On the first day of training camp this year, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur leaned back in a folding chair adjacent to his practice field.
The Packers were deep in negotiations on a megadeal for Jordan Love. Three days later, the quarterback would agree to a contract worth up to $220 million with $100 million guaranteed.
It was a deal that would rock the NFL not because Love’s prior year of performance wasn’t impressive, but because it was the only year Love had impressed — or even started.