I remember writing extensively in 2008 about the messy Green Bay Packers-Brett Favre divorce. In light of Thursday's news, that saga leapt to my mind.
Reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers is so disgruntled with the Green Bay Packers that he has told some within the organization that he does not want to return to the team, league and team sources told ESPN on Thursday.
The Packers are aware of his feelings, concerned about them and have had team president Mark Murphy, general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur each fly out on separate trips to meet with Rodgers at various points this offseason, sources told ESPN.
"As we've stated since the season ended, we are committed to Aaron in 2021 and beyond," Gutekunst told ESPN. "Aaron has been a vital part of our success and we look forward to competing for another championship with him leading our team."
Rodgers, 37, has not budged this offseason, but neither have the Packers, who have made it known they are not interested in trading Rodgers anywhere.
There are plenty of good reasons to balk at trading Rodgers, not the least of which is he's the reigning NFL MVP who guided his team to the NFC Championship Game each of the past two seasons (and the team is still loaded with talent elsewhere). Another aspect is the financial ramifications.
Packers continue to insist they will not trade QB Aaron Rodgers.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 30, 2021
Here’s the math if they do:
🏈 Rodgers currently counts $37.2 million against cap.
🏈 If traded today, he counts $38.35M against cap.
🏈 If traded after June 1, he’s $21.15M against cap this year, $17.2M next year https://t.co/nllVKk6it2
All signs point to the Packers brass holding out as long as humanly possible. Short of being offered Patrick Mahomes straight up, Green Bay will never be able to swing a trade of Rodgers which would bring them at least equal value. However, it will have to be quite the balancing act. The longer the Packers wait to make a deal, the more teams will sense desperation and thus try to acquire Rodgers on the cheap. Or it could simply be the Packers organization drawing the proverbial line in the sand by saying Rodgers plays for them or no one, essentially daring him to retire.
If history truly does repeat itself concerning Packers' Hall of Fame QBs, then Rodgers has already taken his final snap in Green Bay.
No Packers QB has played 17 seasons with the team
— Matt Pomeroy (@MattPomPom) April 29, 2021
Aaron Rodgers has played 16 seasons
Brett Favre played 16 seasons
Bart Starr played 16 seasons pic.twitter.com/YGvdS1NorK
If you would have asked me at the end of last season to name just one NFC North starting quarterback who is a shoe-in to return to his same team in 2021, I would have never said "Kirk Cousins." Alas, that's where we stand today.
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