Aaron Rodgers has been making magic for a decade in the NFL, playing a quarterback style that often leaves viewers slack-jawed and speechless. He possesses effortless instincts and creativity which perfectly meld with rare precision and smarts.
You can see the Green Bay Packers star signal-caller's influence in the likes of Andrew Luck, Deshaun Watson, and Carson Wentz. All three balance strong pocket play with on-the-run throwing ability and a willingness to put their bodies on the line, whether rushing for a first down or scrambling to buy time.
But this style is a young man's game, and even then, it can take its toll (Luck, Watson, and Wentz are all now out for the season with injuries). And while Rodgers' backyard-football tendencies give the illusion he's still in his physical prime, the veteran just turned 34.
So, as he prepares to return following an eight-week layoff due to the second broken collarbone of his career, is it time for the two-time MVP to reinvent his game to ensure his longevity?
"Good question," Rodgers said after a lengthy pause back in November, according to The Washington Post's Cindy Boren. "I haven't thought about that a whole lot. But what comes to mind right away is no. But I might need to think about that the next eight weeks."
The natural reaction of any sportsman facing a crossroads in their career is to continue down the same path that's led to past success. But Rodgers needs to do more than consider changing - his body is screaming for it.
Before the start of the season, Rodgers said he hopes to play into his 40s, just like fellow superstar quarterback Tom Brady has successfully done.
Outside the fact both Rodgers and Brady have strong arguments to be the best quarterback the NFL has ever seen, the two don't have much in common - especially stylistically.
Rodgers is much more Steve Young than Brady and Manning. And Young went from a Pro Bowler at age 35 to done at age 38, as a career full of hits finally wore him down.
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In the seasons in which Rodgers has played 15 or 16 regular-season games, he's been sacked fewer than 30 times only once, and twice he's suffered over 50 sacks. And that's not considering all the other hits he's taken due to his style, like the one from Anthony Barr that caused his second broken collarbone.
Those numbers stand in stark contrast to Brady's. The New England Patriots' pivot has just one season with 40-plus sacks since tearing his ACL and MCL in 2008. In 2016, Brady was taken down just 15 times (in 12 games, due to suspension). This season, however, he has been sacked 29 times - and his dip in play these past two weeks could be a direct result of the increased punishment.
If you want to know how quickly the constant hits and injuries that come from Rodgers' style of play can derail a career, just look at Tony Romo. He wasn't able - or ran out of time - to change his game as the injuries begun to pile up, and paid the price.
Rodgers has been cleared to return for Week 15, but his broken collarbone isn't fully healed, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Allowing him to return is an understandable risk considering Green Bay have (barely) kept themselves in the playoff hunt in his absence, but it's a risk nonetheless.
Now, the Packers shouldn't ask Rodgers to eliminate what makes him special. His legs and creativity outside the pocket are deadly weapons, but should become complementary facets of his game rather the bedrock.
Rodgers is more than capable of living much more exclusively in the pocket and taking advantage of the protections quarterbacks - especially star ones like himself - enjoy between the tackles.
The Packers' resurgent run game, led by rookie Jamaal Williams, can allow Rodgers to play with less weight on his shoulders. Meanwhile, head coach Mike McCarthy can help his quarterback transition by adapting the offense - just as he did for Brett Hundley - to incorporate shorter drops, quicker reads, and more reliance on an up-tempo, no-huddle system.
After a depressing season dominated by injuries, the NFL world deserves to see the best player in football play in his usual dominant fashion and send the NFC side of the playoffs into beautiful chaos. However, it also deserves Rodgers for five, six, or seven more seasons - even if it means seeing less of what made him such a joy to watch.
The development of Aaron Rodgers 2.0 should start now.
