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

[nodakfan17]

Rodgers has been bad mouthing Gutekunst in team chats, calling him "Jerry Krause", who famously had poor interpersonal skills.

 

He's like everyone whose ever had a crappy boss, but Rodgers is powerful enough to do something about it. I'm on Rodgers' side in this spat. He's a 3-time MVP. He has earned whatever special handling he wants.

I lean toward siding with Rodgers, but I don’t see BG as incompetent or a villain. In fact, I think he’s done a pretty decent job of turning this team around save for one huge exception (trading up for Love).

[CheeseheadInQC]

Rodgers has been bad mouthing Gutekunst in team chats, calling him "Jerry Krause", who famously had poor interpersonal skills.

 

He's like everyone whose ever had a crappy boss, but Rodgers is powerful enough to do something about it. I'm on Rodgers' side in this spat. He's a 3-time MVP. He has earned whatever special handling he wants.

So, demanding ultimate respect while according none?

[Fear The Chorizo]

Rodgers has been bad mouthing Gutekunst in team chats, calling him "Jerry Krause", who famously had poor interpersonal skills.

 

He's like everyone whose ever had a crappy boss, but Rodgers is powerful enough to do something about it. I'm on Rodgers' side in this spat. He's a 3-time MVP. He has earned whatever special handling he wants.

 

Basically everyone who's ever had a crappy boss is powerful enough to do something about it if they really wanted - they can quit. The difference with Rodgers isn't that he's more powerful than most, it's that he's more wealthy.

 

Jerry Krause won 6 NBA titles with his bad interpersonal skills as a GM. One could easily say Jordan won those titles in spite of Krause because of how good he was playing the game, and despite the fact many know Jordan to be an egotistical maniac who was also very difficult to work/play with. The problem for Rodgers in this comparison is a lack of titles.

 

And if it's true that Rodgers is calling Gutekunst 'Krause" in team chats, then he's more of a child than I had imagined up to this point. Why doesn't he just call him a big weanie instead?

[pacopete4]

This whole situation is a bit embarrassing for both the Packers and Rodgers. Neither side can feel too great right now. I know I wouldn't if I was in either of their positions. Rather than act like grown adults and get things accomplished together, it looks like they will go down and separate with a terrible last act.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Michael Jordan was a transcendent talent, but he doesn't even sniff one NBA championship without the high-end talent such as Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, and Dennis Rodman that Krause put around him. And that's the NBA, which by and large is a superstar-driven league. The NFL doesn't hold a candle to the NBA when it comes to treating star players as singular entities.

 

Krause may have been a prick, but he built a dynasty. Perhaps Aaron Rodgers doesn't realize that when he is comparing his own GM to Krause, it's really the ultimate compliment.

[Sixtofan]

I have to agree - if he is really calling BG by what he considers to be a derogatory name in a team chat - that’s terrible. Rodgers is supposed to be a leader, this isn’t how leaders act - regardless of the circumstances.

[PeaveyFury]

Rodgers has been bad mouthing Gutekunst in team chats, calling him "Jerry Krause", who famously had poor interpersonal skills.

 

He's like everyone whose ever had a crappy boss, but Rodgers is powerful enough to do something about it. I'm on Rodgers' side in this spat. He's a 3-time MVP. He has earned whatever special handling he wants.

So, demanding ultimate respect while according none?

 

No kidding. How embarrassingly childish.

[PeaveyFury]

This whole situation is a bit embarrassing for both the Packers and Rodgers. Neither side can feel too great right now.

 

I guess my question continues to be- what have the Packers done at this point to be embarrassed about?

[HarveysWBs]

Rodgers has been bad mouthing Gutekunst in team chats, calling him "Jerry Krause", who famously had poor interpersonal skills.

 

He's like everyone whose ever had a crappy boss, but Rodgers is powerful enough to do something about it. I'm on Rodgers' side in this spat. He's a 3-time MVP. He has earned whatever special handling he wants.

Far be it from me to tell anyone else how to be a fan. And who knows what is true and what isn’t, as there are so many details and so much intrigue circulating, it’s hardly possible for all of it to be true, and equally unlikely that it is all a pack of lies.

