You mention that one factor was bigger than the other wrt the performance of our pass catchers. I don't necessarily disagree with that sentiment. You also mentioned that it was an organizational failure not to shut him down. And I don't necessarily disagree with that sentiment either. Given how the season played out I think those 2 elements feed into each other though.
I don't recall if I wrote it here or in a group text, but in October sometime around the first Pittsburgh game (paraphrasing) I mentioned that I am glad I wasn't responsible for decision making about him going forward. It sure seemed like the season was over, but a team was built with contending aspirations and the headstrong QB resisted sitting. It was a lose-lose situation. Let him heal til after the bye, noodle armed Keenum flails around and we probably only beat the Lions, lose the locker room, and agendas get pushed for not letting Baker play. The alternative was to keep playing him and risk exactly what transpired. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Because of what happened in Cincinnati I thought there was a path out after the second Baltimore game. Yeah, we almost blew it, but there were glimpses of old Baker (healthiest he had been since LA) before he got banged up again in the second half. It looked like something that could be built upon down the home stretch. Then covid hit, Baker imploded after not practicing for 2 weeks in Green Bay, and the discord between him and Stefanski bubbled over thereafter. Can all that be fixed so 2022 is successful?
I seem more open minded to it than others, but we'll see what comes out in the coming days/weeks. If alignment isn't feasible from all parties then divorce is necessary.
