None of the Packers’ offseason overtures to Aaron Rodgers have swayed the reigning MVP. He is not expected to attend the team’s minicamp this week, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
This certainly is not a surprise, and fines for Rodgers will not eclipse $100K. The Packers have discussed classifying Rodgers’ minicamp absence as excused, which would waive the five-figure fine he would otherwise incur. Rodgers has already passed up a chance to collect a $500K workout bonus, making a fine in the $93K range rather paltry. The Packers begin their three-day minicamp Tuesday.
The future Hall of Fame quarterback has told teammates he no longer wants to play for the Packers. While this standoff became known just before the draft, Rodgers has been unhappy with the team throughout the offseason. Packers president Mark Murphy, GM Brian Gutekunst and HC Matt LaFleur each made multiple plane trips to meet with Rodgers — in an effort to diffuse this situation and steer back to Green Bay — but the 13-year Packers QB1 has not budged.
Although the Packers drafted Jordan Love in 2020, Rodgers remains Green Bay’s no-doubt preference to start in 2021. He has said on multiple occasions this offseason his 2020 MVP season threw a wrench into the Packers’ QB plans. Rodgers said last year the Love pick likely made it unrealistic he would finish his career with the Packers. As Rodgers’ quest to exit Green Bay enters the summer, this minicamp will be the first mandatory Packers activity he will have skipped.
The June 1 date, after which Rodgers’ contract can be more easily moved, has not seemed to affect this stalemate. Gutekunst remains entrenched on his no-trade stance, and his strong-willed quarterback has not moved off his desire to leave. Rodgers’ statement during his late-May interview with Kenny Mayne pointed to discontent with Gutekunst and Murphy, citing philosophical differences, and the team president said recently this saga has divided the team’s fan base.
The Packers still appear confident Rodgers will back down, with a recent report indicating they would trade the 17th-year veteran if they were truly convinced he is set on never playing for the team again. A lucrative trade package — from the Broncos or perhaps a stealth AFC suitor — would certainly come Green Bay’s way in this event. For the time being, however, the standoff persists. Love will have a chance to work with the first-string receivers, who plan to show for minicamp after skipping OTAs, beginning Tuesday. Should Rodgers stick to his guns and wage a training camp holdout, this week would provide a preview for how the Packers’ offense will look come late July.
I think the silliness is Aaron is on vacation in Hawaii. He’s posted photos and videos. He’s not recovering from a medical procedure. How is that considered ‘excused’?
Classic Goodell rule book, change it when necessary.
I think they are trying amend the relationship by not fining him to show good faith.
‘The current CBA makes it more difficult for players to wage holdouts. Teams are no longer permitted to waive fines for missing training camp, limiting Adams’ options were he to go that route.’
This is a quote from D Adams article about 3-4 stories down. Says teams can’t waive fines.
“excused absence” is a convenient loophole that could be anything. As you correctly point out, Goodell will turn a blind eye to an owners manipulation of rules then pontificate on how important it is to uphold the integrity of the game.
Agreed with lemon. Rodgers aside, Goodell is certainly willing to do what owners tell him to.
As far as Rodgers goes, I very highly believe that he doesn’t give a damn. Exception or not, it’s quite naive to believe that waiving minicamp fines will be the carrot to convince him to change his mind. Unless Murphy’s plan is to fire Gutekunst this year or possibly next year and use this as evidence that he was on Rodgers’ side, I don’t see how Green Bay could believe that this would make some kind of difference.
Goodell is the owners employee fyi
Screw him. He has a contract. Happy or not, no one put a gun to his head to get him to sign it. He’s accepted the millions in signing bonus as well. If he wants to stay away… let him. Then go after the signing bonus money. At some point, a lesson needs to be taught to these players.
And by teaching that ‘lesson’, you screw yourself out of any compensation you could receive for him via trade, make your team *way* worse, and unfurl a gigantic red flag to any potential free agents you may sign down the road that you play hardball with your players and will blow up your team simply to spite them. Sounds like a plan!
Also, no ire for the owners, who have vehemently argued for keeping contracts non-guaranteed in every single CBA negotiation, thus undercutting the sanctity of contracts? Just going to chastize players for leveraging their ability in the only way they can? Screams of pettiness and jealousy to me.
oh no!
I love that people are hating on AR because he went to Hawaii with his movie star girlfriend and is having an awesome time in waterfalls and partying with her Hollywood buddies.
Why would he come back if he is that happy? Football is not life and AR seems to be moving on…with his girl.
Hollywood GF > football.
Packers are going to have to make a gesture to beat Shailene and firing the GM seems like on the level that AR might listen too.
Again, the guy is in Hawaii, swimming in waterfalls with his Actor girlfriend and her Hollywood friends. Do you believe that he is going to give that up for what? a contract that the Packers would dump if AR sucked? To go to Green Bay in June? LOL ok, let me tell you about this great Bridge I have for sale in Brooklyn…
Also, I just love the “HE signed a contract” comments. Please wake up and join the rest of us in the real world and not some fantasy that you believe exists. Corporations do not honor contracts all the time and guess what??? they do it for money…
I really don’t care how this works out, but my money is on the honeypot with $$$$ millions in the bank and probably a few connections in Hollywood that AR wants, not a football team in a town that has not been relevant for what 70 years outside of said football team.
So many fans have jealousy/revenge fantasies regarding pro athletes because they think playing sports is a super easy job that requires no work and that all athletes are simply lucky to be making millions. Or that players are ‘pampered millionaires’ (an actual quote I’ve seen here). It manifests itself in them always taking hardline stances against players and ripping them for the money they make and for the contracts they signed.
It’s so weird. People like watching the sport, but loathe the players they’re watching. The other day, a poster told me that college athletes, who generate billions in revenue that colleges just eat up, should not be paid because they do not perform ‘labor’. And that their compensation is getting to wear the uniform of prestigious universities. I don’t get it.
Contrary to what the soy boys tell you. They do not make billions. UCF is in debt to their ears
You said it right. Actor. She looks like a man
AR is one of the biggest cry babies in sports today. Outside of Lebron … and maybe Antonio Brown … I wish he would just retire and go away. The Packers were my 2nd favorite team for years until he came along … I would take Farve over him any day if the week. Personality and team play matter.
Truly a delusional comment CG and the 3 know it alls who gave you a thumbs up…from the beginning right to the end.
Yes, he has a right to be with who he wants but he was, has, and continues to use the media to create a “Bret Farve 2.0″ scenario with the Packers.
Firing the GM is pretty much a stupid comment…because you have a player under contract that doesn’t like the team scenario he is a part of, and decides that his best interests are furthered someplace else. There have been many, many QB’s who have endured much less success than Rogers during their careers so his wining about not having enough impact players around him, and that the team had the audacity to draft a QB #1 while he was still in place as the starter is and has been old from the start.
And what world do you live in where you can use an excuse like ‘corporations do it so why not me” to not honor a legal obligation…basically is breaking the law and will get you into court after being sued rather quickly…..Grow up!
Why would he give that up?? Because he signed a contract and has a job to do! If he doesn’t want to do it just retire and end the agony of being a pampered athlete making millions.
Gasp!
just fire gutenmoron!
It’s funny that y’all still go with he’s told teammates that he’s not playing for Green Bay again but in fact if you ask the ones that are closest to him that he has the most respect for they say he hasn’t said a damn word about that to them. Please continue with your dumbass drama bs.
BBC
I see Green Bay trading Rodgers to Las Vegas for Derek Carr and a future 1st or 2nd round pick. While not LA, Vegas is much more Rodgers’ style these days. Plus he’ll be in the AFC and won’t haunt Green Bay after leaving by playing them every year.
I think he ends up in Denver… still AFC and more of a need. Drew Lock or Bridgewater will compete with Love.