Reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers is so disgruntled with the Green Bay Packers that he has told some within the organization that he does not want to return to the team, league and team sources told ESPN on Thursday.
#Packers GM Brian Gutekunst to ESPN: "As we've stated since the season ended, we are committed to Aaron in 2021 and beyond. Aaron has been a vital part of our success and we look forward to competing for another championship with him leading our team."
Originally Posted by : Aaron Rodgers doesn't want to return to Green Bay Packers, sources say
Reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers is so disgruntled with the Green Bay Packers that he has told some within the organization that he does not want to return to the team, league and team sources told ESPN on Thursday.
The Packers are aware of his feelings, concerned about them and have had team president Mark Murphy, general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur each fly out on separate trips to meet with Rodgers at various points this offseason, sources told ESPN.
"As we've stated since the season ended, we are committed to Aaron in 2021 and beyond," Gutekunst told ESPN. "Aaron has been a vital part of our success and we look forward to competing for another championship with him leading our team."
Rodgers has not budged this offseason, but neither have the Packers, who have made it known they are not interested in trading Rodgers anywhere.
The San Francisco 49ers called the Packers on Wednesday night, a source told ESPN, and the Los Angeles Rams inquired about Rodgers in January before they traded for Matthew Stafford.
The Packers quickly dismissed the Rams' overtures, the source said.
The Packers have offered to extend Rodgers' contract, sources told ESPN.
Rodgers is unhappy for a variety of reasons, with some of it dating back to last year's draft when the Packers didn't inform him before trading up to draft a quarterback with their first-round pick. Some took this as a sign that his days in Green Bay could he numbered.
He also is at a different point in his personal life, having recently gotten engaged to actress Shailene Woodley. Rodgers also has hosted "Jeopardy!" and said it would be a dream to become the full-time host. He could play football and host Jeopardy! together.
Rodgers has made cryptic comments about his future in Green Bay, but he has told others that he does not want to return.
On draft night, the Packers' biggest issue isn't who they land, but whether they can keep the former NFL MVP.
Rodgers' contract contained a $6.8 million roster bonus due in March. It could have been converted into a signing bonus that would have freed up more than $4.5 million in salary-cap space for this season but instead it "vested as scheduled," a source told ESPN at the time. It's listed as an automatic conversion in Rodgers' contract but even that has to be signed off on by both parties. It's not known if the Packers tried to convert and Rodgers refused to sign off on it, or if they did not attempt a conversion.
Originally Posted by staylor26:
For all the talk about the media pushing this trade, it sure does feel like fans are as well.
Very few are capable of looking at this for what it is, which is very unlikely.
Can you blame them, especially Denver fans?
They have to know, deep down, that their team is going nowhere for the foreseeable future and might actually even be the 4th best team in the division for a long, long time. [Reply]
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
Can you blame them, especially Denver fans?
They have to know, deep down, that their team is going nowhere for the foreseeable future and might actually even be the 4th best team in the division for a long, long time.
Oh I totally understand from a Broncos fan perspective, but it seems like fans in general really want this to happen and think it’s much more likely than it really is. [Reply]
Originally Posted by staylor26:
Oh I totally understand from a Broncos fan perspective, but it seems like fans in general really want this to happen and think it’s much more likely than it really is.
People in general love drama. We're drawn to it like moths to flame. [Reply]
I don’t think Rodgers will be traded next month simply bc this has been going on for over a year now. It intensified in January through March and this was leaked on draft day?
I do think they talked to the 49ers and had a trade in mind for their 3rd pick but SF refused. I also think they’ve talked to Denver, but just in terms of information.
I just don’t see how this makes sense for the Packers now? They’re going to do what they have done all Spring: try to appease him and keep him in GB. They return value in trade doesn’t make sense.
It would not surprise me if Rodgers was traded to Denver next Spring though. It just doesn’t seem like Rodgers wants to be there anymore and will get out at some point. [Reply]
Originally Posted by RunKC:
I don’t think Rodgers will be traded next month simply bc this has been going on for over a year now. It intensified in January through March and this was leaked on draft day?
I do think they talked to the 49ers and had a trade in mind for their 3rd pick but SF refused. I also think they’ve talked to Denver, but just in terms of information.
I just don’t see how this makes sense for the Packers now? They’re going to do what they have done all Spring: try to appease him and keep him in GB. They return value in trade doesn’t make sense.
It would not surprise me if Rodgers was traded to Denver next Spring though. It just doesn’t seem like Rodgers wants to be there anymore and will get out at some point.
Actually it wasn't leaked, Schefter admitted he just made up the story based on an accumulation of observations and arbitrarily decided to run with it on draft day. [Reply]
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
People in general love drama. We're drawn to it like moths to flame.
I don't think Rodgers takes another snap for that organization, one way or another. So there is drama, but it's real. It's not just for show.
Rodgers, Love and LaFleur all have the same agent. So I can assure you all 3 of them know what's going on here, and LaFleur has not sounded overly hopeful lately. This is the agent who was behind Carson Palmer sitting out to get himself out of Cincy. This is an orchestrated and unrepairable situation. It's not going to end well for the Packers, aside from the haul of picks they will get if they do the right thing and send him out as he wishes. [Reply]
And next year if/when he does get traded and it’s to Denver, it should be a complete rape job.
If I’m GB I’m demanding their 2022 1st (probably in the mid/late teens), their 2022 3rd, Chubb AND Jeudy and nothing else. I’d force Denver to be substantially weaker so that Rodgers has no chance to make them look bad.
Bridge water will be a FA and GB still has Rodgers under contract so Denver won’t have much leverage and would be forced to meet their demand. [Reply]
Originally Posted by staylor26:
Oh I totally understand from a Broncos fan perspective, but it seems like fans in general really want this to happen and think it’s much more likely than it really is.
The thing is, if this trade doesn’t happen until next offseason, teams like the Dolphins and Eagles will be much better trade options after their young QB’s disappoint this year because they have the assets to get it done without crippling their roster. [Reply]
Originally Posted by staylor26:
The thing is, if this trade doesn’t happen until next offseason, teams like the Dolphins and Eagles will be much better trade options after their young QB’s disappoint this year because they have the assets to get it done without crippling their roster.
Exactly. Speaking of the Eagles, IMO that's where Deshaun Watson lands next season. [Reply]
Originally Posted by RunKC:
And next year if/when he does get traded and it’s to Denver, it should be a complete rape job.
If I’m GB I’m demanding their 2022 1st (probably in the mid/late teens), their 2022 3rd, Chubb AND Jeudy and nothing else. I’d force Denver to be substantially weaker so that Rodgers has no chance to make them look bad.
Bridge water will be a FA and GB still has Rodgers under contract so Denver won’t have much leverage and would be forced to meet their demand.
Oh they'll get raped.
Raiders and the Giants will be right there. Maybe even Miami. It will be an absolute bidding war. [Reply]
If this is a real scenario...and Rodgers holds out through training camp only to be traded...what kind of season would he expect to have in Denver?
No off-season, new system, new WRs, new terminology...He's an amazing QB but that's asking a lot...coming in cold.
They'll work it out...and he goes nowhere. It ends up being publicity fodder for the NFL to keep people interested in their product through the summer. [Reply]