, is again returning to Lambeau Field in the Packers' most important game to date. 

Favre returns amongst a swirl of drama (wait, Favre and drama? No, that can't be. Must be a misprint), including a sexting scandal that is written far too much about and a sluggish offense that is written not enough about. 

Favre is completing less the 59 percent of his passes, and with six touchdowns and seven interceptions, Favre's rating of 72.1 ranks him 28th in the NFL. The Vikings' offense is scoring only 17.4 points per game, which ranks them 26th in the league and tied with the Buffalo Bills. 

But it's hard not to mention more about the scandal Favre has wrapped himself in. He'll meet with NFL Security officials on Tuesday, and while we'll most likely know very little from the meeting, there's no telling what it might do to Favre's mindset come Sunday. 

There's one thing we do know, however. Favre will be booed, harassed, and cussed by the majority of the Lambeau crowd. There's going to be plenty of fans with clever signs that make point of the allegations facing Favre.

Even Favre himself seems hesitant about Sunday's game. 

"I’m a little bit reluctant to say I’m excited to go back to Green Bay,” Favre said. “It’s a challenge that hopefully we’ll live up to, and I’ll let that other stuff take care of itself."

Hopefully Favre is more reluctant to, let's say, repeating the performance he put on the Packers last season in Lambeau. Green Bay would be in pretty serious danger of falling to 3-4 if he did.