As it stands, Aaron Rodgers has two choices — collect his full paycheck for 2021, or continue his holdout into the season and forfeit millions of dollars. However, there is an option C for the Packers’ quarterback. Per the terms of this year’s agreement between the NFL and the NFLPA, Rodgers could opt out, skip the season, and prevent the Packers from taking $18.3MM out of his pocket (via PFT). 
[POLL: Will The Packers Trade Aaron Rodgers To The Broncos?]
Players can opt out for any reason, regardless of whether they’ve been deemed as a high risk for COVID-19 complications. The only hitch is that the decision has to be made by Friday, July 2. After that point, it’s irrevocable.
It’s be a bold and unprecedented move on Rodgers’ part. It would also prevent him from attempting an encore of his 2020 MVP season. The Packers continue to say that they will not trade Rodgers under any circumstances, but plenty of people seem to think that they’ll bend. In a recent poll, 25% of PFR readers said that Rodgers will wind up as the Broncos’ Week 1 starter.
“We obviously still feel the same way,” head coach Matt LaFleur said earlier this year. “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.”
For player opt outs, how does that affect the salary cap?
I think it pushed everything. Ie he doesn’t count this year but it also pushed everything back a year. So if he opts out his 2021 cap fiasco is still there but now in 2022.
I believe it also pushes is contract back one year. So he would now remain under contract through 2024 instead of 2023. Not sure if this is beneficial to someone who isn’t happy playing for his current organization.
Yep. It pushes the impasse down a year. Rodgers gets a year older and maybe rusty, you’d think his trade value would go down too.
So an opt out hurts both, don’t think it would happen.
But maybe Rodgers threatens to opt out to force the team’s hand.
Not to put too fine a point on it but at this point I doubt if Rodgers care what Green Bay is able to get back. The point of the rustiness is extremely valid though
What it would do however is let the Packers run with a different QB and either A) make them more comfortable trading him, or B) realize they’re horrendous without him do whatever it takes to please him
If he actually opts out there’s a zero percent chance he ever plays for the Packers again. I think this is essentially a contract standoff, and Rodgers is flexing his power (that he rightly has) before the successor they drafted to replace him removed it. If they want him to play QB for them this year they need to pay him more, and give him more guaranteed money, to give him power over where he plays. Once his guaranteed money is gone he doesn’t have a say in it, and the packers have a first round QB waiting in the wings. It’s a shrewd move on Rodgers part.
JohnSmith and bdpecore are right. This is what happened with Nate Solder on the Giants.
This story contradicts others I’ve read. Other accounts indicate that anyone who would opt out for the first time this year have to have a newly diagnosed susceptibility condition.
Even if that’s true, Rodgers can slip a doctor $5,000 cash and be diagnosed with whatever he needs.
Pretty certain Narcissistic Behaviors does not count as a qualifying condition.
Touché…
I believe that related to still receiving pay this year. Those deemed high risk still get some pay this year for opting out.
Pretty certain Narcissistic Behaviors does not count as a qualifying condition.
Time for Rodgers to make a decision. If your really that unhappy opt out and you still collect over 18 Million. Enjoy taking the season off with your new girlfriend. Go take cruise around the world.
You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means
Hahahahaha – who doesn’t love the Princess Bride
Carter… Are you having your stroke in installments? The line worked once.
Not seeing how it would advantage Rodgers to do so.
If I understand correctly (and that’s a big if)… Should Rodgers opt out, his contract rolls over to next season, as if this season simply didn’t exist. Again, to my understanding, he wouldn’t be paid for this season, but he would NOT forfeit the money on his contract, just have it rolled over.
I get that, but…
A year from now, he’ll be a year older having not played for a year. Teams won’t pay a lot for that rusty risk and he could end up stuck in GB. And not get paid this year. And still be their property next year in the same situation again.
I see how it hurts GB. Don’t see how it helps Rodgers.
Agree completely. On the overall, it hurts Green Bay more immediately, Rodgers more in the long run.
I agree but since you see how it hurts Green Bay, you should also see how it helps Rodgers. Forces their hand more. He can sit out and still get his money next year.