 

What I do know is that, as far as my fandom goes, GB winning rings is 1A and being consistently good is 1B. To the extent that Rodgers is now a cancer (which he may very well be at this point), then he is harmful to those objectives, so if sides must be drawn, I’m on the organization’s side (since they are still trying to, you know, win games in Green Bay). I want nothing but good for Rodgers personally, and seeing as he’s been compensated beyond the wildest dreams of 99.99% of humans who have ever lived, my primary concern is for his mental and spiritual health, which have seemed a bit tenuous at times over the last decade. Nevertheless, I was a packer fan before Rodgers, and one I will remain long after he’s gone.

 

Now, this does not preclude a reckoning with the org’s responsibility for how we got here. However, that all seems pretty impossible right now given the present smokescreens, gaslighting, and emotional confusion of the moment. It seems likely that at minimum, Packers brass is guilty of poor communication at a few critical moments. It may also come to light (though I have seen zero solid evidence of this as of yet) that they were belligerent with Rodgers and bear the brunt of the responsibility for the broken relationship. This would make Gute or whoever guilty of harming the franchise, and if so, my estimation of all this would change a bit.

 

But if we’re talking about Rodgers pouting for not getting to keep a diminished Jordy Nelson for his last season, have to watch the team draft defensive players in the first round (addressing the part of the team that is unarguably the biggest need), and (ministers of grace defend us!) see Kumerow let go from what ultimately still proved to be the most efficiently lethal offense in all of football, then that’s some pretty thin gruel. I’m sorry, but spare me the Jordan comparisons. Jordan couldn’t have GM’d the Bulls to six rings, and if Rodgers is wanting to make personnel decisions like those above (and don’t forget, he lobbied for Jimmy Graham—how’d that work out?), I don’t think he’d have constructed a roster half as good as Gute’s.

 

If it can all be reconciled, of course, I’ll welcome him back. He’s still the best chance to bring another Super Bowl to Green Bay, no doubt about it. But if not, thanks for the memories. The franchise must carry on. And 12, for all he has done, cares little for that future to the extent it does not involve him. Understandable for him, perhaps, but this fan does not feel the same.

[PeaveyFury]

Wait, are we citing a report by Bob McGinn? When was the last time McGinn was actually right about something associated with the team?

[pacopete4]

This whole situation is a bit embarrassing for both the Packers and Rodgers. Neither side can feel too great right now.

 

I guess my question continues to be- what have the Packers done at this point to be embarrassed about?

 

I don't necessarily disagree. I just think they are embarrassed that this situation is even playing out. And on top of that, it is about 10 years or so from their last situation with a HOF QB. While I might agree that they haven't done much here in this situation, Rodgers has brought them down to the muck.

[Sixtofan]

It’s like the embarrassment that parents feel when their small child throws a tantrum in public.

 

Actually it isn’t “like” that - it is exactly that.

[xisxisxis]

I was glad they fired McCarthy. I thought the whole drama with the leaks were pretty unnecessary. Based on that situation and this it's pretty clear that if Rodgers doesn't get his way he leaks information to embarrass everyone (himself included, but he's oblivious to how this looks about him). The Packers organization isn't perfect, but how long has this organization handled itself professionally while having the most championships without having to ever air it's dirty laundry in public. Along comes Aaron Rodgers and the ego that ate a continent going to any extreme to have his way. He couldn't care less about throwing crap across the entire organization because he thinks he's earned the right. Trade him June 2 for the best return. No need to continue with him as we are just moving up the inevitable anyways. What a little man child.

[xisxisxis]

This whole situation is a bit embarrassing for both the Packers and Rodgers. Neither side can feel too great right now.

 

I guess my question continues to be- what have the Packers done at this point to be embarrassed about?

What keeps coming out in any article, tweet, etc. is that the Packers didn't feed the ego sufficiently to keep Rodgers happy. As if 1 Super Bowl win for an organization with 13 championships is any "special" achievement that they have to match every one of Rodgers wishes...

[LouisEly]

With all they have invested in this season (the Smiths, last year of Adams, bucking up for Bakh, Jones, and Clark, Alexander's 5th year option), guarantee Rodgers that they will trade him sometime between the day after the Super Bowl and June 2nd, 2022 if he shows up, shuts up, and gives 100% for 2021. GB has invested too much in this season and the cap hit is too big for it to be a good trade now.

 

One interesting angle, usually with these disagreements we are talking about taking the sides of millionaires versus billionaires. But there are no billionaires with GB being a community-owned franchise; Rodgers is by far the wealthiest person involved and it isn't even close.

[CheezWizHed]

With all they have invested in this season (the Smiths, last year of Adams, bucking up for Bakh, Jones, and Clark, Alexander's 5th year option), guarantee Rodgers that they will trade him sometime between the day after the Super Bowl and June 2nd, 2022 if he shows up, shuts up, and gives 100% for 2021. GB has invested too much in this season and the cap hit is too big for it to be a good trade now.

 

One interesting angle, usually with these disagreements we are talking about taking the sides of millionaires versus billionaires. But there are no billionaires with GB being a community-owned franchise; Rodgers is by far the wealthiest person involved and it isn't even close.

 

Well, personally, as an owner I'd like to refute... nevermind. Not even close.

[patrickgpe]

This whole situation is a bit embarrassing for both the Packers and Rodgers. Neither side can feel too great right now.

 

I guess my question continues to be- what have the Packers done at this point to be embarrassed about?

Nothing. If you want to pick at straws its not letting your HOF QB know ahead of time you are drafting his replacement in the 1st round. That shouldn't cause a nuclear situation though.

 

I think the tide in this state is turning from supporting A-rod to know supporting the Packers. We knew the situation wasn't good for some time now, but every day something petty that he did or was angry about comes out.

[JimH5]

Rodgers has been bad mouthing Gutekunst in team chats, calling him "Jerry Krause", who famously had poor interpersonal skills.

 

He's like everyone whose ever had a crappy boss, but Rodgers is powerful enough to do something about it. I'm on Rodgers' side in this spat. He's a 3-time MVP. He has earned whatever special handling he wants.

Far be it from me to tell anyone else how to be a fan. And who knows what is true and what isn’t, as there are so many details and so much intrigue circulating, it’s hardly possible for all of it to be true, and equally unlikely that it is all a pack of lies.

 

What I do know is that, as far as my fandom goes, GB winning rings is 1A and being consistently good is 1B. To the extent that Rodgers is now a cancer (which he may very well be at this point), then he is harmful to those objectives, so if sides must be drawn, I’m on the organization’s side (since they are still trying to, you know, win games in Green Bay). I want nothing but good for Rodgers personally, and seeing as he’s been compensated beyond the wildest dreams of 99.99% of humans who have ever lived, my primary concern is for his mental and spiritual health, which have seemed a bit tenuous at times over the last decade. Nevertheless, I was a packer fan before Rodgers, and one I will remain long after he’s gone.

 

Now, this does not preclude a reckoning with the org’s responsibility for how we got here. However, that all seems pretty impossible right now given the present smokescreens, gaslighting, and emotional confusion of the moment. It seems likely that at minimum, Packers brass is guilty of poor communication at a few critical moments. It may also come to light (though I have seen zero solid evidence of this as of yet) that they were belligerent with Rodgers and bear the brunt of the responsibility for the broken relationship. This would make Gute or whoever guilty of harming the franchise, and if so, my estimation of all this would change a bit.

 

But if we’re talking about Rodgers pouting for not getting to keep a diminished Jordy Nelson for his last season, have to watch the team draft defensive players in the first round (addressing the part of the team that is unarguably the biggest need), and (ministers of grace defend us!) see Kumerow let go from what ultimately still proved to be the most efficiently lethal offense in all of football, then that’s some pretty thin gruel. I’m sorry, but spare me the Jordan comparisons. Jordan couldn’t have GM’d the Bulls to six rings, and if Rodgers is wanting to make personnel decisions like those above (and don’t forget, he lobbied for Jimmy Graham—how’d that work out?), I don’t think he’d have constructed a roster half as good as Gute’s.

 

If it can all be reconciled, of course, I’ll welcome him back. He’s still the best chance to bring another Super Bowl to Green Bay, no doubt about it. But if not, thanks for the memories. The franchise must carry on. And 12, for all he has done, cares little for that future to the extent it does not involve him. Understandable for him, perhaps, but this fan does not feel the same.

 

I just think Rodgers doesn't want to be considered a laborer. Look on pro-football-reference.com and see who are the franchise leaders in approximate value. He's #2 all time, behind only Favre. And he has enough left to surpass Favre, as the most valuable player in the most storied franchise in the sport. He's #1 in completion pct, yards per game, interception percentage, QB rating. He's the best player the team will see in a very long time.

 

You go out of your way to placate him.

 

And he doesn't think Gutekunst has done that.

 

Don't you think the Brewers have placated Bob Uecker over the years? Look at the way LeBron James has been treated. Teams work around the superstar talent, and accommodate him.

 

None of us knows what has gone on behind the scenes between Rodgers and Gute. But one guy is the reigning MVP, face of the franchise. I think you find a way to keep him happy.

[MrTPlush]

I’d argue a major problem with this is the fact he thinks they want to trade him after 2021. If they are committed to trading him, regardless of performance, he rightfully has a reason to not want to play for them. Now it seems like Rodgers wants a big extension to assure him that they won’t trade him after 2021. Something I can’t really blame him for demanding. What player wants to be the MVP and feel like their team is planning their departure? That’s kind of insane to be honest.

 

I don’t think there is any chance Rodgers comes back to get traded next offseason. Either they trade him now, extend him, or he just flat out won’t play.

[xisxisxis]

I just think Rodgers doesn't want to be considered a laborer. Look on pro-football-reference.com and see who are the franchise leaders in approximate value. He's #2 all time, behind only Favre. And he has enough left to surpass Favre, as the most valuable player in the most storied franchise in the sport. He's #1 in completion pct, yards per game, interception percentage, QB rating. He's the best player the team will see in a very long time.

 

You go out of your way to placate him.

 

And he doesn't think Gutekunst has done that.

 

Don't you think the Brewers have placated Bob Uecker over the years? Look at the way LeBron James has been treated. Teams work around the superstar talent, and accommodate him.

 

None of us knows what has gone on behind the scenes between Rodgers and Gute. But one guy is the reigning MVP, face of the franchise. I think you find a way to keep him happy.

And the Neville Chamberlain award for 2021 goes to poster JimH. Or better known as the Appeasement Award. In a normal situation you would go out of your way to make an elite team member happy, but you need to be a good judge of character if you go down that path because when you are appeasing a pathological narcissist each step is another foot lower into the rabbit hole.

[SomewhereInTime]

Wait, are we citing a report by Bob McGinn? When was the last time McGinn was actually right about something associated with the team?

 

McGinn has clearly been ahead of most when talking about the division between Rodgers and management. It's not like this hasn't been building for years.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Rodgers has been bad mouthing Gutekunst in team chats, calling him "Jerry Krause", who famously had poor interpersonal skills.

 

He's like everyone whose ever had a crappy boss, but Rodgers is powerful enough to do something about it. I'm on Rodgers' side in this spat. He's a 3-time MVP. He has earned whatever special handling he wants.

Far be it from me to tell anyone else how to be a fan. And who knows what is true and what isn’t, as there are so many details and so much intrigue circulating, it’s hardly possible for all of it to be true, and equally unlikely that it is all a pack of lies.

 

What I do know is that, as far as my fandom goes, GB winning rings is 1A and being consistently good is 1B. To the extent that Rodgers is now a cancer (which he may very well be at this point), then he is harmful to those objectives, so if sides must be drawn, I’m on the organization’s side (since they are still trying to, you know, win games in Green Bay). I want nothing but good for Rodgers personally, and seeing as he’s been compensated beyond the wildest dreams of 99.99% of humans who have ever lived, my primary concern is for his mental and spiritual health, which have seemed a bit tenuous at times over the last decade. Nevertheless, I was a packer fan before Rodgers, and one I will remain long after he’s gone.

