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

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Without seeing the actual terms of the contract the money issue can't really be judged. "Highest paid" QB means little without the guaranteed money or at what point the Packers can wiggle out of it.

[reillymcshane]

While it will be interesting to find out specifics regarding Rodgers dissatisfaction with the team, I think everything pretty much worked out for Green Bay.

 

- Packers get Rodgers for another year. Isn't that what they had always planned (at least according to Rodgers)?

 

- Packers can trade Rodgers next off season and point to their deal with Rodgers - saying it was the only way they could get him back this year. Gives the front office cover if they make the move.

 

- If the team truly is committed to working with Rodgers to foster a better relationship between the two parties - great. That's a good thing - and could keep Rodgers in GB longer (assuming both sides want him here).

 

In the end, it gives GB another season of Rodgers - which most agree is the best thing as Love is probably not quite ready. And it gives both sides some time to either make up and extend their relationship - or move on.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I'm still unclear how the FO botched this. What exactly should they have done? Kept Alex Van Pelt? Asked permission to draft Love in the likely 5 minute period they made that decision?

 

Rodgers isn't a reasonable person. There is a track record to support that.

[Jopal78]

 

If the reports that he turned down a bajillion dollar extension are true, then the money didn't talk.

 

We'll never know for sure, NFL contracts are all about how they're structured versus the salary cap and what the guarantee is not the overall dollar amount. They can offer a bajillion dollars, but vague statements like that (and like this whole saga in general) don't really mean anything.

 

On the other hand, Rodgers no showing for training camp/holding out would cost him money he's already been paid. Lo and behold his grievance is put to bed before his taking a stand removes significant money from his pocket.

[Jopal78]

While it will be interesting to find out specifics regarding Rodgers dissatisfaction with the team, I think everything pretty much worked out for Green Bay.

 

- Packers get Rodgers for another year. Isn't that what they had always planned (at least according to Rodgers)?

 

- Packers can trade Rodgers next off season and point to their deal with Rodgers - saying it was the only way they could get him back this year. Gives the front office cover if they make the move.

 

- If the team truly is committed to working with Rodgers to foster a better relationship between the two parties - great. That's a good thing - and could keep Rodgers in GB longer (assuming both sides want him here).

 

In the end, it gives GB another season of Rodgers - which most agree is the best thing as Love is probably not quite ready. And it gives both sides some time to either make up and extend their relationship - or move on.

 

Agreed its a saga, and it filled the dead time in the NFL between the draft and the start of training camp. Unlike MLB or the NBA the owners in football are very strong vis a vis the players. Other than flat out retiring (and still potentially having to pay back bonus money) Rodgers didn't have many realistic options. I assume when the details are known the team gave him some concessions for Rodgers to save face and allow the team to move foreword.

 

As someone else pointed out, the real legacy will likely be that Rodgers revealed himself as an ego-maniac and kind of a tool to a lot of Packer fans.

[tmwiese55]

I'm still unclear how the FO botched this. What exactly should they have done? Kept Alex Van Pelt? Asked permission to draft Love in the likely 5 minute period they made that decision?

 

Rodgers isn't a reasonable person. There is a track record to support that.

 

Yes, they never should have traded up to draft a QB round 1 when one game away from the SB when you have a HOF QB still playing at least a top 5-10 level signed to a 4-5 year contract and has given no indication of wanting to retire, while actually saying he'd want to play into his 40s.

 

Plus, as you say he's a stubborn hard head with an ego and they should've known that and how he'd take this and act. Essentially, their assessment that he was declining to the point they might want to move on after 2021 and get out of the contract were wrong. That's what they were looking at doing and he's not stupid and now he's being a stubborn prick about it to spite them.

 

Certainly see their logic and all that, but with hindsight it was clearly a huge mistake as of now (unless they end up being right about Love like the previous admin was about Rodgers). This likely turned another 3-4 years of championship contention into one year. But of course that can change if Love ends up being good.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I'm still unclear how the FO botched this. What exactly should they have done? Kept Alex Van Pelt? Asked permission to draft Love in the likely 5 minute period they made that decision?

 

Rodgers isn't a reasonable person. There is a track record to support that.

 

Yes, they never should have traded up to draft a QB round 1 when one game away from the SB when you have a HOF QB still playing at least a top 5-10 level signed to a 4-5 year contract and has given no indication of wanting to retire, while actually saying he'd want to play into his 40s.

 

Plus, as you say he's a stubborn hard head with an ego and they should've known that and how he'd take this and act. Essentially, their assessment that he was declining to the point they might want to move on after 2021 and get out of the contract were wrong. That's what they were looking at doing and he's not stupid and now he's being a stubborn prick about it to spite them.

