Report: Rodgers wants new contract (Update: May not want to return in 2021)

[OldSchoolSnapper]

It's fair to point out Rodgers got hurt and then looked good, but by no means great, the following 2 years. If that decline had continued or stayed about where he was, it wouldn't be so crazy to trade him now. The Packers were prepared for him to keep getting worse, but then he got a whole lot better. He may not even be in this position if he had played better for those 2 seasons. There were other issues going on, and he was by no means bad, but it's hard to fault the team if a) they REALLY liked Love and b) they weren't sure Rodgers was merely in a funk.

 

There were plenty of people who thought Rodgers was zeroing in on 1 or 2 players and dancing around for way too long in '18 and even '19, and even questioning what happened to his accuracy. But it's not like the team drafted Love on the heels of superstar performance. He wasn't looking that great.

[LouisEly]

Why would a QB like Rodgers, coming off of a MVP season, want to enter the next season on a lame-duck contract? F that. He deserves to have a contract that guarantees he will be with his team more than 1 more season, rather than this crap where they can basically move on from him scot-free after the 2021 season. If they're so insistent moving on from him, just do it now. He is owed that much, he's a 3 time MVP.

How is a $17M cap hit in 2022 for a player who isn't on your team "scot-free"?

[PeaveyFury]

Perhaps if they didn't poke the bear he'd have been apt to do this behind the scenes and get something team friendly done that helps secure him while simultaneously helping the cap number. Instead, they ticked him off and now he's playing hardball.

 

As has been pointed out numerous times, they're currently negotiating a contract extension with him 'behind the scenes'. He's doing this because he doesn't like what the offer was and it's a negotiating ploy, plain and simple. And a diva-ish ploy at that.

[jjfanec]

Why would a QB like Rodgers, coming off of a MVP season, want to enter the next season on a lame-duck contract? F that. He deserves to have a contract that guarantees he will be with his team more than 1 more season, rather than this crap where they can basically move on from him scot-free after the 2021 season. If they're so insistent moving on from him, just do it now. He is owed that much, he's a 3 time MVP.

How is a $17M cap hit in 2022 for a player who isn't on your team "scot-free"?

 

Exactly. It saves the team 20 million total but they would have to bite the bullet on a lot of cash. Rodger's signed this contract knowing what it would look like at the end of the deal. That fine he doesnt like it now but the last two year's arent a surprise

[pacopete4]

Perhaps if they didn't poke the bear he'd have been apt to do this behind the scenes and get something team friendly done that helps secure him while simultaneously helping the cap number. Instead, they ticked him off and now he's playing hardball.

 

As has been pointed out numerous times, they're currently negotiating a contract extension with him 'behind the scenes'. He's doing this because he doesn't like what the offer was and it's a negotiating ploy, plain and simple. And a diva-ish ploy at that.

 

Correct. He is a sensitive dude that is very intelligent. It could be a bad combo for the Packers as his time comes to an end.

[adambr2]

Honestly if they were to deal him I wouldn't be devastated about it or anything. It would be momentarily disappointing and definitely change our outlook for '21, but he's 38. If you're getting a king's ransom for it you have to do it right now because that king's ransom isn't going to be available in two years.

 

Obviously, it would depend what we got.

 

What WOULD really peeve me is if they misread the situation, dig their heels in, and Rodgers just refuses to report or retires and they lose him for nothing. Tread carefully. Rodgers has plenty of money and probably careers lined up after football. He doesn't need to play.

 

I don't think it will come to that, but if Gute REALLY thinks Rodgers is dead set on not coming back to QB, trade him. There's a number of teams that will definitely still pay an exorbitant price and losing him for nothing and not getting any more years out of him would be absolutely bombing the situation.

[PeaveyFury]

What WOULD really peeve me is if they misread the situation, dig their heels in, and Rodgers just refuses to report or retires and they lose him for nothing. Tread carefully. Rodgers has plenty of money and probably careers lined up after football.

 

He'd have less money if he abruptly retired. By all reports I've heard, he'd have to write the Packers a check for $30 million dollars. Rodgers has lots of money, and his post-football prospects are very good, but giving that amount of money back would be absolute lunacy unless you're Bill Gates or something. He's not doing that, and the Packers are right if they call his bluff on that potential move.

