When the Green Bay Packers traded Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets to pave the way for Jordan Love to take over as the starting quarterback, they were met with a great deal of criticism. Love, a first round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, was not a finished product when he first came into the NFL. In fact, the Packers stashed him away on their practice squad for his entire rookie season.

When Love made his first career start on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021, his lack of polish was all too evident. The only reason he made the start in the first place was because Rodgers tested positive for COVID and was out for the week.

Despite showing flashes of brilliance when he did play in 2022, many were not confident that he had reached the point necessary to be a good starting quarterback in the NFL. One of the loudest critics of Love and the Packers at the time of the trade was national sports host Colin Cowherd.

Colin Cowherd Claimed Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love Was Not Special

After the Packers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in last year’s preseason, a game in which Love completed seven of 10 passes for 46 yards and a touchdown, Cowherd said the following:

“Less than seven yard per completion. Less than five yard per attempt. What am I supposed to make of it? Well, what I make of it is that the biggest throw of the game, clean pocket, wide open tight end, and he missed it badly.

“Bro, it’s year four in the NFL. That’s a layup. That’s bad. I know you say, ‘But what about this and what about that?’ They are handholding him! That is a third down, clean pocket, bad miss for a college quarterback.

“He is what I was told throughout the offseason that I thought he would be: he’s a game manager. There’s no special there.

“You can say what you want about Justin Fields at 5-20, but see wow all the time. I saw wow this weekend with Anthony Richardson. I don’t expect Anthony Richardson to be refined and polished.

“But if you’re still wearing floaties year four in the pool, you’re not Michael Phelps. In fact, maybe swimming’s not for you.”

After Love led the Packers back from a 17-0 deficit to beat the New Orleans Saints 18-17 in Week Three, the largest comeback victory in franchise history, Cowherd said of Love, “I don’t think Jordan Love’s great… I’m not sure if he’s even very good. I’m not sure if he’s good. He was 22 of 44. Some dropped passes, some really bad throws. But it’s the largest comeback in Packers history.”

It is also interesting to note that, before the 2020 NFL Draft, Cowherd touted Love as the potentially best quarterback in that draft class, one that included Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa. However, after the Packers picked Love, Cowherd turned on his heels and blasted Love because of his being an unpolished product.

Colin Cowherd Once Again Is Singing the Praises of Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love

Last week, Cowherd predicted the division winners and standings the 2024 NFL season. While he had the Detroit Lions repeating as NFC North Champions, he predicts the Packers will finish second ahead of the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings, respectively.

Of Love and the Packers, Cowherd said,

“I’m a huge buyer on Green Bay. Jordan Love SHOCKED me with his improvement last year. J-Mac still wants to see him in 8-10 more games, but I was blown away by how good he is. He’s just a little wild. He’s more Favre than Aaron Rodgers, but boy, they drafted well this year like ALL their drafts. Green Bay is the best drafting team in the league, we just gotta own that.”

The praise for general manager Brian Gutekunst, though he is not specifically named, is noteworthy, especially since the Atlanta Falcons credited Green Bay’s strategy of drafting and developing quarterbacks for their pick of Michael Penix Jr. despite signing Kirk Cousins this offseason.

In regards to Love, it is not surprising that Cowherd is back to singing his praises. This is just what he does: he either pushes the most obvious storyline or makes controversial comments to make himself go viral.

One should best believe that, if Love has a bad game at any point in 2024, Cowherd will go back to bashing him.