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

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

So you think Love is going to be content with needing an injury to provide an opening for meaningful playing time for the duration of his rookie contract. Real question?

 

I would hope he wouldn't be content with sitting the next three years. It would be my hope that he sees any opportunity to get on the field as the chance to prove he can be a starting NFL QB, and that he believes that he can be a starting QB. But determining playing time is not really up to him. I just don't see any way that he will ever have the leverage make any sort of demands ... at least not for awhile.

[adambr2]

Love wouldn't be as publicly vocal about it since he doesn't have the stature but the demand no doubt would be made by his agent. He and Rodgers share the same agent so the agent would be working the extension angle and then immediately follow with the trade Jordan angle. And the Packers would accommodate. There would be no point keeping around a QB who if not traded nor allowed an opportunity to play would vow not to sign with them after his contract expires. I don't think a first rounder has ever been blocked from playing throughout the duration of their entire rookie contract. I honestly think over time there would be outcry from the player's union and other advocates pressuring the Packers to find a trade partner who will afford Love the chance to play. You may not give two craps about Jordan Love but it would be not only unfair but an incredible waste of resources for the Packers to use a 1st round pick on a player who never sees the field for them and then departs in free agency. If the reports today about the Packers offering Rodgers a massive extension are true, then they're essentially admitting their mistake in drafting Love. And then the next step is logically to trade Love and salvage something for the wasted investment.

 

I disagree. There is value in having a solid, cheap backup QB to a guy who is 38 years old and has dealt with his share of injuries over the years. If the Packers are truly in "go for it" mode before Rodgers declines or retires, a season could be destroyed should no solid backup QB option be available if Rodgers has to miss more than 1-2 games. I mean, it has happened.

 

To me the whole concept of having a solid cheap backup is kind of a farce. How many actual really good backup QBs are there in the NFL? 3, maybe 4? And these are typically your veterans, Dalton, Fitz. Bridgewater, etc.

 

Young QBs to me (at least ones with any decent projection) aren't really molded to be solid backups. Either they're ready or they aren't. The ones who are ready to be solid backups are already solid starters, even though there will be some growing pains.

 

The ones who aren't ready aren't going to step right in and be solid backups.

 

Based on his profile as a developmental project and only one year in the system, my guess would be that Love is still in the "not ready" category.

[BillScottCanRake]

So you think Love is going to be content with needing an injury to provide an opening for meaningful playing time for the duration of his rookie contract. Real question?

 

Is Love going to be any more or less content than any other play whose playing time is limited because of his place on the depth chart? I'd be upset if he IS content.

 

I understand quarterback is unique because only one guy plays, but I can't imagine someone like Josh Jackson or Equanimeous St. Brown or Dexter Williams are content not playing as much as they do. These guys are all competitors, and they all want to play and show what they have. Egos and money are really big in the NFL, so rosters are full of guys who don't feel like they are getting a shot or enough playing time. And for a lot of guys, that is what gets them to do stuff they don't always want to do.

 

If Love is good enough, he's gonna play, if not in Green Bay than somewhere else. If 2023 rolls around and Rodgers is still MVP and the Packers have won 2 Super Bowls, if has proven he can play, the Packers shouldn't have any trouble moving Love and he shouldn't have any trouble winning a job in some other city. And if 2022 or 2023 Rodgers isn't a Packer, or the Packers think Love is special, he is going to get his shot.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

To me the whole concept of having a solid cheap backup is kind of a farce. How many actual really good backup QBs are there in the NFL? 3, maybe 4? And these are typically your veterans, Dalton, Fitz. Bridgewater, etc.

 

Young QBs to me aren't really molded to be solid backups. Either they're ready or they aren't. The ones who are ready to be solid backups are already solid starters, even though there will be some growing pains.

 

The ones who aren't ready aren't going to step right in and be solid backups.

 

Based on his profile as a developmental project and only one year in the system, my guess would be that Love is still in the "not ready" category.

 

Just because that isn't really the way most teams do things in the NFL doesn't necessarily mean it isn't a good way to do it. The Packers didn't draft Love to sit behind Rodgers for four seasons, then move on. Of course the goal is for him to eventually take the reins. But that doesn't mean he can't be a solid backup in the meantime.

 

As for Love not being ready, who knows? I imagine that the Packers wouldn't have let Tim Boyle sign a cheap deal with the Lions, though, if they didn't have at least a little faith that Love could operate effectively in a pinch.

[homer]

The fact that they have the same agent helps. I'm sure Rodgers' agent is telling the Packers "Well if you want to sign Aaron to an extension, you better look at trading Jordan"

[adambr2]

I really doubt you get anything better than a 2nd for Love, but who knows I guess. It wouldn't be fantastic optics to use a 1st+3rd to acquire a guy and sell him at a loss a year later.

[PeaveyFury]

I really doubt you get anything better than a 2nd for Love, but who knows I guess. It wouldn't be fantastic optics to use a 1st+3rd to acquire a guy and sell him at a loss a year later.

 

First and a fourth, just to be accurate.

[adambr2]

I really doubt you get anything better than a 2nd for Love, but who knows I guess. It wouldn't be fantastic optics to use a 1st+3rd to acquire a guy and sell him at a loss a year later.

 

First and a fourth, just to be accurate.

 

Whoops. That's what I get for relying off of memory. Thanks, 1st+4th as you said.

[reillymcshane]

So you think Love is going to be content with needing an injury to provide an opening for meaningful playing time for the duration of his rookie contract. Real question?

Of course not. I doubt anyone believes that.

 

If he's not the Packers future, someone else will want to give him a shot. He'll demonstrate his abilities in practice, in pre-season games, and in regular season games. He isn't just waiting for an injury. If he looks like he is a starting caliber QB - whether that's in one year or two - something will happen. The Packers will elevate him to the job. Or someone will make an offer for him that we will find worth taking. It's foolish to sit on assets if you don't intend to use them.

[MrTPlush]

If Rodgers gets an extension no one is going to care about Jordan Love rotting on the bench...no one is going to be clamoring for him to get out of jail. ESPN does that when someone is picked #1 and sits for more than 15 minutes of a game. Pretty much everyone outside of Green Bay probably forgot Jordan Love exists outside of his involvement in this drama. If the drama ends everyone will forget he exists.

 

He just isn’t a highly touted prospect, he is out of Utah State for gosh sakes.

[pacopete4]

[sarcasm]Rodgers spotted at a local Uhaul in Green Bay.[/sarcasm] But seriously, there a reports he is in GB today. So I guess it may be good?

[CheezWizHed]

If Rodgers gets an extension no one is going to care about Jordan Love rotting on the bench...no one is going to be clamoring for him to get out of jail. ESPN does that when someone is picked #1 and sits for more than 15 minutes of a game. Pretty much everyone outside of Green Bay probably forgot Jordan Love exists outside of his involvement in this drama. If the drama ends everyone will forget he exists.

 

He just isn’t a highly touted prospect, he is out of Utah State for gosh sakes.

 

Being from Utah State is pretty meaningless. The 2021 #3 overall pick just came from NDSU. Love was pretty widely thought of a good physical prospect with development needed. He isn't chopped liver... But still, 1st round QBs flame out at what... 50% rate? Frankly, sitting behind Rodgers for a couple of years isn't the worst thing for him...

 

There are no guarantees that Rodgers will actually physically be able to play after another year or two... And if he is and Love is looking good in pre-season and/or some regular season games, it makes the most sense to trade him off.

[SeaBass]

Anecdotally I seem to recall some reports that had Love been in the 2021 draft he may have been the 3rd QB taken and likely a top 10 pick. Of course it only takes one scout/NFL team source to frame such a report so it's hard to say what that really means, if anything. But I'm not willing to claim he's not or shouldn't be viewed as a highly regarded prospect.

[MrTPlush]

If Rodgers gets an extension no one is going to care about Jordan Love rotting on the bench...no one is going to be clamoring for him to get out of jail. ESPN does that when someone is picked #1 and sits for more than 15 minutes of a game. Pretty much everyone outside of Green Bay probably forgot Jordan Love exists outside of his involvement in this drama. If the drama ends everyone will forget he exists.

 

He just isn’t a highly touted prospect, he is out of Utah State for gosh sakes.

 

Being from Utah State is pretty meaningless. The 2021 #3 overall pick just came from NDSU. Love was pretty widely thought of a good physical prospect with development needed. He isn't chopped liver... But still, 1st round QBs flame out at what... 50% rate? Frankly, sitting behind Rodgers for a couple of years isn't the worst thing for him...

 

There are no guarantees that Rodgers will actually physically be able to play after another year or two... And if he is and Love is looking good in pre-season and/or some regular season games, it makes the most sense to trade him off.

 

ESPN, the media, and fans definitely care whether you went to Alabama or Utah State. I wasn’t referring to his skill or his potential future success. Im pointing out the fact he didn’t get the exposure before getting drafted that would cause an uproar if they were treated “poorly”. Not to mention he wasn’t drafted all that high in the grand scheme.

 

If Jordan Love gets upset and demands a trade no one is going to come to the rescue and have his back.

[CheezWizHed]

If Jordan Love gets upset and demands a trade no one is going to come to the rescue and have his back.

 

[sarcasm]Oh, I don't know... The 49ers might leak something out again.[/sarcasm]

[brwrsfan]

Very little coming out about this right now. Really makes me wonder if there's extension talks happening and a deal will seemingly be announced out of nowhere?

[MrTPlush]

Latest was they are "negotiating"...part of that may be a contract, but it was generically referring to all the issues at hand.

[bjkrautk]

Very little coming out about this right now. Really makes me wonder if there's extension talks happening and a deal will seemingly be announced out of nowhere?

 

So long as the player and team sources are both staying quiet, there's little to report on until (virtual) mini-camp occurs, which Rodgers will likely skip. Beyond that, training camp doesn't start until around August, so there can't really be a holdout / retirement before that.