If Love plays well, they will be more willing to move on from Rodgers and trade him. If Love is terrible, Rodgers can threaten to fully retire, and the Packers may realize that they need to do a full rebuild, which includes trading away veteran assets like Rodgers.
Rodgers committing suicide would also hurt the Packers. Rodgers playing for no one while keeping his rights is as close to a win as GB can get…short of landing a nice trade return.
If Love plays well, what are the chances of that happening?
It allows him to keep $18 million in roster and signing bonuses.
If he chooses to wash his hands of the hole situation would the packers be able to sue him for breech of contract? He shouldnt be able to keep the singing bonus if he doesnt live up to his end of the deal wouldnt u think? If he establishes residence in canada or another foreigh country it may make it difficult to recoup the money I would imagine.
The Packers in that case would likely be allowed to demand back paid out portions of the signing bonus.
2020 ushered in the age of the universal opt out
Just trade him. He’s only going to last another year or two anyway. Get some draft picks/young players before he gets hurt and become worthless.
STUPID…..
I guess it all comes down to just how badly Rodgers wants to keep playing football. For all we know, he may be fully prepared to call it a career. Either way, he needs to make a decision and put this to bed. He doesn’t like the front office? Fine. But it wouldn’t kill him to throw a bone to the Packer fans and his teammates who have always supported him.
This whole situation has been really unprofessional…on both sides.
More on the front office side IMO.
If you don’t like your job, quit. Go be a tour guide on the team tour at universal studios as prep four your career as a game show host
Since I think you’re making an “in the real world” point, please do consider… The one advantage he does NOT have is that if he’s unhappy with his job, he can NOT just go to another employer in his chosen career…
Well if the packers do release hi i would think he would have to give back his singing bonus no? If he becomes a game show host then would they have the juristicition to go after him?
Packers would be insane to release him. They could get several draft picks today if they traded him.
Arena League
BBC
Neither could I, if I had signed a contract with my employer, until the contract was up.
Packers should just release him and be done with this circus. They made a mistake when they hired jordan love and now they are paying for it. Just show a little gratitude for what rogers has done for you and let him walk!
Releasing him is the equivalent of lighting money on fire. There’s several teams who would give them multiple picks for Rodgers right now. Releasing him gets them nothing. If they released him, everyone involved in that decision should not only be fired, but should never work in an NFL front office again because they clearly do not understand NFL transactions and player value.
Money has nothing to do with it they already gave him a good bonus. They cant get it back now when someone gives u money and they ask for it back what would u tell them? Ridicilous. Now this man has been a top player for years they need to do the right thing and let him go. They do not need to follow what they did with Favre there was bad blood for years u dont want that situation again. Let him go and do not ask for a penny back if in Rogers id just tell them I spent it.
Did you read anything I wrote? I am not talking about money at all. I’m saying it’s the *equivalent* of lighting money on fire. You have something of value (Rodgers) and releasing him is like throwing that away for nothing.
Your proposal is insane and dumb and if they followed through on it, everyone involved in that decision should be fired. They could–easily–get multiple picks for Rodgers from any number of teams right now. Releasing him means they get *nothing*. Releasing him would be beyond stupid.
I just envision Rodgers sitting on his stoop flinging steaks, reminiscing about his career…. I could throw a pig skin a quarter mile. How much you wanna bet I can throw a football over them mountains. Back in 2021 if they fired Gute we’d have won the Super Bowl, not a doubt in my mind.
The last point is plausible, but that’s just me.
These “Latest Update on Packers’ Aaron Rodgers” headlines should include roman numerals like the Super Bowl.
True, true
Friday, July 2nd. That’s when we know if Rodgers is serious or not about holding out.
Can’t wait for this crap to be over with. July 2nd can’t come fast enough. Any other athlete in any other sport EVER behave like this? EVER?
Carson Palmer…
John Elway and Eli Manning when they were drafted.
Fuck’em.
Play Love.
If Kaaron doesn’t wanna be a Packer, piss on him
Why it went 3 times is beyond me