A number of factors have contributed to Aaron Rodgers‘ frustration with the Packers: the selection of Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 draft, the team’s overall approach to the wide receiver position, and Rodgers’ own contract situation are just a few of those factors. And, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, Rodgers apparently believes Green Bay promised him he would be traded, only to renege on that pledge.
Hours before this year’s draft, veteran NFL broadcaster Trey Wingo reported (via Twitter) on the Packers’ alleged reversal, and now Florio is also hearing that Rodgers is under the impression the team has gone back on its word. If that really happened, his anger would be understandable, but as Florio observes, no one from Rodgers’ camp has communicated Rodgers’ belief to the Packers.
For their part, the Packers are adamant that they made no such promise to their star signal-caller, and they say that any reports to the contrary are “unequivocally false.” And in a press conference today, Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur said nothing has changed with respect to the team’s view of the matter. “We still obviously feel the same way,” LaFleur said (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network). “We want him back in the worst way. I know he knows that. And we’ll continue to work at it each and every day.”
We recently heard that the team is “deflated” about where things stand at the moment, which makes it sound as if the Packers are bracing themselves for a Rodgers departure. But Green Bay still has plenty of leverage here. If the club refuses to deal Rodgers, the 37-year-old passer would miss out on his $14.7MM salary for 2021 and the $6.8MM roster bonus that was earned earlier this offseason — but that hasn’t been paid out yet — and he would also have to pay back $23MM of unearned signing bonus money. Rodgers has earned $240MM from his Packers contracts alone, to say nothing of his endorsement deals, so it’s unclear if the financial ramifications of a holdout would be enough to make him change his mind.
In the meantime, the club has added Blake Bortles to the quarterback room. Bortles could theoretically open the season as Green Bay’s starting QB if Rodgers is traded or refuses to play and if the team does not believe Love is ready to take the reins.
is that in writing? jeez dude.
If you can’t trust someone’s word, all is lost…..
Doesn’t look like either side going to budge for a long time. That’s a lot of money to walk away from and give back but Rodgers has always been his own guy so he just might walk.
Well he DOES have that HUGE career as a game show host in his future.
He already has a lot of money. How much is enough? He loved doing Jeopardy. Doing what he loves seems to be important to him…..
He will not be the host of jeopardy.
Rodgers is a manipulative psychopath.
As a guy who has watched that front office to very little to address their glaring needs at WR and on DEF, I don’t blame him. I think he’d like to win and the GM is more concerned with flexing than winning.
He has arguably the best WR in football and solid options around that. Including a TE that just caught 11 TDs. Rodgers is great, but this WR nonsense is ridiculous. Guess it doesn’t matter that Gute attempted to trade up for Justin Jefferson or draft Aiyuk? Tried to sign Emmanuel Sanders?
On defense, what about signing the Smiths and Amos in one offseason? Drafting Alexander, who is now a top 3 CB? The Packers could’ve communicated with Rodgers better, but give me a sizable break on all that nonsense you managed to type up there.
Trying and actually Doing something is way 2 different things… Gunthy the GM has done much to help Rodgers, talking about both drafting or Free agency until these rumors came out, and suddenly rumors of GB tried this and tried that…. fact is they sat pat, didn’t do anything,
Still drafted his replacement last year instead of someone wether OLine/Wr or someone to help it, even if would’ve been a defensive player fine, but to take a QB not in 3rd or4th but took one jn the first round.
A first round wide receiver last year instead of Jordan Love and the Packers would have comfortably won the Super Bowl silver which Tom Brady and the Buccaneers are enjoying now.
Sorry Alec. The defense lost them that game.
I’m not sure why they needed to draft someone early on in last year’s draft when all five starters were at minimum decent starting caliber players, had quality back ups in (Taylor and Patrick) and drafted three more o-lineman for development/depth.
Also trying to trade up and actually doing so usually is more about finding a willing trade partner than making an offer a GM cannot refuse (aka overpaying).
The fact Gute has attempted to sign veterans like Emmanuel Sanders and Ju-Ju Smith-Schuester says he’s looking to address the team’s needs and not standing pat. Like with trading up in the draft, it takes two to tango and clearly these players either were offered more $$$ or in Ju-Ju’s case, chose to resign with his current team.
Or he could do the complete opposite of everything you just said
Trying and actually Doing something is way 2 different things… Gunthy the GM hasn’t done much to help Rodgers, talking about both drafting or Free agency until these rumors came out, and suddenly rumors of GB tried this and tried that…. fact is they sat pat, didn’t do anything,
Still drafted his replacement last year instead of someone wether OLine/Wr or someone to help it, even if would’ve been a defensive player fine, but to take a QB not in 3rd or4th but took one
In the first round is little bit of a slap on the face.
