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 Superturtle:
Rodgers hadn't been all that good for a few seasons prior to that 2019 campaign. And with all the caterwauling he did publicly about retiring, he's probably been doing it far longer behind the scenes to get his way. Why wouldn't Lafleur go and get someone he thought could be his QBOTF? The real mistake was not shipping Rodgers out for a kings ransom of assets.
Originally Posted by Mecca:
But Jordan Love isn't any good...
They'd at least have a massive influx of cash and picks to help solve the problem. They're in a far worse boat now with a shit QB making 50 million AAV and publicly shitting on his teammates while disregarding his personal failures as a QB. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Superturtle:
Rodgers hadn't been all that good for a few seasons prior to that 2019 campaign. And with all the caterwauling he did publicly about retiring, he's probably been doing it far longer behind the scenes to get his way. Why wouldn't Lafleur go and get someone he thought could be his QBOTF? The real mistake was not shipping Rodgers out for a kings ransom of assets.
Yes, get all those draft picks, and then let Love run the team into the ground (worse than Rodgers) for a top five pick of their own next year. Then draft a real QB. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Superturtle:
They'd at least have a massive influx of cash and picks to help solve the problem. They're in a far worse boat now with a shit QB making 50 million AAV and publicly shitting on his teammates while disregarding his personal failures as a QB.
Their best hope is that he retires and even that will sting a little bit.
But I think it would get them off the hook for those insane options years in 2025 and 2026 when he's due about $50 million each season (either through exercising the options OR the buyouts; I believe it's actually cheaper for them to execute the options).
If he retires next year they'll take about a $40 million dead cap hit and yeah, that'll hurt bad. But it'll spin them clear of 3 more years of this insanity. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Mecca:
I feel like if over 15 years the Chiefs never drafted any offensive players in round 1, routinely let his best players walk while constantly asking him to carry them...Mahomes might be snarky too.
If you honestly feel this way you haven't been paying attention to Mahomes at all. [Reply]
Just saw Aaron’s recent quotes where he’s telling the coaches to bench other players. I cannot imagine Mahomes ever speaking to the media in that way. You praise other people in public and criticize them in private. Bad leadership from Rodgers. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DRM08:
Just saw Aaron’s recent quotes where he’s telling the coaches to bench other players. I cannot imagine Mahomes ever speaking to the media in that way. You praise other people in public and criticize them in private. Bad leadership from Rodgers.
Originally Posted by Mecca:
I feel like if over 15 years the Chiefs never drafted any offensive players in round 1, routinely let his best players walk while constantly asking him to carry them...Mahomes might be snarky too.
No way. Mahomes does not trash his teammates or coaches in the media, even when he had every right to do so back in his college days. Kingsbury was trotting out the worst defense in the country, but Mahomes never criticized his teammates or coaches in the media. He has a very positive attitude in general, whereas I think Rodgers has a more negative outlook. They are wired very different, even though they have very similar football talent. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Megatron96: :-)
Don't forget about that 2nd rd pick, RB AJ Dillon. They throw to him about twice a week, so they've got that going for them.
Originally Posted by ThaVirus:
He's got a cap hit of $28 mil this year. His contract isn't an albatross.
That franchise has made tons of questionable personnel moves over the years.
There really is no "good guy" in this fight. Rodgers rubs a lot of people the wrong way and isn't a great leader or teammate.
The Packers' organization has certainly been at fault as well, as you mentioned. I can't imagine the Chiefs ever allowing Mahomes to go into a season with Bob Tonyan at TE (coming off an injury no less) and a combination of Romeo Doubs & Allen Lazard at WR with aging broke dicks like Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb for depth. As good as Rodgers has been, I'd argue even #15 wouldn't be able to do too much with that.
This is a train wreck right now, that's for sure. [Reply]
