IT IS STILL TIME TO THINK ABOUT THE SUCCESSION.

The Green Bay Packers had a chance of making the playoffs, but two loss-of-composure penalties on defensive players in scoring situations helped the Lions put up points, and two ill-timed turnovers, the final an interception airmailed by Aaron Rodgers at the end of the game, put an end to those hopes, which, all the same, were stronger than I had anticipated.  "Best case scenario, the new quarterback continues to develop, the young receivers gain experience, and the transition to another quality quarterback occurs. First, though, let's see what the remaining four games bring."

The transition, though, will not go away.  "It’s a period of contemplation in the world of Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers, who at age 39, is mulling retirement more seriously than ever before."  If popular sentiment mattered, the sense I'm getting is that he and Harry Sussex going on a Magical Mystery Tour would be just fine.  Perhaps he gets full range of motion back in his thumb, and his ribs heal, but I keep having those memories of a battered Bart Starr hoping to find the magic again.

That puts team management in a difficult position.

As for the next steps in Green Bay’s offseason, much of the future rests in [general manager Brian] Gutekunst’s hands. There has been much discussion about backup quarterback Jordan Love stepping in for Rodgers at some point — especially considering the Packers spent a first-round pick to draft him. If he takes over at quarterback, it’s reasonable to expect that Rodgers will be traded or retire.

However, if the Packers decide against moving forward with Love, Aaron Rodgers would be open to returning so long as appropriate roster moves are being made.

“If there’s a rebuild going on, I won’t be a part of that,” Rodgers said. “If they want to go younger and think Jordan [Love] is ready to go, then that might be the way they want to go. And if that’s the case and I still want to play, then there’s one one option, right? That’s to play somewhere else.”

Rodgers did, however, describe “reloads” as being a fun process because it makes the team “feel like you’re close.”

For now, let's pay attention to the Milwaukee Bucks (will all the regulars be healthy come April?) and note that pitchers and catchers report in a month.