Oh yeah, trying to do something basically means you did it, right? I mean, Marino tried to win a Super Bowl, he basically has a ring.
What a terrible take. Preston Smith had one good year, and now Green Bay is stuck with his contract in the hopes that he’ll do better. One great receiver is not going to win you a championship, and neither is one above average TE who can’t block that your elite QB built anyway. The receiver IS getting ridiculous, but that’s because it’s been going on for a while and NOTHING has been actually done about it. Higgins and Claypool were both still on the board when the GM drafted-traded up, that is-to draft a guy who threw more picks in college than Green Bay’s current starter has thrown in five years. Even if he didn’t want to draft a receiver, Gutekunst still could have drafted Patrick McQueen and addressed a major area of need. He didn’t. He didn’t even draft a single player that draft who saw the field-except for a third string running back in Dillon who did play well-only for Gutekunst to re-sign his starter for top end money. And he didn’t bring in any FAs to resolve either issue at ILB or WR.
Gutekunst hasn’t added anything in free agency other than Z.Smith that has proven value. He added Jenkins in the draft, and Savage, but his other picks have yet to pan out. He did NOT draft Alexander, by the way. So yes, Gutekunst deserves the burden of the blame here, because for all of Rodgers’ childish reticence, he has done loads more for his team than Gutekunst has. And, bottom line, if Rodgers actually got what he wanted, Green Bay would end up better. Gutekunst? Well, Green Bay would have more third stringers who be good depth for the average level starter with the hopes that maybe they could compete for a playoff push three years from now.
“He has arguably the best WR in football and solid options around that.”
He absolutely does not. Adams is great, but his ‘options’ are not ‘solid’, they’re putrid.
Here’s their last three seasons WR production:
2018:
-Adams – 111 receptions, 13 TDs
-Valdes-Scantling – 38, 2
-Cobb – 38, 2
-St. Brown – 21, 0
-Allison – 20, 2
**did not draft a single WR in the 2019 draft, signed zero impactful WR free agents**
2019:
-Adams – 83, 5
-Lazard – 35, 3
-Allison – 34, 2
-Valdes-Scantling – 26, 2
-Kumerow – 12, 1
**did not draft a single WR in the 2020 draft, signed zero impactful WR free agents**
2020:
-Adams -115, 18
-Valdes-Scantling – 33, 6
-Lazard – 33, 3
-St. Brown – 7, 1
-Malik Taylor – 5, 1
**drafted one WR in the third round, have not signed any impactful WR free agents**
The Packers have been among the worst teams in the league at WR #2-5 for three years running and still have barely addressed it. Stop this narrative that he’s got weapons just because Adams is amazing.
AR’s contract is to perform with whatever or whoever else is put on the field with him. It isn’t his job to agree with the moves management makes, if he wants to do that he should void his player contract and look to be a GM. It also doesn’t state that he only has to show up to work if HE thinks they have had a good offseason. His problem is that he thinks he is smarter than everyone and his ego is out of control. He should stop whining and go be a judge on American Idol.
Jeopardy > American Idol.
People hate athletes when they want to be traded.
I never understood this aspect of some fans.
I think hate is a strong word. but I agree with your premise that dislike happens when trade requests happen. I would like to point out that Pro athletes make a ridiculously good living playing a game because fans are highly invested emotionally in their sport/sport team of choice. So the athletes are benefitting because of that emotional investment. It would be absolutely foolish then for them and any outsiders to be surprised, shocked, dismayed that that same emotional investment in situations like this turn partially against the player. Yes, yes, yes, pro athletes are people, I get it, however, they also, when under contract, agree to a non compete clause essentially. There is something to be said that you took the certainty, you took ownership partially in your own current problems. I think there are exceptions to this also. The Lions QB, I’m spacing his name ATM, but he wanted out because he was late career and his team was rebuilding, again, and he wanted a chance for relavence, he kept his request quiet and it was honored. He and the team did it the right way. Not this soap opera with a player and team that were in the NFC Championship game for how many times in the last years? So the Lions QB fans don’t seem up in arms about the trade nor his request, it’s understandable. A hissy fit because he doesn’t get exactly what he wants isn’t as understandable to the emotionally invested fans.
because most of us would be willing to do what Rodgers does for much less money anywhere. that and he signed a contract.
“because most of us would be willing to do what Rodgers does for much less money anywhere.”
Probably because most of us aren’t professional athletes with Aaron Rodgers’ skill set? I would be willing to do what Jeff Bezos does for much less money, but I have neither the intelligence, drive, or business acumen to do so. And also, and this is key, no one wants me to. Just like no one wants you to fill in for Rodgers.
Why does this nonsense always get applied to pro athletes? None of us are pro athletes because we’re not talented enough. Period.
“that and he signed a contract.”