 

EDIT: Just to clarify, that's NOT the money he loses just by walking away, which adds much more- that's the money he'd actually have to RETURN.

[MillerParkSouth]

 

Looks like he's just about gone full Favre. They should dare him to retire. It hasn't even been 24 hours and i'm already sick to death of this.

[tmwiese55]

Perhaps if they didn't poke the bear he'd have been apt to do this behind the scenes and get something team friendly done that helps secure him while simultaneously helping the cap number. Instead, they ticked him off and now he's playing hardball.

 

As has been pointed out numerous times, they're currently negotiating a contract extension with him 'behind the scenes'. He's doing this because he doesn't like what the offer was and it's a negotiating ploy, plain and simple. And a diva-ish ploy at that.

 

Exactly. That's what i mean by hardball, if they hadn't ticked him off and shown him last year he was expendable he probably would've kept things hush hush and got it done behind the scenes. Instead, he did what he did yesterday playing hardball showing he's gonna play every card he has to get his when he has all the power.

[adambr2]

What WOULD really peeve me is if they misread the situation, dig their heels in, and Rodgers just refuses to report or retires and they lose him for nothing. Tread carefully. Rodgers has plenty of money and probably careers lined up after football.

 

He'd have less money if he abruptly retired. By all reports I've heard, he'd have to write the Packers a check for $30 million dollars. Rodgers has lots of money, and his post-football prospects are very good, but giving that amount of money back would be absolute lunacy unless you're Bill Gates or something. He's not doing that, and the Packers are right if they call his bluff on that potential move.

 

EDIT: Just to clarify, that's NOT the money he loses just by walking away, which adds much more- that's the money he'd actually have to RETURN.

 

According to Ian Rappaport he's very much considering doing exactly that.

[Fear The Chorizo]

We've also got to remember that Rodgers' current contract doesn't necessarily prohibit the Packers from keeping him around the next 3 seasons...they have a handy out after 2021 without taking a huge cap hit, but they could also just pay him the current 2022 and 2023 contract amounts until he's 41. Not ideal given the cap issues but also not impossible.

 

To me this a urinating contest between Rodgers' camp and the Packers' FO over exactly when Rodgers' deal gets redone and exactly how long the new guaranteed dollars are extended - Gute probably was hoping to get as friendly a restructure/new contract with Rodgers that would have them covered for the next 3-4 seasons, and Rodgers balked at it because it doesn't have enough guaranteed money in it for long enough. Rodgers is now playing hardball and trying to force the issue knowing the Packers probably don't want to have their best option be cutting him after 2021, and also knowing he'll never have more leverage than he does right now given his current contract status/age/coming off an MVP season/etc.

 

And that all has nothing to do with Jeopardy or the fallacy that there hasn't been enough done around him to build a contending roster.

 

 

You can argue that it's a fallacy that the problem is offensive weapons...but you can also make a pretty strong argument that they've done less than just about every other contender.

 

It isn't lost on me that the Packer FO has been moving heaven and earth the past two offseasons doing salary cap gymnastics to get their premium players extended/resigned through Rodgers' window, bringing in quality veteran free agents to fill gaping holes in their defense created under the previous GM's draft misses, all the while attempting to get Rodgers an extension that probably would have made things much easier to make more moves that would resemble "getting him help". I'm no fanboy of Tom Brady, but look at what he's done in terms of his contracts over the years and how much that has helped teams he played on going out and bringing in help.

[tmwiese55]

 

Looks like he's just about gone full Favre. They should dare him to retire. It hasn't even been 24 hours and i'm already sick to death of this.

 

It's different though. Favre started it all by every offseason saying he wasn't sure he'd come back, skipping many offseason workouts and keeping them in limbo. He was making them look ahead a bit, then a number 1 overall pick falls in their laps late 1st. Rodgers was signed for 4-5 more years and said he planned on playing that out and even into his 40s. Then they traded up to get a QB. Say Love fell to them in the 2nd or anyone they liked fell to them 2-3rd round, so be it, that's different than trading up to get a guy. And again, Rodgers had given no indication he was looking to quit like Favre did for years.

[PeaveyFury]

What WOULD really peeve me is if they misread the situation, dig their heels in, and Rodgers just refuses to report or retires and they lose him for nothing. Tread carefully. Rodgers has plenty of money and probably careers lined up after football.