[brwrsfan]

Very little coming out about this right now. Really makes me wonder if there's extension talks happening and a deal will seemingly be announced out of nowhere?

 

So long as the player and team sources are both staying quiet, there's little to report on until (virtual) mini-camp occurs, which Rodgers will likely skip. Beyond that, training camp doesn't start until around August, so there can't really be a holdout / retirement before that.

 

Right, that's clear. But with all the "stuff" being reported on for the first week, things just flat disappeared other than an occasional ex-player or two. I saw something about they were "negotiating" and there was some interest from Rodgers (or something to that effect) but it didn't seem like any new stuff, just rehashing old things. Could just be in a holding pattern I guess.

[adambr2]

I wouldn't say nothing is happening. Davante said today that he'll have to reconsider his future in Green Bay if Rodgers isn't there. So that's nice to hear.

[nodakfan17]

Neat story: a Cleveland-based sports radio station cold called a Green Bay Area cheese shop to talk about the Aaron Rodgers situation and the resulting exposure has lead to an influx of cheese orders from Ohio.

 

https://www.wbay.com/2021/05/10/scray-cheese-seems-big-boost-in-business-after-cleveland-radio-phone-call/

[SeaBass]

I'm trying to figure out the demands Rodgers might have when it comes to reconciliation with the Packers. Reportedly they've offered him a contract that has the money and years to commit themselves to Rodgers as he supposedly wanted. We don't know how many years but from reports it's long enough to neutralize the "move on to Love" hurdle that most believe Rodgers had an issue with.

 

So if that aspect is solved, and who knows maybe the offer was made and then rescinded after he reportedly turned it down, you'd think not but nobody can really know for sure, but assuming the contract offer stands what else does he want?

 

Perhaps he's asked for a no trade clause? Again that's been talked about and really no team would trade for him if they got wind he didn't want to be there, so that seems moot.

 

Firing Gute? I think that's been debunked a bit but might still be an issue with Rodgers.

 

Could he be demanding some type of player move? I'm not sure what's out there to be had but what if it's a Julio Jones trade as some have speculated? Is that even possible if the Packers give Rodgers the contract they've reportedly offered?

 

Does he want Love off the roster? Possibly but that all comes back to again not exactly lining up with what people are saying, that it's not Love's presence that bothers him, it's that the team could move on and with a new contract that issue goes away.

 

So what is it? What's the pound of flesh standing in the way of Rodgers and the Packers ending the standoff? Anyone else have ideas?

 

Maybe he just wants to make them sweat for as long as possible before agreeing to return. That kind of seems on brand to be honest.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Don't underestimate the possibility that Rodgers feels scorned and is hesitant to agree to a deal, even if it includes what he wanted, for that reason.

[homer]

Don't underestimate the possibility that Rodgers feels scorned and is hesitant to agree to a deal, even if it includes what he wanted, for that reason.

 

Yeah he may not care about a mega deal.

[reillymcshane]

I'm trying to figure out the demands Rodgers might have when it comes to reconciliation with the Packers. Reportedly they've offered him a contract that has the money and years to commit themselves to Rodgers as he supposedly wanted. We don't know how many years but from reports it's long enough to neutralize the "move on to Love" hurdle that most believe Rodgers had an issue with.

 

So if that aspect is solved, and who knows maybe the offer was made and then rescinded after he reportedly turned it down, you'd think not but nobody can really know for sure, but assuming the contract offer stands what else does he want?

 

Perhaps he's asked for a no trade clause? Again that's been talked about and really no team would trade for him if they got wind he didn't want to be there, so that seems moot.

 

Firing Gute? I think that's been debunked a bit but might still be an issue with Rodgers.

 

Could he be demanding some type of player move? I'm not sure what's out there to be had but what if it's a Julio Jones trade as some have speculated? Is that even possible if the Packers give Rodgers the contract they've reportedly offered?

 

Does he want Love off the roster? Possibly but that all comes back to again not exactly lining up with what people are saying, that it's not Love's presence that bothers him, it's that the team could move on and with a new contract that issue goes away.

 

So what is it? What's the pound of flesh standing in the way of Rodgers and the Packers ending the standoff? Anyone else have ideas?

 

Maybe he just wants to make them sweat for as long as possible before agreeing to return. That kind of seems on brand to be honest.

 

I guess these are what everyone wants to know.

 

The Packers say they offered to make him the highest paid QB or something like that. But what does that mean? It could be a salary of $60M for 2023 - which would technically make him the highest paid QB when you average out his deal. But in reality, there's no way they'd keep him for that salary. It's just bogus year stuff.

 

No matter, I'm guessing he's got a laundry list of petty snubs that he's going to give them - and they'll have to address things in a satisfactory sort of way. But that's just a guess. In the end, who really knows. I still find it mind boggling that things could get to this spot. I mean, they knew he was frustrated by things a year ago. It's called sitting down and figuring out how to make it work. Of course, Rodgers probably sat there and waited for the Packers without helping out with direction is him passive aggressive fashion. But that's the teams job to figure this kind of thing out.