 

Now, this does not preclude a reckoning with the org’s responsibility for how we got here. However, that all seems pretty impossible right now given the present smokescreens, gaslighting, and emotional confusion of the moment. It seems likely that at minimum, Packers brass is guilty of poor communication at a few critical moments. It may also come to light (though I have seen zero solid evidence of this as of yet) that they were belligerent with Rodgers and bear the brunt of the responsibility for the broken relationship. This would make Gute or whoever guilty of harming the franchise, and if so, my estimation of all this would change a bit.

 

But if we’re talking about Rodgers pouting for not getting to keep a diminished Jordy Nelson for his last season, have to watch the team draft defensive players in the first round (addressing the part of the team that is unarguably the biggest need), and (ministers of grace defend us!) see Kumerow let go from what ultimately still proved to be the most efficiently lethal offense in all of football, then that’s some pretty thin gruel. I’m sorry, but spare me the Jordan comparisons. Jordan couldn’t have GM’d the Bulls to six rings, and if Rodgers is wanting to make personnel decisions like those above (and don’t forget, he lobbied for Jimmy Graham—how’d that work out?), I don’t think he’d have constructed a roster half as good as Gute’s.

 

If it can all be reconciled, of course, I’ll welcome him back. He’s still the best chance to bring another Super Bowl to Green Bay, no doubt about it. But if not, thanks for the memories. The franchise must carry on. And 12, for all he has done, cares little for that future to the extent it does not involve him. Understandable for him, perhaps, but this fan does not feel the same.

 

I just think Rodgers doesn't want to be considered a laborer. Look on pro-football-reference.com and see who are the franchise leaders in approximate value. He's #2 all time, behind only Favre. And he has enough left to surpass Favre, as the most valuable player in the most storied franchise in the sport. He's #1 in completion pct, yards per game, interception percentage, QB rating. He's the best player the team will see in a very long time.

 

You go out of your way to placate him.

 

And he doesn't think Gutekunst has done that.

 

Don't you think the Brewers have placated Bob Uecker over the years? Look at the way LeBron James has been treated. Teams work around the superstar talent, and accommodate him.

 

None of us knows what has gone on behind the scenes between Rodgers and Gute. But one guy is the reigning MVP, face of the franchise. I think you find a way to keep him happy.

 

The problem with that train of thought is if said reigning MVP/face of the franchise demonstrates that there isn't any way to keep him fully happy all of the time to avoid him throwing a tantrum at present or in the future, team management is in an impossible to please situation. To some that may appear like said player doesn't want to be considered a "laborer"....to me if that's the case he shouldn't have signed his last contract extension over 3 seasons ago that was put together by the current Packers GM. Unless that contract had explicit guarantees within it that Rodgers had final say over offensive personnel or how frequently Packers' brass had to get buy in from him for any backup QB-related moves (including draft picks), this is ALL on Rodgers for being petulant/bitter.

[PeaveyFury]

Look on pro-football-reference.com and see who are the franchise leaders in approximate value. He's #2 all time, behind only Favre. And he has enough left to surpass Favre, as the most valuable player in the most storied franchise in the sport. He's #1 in completion pct, yards per game, interception percentage, QB rating. He's the best player the team will see in a very long time.

 

You go out of your way to placate him.

 

So what you're saying is that 13 years ago, you would have done everything possible to placate 3-time MVP Favre, thus never giving Rodgers the opportunity to achieve those accomplishments, right?

[PeaveyFury]

Wait, are we citing a report by Bob McGinn? When was the last time McGinn was actually right about something associated with the team?

 

McGinn has clearly been ahead of most when talking about the division between Rodgers and management. It's not like this hasn't been building for years.

 

He also said that Russ Ball was going to be our next GM after Thompson retired. My point is, who even knows where he's getting his info from or how credible it is anymore.

[MrTPlush]

Is there anything to ever say the Packers have tried to appease Rodgers on any of the things he seems to have a gripe with? Is it not possible the Packers have mostly brushed off things and figured it would cool down then back to football?

 

Maybe the Packers elected to neglect the concerns with Rodgers and now suddenly after an MVP season went, “Whoops, we may want that guy around longer than we had planned.” But problem is now Rodgers knows he has an upper hand and a simple “Sorry” doesn’t cut it in his book. Now the Packers are scrambling around saying they will pay him the big bucks and welcome his input on the team.