While Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy recently made it clear that he wants Aaron Rodgers to stick around Green Bay, the executive isn’t doing much to help his cause. During an event at Lambeau on Thursday, Murphy admitted that his star quarterback is a “complicated fella” (via ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter).
[RELATED: Packers’ Aaron Rodgers Begins Holdout]
“I’m often reminded though…of Ted Thompson, as most of you know, just a great general manager, passed away (earlier this year),” Murphy said (via NBC 26 in Green Bay). “(Thompson) often talked about Aaron, that he’s a… and it wasn’t just Aaron, a lot of different players. He would say ‘He’s a complicated fella.’…So I’ll just leave it at that.”
That probably won’t help, Mark. Rodgers officially began his holdout this week as the future Hall of Famer continues to push for a divorce. The reigning MVP wants to take his talents elsewhere, which would leave 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love or Blake Bortles as the No. 1 QB in Green Bay. Murphy, GM Brian Gutekunst, and head coach Matt LaFleur say that won’t happen, leading to the current standoff.
During a recent column on the team website, Murphy noted that Rodgers trade request has divided the fan base, but he also noted that the organization is “committed to resolving things with Aaron.” From a financial perspective, the Packers front office may be on to something. While Rodgers has already passed on $500K of bonuses by missing the team’s voluntary workout (and he could lose another $200+ for skipping minicamp), the real financial toll will come when Rodgers starts missing games. In the unlikely event he stays home all year, the 37-year-old will forfeit his $14.7MM salary, $6.8MM roster bonus, and be forced to refund $23MM of his signing bonus.
🙂
Honestly, I hope he does give up 44.5M. That’ll show them.
phillyballers Taking them out of super bowl contention is more of what would show them. If he doesn’t play they have to either start a mediocre backup type QB, or a total question mark in Jordan Love a full year or two ahead of schedule, and if they are happy with Love’s progress to the point that he’s ready to start, why so strongly resist Rodgers trade demands?
If Rodgers doesn’t play for them again and Love is a bust…….Green Bay is finally in for a rough time at QB.
A 1st round QB should be starting within his first 2-3 years, project or not. The Packers drafted Jordan Love instead of someone to make an immediate impact and are now acting like a victim in this saga. This was their plan all along (trade Rodgers for future draft capital before a possible retirement). Now they need to deal with the fallout
If they signed him to that deal, he’s probably worth much more.
Businesses that cap your employees salaries are hard to come by.
Owners might be the only group who has better than pro athletes.
In this case, the owners can’t step in and force a solution.
It could drag out for years.
I hope he shows up Week 1 to collect his game checks and just plays horrible football for the Packers because he doesn’t care anymore and will continue to not care until they trade him. That WILL show them.
No player would do that. He also cares too much about his image. But being a Bears fan I could see how you would want that. Still celebrating 85 Bears.
You’re right, but how hilarious would it be (at least for us non-Packer fans) to watch? Shows up and gives an Albert Haynesworth effort and just punts the ball into the stands on first downs.
And even if they did do that, Rodgers would ALWAYS play his best against Da Bears.
I’m sure Aaron can make that money back doing jeopardy.
Pat Sajak is holding out on Wheel of Fortune. Looking for $28m/year, maybe Jeopardy can trade Rodgers for him and… I dunno there’s a joke in there somewhere.
If Carolina really wants a stud QB, throw out an offer. That was the rumor all offseason. Same for Denver.
Love to see him lose the most money
Rodgers was terrible on Jeopardy they have already moved on from him. Poor Aaron doesn’t get his way so he throws a fit. Many QB’s with less talent have won more.
He did the two weeks he was booked to do, and they haven’t named a permanent host – so how is that moving on? Poor Aaron will be just fine
He is absolutely a different kind of cat but hes also last years MVP at the most premium position. Lose Rodgers and it’s automatic rebuild mode
Sadly he’s not a different kind of cat. He’s a selfish pr… and they are everywhere these days.
I’ve read a couple articles saying the Packers receivers were the best in the league as far as how open they got. Some of that MVP season is due to the coaching staff
I wonder if Rodgers can lead a team to a super bowl like Brady did, in his first season
He’d have to have Brady’s defense from his first season.
Only if Rodgers gets to pick the team in free agency. That way his new teams can keep all their draft picks.
and he’d need the opposing teams QB to make some questionable decisions in the title game.
