We heard earlier this week that the Packers offered Aaron Rodgers a two-year extension that would have made him the highest-paid player in NFL history. That report, from ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, was light on details, and as our Zachary Links suggested at the time, it’s difficult to know exactly what kind of money Rodgers was really turning down.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk offers a little more context. While Florio does not know the details of the Packers’ reported offer, he does shed some light on what Rodgers is looking for. According to Florio’s sources, Rodgers wants $90MM in guaranteed money over a two-year period. The $45MM average annual value would put him on an even footing with the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, but more importantly, Green Bay would have to structure the deal in such a way that it would have no choice but to keep Rodgers through at least 2022 and perhaps through 2023.
As it currently stands, Rodgers is signed through 2023, but the Packers could theoretically cut him next offseason and save $22.7MM against the cap. They’d be left with $17.2MM in dead money, but that wouldn’t cripple them cap-wise, especially since the cap is set to increase next year. Jordan Love, with multiple years to go on his original rookie deal, would be significantly cheaper.
Although it has been said at various points throughout this saga that Rodgers is not necessarily motivated by money, the money that he’s reportedly seeking would be one way to achieve his goal of leaving Green Bay when he’s ready to leave, and not when the Packers deem Love to be ready to take the reins.
Between Rodgers and Davante Adams, the Packers are dealing with a lot of disgruntled star power. That is not a good place for any team to be in on the cusp of training camp, but especially a team that has a roster capable of contending for a title.
I wonder if he and Davante realize they can’t both be paid what they want and field a competitive team? How do the propose making 70 million between the two and paying the rest of the team less than 125 mill
The past couple years they haven’t spent money to get Rodgers or Davante any help anyways so they figure if you aren’t gonna spend it on new assets to field a better team, might as well try to get in my pocket. The Packers are quite a pickle. It’s a big DILL.
Dude they have spent money to help adams and Rodgers by keeping their guys. Bahk goes then what? Hmm more complaining about not surrounding them with guys? How about Kenny Clark, zadarius Smith? What about keeping Jones? They do need money to keep jaire, adams, Amos, elgton… YOU CAN’T PAY EVERYONE WHAT THEY WANT IF THEY WANT A GOOD TEAM AROUND THEM. THIS ISN’T ROCKET SCIENCE
You may not be able to pay everyone but short of a career injury an even declining aaron rodgers is still in your top 10 qbs in the league.
The GM is horrible and i cant blame Rodgers for wanting him gone based on the 2020 draft … your first four rounds of the draft Jordan Love (3rd string qb), AJ Dillon (3rd string RB), Josiah Deguara (3rd string TE). Your GM is drafting depth pieces in a win now mode and you should be drafting players that will put you over the top and not rebuilding.
Not only did he draft an unneeded piece by his own admission (see quote below) he traded up to get get the unneeded . The teams between them and Miami’s pick, Miami (who just drafted tua), Seattle (Russell wilson), Baltimore (lamar jackson), Titans (Ryan Tannehill – who got them to the playoffs). I dont really see them going for a qb and all the true qb needy teams already picked up their guys.
sum up how well this guy plans ““But I’ve never in my time in Green Bay, we’ve never been in a spot where it was like, ‘Hey, we have to go get a quarterback this year.’ THIS WAS NO DIFFERENT. Long story short, eventually, Love was the top guy left, and the gap was widening. As those players got picked, it was kind of like, with the way our board was, there really wasn’t anyone else at that level that we felt comfortable taking.”
He felt rb ws a need as well since he drafted that 2nd round with AJ Dillon. Why not go with someone in the 1st then? He could have gotten edwards , a deandre swift, akers etc etc as no rbs were off the board even at their own 30th pick and by what i have seen on different scouting reports Love could have potentially fallen into the top of the 3rd round so picked him up with the 2nd round pick or used the 4th (or later pick) and 2nd to trade up higher in the second for love.
sorry for my rant but i think i would rather have adam gase be the gm than this guy running gb and i am jets fan seeing this.
