Packers Morning Buzz: Clay Matthews emerging as rallying point against unpopular rule

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com.

The Packers (1-0-1) got a surprise day off from practice Wednesday but will be back practicing Thursday for their game Sunday at Washington (1-1).

We'll start with Ryan Wood's look at all the conversation Wednesday regarding Clay Matthews' roughing the passer penalty, with teammates and opponents alike voicing support for the Packers' outside linebacker.

Ryan writes:

Around the league, coaches and players have come to Matthews’ defense. There’s a reason his hit resonated beyond Green Bay. Not only did it alter the outcome of a regular-season game, but it involved a 10-year veteran, a six-time Pro Bowler, one of the NFL’s most recognizable defenders.

If a game-altering penalty can be called on someone with Matthews’ credentials, it can be called on anyone.

Washington coach Jay Gruden was baffled over the Matthews penalty. He said Matthews did “everything right” on the play.

“These guys are big men,” Gruden said, “and they’re going at a high level of speed. To ask them to contort their bodies in the spur of the fraction of a second, sometimes it’s hard. You’re trying to wrap up mobile guys like Aaron Rodgers or big guys like Cam Newton or Carson Wentz, you’re putting these guys in a pickle.

“It’s just a tough deal but it’s something that we have to continue to monitor and coach and do the best we can.”

You can read the entire story here:

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers argues that although the controversial NFL rule is supposed to be good for quarterbacks, it's bad for the game:

Jim Owczarski takes a deep dive into the run-pass option (RPO) that the Packers' defense will need to be ready to face against Washington and quarterback Alex Smith:

Rodgers is hoping his injured left knee gets better, but he knows it also could go the other way:

Packers coach Mike McCarthy tried to downplay Aaron Jones' return from suspension, but Washington coach Jay Gruden wasn't buying it:

Mike McCarthy cited the unusually high temperatures during Sunday's overtime game in giving Packers players a day off from practice:

Packers fans could outnumber those cheering for the home team Sunday:

Rodgers keeps showing up in TV commercials:

ESPN's Rob Demovsky writes about the emergence of Packers wide receiver Geronimo Allison:

The Power Sweep weighs in on how the Packers should use Aaron Jones:

Aaron Nagler and Corey Behnke offer their weekly "Packers Transplants" analysis for Cheesehead TV:

Acme Packing Co. wonders about Josh Jackson's role given Kevin King's latest injury:

Pro Football Focus ranks the offensive lines: