Aaron Rodgers has said little throughout what has easily been the most turbulent offseason of his NFL career, but the reigning MVP provided an indication of his timetable Saturday.
During the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament, the Packers quarterback said he plans to “get back to working out and figure things out in a couple weeks” (h/t USA Today’s Ben Kenney). This cryptic comment is certainly not out of the ordinary from Rodgers, who has played it close to the vest throughout this process — which turned into a holdout when he skipped Green Bay’s mandatory minicamp last month. The Packers, however, are set to open training camp in just more than two weeks (July 27).
Rodgers’ comment follows a report that indicated this stalemate was not on track to be resolved until at least training camp. While Rodgers’ loose timeline lines up with Packers camp, his holdout is not believed to be about money. He will face fines of $50,000 for each camp day missed. The 37-year-old superstar has long been entrenched in his desire to leave the Packers, which has stemmed from an issue with team management.
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst has been resolute against trading Rodgers, and ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler noted recently the trade market for the 16-year veteran is nonexistent (Twitter link). This does not mean no interest has spawned, as the Broncos have been linked to the future Hall of Famer since his desire to leave Green Bay emerged in late April, but that the Packers have not given any indication a trade is realistic.
In addition to skipping the Packers’ offseason program, Rodgers has not linked up with Green Bay pass catchers on his own. That gave presumptive successor Jordan Love plenty of extra reps during OTAs and minicamp. The 2020 first-round pick, whose arrival began this turmoil between Rodgers and the Packers, took roughly 90% of the team’s offseason team reps.
It will be interesting if Rodgers reports to Packers camp, given the acrimony between he and Gutekunst and team president Mark Murphy. Gutekunst, Murphy and Matt LaFleur attempted to resolve this situation for months, prior to Rodgers’ exit hopes becoming public, but no solution came. The Packers have the leverage of holding Rodgers’ rights, while the three-time MVP can withhold his services and essentially drop the team off the Super Bowl contender radar. Either way, this saga will gain clarity later this month.
So nothing. Thanks
He will show up for camp with a day to go and the whining will start the following day.
Perhaps Rodgers will use the LeVeon Bell approach and get a job at Dairy Queen during his holdout to show the Packers he can’t be intimidated.
Does anyone actually think he will leave the Packers? He’s not going anywhere.
Who’s Aaron Rodgers? Oh…you mean KAREN Rodgers?
With this post, you’ve officially sid more..and whined more..than Rodgers has in 6 months of this non-story.
Does that make you KAREN KYLE?
Poor attempt at humor. Are you 12?
Seriously, guy… get help.
I like your joke buddy. Don’t let these meanies crush your confidence.
IDIOT….
Even if Rodgers is forced to stay, the fans will be on him unmercifully. Since no other team is apparently interested in him, let him sit on the bench where he can watch Love play. Many fans around here don’t like whining players, even superstars.
And so, how do you like a 6-11 record?
Rather have Rodgers than 6-11 but many Packer fans are tired of the complicated fella and if we take a big step back at least it would be drama free.
That said he’ll return sometime in the pre-season. But some damage to his rep has been done, he probably didn’t want or expect that. He’s smart, but not as smart as he thinks he is.
“… the fans will be on him unmercifully.”
Like they were when he took over for Favre? You know, on “Family Day”? Remember that bigtime fun?
Fowler saying “no other team is interested” is ridiculous. If Rodgers became available, there would most definitely be teams interested.
Wrong! Bears and Vikings fans should stick to respective instead of continuing to malign the man.
Wasn’t Love who caused this rift….it was Gute and his lack of taking advantage of having a championship caliber team and not adding the pieces that are needed.
This post definitely came from Green Bay’s PR team
If the Packers do not release Rodgers as they should then Rodgers should sue them for breech of contract to have the deal terminated. It happens all the time NFL teams release players for no reason other then their salary now one who has given eveerything to a team wants out and they wont do nothing.
Lol….release? Wtf you talkin bout Willis?
If he leaves GB it’ll be via trade but the pack aren’t just gonna release him.
You forget that Alex Smith was drafted ahead of Rodgers and was traded to Kansas for a 3rd round pick. Its not worth the aggravation just let him go wash your hands of the situation.
Rodgers’ contract makes him untradeable by the Packers in 2021, thus he isn’t going anywhere this year. Whether he decides to show up and play is another matter, but it will cost him plenty if he decides to hold out, as the terms of the current NFL bargaining agreement are all in the Packer’s favor.