Let’s not forget Aaron Jones and his 4 year, $48M deal. Oops.
that is really a 2 / 20 contract as there is an out after 2022 season
Even if Jones is 2/20 and gone in two seasons, the point is the same: These contracts add up and the cost/benefit/value analyses put front office decisions under a microscope. Is it not possible to get similar production at a lower cost?
Because, as you know, the window is closing and in two years the team and goals will look a lot different. Coulda, woulda, shoulda usually gets people fired.
Adams would make $25M a year. Going market rate for a QB is $45M and it’s only two years. Their window is now, they should do that in a minute as it doesn’t cripple them longterm and they can go all in the next couple years.
Adams wouldn’t make $25M I meant.
The chiefs are paying Mahomes 45 million and tyreek hill 18. Adams reportedly asked for DeAndre Hopkins money (22 mil) … if the chiefs can afford to pay their two stars 73 million, the packers surely can find a way to pay there’s 77. They just don’t want to. It’s ridiculous.
45 million plus 18 million equals 63 million (not 73).
Thanks, but the point remains. The chiefs can pay 63 the packers surely can pay 67.
DeAndre got an extension at $27.25M per…that’s the number he wants to top
Let’s just be honest they have a terrible ownership group. They don’t agree on much and are not impartial enough.
I don’t think Adams wants to top it. Julio Jones is around $22 million and is next behind Hopkins (who’s contract is just ridiculous). I think that’s closer to what Adams is aiming for. We don’t know for sure what he wants though, because he hasn’t said.
i think if rodgers comes back he will take less as it shows the team is trying to win … if not then he wants to be paid to stay for a rebuild and waste his prime years.
The Chiefs aren’t paying anywhere near 63 million for Mahomes and Hill this year. Hill’s cap hit this year is 15 mil and Mahomes is 7 million. He doesn’t hit 45 mil for a cap hit till 2023.
The Bucks won a championship, so I’m still riding that high, and the Crew is playing well too. I just can’t get really excited about any of this crap one way or the other at this point. When the regular season is here, all of this will be resolved and we can watch some football.
As a Cubs/Bears/Bulls fan I would just like to say…”Good for you”…in the most sarcastic and dry way imaginable.
Sorry to hear your a Cubs, bears and bulls fan. I say they very sarcastically as well. Doesn’t look good for any of your teams right now.
The Brewers trophy case is shared with that of the Vikings. Remember that.
I used to know an older couple where the husband was a Bears fan and his wife was a Packers fan. Weird, huh? I was always partial to the Bears myself, especially in ’85.
it’s not weird at all around here, see it all the time. family football competitiveness is great.
I’m a Packer fan and my girlfriend is a Bear fan, makes watching football more fun actually. Especially since it’s gone my way most of the time in our relationship!
it sucks being with a packers fan. i know how she must feel being with you during the season. i root for every team playing against them any given sunday. and then dallas too.
…
Rodgers wants and deserves security. Pay the man.
Why is that? It would be for 2022/2023 which wouldn’t hurt them now. It could potentially be structured where it could help the cap this year even.
yeah, he needs $45 million a year as “security”
As much money as this dude has made, he needs 90 million over 2 yrs guaranteed for security? Gtfo
This story is nonsense. One side “leaked” it for some unknown reason. Both sides know that he can’t be paid that amount this season without wholesale negative changes to the roster.
Does Rodgers want more money and win more championships. He can’t have both so what’s important to him
Any team that gets Rodgers becomes an instant championship contender. He can do both, especially since it’s no guarantee any money he saves the team is used correctly anyway to make his team better.
Sure but if he’s making that much money how the hell can you build a team around him? He obviously likes the drama. Look what Brady has been doing… that’s how you win a Super Bowls.
It doesn’t seem to inhibit the Chiefs from competing for Super Bowls. Rodgers has been underpaid for years, I can’t blame him for wanting market value. The Packers are going to have to figure out how to get it done. For sure it would include a huge signing bonus.
considering Mahomes massive cap hit doesn’t kick in till 2023 of course it’s not inhibiting them. He’s only taking up 7.4 million of cap space this year.
