While the actual players drafted generated the annual interest the event does, the Aaron Rodgers drama took over Thursday’s NFL headlines. It became known the reigning MVP no longer wants to play for the Packers, with last year’s scrutinized Jordan Love pick at the center of Rodgers’ disenchantment with the franchise.
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst subsequently issued multiple statements indicating the team will not trade its incumbent starter. The Packers are taking a year-to-year approach with Rodgers, though some type of extension discussions have occurred — even after Green Bay drafted Rodgers’ would-be heir apparent last year. Rodgers may now be ready to play another card.
The 37-year-old passer will threaten to retire, unless this situation is repaired considerably, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
One of the first guest hosts on Jeopardy! this year, Rodgers is among those vying to succeed Alex Trebek. While his two-week run as host was viewed as favorable, there will be several others in contention for the permanent gig. Rodgers previously hoped to land the Jeopardy! gig while continuing his career, and at the time of those comments, regular Green Bay-to-Los Angeles flights appeared to be in the QB’s future. Now, staying in Wisconsin is no longer in the three-time MVP’s plans.
Rodgers’ hopeful trade destinations became known shortly after his desire to leave Green Bay did. The 49ers, Broncos and Raiders appeared on said list. Some buzz about the Broncos moving forward with an effort to land Rodgers emerged on Twitter just ahead of the draft, but Rapoport adds the Rodgers-to-Denver talk was overblown. A few teams called the Packers, with the 49ers confirming as such, but Rapoport notes Green Bay shut down any such efforts.
This stalemate could venture into Carson Palmer-Bengals territory, which would be interesting considering David Dunn — Palmer’s agent at the time he staged a retirement in hopes of ending the Cincinnati portion of his career — also represents Rodgers. Palmer followed through on his retirement threat in 2011, stepping away from the team for several months after making it known he did not want to play a ninth season with the Bengals. The team ended up trading Palmer to the Raiders just ahead of that year’s deadline.
Although the Packers could go after Rodgers’ $6.8MM roster bonus — paid earlier this year — if he retires, per Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap (on Twitter), the future Hall of Famer has banked a considerable amount of money in his 16-year career. Both he and the Packers could dig in here, creating a lengthy stalemate and a historically unusual situation.
No reigning MVP has ever been traded, but two have retired — Norm Van Brocklin after the 1960 season, when he led the Eagles over the Packers in that year’s championship game, and Jim Brown after the 1965 campaign. Rodgers’ stance also would stand to pull the rug from under this Packers run, which has produced back-to-back NFC championship games.
He’s turning into the NFL’s biggest crybaby no wonder his family stays away from him
So anyone who dislikes their current job enough to want to retire is a crybaby?
Lol packers fans are hurt that their gm stabbed the best player they have ever had in the back, probably not mad that gutenkist or whatever the hell picked a 3rd round corner in the first last night either, I am so happy to see that franchise in flames
Just because “Experts” put Stokes around the 70th ovl player, doesn’t mean he was gonna get picked in the 3rd rd. Dude runs sub 4.3 at 6’1 and did nothing but make plays in college. Biggest nock was inconsistent play which is all coaching.
I agree with you’re theory but not the best player they’ve ever had … I will take Farve over Rodgers , but that’s me.
So every GM that thinks his 35 yr old QB might not last forever and drafts a potential heir is guilty of stabbing the veteran in the back? The GMs that should be criticized are the ones that don’t prepare for that eventuality.
Well said. Professional athletes talk about how this thing is a “business” all of the time but they don’t seem to understand how the concept of continued success works.
Thanks Waldorf
Disagree. The packers have done nothing in the first round to address the offense the last 2 offenses. Good for him to retire. Not point toiling on a team that is not looking to win now. The Love pick last year clearly demonstrated that.
Should have been last 2 years.
The best Jeopardy trial host post-Alex (pending Levar Burton try-put) .
Who is Aaron Rodgers?
Try-out*
Doesn’t matter if a large portion of JEOPARDY fans will not watch the show simply because he is the host. Remember, this is a guy whose OWN FAMILY refused to talk to him. This is also the guy that SF decided to pass on because he was too arrogant. Says a little something about his personality, doesn’t it?
Nothing you said in your post is true KCJ. Rodgers is the one who won’t talk to his family. There are plenty of articles out there where his family has stated they want him to get in touch. The SF comment isn’t true. And you think a large portion of people who watch Jeopardy simply won’t watch if he’s the host? Lol okay
I didn’t realize their offense was the issue the past two seasons. It’s been thier defense which has let them down in the playoffs. So it makes sense to use the draft to bolster this side of the ball which they have via the draft and free agency.
Let’s not forget the Packers had the 2nd ranked offense last season and have only lost two starters from this unit.
Packers had the second ranked unit literally only because of Rodgers, valdes scantling dropped 15 easy touchdowns last year, they have never helped Rodgers, burn baby burnnn
Lol!!! So having 6 other pro bowl caliber player on offense (Adams, Jones, Tonyan, Jenkins, Linsley and Bakthiari) didn’t contribute at all to the unit’s success? Not sure I’m buying it.
Btw Parx, may I ask which team you’re a fan of that you are reveling in the drama unfolding in GB?
Ok Adam’s had over 80 receptions more than the 2nd closest receiver on the team. That’s Rodgers problem you spend a 1st round pick on a qb that won’t see the field until Rodgers retires instead of going out and getting a playmaker that can help win games now not later.
Parx –
Think much? Scantling himself dropped 15 TD easy last year, huh? Might want to try out that new math that they’re teaching kids these days, because the old math clearly isn’t working for you
“Not point toiling on a team that is not looking to win now.”
Duh, the Packers have a 77.7% win percentage over the past 2 season but gosh darn…they really aren’t making an effort to win now.
Hey, nobody said you could bring facts into the conversation. They clearly DON’T want to win.
The fact is the Gutekunst/La Fleur combo has done nothing but win… sometimes in spite of Aaron Rodgers. His numbers two years ago were middling, if you look at QBR and compare the rest of the league. This is specifically why he did not play this card last year… and no matter what he says, the chip on his shoulder obviously pushed him harder this past season to succeed. That MVP was built on resentment.
Death, taxes and people on Pro Football Rumors whining about Rodgers. Pretty sure AR hasn’t stated anything and this is all media reporting.
Good to know you’re “pretty sure”
I don’t like what I’m reading or hearing, so I’m going to label it “fake news,” take my ball, and go home.
Agreed!! He needs to grow up!
Aaron Rodgers is now my least favorite player in NFL history…this coming from a former HUGE FAN of Rodgers. Pass the Kleenex, I think the arrogant jerk just finished off the last box he had.
Does he really think this is going to make him look better in the eyes of the people doing the next JEOPARDY! hiring? Don’t think so. The crybaby might decide that he doesn’t want to do the show anymore the day that the recording for the new season begins because his feelings were hurt by something that happened the season before. That’s his style.
Not to mention the great number of people who will NEVER watch any show he is the host of. You wanna lose ratings? Lose advertisers?
Your problem with cry babies is pretty ironic given this post.
You’re throwing a fit over a celebrity wanting to leave their job. Who really is the bigger crybaby here?
Let him retire the big baby. Signed a Bears fan.
Thanks Statler
As in the big pharma crime family? Oh wait….that is Satler.
Sack let-pardon my misspelling.
If the Packers are going to continue to insist they won’t trade him, then they should just trade Love and extend Rodgers.
Go ahead buddy retire and I hope the Packers keep your rights so you can’t play atleast Favre wanted to stay. Walk away from the money.
Solid plan for the Packers. I wonder how many games they’ll win as a result of all that spite they would accrue. Gotta be at least three or four wins a year.
Actually on Farve’s 2nd or 3rd or was it 4th retirement, he wanted to go to the Vikings and the team said no and traded him to the jets with conditions if a trade happened to the vikings GB would be compensated. I have never seen that in another contract before or after that. I wouldnt be surprised to see the same thing with Rodgers.
Really? Brett Favre literally retired and when the Packers decided it was Rodgers time to play, Favre decided to come back and got pissed because he was going to have to be a backup. So what’s he do force a trade to the Jets and then signs a contract to play for the Packers division rival.