NFL contracts mean almost nothing. Why can owners completely renege on a deal and cut a player (thereby not honoring a contract), but a player trying to leverage their talent is sacrilegious?
Might wanna ask him to do breathalyzer. Rodgers clearly drinking that sauce.
Ok, now these writers have to just be pulling stuff out of their backsides. lol. No team in the NFL is going to PROMISE to trade it’s franchise QB, even if they may be thinking about moving on. They will do things in their own time, in their own way, to benefit themselves and only themselves. Exactly like every other multi billion dollar business will. I don’t believe for a second a conversation goes, “Well Aaron I know you are under contract and are immensely valuable to our team on and off the field, your jersey sales alone make us a fortune, but since you are all butt hurt and stuff, sure, we’ll take the hit and trade you whenever and wherever you like, consequences to our bottom line and on field performance be damned, cuz you know, we respect you and all”.
As Judy Tunuda would say:
“Hey, it could happen!”
When Mike Florio writes a saucy rumor, it’s often sauce with minimal rumor.
Aaron believes the Pack promised to trade him. Did they? Tune in tomorrow for more drama from “As the Cheese Curdles”
S1 E5: “Fromunda”.
Please to be explaining!!??
S1 E6: We Gouda?
j5ive rocks!
A big Badda Bing for you!
Houston & GB are gonna be fun to watch implode this season!
Why would they implode?
The packs traded up last year to get Love . He should be ready to start assuming they didn’t make a mistake. They could get 2 or 3 number ones for an aged Rodgers. If patriots had traded Brady before he was free, they could have had a haul. Crazy for packers to keep a QB that doesn’t want to be there.
Actually it would be crazy to trade AR because he says so when the team has a basic ironclad no compete clause in place for two years. AR has very little leverage is the Packers are willing to use it. Their return for him isn’t exactly diminished if he chooses to “retire” for a year. I’m not saying they should or should not trade him, but it’s way too early in the process for a Billion dollar franchise to panic sell. And trading him right now would be exactly that. Not to mention not trade can even happen for a couple more weeks d/t salary cap concerns.
He has all the leverage in the world. He can retire and then what are the Packers gonna do? He’s got the same agent as Carson Palmer when he did the exact same thing in Cincinnati. Green Bay has a track record now of taking a big ol dump on their HOF quarterbacks. You really don’t think Rodgers looks out how the Favre drama played out and take that into consideration?
Crazy like a fox…..
Unfortunately for Rodgers, it’s better for Green Bay to deal him next offseason from a cap perspective. Maybe they just throw some extra $$ at him to get thru the year. Also a year from now Vegas and Denver will probably be even more willing to trade
Also wonder if Rodgers should have voiced his trade wishes right after SF moved to #3 rather than 3 hours before draft. Oh well, he will be fine in the long run, the Packers are the ones in trouble.
See, you’re rumor mongering without a single ounce of proof the Packers are or were even thinking of moving on next offseason..
Cap wise it’s better to trade him after this year but what if he doesn’t do as good as he did last year or gets hurt? I’d look into trading him now when they can get a haul for him.
Just trade karen for 2 firsts…. start love.
Drama solved
He’s a great player, and has done a lot for the Packers. As a lifetime Packer fan, this saga is getting really tiring, old, and frankly not very interesting. My first thought is the national media, and other teams (anonymous sources) are the ones keeping this story alive. It’s a slow time in the off season and they have a vested interest in one of the best team in the NFC to be in turmoil. You notice that there aren’t any direct quotes from Rodgers, and some of his former teammates have leaked more hopeful rumors of a reunion. In the end, AR has no leverage, lots of downside to his legacy and likely just wants more security ($$$$$$ and roster spot). Unless he says something directly to the press, they can settle on more $$$$ and he can deny all of the negative rumors that make him look like a completely spoiled athlete. If not, the Packers will trade him when it is most opportune for them which is likely next off-season when they know the draft order for the teams interested and the bad teams will be even more desperate.
This seems right. For all of our opinions, we should also know that media are basically sharks anyway-once they smell blood, they’re out. No matter if nothing’s developed, now they know where to look, so they will.
This is a Florio-sourced story, so it’s likely to be his own opinion anyway. Or, most likely, at least a significant portion of it.
He also hasn’t publicly denied any of it either.
Rodgers needs to quit this posturing through the media. You want out? Fine, say it. You don’t want out? Fine, say it! You want the GM fired? Fine, say it!! Did they promise you a trade? Fine, just bleeping say it!!! Put your damn name on something or shut up. All of this “he might have said” crap is hurting a team and a fan base that he claims to love.
I say this as someone who couldn’t care less if he stays or goes. This guys act is just getting tired.
More “fact-based” reporting by yet another bona-fide click baiting “insider” who fails to name one single reputable source (nevermind Rodgers himself) and y’all just eat it up.
