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.
It won't be $50M in year 1 and he's likely to retire. They just push all the dead cap to the end and mortgage a portion of their future to pay him. It won't be at all difficult. [Reply]
If GB brass wanted an out they now have it to trade his ass if any team will pay that. That salary is nuts for him. He's old and back to back MVP's are not back to back SB wins. [Reply]
Guys, this is all coming from a report by somebody who got everything about Rodgers wrong last year. There’s very little reason to accept this as fact. [Reply]
Originally Posted by staylor26:
Guys, this is all coming from a report by somebody who got everything about Rodgers wrong last year. There’s very little reason to accept this as fact.
For what it’s worth, Bill Michaels is a pretty well informed local radio guy who says he is hearing this too. Rodgers is also demanding they keep Adams. Not sure how he thinks they will be able to afford to put a team around him. [Reply]
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
It won't be $50M in year 1 and he's likely to retire. They just push all the dead cap to the end and mortgage a portion of their future to pay him. It won't be at all difficult.
I hope they make him the highest paid QB by a wide margin just like the story allegedly says he wants.
Push up the going rate for QBs. That can only be good for KC. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Wisconsin_Chief:
For what it’s worth, Bill Michaels is a pretty well informed local radio guy who says he is hearing this too. Rodgers is also demanding they keep Adams. Not sure how he thinks they will be able to afford to put a team around him.
Even if that’s the case, there was already a report that the Packers were prepared to give him 45 per, so I really don’t see it being the difference in them trading him or not. [Reply]
Originally Posted by staylor26:
Even if that’s the case, there was already a report that the Packers were prepared to give him 45 per, so I really don’t see it being the difference in them trading him or not.
Probably true. The Packers like to win (in the regular season at least) and make money and it’s pretty clear they’ve realized Love is not going to develop into what they thought. I mean talk about optics, pretty hard for any franchise to justify trading a guy who just won two MVPs in a row. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Wisconsin_Chief:
For what it’s worth, Bill Michaels is a pretty well informed local radio guy who says he is hearing this too. Rodgers is also demanding they keep Adams. Not sure how he thinks they will be able to afford to put a team around him.
It's easy. You give him a 2 + 3 with the out year after 2 and the dead cap hit spread over years 3 and 4.
People act like the cap is made of concrete or something, it's more like clay that can be molded pretty much however a team likes, within reason.
If they want to keep Rodgers and Adams, they'll be able to. [Reply]