Still not seeing any direct quotes from him or his camp…
So it must be 110% accurate
For a guy nearing a quarter of a BILLION dollars in just football paychecks I think it would be pretty hard to go to work for a boss you don’t want.
He loves football and wants to play, but Green Bay is no longer where he wants to be. I don’t see the cry baby aspect.
Why would we not be insulting the front office that refuses to take care of their best asset? We all know that GB could get a haul in a trade and they picked their next QB in last years draft but instead they want to continue making a hall of fame QB angry…
He’s not being a crybaby, you’re right about that. He just wants to go elsewhere and dislikes his situation enough to retire as a result. The Packers should do everything they can to keep him, but if they can’t, they’d be fools to not trade him for a boatload of assets.
After June 1, they should trade him to Denver.
I think niners should have been the place for rodgers. Broncos are garbage and at are in the same position as packers. Niners have everything outside of the qb
I agree. I just think the Broncos are most likely. There’s like ten teams who could legitimately make a play for him, salary cap issues pending. Heck, the entire NFC East besides Dallas would love to have him.
The Broncos were garbage still up til they traded for Manning.
If he wanted to retire, he would have. So the team should let him do all this & then say ‘pay or play’.
And then he calls their bluff and retires and they get nothing and go 5-11. Really smart plan.
They get back his bonus money to add to the cap and help bolster the roster. They don’t get “nothing”.
Imagine being so mad that you’re going to give back $35,000,000 you already paid taxes on.
It wouldn’t be 35,000,000 it would be 6.8 million
GB did this to themselves. Props to Rodgers. They need him more than vice versa.
They’ll still have a team whether he has a career or not.
They will still make a fortune whether he gets a paycheck or not.
Yeah, you’re right. NFL teams will still make money so they should do absolutely nothing to try and win. 0-16 or 16-0, who cares? Still making bank!
No they won’t, just like saints without brees this year packers won’t win squat without rodgers. Love is a trash can at best
Except you’re forgetting that 11-5 teams make a lot more money from gate and merchandise than 5-11 teams. If they allow him to retire without getting any assets in a trade then the GM has made this a personal thing and should lose his job for costing the owner a lot of money.
More money at the gate, concessions, yes, but merchandise revenue is shared league wide. And TV is where the real money is made. That’s in the bank already.
Winning is better than losing, true, but even the worst NFL team makes a fortune. A fortune.
Players who don’t play don’t make a penny.
And he would probably have to repay millions in signing bonus if he retired early, so…it’s a dubious threat with a lot less leverage than he imagines.
You better believe GB is going to be getting pressure not only from the fans but from the NFL as well as potential sponsors. Look into NFL jersey sales and apparel and notice someone that has been top 10 for over a decade. So leaguewide thats probably going to be quite a hit “shared” plus how many are going to watch a green bay game with probably someone that is in the bottom 5 for qbs. They will be like the Jets this past year all 1pm games. Rodgers vs Brady … Love vs Brady … hmm not the same enthusiasm for the 2nd one.
GB does not have a owner. That is why there is problem
“The 37-year-old passer will threaten to retire, unless this situation is repaired considerably, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).”
So…UNLESS the situation is repaired considerably he’ll retire? No, he’ll threaten to retire.
Again, this is what a dumb guy would think is a smart plan.
The bank robber is taking himself hostage.
And Rodgers has the charisma and acting ability of drywall. His NFL connection is the only reason he gets those jobs.
All this dummy had to do was leak this stuff 3-4 days ago and he’d have probably gotten his wish, but now he’s tied their hands, they’ve called his bluff and he has no plan.
Says the pauper to the prince.
One thing I did not realize about Rodgers is that he’s the Taylor Swift of the NFL.
He’s got a militant army of fans, evidently.
Rodgies?
You may think Rodgers has the ‘charisma and acting ability of drywall’, but your opinion is not gospel. Even if he doesn’t get the Jeopardy gig (I don’t think he will), every network would be tripping over themselves to sign him as a color commentator or studio guy.
Have you seen the contract that Romo signed? And the bidding war for Brees (who has way less charisma than Rodgers)? Rodgers is going to make a ton of money no matter what he does.
