Is Deflategate the cause of Rodgers' slump?

I apologize for this in advance. Deflategate is better left in the past, but this is just too good to ignore. And, at the very least, it has little to do with the Patriots or Tom Brady.

There's a conspiracy theory floating around on Twitter suggesting that Aaron Rodgers' extended slump has been caused by the NFL paying more attention to the PSI levels of footballs after Deflategate.

@MikeGarafolo@KirkAndCallahan Look at Rodgers numbers after the NFL started looking at football PSI.

— Jonathan (@Jonathan999M) October 18, 2016
For the Win has looked at the numbers, and they certainly paint a compelling picture…

Rodgers, Pre-Deflategate (2005-2014):

COMP%: 65.8
YD/ATT: 8.2
Rating: 106.0

Rodgers, Post-Deflategate (2015-present):

COMP%: 60.6
YD/ATT: 6.6
Rating: 91.7

You may remember, Rodgers came to Brady's defense during the Deflategate investigation, and he apparently told Phil Simms that he, too, likes to play with the PSI level of footballs:


Via ESPN.com:

"[Rodgers] said something [that] was unique: 'I like to push the limit to how much air we can put in the football, even go over what they allow you to do and see if the officials take air out of it.' Because he thinks it's easier for him to grip. He likes them tight. Of course, he's got very big hands and you can tell that by watching him play."

Is the league cracking down on under- and over-inflated footballs really the cause of Rodgers' slump? Probably not. Jordy Nelson's injury and the Packers unimaginative offense probably have a lot more to do with it. But there's no way to prove that it hasn't contributed to his statistical slide, and that's the key to a good conspiracy theory.


http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ftw/2016/10/18/theres-a-hilarious-deflategate-theory-that-explains-aaron-rodgers-slump/92373794/?hl=1&noRedirect=1

This should get you haters all worked up this morning!!!