Exactly! Spread the money around. Don’t be selfish. He talked EVERYONE into staying. That’s never been done before.
@sportsguy – Jets. .500 team at best.
It would be a two year extension and clearly states the pay would be for 2022 and 2023, meaning next season and the year after. They wouldn’t pay him more money this season.
If I was a packers fan I’d be disgusted with the way this regime has handled their stars. Without Rodgers this team is awful.
They’ve done fine… I agree with not catering to divas. They did great moving on from favre. Maybe it’s time to move on from Rodgers
False. Been a Packers fan for life and most fans are more disgusted with Rodgers’ behavior than Packers management. Sure it takes two to tango but after experiencing the breath of fresh air in Giannis and his humility a lot of fans are ready to move on from Rodgers.
@2id: A) I don’t believe you that Packer fans are more disgusted with Rodgers than the FO, B) if they let Rodgers walk and get nothing for him, they’ll go 5-11 or worse for the next few years. Let’s see who the Packer fans blame after that.
You all have been gifted Hall of Fame QB play for 30 straight years. If you’re all blaming Rodgers for this, you’re ungrateful.
YOU Said when farve left
Don’t care if you believe me or not. Just go onto any social media platform anytime there’s Rodgers news and you’ll see the majority of fans are ready to move on from him. We were ready to move on from Favre and had no idea what we had in Rodgers. Life goes on dude. Like I said after seeing the character of Giannis we’re done with spoiled athletes. Believe what we will.
Favre and Rodgers aren’t the same situation wise. Rodgers hasn’t flipped on retirement year to year. That was more the issue than the money or roster with him. It’s not apples to apples.
If they aren’t, they should be. He’s blown four out if six nfc championship games so the argument of “surround me with quality players” is out the window.
sure they can … remember drew brees?
“The 2021 season was set to be the final year of Drew Brees’ contract. However, for salary cap purposes, the contract actually affects the Saints until the 2023 season. The reason for this? The Saints included two “void” years at the end of Brees’ deal. This allowed the Saints to spread that $23 million signing bonus across four years on their cap.”
You are also assuming this is a huge increase .. he is making 37.5 this year and 40 next year … this is an increase of 12.5 million over 2 years just that it is guaranteed now instead of him being potentially cut for 17M
adams is another … he is making just under 17M and he wants top money where i think 20 or 21M? Even that could lower cap this year and spread out to future years and save you enough to Rodgers in under the cap. especially with cap shooting up majorly next year.
Could you be a little bit greedier?? Unreal…must be living check yo check huh Sharon…assclown
Pay him
So it was about the money. Dude is such a tool. Why be such a D bag to your fan base? Those cheeseheads adore him like a demigod.
Phillyballers. Agree he is a tool. There are ways to do business. Being a whiny crybaby every year is old.
Nah. Overwhelming sense is that the majority of Packers fans are done with Rodgers and ready to move on.
@2id: have fun with that, and have fun with missing the playoffs and being a terrible team.
It’s football dude. With today’s NFL, it doesn’t take long to make a team competitive again. Or irrelevant. And honestly, why are you sniffing Rodger’s jock? For years I’ve watched his body language whenever a mistake is made and it’s toxic. He also has no problem throwing a teammate under the bus. He’s gotten a pass for years. Last year’s NFC championship game the D gave him three turnovers in the second half. What did he do? Three points and two three and outs.
Brady does the same body language stuff. Other QBs have. Rodgers threw 48 touchdowns last year and won an MVP. That’s not enough? What more do you want from a single player? A good team doesn’t need one player to win them EVERY game. If they do, they’re not a good team, they’re just a team with a good player.
I have to think the timing of Rogers news leaks are somewhat calculated by Rogers camp. Shareholders meet tomorrow. The day before we find out what it takes to keep him a Packer. Not saying this is bad – more like astute.
How does that work with the shareholders? Do you meet in the stadium and vote who is worse Rodgers or the FO? What else can you do? You really can’t vote on anything meaningful you also don’t get dividends do you? Always thought the shares were just a little more valuable than a square of TO. It would be cool to have a share of your favorite team but would just be for display.