 

He'd have less money if he abruptly retired. By all reports I've heard, he'd have to write the Packers a check for $30 million dollars. Rodgers has lots of money, and his post-football prospects are very good, but giving that amount of money back would be absolute lunacy unless you're Bill Gates or something. He's not doing that, and the Packers are right if they call his bluff on that potential move.

 

EDIT: Just to clarify, that's NOT the money he loses just by walking away, which adds much more- that's the money he'd actually have to RETURN.

 

According to Ian Rappaport he's very much considering doing exactly that.

 

Because the last 24 hours has been filled with accurate, credible reporting?

 

Though, in order to bluff you actually have to pretend to have something to bluff with, I guess.

[nodakfan17]

 

Looks like he's just about gone full Favre. They should dare him to retire. It hasn't even been 24 hours and i'm already sick to death of this.

 

So if he retires, he has to pay back $23 million in signing bonuses?

[PeaveyFury]

Perhaps if they didn't poke the bear he'd have been apt to do this behind the scenes and get something team friendly done that helps secure him while simultaneously helping the cap number. Instead, they ticked him off and now he's playing hardball.

 

As has been pointed out numerous times, they're currently negotiating a contract extension with him 'behind the scenes'. He's doing this because he doesn't like what the offer was and it's a negotiating ploy, plain and simple. And a diva-ish ploy at that.

 

Exactly. That's what i mean by hardball, if they hadn't ticked him off and shown him last year he was expendable he probably would've kept things hush hush and got it done behind the scenes. Instead, he did what he did yesterday playing hardball showing he's gonna play every card he has to get his when he has all the power.

 

To what end? They WERE negotiating behind the scenes. All this does is make him look like a petulant child while also making the organization tap dance. Scorched earth, I guess....

[OldSchoolSnapper]

He won't retire even if he wants to because the Packers would probably be OK with that and he isn't going to let that go. He'd come in, play, and just be a pain in the butt off the field before he ever did that.

[PeaveyFury]

He won't retire even if he wants to because the Packers would probably be OK with that and he isn't going to let that go. He'd come in, play, and just be a pain in the butt off the field before he ever did that.

 

Though I agree with your overall point, I don't even think he'll be a menace. He KNOWS that his best chance to win is with Green Bay, and he KNOWS this team is good enough to do so next year. He's crazy if he thinks that he's got a better chance to win in Oakland next year, and he's not crazy.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I'm beginning to wonder how much he cares about winning a title. I think he cares, a lot, but I am less convinced it's priority #1. It may be as far down as #4.

[xisxisxis]

I'm beginning to wonder how much he cares about winning a title. I think he cares, a lot, but I am less convinced it's priority #1. It may be as far down as #4.

You might be right:

 

1) Aaron

2) Aaron

3) Aaron

4) Win SB

5) Aaron

6) Aaron

7) Aaron

8) Aaron

9) Aaron

10) Aaron

...

 

IDK maybe 8th....

[tmwiese55]

As has been pointed out numerous times, they're currently negotiating a contract extension with him 'behind the scenes'. He's doing this because he doesn't like what the offer was and it's a negotiating ploy, plain and simple. And a diva-ish ploy at that.

 

Exactly. That's what i mean by hardball, if they hadn't ticked him off and shown him last year he was expendable he probably would've kept things hush hush and got it done behind the scenes. Instead, he did what he did yesterday playing hardball showing he's gonna play every card he has to get his when he has all the power.

 

To what end? They WERE negotiating behind the scenes. All this does is make him look like a petulant child while also making the organization tap dance. Scorched earth, I guess....

 

I don't know what you're arguing really. I think we're making my same point haha, that the ticking him off is what has pulled out from behind the scenes. If they hadn't ticked him off they probably find a way to get it all done without this drama, he's flexible etc, we never hear squat until the extension is done. Instead, they ticked him off, talk behind the scenes but haven't now given what he wants, so now he's willing to go hard back at them like he did yesterday. Without what they did with Love I doubt it gets this far/bad between them and it all would've got done quietly.

 

To me, it does not make him look that way at all. To me it looks like he's being as shrewd as he can to get all he can and imo they started it. They wanted to play the this is business card last offseason, he's playing it back.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Without what they did with Love I doubt it gets this far/bad between them and it all would've got done quietly.