Still waiting on the imminent trade to Denver that Schlereth reported on draft weekend, Rodgers’ retirement announcement so many believed was going to happen, or any of the teammates who he supposedly told last season he was leaving to come forward and verify that load of horse manure.
But we don’t focus on that, just continue to make up new rumors until 1 actually comes true.
I get you’re a fan of his but try and look at this objectively for a moment. I have no doubt that the source for all of this is Rodgers himself. I base this off the fact that he is the only one who benefits from any of this nonsense. If these reports were totally baseless then he would have spoken publicly by now.
So, if we add more hypothetical ideas to make it appear true, it must be true..?
Look, the ONLY thing I’m asking for is him or his agent to come right out and say any of what is being reported is true, false or otherwise. Until then, I’m not buying any of the reports, regardless of what they make him (or the GB front office) out to be.
Yeah, but why hasn’t he or his agent done that yet? His teammates (current and past) and coaches are being bothered with questions on a daily basis about Rodgers wanting out of Green Bay. Why allow them to be distracted with this garbage if it weren’t true?
The possibilities are endless, and all I can do is guess (which at least I’ll admit, rather than claiming any of them as truth…)
Maybe they assume nobody will believe them anyway, since the majority (from what I can tell) seem to believe every claim against him.
Maybe he has actually reached out to someone within the organization and said ‘listen, don’t buy the garbage you’re reading, but im not going to waste my time trying to put out the flames when, (newsflash) nobody will believe me anyway.’ And he’s just sitting back and wondering just how outrageous these rumors can get.
Again, I don’t know. Just like I don’t know the extent of why he doesn’t have a good relationship with his family. Maybe he just feels its nobody’s business.
Its also odd that current and formerteammates reportedly feel he’ll be back, while guys he never played with, for or liked…can’t stop sharing their opinions that he’s 110% gone. But hey, if ANYBODY is going to be honest and know exactly what the situation is, it’s Brett Favre and Mike Mccarthy, right?
The Packers benefit from his silence, so no, this isn’t all done purely for Rodgers to get a raise. If Rodgers says nothing and goes about his business as usual, while Green Bay continues to ignore their current window in favor of building Gutekunst’s roster the way he wants it, nobody benefits. Well, with the exception of Gutekunst’s ego. They get to use their HoF QB as a placeholder until he retires, and their own picks take over the roster, which they think will build a dynasty. That’s stupid, because they have a legitimate chance right now, if they would just bite their collective tongues and cater to their QB (because he apparently has a better handle on what they need than they do).
This is really just the most mind boggling thing to me. It’s so incomprehensible that it makes me exasperated just watching a GM be so just so flat out incompetent just to put his stamp on things. Yeah, Rodgers is a baby. So what, he’s pretty good. Quit being a baby yourself and just give him some help until he’s past effectiveness as a player, then do all of this silly “build for the future, but incompetently” stuff you’re forcing on the team right now.
If he can make more money in less than 50 days of production/shooting a year while not getting beat up, why not be a game show host if it makes him happy?
Because they are never going to hire him for such a job, mostly?
For what possible reason would the Packers (until they had a viable offer in hand) ever tell Rodgers they intend to trade him?
Almost no chance that happened.
When I’m feeling as delusional as Aaron Rodgers, I tell everyone who will listen that Angelina Jolie promised to adopt me.
Both sides are posturing. At 14.7 million Rodgers is extremely underpaid compared to most of the other top QBs. Instead of offering Rodgers an extension with a huge signing bonus they wanted to
Renegotiate his contract to help the team sign their draft picks. This is standard operating procedure for NFL GMs. The Packers claim to want Rodgers back for years to come, then they have to offer competitive money. This will be resolved before the start of the season.
packers brass treated rodgers like a little mutt and are going to be jobless as soon as the mvp leaves!
This may be far fetched (since nobody in the media seems to care to put it in print, or say it on air), but im almost positive Rodgers actually did say the only thing he wanted was assurance he’d be the qb until such time as he was no longer playing at a high level. It was not and is not about the money. I think he understands if he got market value the team couldn’t make a wild card. At the same time, since he doesn’t seem to be getting any assurance, he has no logical reason to agree to any type of new contract (for more money, years, say in roster moves, etc). I don’t believe that if GB has actually offered him a new mega deal, he’s turned it down because its still not enough coin. More likely its because they insist on having the ability to drop him at any time. Does no one else find it odd that they guaranteed Love’s entire contract, but won’t do so for a guy that has been instrumental in keeping the team relevant for 15 years?
Just trade him. You’ll get a kings ransom for an old quarterback who can’t win a Super Bowl.
Did 2011 just not happen? Am I the only one who remembers 2011?