Packers’ Aaron Rodgers Begins Holdout
As expected, Aaron Rodgers did not report for the start of Packers’ minicamp on Tuesday. He’s now officially holding out as the saga continues between him and the Brian Gutekunst-led front office. 
Rodgers has already passed on $500K of bonuses by missing the team’s voluntary work. Now, he could potentially lose $93K for each day of the three-day minicamp. However, the Packers are thinking about waiving the fines in an effort to smooth things over with their franchise star.
Still, Rodgers’ stance has not changed. The reigning MVP wants to take his talents elsewhere, which would leave 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love or Blake Bortles as the No. 1 QB in Green Bay. Gutekunst, president Mark Murphy, and head coach Matt LaFleur say that won’t happen. So, with that, Rodgers has officially begun his holdout.
It’d be a shock to see Rodgers extend his holdout through Week 1. But, if he does, it’ll be costly. If he stays home all year, the 37-year-old will forfeit his $14.7MM salary, $6.8MM roster bonus, and be forced to refund $23MM of his signing bonus.
Aaron Rodgers Expected To Skip Minicamp
None of the Packers’ offseason overtures to Aaron Rodgers have swayed the reigning MVP. He is not expected to attend the team’s minicamp this week, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
This certainly is not a surprise, and fines for Rodgers will not eclipse $100K. The Packers have discussed classifying Rodgers’ minicamp absence as excused, which would waive the five-figure fine he would otherwise incur. Rodgers has already passed up a chance to collect a $500K workout bonus, making a fine in the $93K range rather paltry. The Packers begin their three-day minicamp Tuesday.
The future Hall of Fame quarterback has told teammates he no longer wants to play for the Packers. While this standoff became known just before the draft, Rodgers has been unhappy with the team throughout the offseason. Packers president Mark Murphy, GM Brian Gutekunst and HC Matt LaFleur each made multiple plane trips to meet with Rodgers — in an effort to diffuse this situation and steer back to Green Bay — but the 13-year Packers QB1 has not budged.
Although the Packers drafted Jordan Love in 2020, Rodgers remains Green Bay’s no-doubt preference to start in 2021. He has said on multiple occasions this offseason his 2020 MVP season threw a wrench into the Packers’ QB plans. Rodgers said last year the Love pick likely made it unrealistic he would finish his career with the Packers. As Rodgers’ quest to exit Green Bay enters the summer, this minicamp will be the first mandatory Packers activity he will have skipped.
The June 1 date, after which Rodgers’ contract can be more easily moved, has not seemed to affect this stalemate. Gutekunst remains entrenched on his no-trade stance, and his strong-willed quarterback has not moved off his desire to leave. Rodgers’ statement during his late-May interview with Kenny Mayne pointed to discontent with Gutekunst and Murphy, citing philosophical differences, and the team president said recently this saga has divided the team’s fan base.
The Packers still appear confident Rodgers will back down, with a recent report indicating they would trade the 17th-year veteran if they were truly convinced he is set on never playing for the team again. A lucrative trade package — from the Broncos or perhaps a stealth AFC suitor — would certainly come Green Bay’s way in this event. For the time being, however, the standoff persists. Love will have a chance to work with the first-string receivers, who plan to show for minicamp after skipping OTAs, beginning Tuesday. Should Rodgers stick to his guns and wage a training camp holdout, this week would provide a preview for how the Packers’ offense will look come late July.
Davante Adams Expected To Report To Minicamp
The wedge between Aaron Rodgers and Packers management continues to hover over everything else related to the franchise this offseason. But Rodgers’ receivers, after skipping the team’s OTAs, are expected to return for the non-voluntary portion of Green Bay’s spring-summer program.
This includes Davante Adams, whom Ian Rapoport notes is on track to show for minicamp this week (Twitter link). The Packers are set to begin their minicamp Tuesday.
[RELATED: Packers Might Not Fine Aaron Rodgers]
Adams’ intention to report certainly is a good sign for the Packers, who have seen the former second-round pick blossom into an All-Pro. Rodgers undoubtedly played a featured role in this rise, but Adams is unquestionably one of the NFL’s best wideouts. He is not currently paid like it, however. The Packers locked in Adams on a $14.5MM-per-year deal late in 2017, before he compiled a 1,000-yard season. Adams is currently the 17th-highest-paid receiver.
The current CBA makes it more difficult for players to wage holdouts. Teams are no longer permitted to waive fines for missing training camp, limiting Adams’ options were he to go that route. It does not look like the Packers need to worry on that front, but the prospect of Adams agreeing to another Packers contract has suddenly become a more pressing matter for the team. Adams said last month Rodgers leaving the Packers would make him reconsider his long-term Green Bay future. The 28-year-old receiver’s contract expires after the 2021 season, though Green Bay has the franchise tag at its disposal. The Packers have not used the tag since 2010.
For now, however, the Packers have Adams and his crew — headed by Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Devin Funchess, who is returning after a 2020 opt-out — set to work with Jordan Love for the first time this offseason. With Rodgers still dug in on his quest to be traded, his wideouts training with Love this week could become more relevant when the Packers reconvene for training camp next month.
