Another "What Could Have Been"

Regularly being around and knowing many San Francisco 49ers fans I hear plenty of complaining about their team having Alex Smith rather than Aaron Rodgers playing quarterback. I don't really blame them. I understand their pain. It's only going to get worse as Rodgers improves on his considerable football skills. For fans that saw incredible success for the entire decade of the '80s, they tend to be a little spoiled. As amazing as the 49ers decision making was during that terrific run it has been incredibly bad for the last ten years. The 49ers were idiots to not draft Rodgers in 2005. He was right across the bay for crying out loud. They had to notice him.

What's really interesting to me about the 49ers stupidity is that Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy was the 49ers offensive coordinator in 2005. His opinion of Rodgers had to play a significant role in the 49ers passing on him. His loss then became his gain later. More recently I have taken a broader view of this "what could have been." If McCarthy had actually watched some game film of Rodgers at Cal, the 49ers would have drafted him. Then 49ers head coach Mike Nolan is an excellent defensive coordinator. He was much less excellent as a head coach. Maybe if the 49ers draft Rodgers, McCarthy finally sees what the kid can do. The coach sticks around a bit and maybe he eventually replaces Nolan. It's not unheard of for a promising young coordinator or position coach replacing a faltering head coach. The 49ers become a completely different team. So to do the Packers. It might have taken Rodgers and McCarthy a little longer, but there's little doubt the 49ers would be a better team. It's amazing how watching a little game film can change dramatically the future of two franchises. Pop in the tape of the 2004 Cal-USC game and there is no doubt that Aaron Rodgers was and will be a fantastic QB. You can see the QB of today in that college QB. There was no mystery.