Just give him the 90mil guarentee 45mil/yr lock him up for the 3 yrs with a player option for a 4th yr. Also offer him 20mil in performance incentives. Also, a team share of ownership. The Packers are privately owned with share holders give him some shares.. Why not.. Also structure the contract where it dont hurt the cap by converting that money to bonuses which what most teams do anyways. In return Extend Adams 4 yrs 21mil/yr with 60 guarenteed with a 10mil signing bonus. Iff they do those things #12 Will be back in the Green n Gold
There is no cap space for these moves. As a packers fan, I am ready to move on from Aaron. Stack the running game and build that defense, mediocre QB play has shown to be enough if you can run the ball and stop the opponent.
That’s funny. Party on like it’s 1999. But this is 2021 and it’s all about QB’s and the passing game now.
actually they have the cap what you do is pay him half of his 45mil then the other half goes off of a signing bonus in which it dont effect the cap. Tom Brady has been doin that for yrs rework his contract where u convert into bonus. Just like the article said by Rodgers taking that extension it would help them with the finances in the future.. Yes they are tight on cap but every team is.. By next yr the salary cap will be well over 200mil.. Dont be shocked by the yr 2025 the cap may be well over 250mil..
Its always about the money isn’t it!
If he had any other “issues” such as the Packers not drafting enough “players” to propel them to the SB, they certainly would be dispatched with the right paycheck!
Good going Aaron, you just showed America is always about the pay!
his original offer was he stay or the gm stays
if the team not willing to do that then he wants to be compensated for working with someone he doesnt want to be around or he leaves. Is this not American?
I’ve done it a few times. Sometimes it worked out sometimes it didnt. Last time it worked out for me to the point of a 30% increase in pay, increase in title, and extra vacation time with the best part being the prior boss being fired a few months later due to missed deadlines and shoddy reports because i wasnt there to be blamed or to carry them.
Rogers goes thru GM’s like lebron went through teams chasing rings just to be compared to MJ. At the beginning of the season he loves them. Blows it in the NFC championship game and he blames them. He’s had quality players around him and so blaming the front office for personnel is stupid. Why? Because he’s been in the championship game the last four out of six years and HE blew it every time. He’s become a hollywood whiner. Cut him loose and watch him flop somewhere else. He’ll still blame GB.
What? Rodgers had played for one GM in his career, who retired. Literally everyone thought that it was a good idea. Gutekunst is the second GM. Literally everyone thinks that he’s been terrible. Even people who hate Rodgers don’t like Gutekunst.
If I understand the bonus system and maybe twist it a little bit couldn’t the Packers give A-Rodg a 90 million bonus for showing up for next year’s non mandatory mini camp… That would fit in the (NLBTE) category non of it would go against the cap!!!!!
doth should leave GB. I mean they keep saying Rodgers is their guy but they draft a QB behind his back , they don’t keep him in the loop not do they ask him who he’d like from the draft . not do they ask him who he wants from FA . They don’t get him any assets on Off unless it’s low in the draft . it’s not a smart way to run a team with a top tier qb and a top tier wr. I agree with them asking for for that money as if gb isn’t gonna be a team player then why should they . I think asking for a lot of money is a good way to help get traded which he wants and I’m sure that if another team is willing to sign em for a long term like 4 yrs or so then his price will come down to help a team if they show him they want to help him out and get him weapons
Kevin t. –
Draft a QB behind his back? Do you realize how many picks are made every year “behind another player’s back”? Give me a break. Rodgers is not the god he thinks he is and does not have special rights that no other athlete in any sport has ever had. He was a QB that was getting worse every year and on the downside of his career until the Packers lit a fire under his arrogant rear end by drafting another QB. He’s had one elite season out of the last 5.
I say call the mans bluff, don’t pay him a nickel more, he signed his contract so live with it. He has 1 more Super Bowl win than you or I. If he wants to retire, get back what you can if the signing bonus and let him sit, give some of that to Adams and the packers will be ok. Can’t pay everybody who starts whining and I guarantee the Broncos aren’t him $40m. The main reason Mahomes got the big contract was because the previous xxx years he was in his cheap rookie contract and oh by the way Mahomes has been to as many SBs as AR and has the same amount of wins in a fraction of the time.
