It was reported by Mike Garafolo of NFL Network on Thursday that Aaron Rodgers was looking to have more control over his future, perhaps in the form of an out clause in his next contract with the Packers. Now more information has been revealed by Garafolo and his colleague Ian Rapoport (Twitter links).
Garafolo followed up his original report by saying there won’t be an “automatic trigger” to void years of the contract like some had speculated, but that Rodgers was “looking for more player control over his deal than the average NFL contract.”
Rapoport added that he was hearing “A proposed contract would include a series of player options.” As Rapoport notes, it’s a fascinating situation. After Kirk Cousins became the first quarterback to ever get a multi-year fully guaranteed deal, it isn’t surprising that more of the league’s top signal-callers will be looking for unconventional contracts. For years, contracts in the NFL more or less all followed the same rigid process that was very much controlled by the teams and owners, a dynamic that appears to now finally be shifting. Whatever contract extension Rodgers does end up signing, it’ll likely make him the NFL’s highest paid player.
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood is a “long-shot” to make the 53-man roster, according to Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com. Smallwood played a big role as a rookie in 2016, carrying the ball 77 times for 312 yards, but saw his role greatly diminished last season. Now Shorr-Parks thinks the Eagles’ suddenly crowded running backs room will end up pushing Smallwood off the team altogether, saying “At this point Smallwood is facing a steep uphill battle to make the roster.”
- Shorr-Parks also thinks cornerback Ronald Darby may not be on the team much longer. He writes that the Eagles have been impressed with fourth-year undrafted cornerback De’Vante Bausby, who’s been running with the first-team during OTAs. Shorr-Parks says “The Eagles won’t cut Darby, but a strong training camp from Bausby could put Darby on the trade block.”
- The Lions have apparently been impressed with second-round running back Kerryon Johnson, and envision him playing a big role as a rookie. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, the Lions see Johnson as a three-down back. If Johnson is playing the majority of snaps, with recently signed LeGarrette Blount in the fold, it could mean the end of the Ameer Abdullah era in Detroit. Abdullah has been mentioned as a possible cut-candidate by Lions reporters all offseason, and Johnson’s emergence could seal his fate.
Smallwood won’t have to wait long for another job in the NFL if he gets cut.
Makes you wonder what went down behind the scenes to see him fall out of favor so quickly after getting quality PT.
They traded for Ajayi, and signed guys like Blount and Clement.
Rogers is a great QB and deserves to be top paid. BUT, I have a question? Rogers was activated from IR after recovering from broken collarbone. Played 1 game and since Packers we’re out of it, was placed back on IR with the same injury. (Note: NOT a reoccurrence or new injury, SAME original injury). According to NFL rules a player cannot be placed on IR for same injury. Must be a new injury. In order to be placed on IR for the same injury must pass through waivers. (Note: NFL waivers a re not like baseball and recallable). NFL notified Packers about this days after he was placed on IR. Magically we hear nothing more about it, why? Allow me to answer my own question. Could you imagine if he was placed on waivers? Today he’d be the starting QB for the Cleveland Browns since they would have had 1st right of refusal. And the league would be saying Holy Sh*t! So we never hear anything more about it and the balance has been restored to the force.
Who cares? It’s a non-issue.
It’s called he re injured it
Smallwood can’t stay healthy.
It’s his name. It’s tiny and brittle…
He should change it to something more durable and intimidating. Like “Wendell Hardcastle” or “Hulk McLargehuge”