Could be. Dan Marino was drywall and he lasted for decades.
Joe Montana was drywall and he was gone in a year (or two).
Those comparisons hurt your case.
Rodgers is more like Peyton Manning in front of a camera.
Except networks don’t fear that Romo would get pissed at something minute and act like a prima donna making life hell for everyone around him.
Rodgers may have the stats, but Romo has something more important on television, HES LIKABLE.
No respect for drywall…Sheesh…
Packers are a garbage franchise. Homers would say otherwise but only packers could run a relationship with one of the greatest quarterbacks to play. He wants out let him go, refusing to extend him and not provided him talent around him to succeed then expecting him to stay. Hope packers get screwed they did this with farve and now are doing it with rodgers.
Gonna tell you this right now love isn’t close to being a regular or top tier starting qb ever. Guy is garbage!
Going from Favre to Rodgers is masking how incompetent the Packers are just like going from Peyton to Luck masked how incompetent the Colts were. The Packers are at least a little smarter than the Colts used to be (and the Colts are one of the best-run teams now), but over the years the Packers have known they had Rodgers and they’ve gotten pretty complacent with it.
They’ve hit on a few picks for sure, but they should be going all-in for championships instead of half-assing it. Trying to extend your competitive window is fine in theory, but you won’t have Rodgers forever and there’s no guarantee Love is going to be a franchise quarterback that will just keep things moving along.
Plenty of blame for both sides. Rodgers can be a diva, but there’s no arguing with his ability and the fact that most of his teammates love him. Gutenkunst handled drafting Jordan Love about as badly as possible and has largely ignored the need to bolster the receiving crew with high picks or free agents. Rodgers won’t retire if the Packers tell him they won’t relinquish his rights unless he sits out the length of his current contract.
Less drama from Rodgers would be nice. It seems like Rodgers feeds off this drama, So retirement would be ok with me.
But Aaron they drafted a corner!!!!
When Deshaun Watson threatened this, I said Houston should call his bluff. The signing bonus he’d have to pay back was enough to ensure he’d show up. This is completely different. Rodgers has enough money to give 6.8 back and not feel it one bit. And maybe host jeopardy for 30 years. The Packers have a big problem. If he digs in they have no leverage.
Packers front office: Aaron so we heard you loud and clear and we went out and drafted you a guy that runs a 4.25/40
Aaron Rodgers: Oh my god that’s great! Thank you!
Packers front office: He plays cornerback.
Rodgers: Aight imma head out
Being Packer fan all my 67 years-I say Trade the guy!Most of us thought that Favre was a jerk for not helping Rodgers develop into his successer.Now Rodgers is doing the same thing!Totally selfish-Don’t these guys realize teams need a smooth transition from one guy to the next.Nobody wants to re-build every 5-7 years!-take your $30 million and do the right thing.Youve made enough money
Last night would have been a perfect time
I should start thinking like Aaron Rodgers and threaten to stop leaving brilliant comments on PFR until they offer me a free subscription.
Packers are treating him the same way they treated Farve with a “thanks- don’t let the door hit you in the backside” – management loves to continue to hire retread coaches, focus on defense and then hope that Farve/Rodgers or Mason Crosby bails them out at the end
Seems pretty clear that Rodgers is only going to be satisfied in Green Bay if they trade Love and even then it will take more repair from there. Step one is to get rid of his replacement.
The Packers saw what happened to the Patriots when they had no QB to transition into a post Brady era and Gutekunst wisely chose to avoid making the same mistake. Love may not be the guy but they have to have some young QB ready when the transition from Rodgers takes place.
Neil deGrasse Tyson should replace Trebek.
I am sure they will miss Crybaby Team Cancer Rogers err I mean 1 title in 13:years of starting. Maybe had he ran 5 yards in the playoffs and won that game he would have a leg on. One of the All Time Pansy’s.
Really bad situation as a Packers Aaron is everything to this team take him away and we will be picking in the top ten in next years draft
Is that first sentence giving anyone else a stroke?
It’s nice to retired when your healthy.
Old saying: “We spend all of our health to gain an inheritance”
“Then we spend all of our inheritance to regain our health”