Yes, the guy is a total turd (sorry, “complicated fella”). However, he’s also a hell of a football player. Playing the way he did last season was an absolute gift to the Packers. They’d be smart to accept that gift and trade him while his value is so incredibly inflated. It’ll never be this high again.
If you can report something more earth shattering than Rodgers being a “complicated fella” you definitely need to send a job application to PFR.
I guess one way to describe an insecure and delusional narcissist would be “complicated fella”.
Forwhomjoshbelltoled –
Yup…he took the high road and used the nicest terms he could think of to say those exact words. The only think I would change about your post is that I would add “prima donna” and “entitled” in there somewhere, but otherwise you’re spot on
Trade him to the Bears….where QB’s go to die.
Good ol’ boy Murphy, et al. done emptying their gas cans yet? Is it any wonder why GB isn’t high on the list of free agent destinations each season despite the franchise history!!
Perhaps the “complicated fella” behind closed doors describes Murphy, Gutenut, etc. as pompous rosy necked chaps?
I know one thing. That fan base is not “divided”. Mr. Murphy stretched the truth more than a little there. They may whine on social media about their prima donna QB, but not a single one of em don’t want him back.
I say trade him while his value has peaked. If 3 1st round picks is possible and he will be 38 this year? C ya!!
Rondon –
Care to take a bet on that? I take it you don’t live in Wisconsin?
You don’t have to live in Green Bay to see what’s happening there. There isn’t more than one, maybe 2 franchises out there as dependent on one player as the Packers are. And prickly ego and all, you can’t ask me to believe that as many fans want him gone as want him to stay. No way.
I’ve gone to all home games for 50 years. If they trade Rodgers today, I’d be happy. As long as they got a great deal! Easy to move on from that ego!!
If he really doesn’t want to come back (who knows?), I can understand that. And they could get a strong return. I just don’t think franchise QBs ever come without egos. I mean, Brett Farve was no walk in the park either.
Who knows when Rodgers will retire? Getting a huge return now has great appeal for the future of the Packers. I like the idea of 6 1st rounders in the next 3 years!
HaHa! Well, I think there’s a NFL rule that you can’t trade more than 3 first rounders, but I hear ya!
You didn’t realize the Packers already have 3?
Ah yes. I thought you meant 6 in a trade.
So ESPN makes a mountain out a mole hill comment and everyone takes the bait. Pathetic.
There’s a bigger stretch in that statement than calling Aaron Rodgers “complicated”, and that’s Murphy calling Ted Thompson a “great” GM.
Packers need to figure this out. This is embarrassing. Why keep saying “we want Aaron Rodgers to stay” but then never through our options as to how they will have Aaron Rodgers to stay. Sad.
The day of the “holier than thou” GM and team presidents is over, who do these turds think they are, the Chicago Bears? Lol!
I enjoy when writers make their opinion sound like facts, in this case repeating that Rodgers wants to leave or he had a trade demand. It might be true, but there is a difference between fact and assumption. There is a possibility he doesn’t really want out but wants either more money/commitment to him or something to change in the front office. Lots we don’t know.
He’s apparently been offered the richest QB contract in NFL history and greatly increased “security”, but that hasn’t been enough. He also has claimed, through speaking voice James Jones, that he has no problem with Gutekunst. What he hasn’t done so far is to tell anyone what the real problem is or what it will take to solve it. I don’t understand what benefit or joy he is getting from leaving the entire football world in the dark for this long, but hey that’s Aaron.
I don’t understand why the “dividing the fan base” comment is getting so much play. That hasn’t been a secret to ANYONE around here for months. Nor has the fact that Rodgers is “complicated fella”, which in my opinion was said as nicely as it could have been. Everyone has known both of these things for a long time, so I guess I don’t understand the big shock by him saying it. At least he’s talking to the media, unlike the other side.
Dude, your immediate circle of “friends & acquaintances” doesn’t represent the entire state of Wisconsin. ” Why you think this is so, is beyond me. On top of that, your obsession w/ how he looked during his interview & how “packer fans” responded to it is bizarre at best.
You may need to seek some help, KCJ. ‘Cause uh, you’re borderline absurd.
I have really had enough of this saga. This guy is almost as bad as brett barr with the retirements every year. If I was green bay i would tell him to retire so we dont have to pay him nothing.
You gotta love all these Bears and Vikings fans spout off as if they are so knowledgeable….