 

Certainly see their logic and all that, but with hindsight it was clearly a huge mistake as of now (unless they end up being right about Love like the previous admin was about Rodgers). This likely turned another 3-4 years of championship contention into one year. But of course that can change if Love ends up being good.

 

Weren't you just saying QBs hit a wall at 38? They were supposed to anticipate that Rodgers, clearly showing signs of decline by any objective measure prior to last season, was going to provide a title window all the way to 42?

 

Also, we'll never know this answer, but I am calling enormous BS on "telling Rodgers about love" making a lick of difference. If they wanted Love, they can draft him, and if that makes Aaron upset, he can pound sand. This ticking him off when it's literally how he came to GB is hysterical. I mean for God's sake, his predecessor wanted to be in GB on the back of a 13-3 season and they ran with a guy without a career start.

 

Botched? Seriously? Rodgers is a ticking time bomb. Outside of him retiring at 44 after winning the SB, he was destined to be crabby and pouty when this day came. It was unavoidable. He's in the bridge burning hall of fame. He had his chance to win the Super Bowl last year. It was llilterally in his hands to convert an opportunity. He should be most upset with himself this offseason, not the GM, not the president, not the janitor.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

This likely turned another 3-4 years of championship contention into one year.

 

The assumption that Rodgers will continue playing at an MVP level into his 40s is an enormous leap IMO. We really need to stop treating Tom Brady as the norm.

[reillymcshane]

While it will be interesting to find out specifics regarding Rodgers dissatisfaction with the team, I think everything pretty much worked out for Green Bay.

 

- Packers get Rodgers for another year. Isn't that what they had always planned (at least according to Rodgers)?

 

- Packers can trade Rodgers next off season and point to their deal with Rodgers - saying it was the only way they could get him back this year. Gives the front office cover if they make the move.

 

- If the team truly is committed to working with Rodgers to foster a better relationship between the two parties - great. That's a good thing - and could keep Rodgers in GB longer (assuming both sides want him here).

 

In the end, it gives GB another season of Rodgers - which most agree is the best thing as Love is probably not quite ready. And it gives both sides some time to either make up and extend their relationship - or move on.

 

Agreed its a saga, and it filled the dead time in the NFL between the draft and the start of training camp. Unlike MLB or the NBA the owners in football are very strong vis a vis the players. Other than flat out retiring (and still potentially having to pay back bonus money) Rodgers didn't have many realistic options. I assume when the details are known the team gave him some concessions for Rodgers to save face and allow the team to move foreword.

 

As someone else pointed out, the real legacy will likely be that Rodgers revealed himself as an ego-maniac and kind of a tool to a lot of Packer fans.

Yeah, Rodgers did come across pretty much like a putz.

 

Personally, I don't begrudge the guy for trying to flex his muscles, but I dislike his passive/aggressive approach (cryptic comments, leaked info, etc.). I just want to say, be a man and stop acting like an aggrieved teenager.

 

Just go out and say you had some disagreements and frustrations with management, and you're working toward a way to move forward.

 

He could still do this. Just say he had some issues with the front office, but they're working through it all - and hope for a great future. He doesn't have to go into details (in fact, just say that's between them). But I doubt he does.

 

I would prefer to he tackles the stuff head on - as his future will - whether he likes it or not - be a subject in the media and in the minds of the fans. But we shall see how it plays out.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

This likely turned another 3-4 years of championship contention into one year.

 

The assumption that Rodgers will continue playing at an MVP level into his 40s is an enormous leap IMO. We really need to stop treating Tom Brady as the norm.

 

I don't think it's a leap honestly. Brady wasn't this stat God until last year. He was looking pretty washed the last few in NE. Rodgers has none of the major injury history of guys like Brees or Manning, and they were still top 10 QBs late in their careers. I just haven't seen any physical erosion at all for Rodgers and he takes great care of himself. The way QBs are protected and advances in sports science, I think it's more likely than not he's great at 40. If he wants to play.

 

Put another way, anyone that has a nerve or labrum injury will tell you that it's 100% coming back to you at some point, or there are certain things that you can never quite do the way you used to. None of that's happened to Rodgers. He broke a couple bones, that is nothing. Every player is one play away from retirement, but even as someone that finds Rodgers beyond annoying, I wouldn't hesitate to sign him to a 3-4 year deal if he said he 100% wanted to play that long. His mobility has diminished a bit, but not so awfully that he can't move, his arm is fine, he's accurate...I just don't see a risk that's substantially greater than any other QB 6 years younger washing out and sucking.

[ThisIsMyCrew]

This likely turned another 3-4 years of championship contention into one year.

 

The assumption that Rodgers will continue playing at an MVP level into his 40s is an enormous leap IMO. We really need to stop treating Tom Brady as the norm.