 

I'm fairly certain he would have found something else to get upset about had Love not been drafted in Round 1 last year, too - to me it's convenient cover for the primary and likely sole reason he may currently be upset, which is the contract extension offered by the Packers isn't as lucrative as he's hoping to get and Rodgers knows now is when he has the most leverage to try and maximize that deal.

[xisxisxis]

I don't know what you're arguing really. I think we're making my same point haha, that the ticking him off is what has pulled out from behind the scenes. If they hadn't ticked him off they probably find a way to get it all done without this drama, he's flexible etc, we never hear squat until the extension is done. Instead, they ticked him off, talk behind the scenes but haven't now given what he wants, so now he's willing to go hard back at them like he did yesterday. Without what they did with Love I doubt it gets this far/bad between them and it all would've got done quietly.

 

To me, it does not make him look that way at all. To me it looks like he's being as shrewd as he can to get all he can and imo they started it. They wanted to play the this is business card last offseason, he's playing it back.

How did they tick him off? I'm assuming he's mad because they had the nerve to draft his replacement when he didn't want to go. Well he had a pretty pedestrian 2019 so they had reason to think that a 37YO QB was declining and they needed to consider a replacement. He kept quite until he had his MVP season then within minutes of that season ending started his scorched earth approach. As people who know him have leaked he takes any slight and revisits it over and over and over again. His actions these last few months clearly is his revenge for the nerve of the Packers considering replacing him. He's Aaron Rodgers...!!!

[PeaveyFury]

I think we're making my same point haha, that the ticking him off is what has pulled out from behind the scenes.

 

I'm not sure we're making the same point. If the argument is that picking Love ticked him off enough to pull him out from behind the scenes, why was April 29th, 2021 the day he chose to throw his fit?

[tmwiese55]

I don't see how the timing matters. He's been sitting on this since it happened, think it was fairly clearly out there right after last draft. Then his comments after the last game. Negotiations start this offseason. they don't go the way he wants, so he pulls this stunt (draft day, all eyes on NFL) to get his way and make it known to them he's serious. To me it's all negotiations. Sure you can disagree but I don't see how this is a crazy take on it. Wouldn't surprise me if he's willing to leave but I think it's just making them cave and give him guaranteed money. And IMO, if they didn't do this last offseason he'd have stayed quiet/classy (not make it public) on the contract negotiations until it was done.

 

To Xi, yes. To a 1st ballot Hof under contract for 4-5 years who's made no intention of quitting I definitely think it ticked him off. Essentially, "you're gonna draft my replacement, don't think you need me, well I'll show you." He knows how his contract is setup with being able to get out of it after 2021. That was telling him they're looking at doing that and a guy with a chip on his shoulder like he does is likely to take that in a bad way and tick him off. You can say they're justified in if you want or that you wouldn't be ticked off, but doesn't mean that's how he sees it. Or at the very least, for him to look at this as business decision. It showed him his money after 2021 was up in the air (business to the team) so he has MVP season and full power so now he wants to secure his money (business decision for him).

[adambr2]

 

He'd have less money if he abruptly retired. By all reports I've heard, he'd have to write the Packers a check for $30 million dollars. Rodgers has lots of money, and his post-football prospects are very good, but giving that amount of money back would be absolute lunacy unless you're Bill Gates or something. He's not doing that, and the Packers are right if they call his bluff on that potential move.

 

EDIT: Just to clarify, that's NOT the money he loses just by walking away, which adds much more- that's the money he'd actually have to RETURN.

 

According to Ian Rappaport he's very much considering doing exactly that.

 

Because the last 24 hours has been filled with accurate, credible reporting?

 

Though, in order to bluff you actually have to pretend to have something to bluff with, I guess.

 

 

I don't know? I mean we don't really know where the situation is going yet.

 

I mean Rappaport is not known for talking out of his rear. It's not like I quoted some talk radio host.

 

Is he bluffing? Yeah definitely could be, but all I'm saying is that if he looks Gute in the eye and says "trade me or I'm retiring", Gute had better be damn sure he's bluffing before he calls him a liar.

 

If you piss off an NFL MVP to the point where he would rather retire than play for you, if you lose him for nothing and your successor doesn't pan out, that's the kind of thing that costs GMs their job.