It’s about the guarantee, not the money.
Honestly, I think this is how Rodgers wants to force himself out. The $45 million is market rate now because of Mahomes’ extension. Watson is making $39 million per year. It’s just what the quarterback market looks like.
But Rodgers knows that Green Bay will say no-not because the money is unprecedented, but because they don’t to commit to him for two years. They probably just want him for this year, and then want to turn him loose for Love. That does not exactly benefit Rodgers, but it does benefit the Packers. Given that the Packers haven’t really done much for Rodgers in the past, there’s no reason for him to do them any favors. He wants out. Making a demand that they won’t satisfy (not “can’t” but “won’t”) is a way to do that. Rodgers and Adams could have both, I think, taken lesser money from an organization they trusted to at least win championships, if not treat their veteran stars well.
There is one important thing to remember when making the Brady comparison, and that is that Brady never had to worry about the team trying to compete for a championship, or being cast aside for a questionable draft pick. The instant he felt that was happening, he left and went to a team who would give him what he wanted (and went above and beyond to do so). And before Brady did that, he had Belichick come to his house where Brady made a contract offer that he knew Belichick wouldn’t pay. Rodgers is in the same position-his contract just isn’t expiring. It’s not difficult to see that he wants security, and given how much he distrusts the Packers, it’s hard to believe them if he doesn’t get them to commit to something significant and guaranteed contractually.
Well said. And I agree that Rogers doesn’t owe the Packers brass any favors. He’s trying to give them a taste of their own medicine of feeding them manure and keeping them in the dark.
Man, Shaliene and Miles got him on that good stuff.
Pay that man his money
This sorta contradicts the other story I read today saying 12 and 17 are planning 1 last season together in gb. I’m So confused with all these deeply investigated stories. Especially when Schefter, who already admitted his story on draft night was less than truthful, is reporting anything about anything.
The sad part is it was nothing to do with their poor management, just money. Aaron can name that money on 31 other franchises, but wants to play games with GB? Lost a lot of respect of this is true.
Guarantees, more than money. I can’t fault him-they have someone else ready (in their mind) to replace him at any moment. Why wouldn’t he want to secure his job, especially when he’s still playing well? It’s not like management has addressed the issues that we the fans thought they should, let alone actual football experts.
He played well LAST YEAR at least. The previous 3-4 years…nothing spectacular
…but it’s not about the money
Again, it’s the guarantees. You can hate him all you like, but he’s trying to keep his job with an organization that he (rightfully) doesn’t trust or get a new one with an organization that he does.
Packers need to resolve this and resolve this quickly & properly.
How funny that he complains that the Packers aren’t putting good players around him – and then wants about 1/5th of the entire team’s payroll just to show up.
If they give him $90 million, will he play like he did last year or like he played the previous 3-4 years when he was a “middle of the pack” QB and not the MVP he was last year.
Gee Rodgers doing what he always does… Asking for as.much cash as he can… Which screws the Packers cap and keeps the Packers from acquiring players, yet all his jock-sniffing fanbois claim they don’t get him quality players.
Cause and effect, mensas
Let Rodgers manage the team and Gutekunst play QB… signed a Bears fan.
This is why he doesn’t get the respect he claims he should be getting from the Packers front office and someone like Brady has 7 rings. He should try to be a little less selfish and spread that money around to the other players like Brady does. Green Bay should just cut ties and watch him flop as he breaks and ruins another franchise. The lebron james of the nfl. Just whines and blames the weather (that’s climate change for you sjw’s out there)
Sh*t. Dump him. He pulled all this drama show and got offered to be highest paid player, turned it down. Then wanted 90 mil? I wouldn’t pay him.
He’s been trolling since Day One; obviously quite effectively too
Lol, prima donna he is. What a moron.
Just a reminder that a few years ago, Rodgers stated that he was qualified to be the GM of the Milwaukee Bucks.