 

I don't think it's a leap honestly. Brady wasn't this stat God until last year. He was looking pretty washed the last few in NE. Rodgers has none of the major injury history of guys like Brees or Manning, and they were still top 10 QBs late in their careers. I just haven't seen any physical erosion at all for Rodgers and he takes great care of himself. The way QBs are protected and advances in sports science, I think it's more likely than not he's great at 40. If he wants to play.

 

Put another way, anyone that has a nerve or labrum injury will tell you that it's 100% coming back to you at some point, or there are certain things that you can never quite do the way you used to. None of that's happened to Rodgers. He broke a couple bones, that is nothing. Every player is one play away from retirement, but even as someone that finds Rodgers beyond annoying, I wouldn't hesitate to sign him to a 3-4 year deal if he said he 100% wanted to play that long. His mobility has diminished a bit, but not so awfully that he can't move, his arm is fine, he's accurate...I just don't see a risk that's substantially greater than any other QB 6 years younger washing out and sucking.

 

Another note for Rodgers that doesn’t get the publicity it should. Is how good he’s had it for an OL his career, especially the last few. Rarely does he get hit and that will keep a man healthy for a long time.

[tmwiese55]

 

I'm still unclear how the FO botched this. What exactly should they have done? Kept Alex Van Pelt? Asked permission to draft Love in the likely 5 minute period they made that decision?

 

Rodgers isn't a reasonable person. There is a track record to support that.

 

Yes, they never should have traded up to draft a QB round 1 when one game away from the SB when you have a HOF QB still playing at least a top 5-10 level signed to a 4-5 year contract and has given no indication of wanting to retire, while actually saying he'd want to play into his 40s.

 

Plus, as you say he's a stubborn hard head with an ego and they should've known that and how he'd take this and act. Essentially, their assessment that he was declining to the point they might want to move on after 2021 and get out of the contract were wrong. That's what they were looking at doing and he's not stupid and now he's being a stubborn prick about it to spite them.

 

Certainly see their logic and all that, but with hindsight it was clearly a huge mistake as of now (unless they end up being right about Love like the previous admin was about Rodgers). This likely turned another 3-4 years of championship contention into one year. But of course that can change if Love ends up being good.

 

Weren't you just saying QBs hit a wall at 38? They were supposed to anticipate that Rodgers, clearly showing signs of decline by any objective measure prior to last season, was going to provide a title window all the way to 42?

 

Also, we'll never know this answer, but I am calling enormous BS on "telling Rodgers about love" making a lick of difference. If they wanted Love, they can draft him, and if that makes Aaron upset, he can pound sand. This ticking him off when it's literally how he came to GB is hysterical. I mean for God's sake, his predecessor wanted to be in GB on the back of a 13-3 season and they ran with a guy without a career start.

 

Botched? Seriously? Rodgers is a ticking time bomb. Outside of him retiring at 44 after winning the SB, he was destined to be crabby and pouty when this day came. It was unavoidable. He's in the bridge burning hall of fame. He had his chance to win the Super Bowl last year. It was llilterally in his hands to convert an opportunity. He should be most upset with himself this offseason, not the GM, not the president, not the janitor.

 

 

No, that would not be me. I have not participated in quite some time.

 

I'd agree on the 'telling about' point, the action is the action. He's gonna take it this way regardless, maybe not as extreme but he's not stupid and would see the writing on the wall on his non guaranteed money and after 2021, every idiot fan knew it by the end of draft night. Maybe a talk about the future planning could've helped(which probably leads to not making the pick), but a 5 min heads up does nothing so I agree with you there.

 

Your predecessor point isn't quite accurate. Yes 13-3 but he had spent years and years contemplating retirement and holding them hostage, and did the same that offseason. Plus, he routinely threw boatloads of picks. But it's accurate in the having the stones to stand by your assessment and move on from an aging QB, previous regime was right, we'll see if these guys are right on Love. Rodgers had given no indication of retiring and had said he wanted to play into his 40s.

 

If he doesn't like he can pound sand point: well, then this is the result you get and that is what as of now looks like the botching. That's not to say Rodgers isn't being a stubborn ego maniac type. But if you take a go pound sand approach to him and he says, 'fine I'm outta here then, after all that's what you wanted' you can't be too suprised. Bottom line, if they didn't make that pick I don't think they'd be at this point, butterfly effect etc. All the other stuff he's obviously been wining about wouldn't have been enough to get to this (assuming they gtd some more money/years for him). Obviously that's just a guess though.

 

To the last few posts about him being good for 3-4 more years. Yea, of course an injury can happen anytime at this age. But the guy was just the MVP and played as good as he ever did. So obviously there's 1-2 left, not hard to get to 3-4. The current NFL doesn't let QBs get hit. The other elite QBs of his era in Brady, Manning, Brees all made it to early 40s at high levels of play and winning tons of games.

[LouisEly]

I'm still unclear how the FO botched this. What exactly should they have done? Kept Alex Van Pelt? Asked permission to draft Love in the likely 5 minute period they made that decision?