Packers Might Not Fine Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers probably won’t be on hand when the Packers start their mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. As a result, the Packers could fine him ~$93K per day. However, they’re thinking about issuing him an excused absence, which would mean no fines for the star quarterback (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). 
[RELATED: Packers Say They Won’t Trade Rodgers]
“The situation we face with Aaron Rodgers has divided our fan base,” Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy said earlier this month. “The emails and letters that I’ve received reflect this fact…We remain committed to resolving things with Aaron and want him to be our quarterback in 2021 and beyond. We are working to resolve the situation and realize that the less both sides say publicly, the better.”
Excusing Rodgers from the fines could help to mend fences. The reigning MVP wants to be traded — the Packers say he’s not going anywhere. Rodgers is reportedly willing to stand his ground throughout the summer to get what he wants — especially since he says that the Packers promised to trade him.
Ultimately, the Packers hold the leverage. If the club refuses to deal Rodgers, the 37-year-old passer would miss out on his $14.7MM salary and $6.8MM roster bonus for 2021. He’d also have to pay back $23MM in unearned signing bonus money. If the stalemate continues, the Packers will be left to pick from the still-green Jordan Love and Blake Bortles under center.
FB Dan Vitale To Retire
Fullback Dan Vitale is ending his playing career. In a post to his LinkedIn page (via NESN’s Doug Kyed on Twitter), Vitale said, “I feel like my body is just ready to move on. I’m looking for a new role and would appreciate your support.”
Vitale, 27, entered the league as a sixth-round pick of the Buccaneers in 2016. He did not survive final cutdowns following his first career training camp, but he ended up back on Tampa’s taxi squad. The Browns poached him off the p-squad in October 2016, and over the 2016-17 campaigns, Vitale would appear in 24 games (nine starts) for Cleveland.
The Northwestern product caught on with the Packers’ practice squad in October 2018. He spent two seasons in Green Bay, playing in 20 games (five starts) for the Pack. His 2019 season with the club saw him post career highs in offensive snaps (170), catches (seven), and receiving yards (97). He also registered the only carry of his career, a three-yard tote.
Obviously, he was known more for his blocking and special teams acumen, and he signed a one-year deal with the Patriots in March 2020. The Pats knew that longtime stalwart James Develin was about to retire, and given the club’s usage of fullbacks and Develin’s impending departure, it seemed Vitale had found a good landing spot.
But he opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19, and the Patriots cut him last month. Instead of trying to play for another NFL club, he will now turn his attention to other endeavors.
In his LinkedIn post, Vitale noted that he graduated from Northwestern with an economics degree, and that he minored in business institutions and integrated marketing communications.
We at PFR wish Vitale the best in the next stage of his life.
Packers President: Aaron Rodgers Situation “Has Divided Our Fan Base”
It doesn’t sound like the standoff between the Packers and Aaron Rodgers will be ending any time soon. We learned recently that the organization is holding firm on their stance they will not trade their 13-year starting quarterback, and Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy reinforced that sentiment in a column on the team website.
“The situation we face with Aaron Rodgers has divided our fan base,” Murphy wrote. “The emails and letters that I’ve received reflect this fact. As I wrote here last month, we remain committed to resolving things with Aaron and want him to be our quarterback in 2021 and beyond. We are working to resolve the situation and realize that the less both sides say publicly, the better.”
We learned earlier this week that Rodgers is very likely to push his Wisconsin exit strategy into the late summer, with Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports noting some close to the future Hall of Famer insist nothing has changed for him; Rodgers remains adamant he will not return to the Packers. The Packer are hoping they’ll call Rodgers’ bluff, although a a Carson Palmer-style pseudo-retirement has entered the equation.
With Rodgers having rebounded from multiple unremarkable seasons to win his third MVP, the 37-year-old passer has considerable trade value at this point. A realistic trade package is believed to require multiple first-round picks and one or multiple established starters. With or without a quarterback coming back in a trade, the Packers can be expected to land a haul for Rodgers — if they decide to entertain offers.
NFC North Notes: Gurley, Lions, Packers
The Lions have shown some interest in signing two-time All-Pro running back Todd Gurley. It’s not clear if he’s still on the radar after their meeting last week, but Georgia alum D’Andre Swift would be happy to welcome him to Detroit’s backfield.
“Knowledge. Experience,” Swift said when asked how he would benefit from playing with Gurley (via USA Today). “I’d be happy if he come here as well. I just want to compete with these guys. Just to have him in the building, that’d be good.”
Aside from their college connection, Gurley also has familiarity with the Lions’ new GM. Gurley’s best years in L.A. overlapped with Brad Holmes‘ Rams tenure, including 2,500+ rushing yards between 2017 and 2018. He’s been slowed by knee trouble ever since, but he could be an interesting partner for Swift now that Kerryon Johnson and Adrian Peterson are out of the picture.