 

Rodgers isn't a reasonable person. There is a track record to support that.

And resign Randall Cobb.

 

And not cut Jake Kumerow.

 

And give extensions to Sitton and Lang...

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I don't follow. All of those would have been objectively awful moves. Especially Sitton and Lang. Unless that was your point.

[tmwiese55]

Right OSS, that's the funny part. Management was pretty much correct on every decision to move on from WRs and OLs (his likely buddies and people he was mad were gone). They smartly paid them to their upper 20s/early 30s then let someone else overpay for their declining years. That's 100% correct management and how to maintain a contender for years and years, especially while having to pay a QB 35 mil.

 

Speculation, but I wonder if them knowing Rodgers has been whining led them to pay Bakhtiari the big contract as he approaches that age. he is at the next level and LT rather than interior line, so my guess they'd have paid him anyway. But knowing they're buddies and Rodgers is complaining probably made it a no brainer they had to do it.

[rickh150]

Well, the logical next step in all this might be, if I am reading the stars right, is Rodgers coming to meetings late, growing more and more bold in cutting corners in drills, etc. If he is upset to be here, he wants management to continue to know this throughout the year. Rodgers lost and management won, in his mind. Maybe he will be a pro’s pro, but human nature says he can pretty much call his own drills/plays and tell the coaches to stuff it. The coaches and GM will want smooth sailing, and we all hope that happens. Start losing…. yeah, this could get ugly.

 

And Rodgers comeback to all this when blame falls on him… “If they don’t like it, TRADE ME!”

[MrTPlush]

Rodgers likes his teammates and his coaches. The guy is going to shut up for the next 6+ months and try to win a Super Bowl. That is what he has done every year. This is precisely why the saga ended the second training camp was about to start.

 

Everyone can have their differing opinions on Rodgers vs. the front office, but nothing past or present hints he is going to start being a baby midseason. The want if in the event they struggle seems rather pointless because that seems incredibly unlikely to happen. I think I will see pigs fly before the Packers start 3-6 or something this year.

 

The only wild card is the apparent "have Rodgers more involved" or whatever they have agreed upon. I am not sure really what that will involve midseason. I find it more likely we get some BS media garbage cooked up that isn't even accurate. Seems almost destined to have some rumor Rodgers forced the organization to keep some fringe guy at the end of training camp.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Well, the logical next step in all this might be, if I am reading the stars right, is Rodgers coming to meetings late, growing more and more bold in cutting corners in drills, etc. If he is upset to be here, he wants management to continue to know this throughout the year. Rodgers lost and management won, in his mind. Maybe he will be a pro’s pro, but human nature says he can pretty much call his own drills/plays and tell the coaches to stuff it. The coaches and GM will want smooth sailing, and we all hope that happens. Start losing…. yeah, this could get ugly.

 

And Rodgers comeback to all this when blame falls on him… “If they don’t like it, TRADE ME!”

 

Wow ... this sounds like something that Mike Florio or one of the other "national" media guys came up with.

[homer]

I thought this was pretty funny:

[rickh150]

Rodgers likes his teammates and his coaches. The guy is going to shut up for the next 6+ months and try to win a Super Bowl. That is what he has done every year. This is precisely why the saga ended the second training camp was about to start.

 

Everyone can have their differing opinions on Rodgers vs. the front office, but nothing past or present hints he is going to start being a baby midseason. The want if in the event they struggle seems rather pointless because that seems incredibly unlikely to happen. I think I will see pigs fly before the Packers start 3-6 or something this year.

 

The only wild card is the apparent "have Rodgers more involved" or whatever they have agreed upon. I am not sure really what that will involve midseason. I find it more likely we get some BS media garbage cooked up that isn't even accurate. Seems almost destined to have some rumor Rodgers forced the organization to keep some fringe guy at the end of training camp.

 

Or Cobb, you mean.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Yeah I don't think Rodgers will be a problem midseason. His beef appears to be with management and not the day-to-day football stuff. He seems to respect MLF and his peers.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Watching Rodgers's media session, there is 0% chance he's on this team next season.

[MrTPlush]

He said he is not closing the door on the future.

 

I think that is accurate...but I think at this point they would really have to bend over to some of his thoughts/demand going forward. Not sure they would do that, but they did go grab Cobb so it hints they may be willing to give in some.

[reillymcshane]

Happy to see Rodgers actually answer questions. I was thinking he'd sidestep stuff. But he isn't, which is good. I appreciate it.

[PeaveyFury]

I appreciate his answers as well, but also for the fact that it shows how absurd his thinking is. He literally rattled off a list of vet players he wanted resigned that weren’t, all of whom promptly showed with their next organization that letting them go was 100% the right move. Don’t let the man anywhere NEAR the GM office.