Here’s more from the NFC North:
- Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari is ahead of schedule as he returns from last year’s season-ending ACL tear (via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic). “He’s really working hard. I think he came back and he’s in excellent shape. We’re just going to take it one day at a time,” head coach Matt LaFleur said. “I think he’s a little bit ahead of schedule but then again there’s a long way to the start of the season. We’ll see where he’s at when it comes to that time.” Pro Football Focus ranked Bakhtiari as the league’s No. 2 tackle last year before his December injury. So, regardless of which quarterback he’s protecting, the Packers are counting on his presence.
- Speaking of which, Packers running back Aaron Jones says he didn’t chat with Aaron Rodgers about the QB’s plans before inking his extension (Twitter link via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette). “This is home,” Jones said. “This is where I love to be.”
Packers Sign First-Round CB Eric Stokes
Eric Stokes became the latest first-round pick to sign his rookie contract Wednesday. The Packers now have all but one member of their 2021 draft class signed.
Green Bay added Stokes with the 29th overall pick, continuing a heavy emphasis on the cornerback position in the draft. The Packers chose Jaire Alexander in the 2018 first round and have used first- or second-round picks on corners six times since 2015. Stokes will be expected to play a key role for the Packers as a rookie.
Scouts Inc. viewed the Georgia alum as a bit of a reach, ranking him 71st among this year’s prospects. The Packers were viewed by many — including the Ravens — to be eyeing Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman with their first-round pick, but Baltimore swooped in at No. 27 to select him. Stokes, however, was a first-team All-SEC pick in 2020 and a second-teamer in the powerhouse conference in 2019. He intercepted four passes last season and logged 18 throws defensed from 2018-19, seeing steady action in all three of his Bulldogs seasons. The 6-foot defender declared for the draft after his junior year.
The Packers have Alexander back, with the Louisville product positioned as a possible long-term No. 1 corner, and re-signed Kevin King this offseason. Stokes will join this mix. With this contract, only third-round wideout Amari Rodgers is unsigned from this year’s Packers draft haul.
Packers Gain $2MM In Cap Room
The Packers have some extra dollars to work with, thanks to some help from tight end Robert Tonyan (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Field Yates). . In a rare move, Tonyan has been re-signed to a new deal that treats the bulk of his of $3.384MM restricted free agent tender as a bonus for salary cap purposes. Meanwhile, they’ve added four voidable years to the contract. All together, this gives Green Bay roughly $1.9MM more for this year’s cap. 
Tonyan, 27, effectively redshirted his rookie season. As an undrafted free agent, he hauled in just 14 catches through his first two seasons of action. Then, he had a breakout campaign in 2020, finishing with 52 receptions for 586 yards and 11 touchdowns. Just last week, the Packers happily gave Tonyan a second-round tender to keep him from getting poached.
It’s worth noting that the tight end appeared in just 61-percent of the Packers’ offensive snaps last year. He could see an even larger role in 2021 as he teams with Marcedes Lewis. Of course, it’s not a given that Aaron Rodgers will be the one throwing the ball to him. But, between this revision and other recent moves, the Packers have carved out roughly $4.4MM in cap space — those dollars could be put towards a new deal for Rodgers, assuming the two sides can mend fences.
Latest On Packers, Aaron Rodgers
The June 1 date in which an Aaron Rodgers trade becomes a less costly transaction for the Packers looms, and shortly after a report indicated the team is not budging on its Green Bay-or-nothing Rodgers stance, the reigning MVP is not backing down, either.
Rodgers is very likely to push his Wisconsin exit strategy into the late summer, with Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports noting some close to the future Hall of Famer insist nothing has changed for him; Rodgers remains adamant he will not return to the Packers. This stalemate has shown no signs of ending, but the Packers may not believe Rodgers is 100% committed to his current quest.
While a Carson Palmer-style pseudo-retirement has entered the equation at points during this saga, the Packers may not be keen on letting this reach the stage the Bengals did 10 years ago. The Packers would trade Rodgers if they truly believed he was dead-set against playing for them again, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic notes (subscription required). Recouping the nearly $30MM from a Rodgers retirement would not satisfy the team compared to the draft/player haul a trade would net.
As of Memorial Day, GM Brian Gutekunst is not there. His no-trade stance remains, Schneidman adds. This certainly points to the Packers believing they can salvage this situation, but the team preferring a monster trade haul to forcing Rodgers into a retirement/hiatus is noteworthy.
With Rodgers having rebounded from multiple unremarkable seasons to win his third MVP, the 37-year-old passer has considerable trade value at this point. A realistic trade package is believed to require multiple first-round picks and one or multiple established starters. With or without a quarterback coming back in a trade, the Packers can be expected to land a haul for Rodgers — if they decide to entertain offers.
The team most closely connected to a Rodgers deal, the Broncos have yet to discuss the 16-year veteran with the Packers since a short conversation on the draft’s opening night. Like the 49ers, the Broncos reached out to the Packers the day this news broke, but Mike Klis of 9News notes no calls have transpired between teams ahead of the June 1 date. Denver’s current plan is a Drew Lock–Teddy Bridgewater competition, which easily makes for the AFC West’s least inspiring quarterback situation. That said, the Broncos have Rodgers on their radar. His following Peyton Manning‘s late-career path should continue to be a talking point as long as this impasse lasts.