One of the biggest offseason headlines is the broken relationship between the Green Bay Packers and their star quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers, 37, is a future Hall of Famer, an NFL MVP, a Super Bowl champion, and a Super Bowl MVP.
He is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game.
Presumably the Packers front office knows what they have though they have sent off mixed signals that appear to have finally gotten on Rodgers’ last nerve.
After the disappointing loss in the NFC Championship to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the never resolved issue of why the Packers traded up in the 2020 NFL Draft to get backup quarterback Jordan Love without telling Rodgers beforehand, the Packers decided in the offseason to make it right by offering Rodgers a contract extension.
This off-season, the Packers offered Aaron Rodgers a two-year contract extension that would have tied him to Green Bay for five more seasons and made him the highest-paid QB and player in football.
Rodgers declined the offer, proof it’s not about the money.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 20, 2021
Why did Rodgers turn down the money?
Here are the reasons why.
It Is Not About Money For Rodgers
Rodgers has plenty of money.
At this point in his career, he is playing for championships.
The fact that the Packers only won one championship with him as QB is telling.
It means the Packers did not invest enough in offensive players to help him win.
Consider that all of the Packers’ first-round draft picks for the last decade were defensive players except for Love, Rodgers has a legitimate gripe.
They had a good draft…but Aaron Rodgers is still feeling the sting of waking up and hearing the Packers are not the partner in this like you thought…When you draft a first round QB instead of using that pick to make the current team better…that hurt doesn't go away quickly pic.twitter.com/YsIgTQ8R4Y
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) May 4, 2021
He Wants Out Of Green Bay
Rodgers did not take the money and the extension to be a Packer for five more years because he does not want to be a Packer this year let alone for four more years.
He wants out of Green Bay.
The front office is on a different wavelength than Rodgers is.
IS IT THE PHILOSOPHY OR GM FOR AARON RODGERS?!🧐
Aaron Rodgers has claimed he has no desire to return to the Green Bay Packers after the way GM Brian Gutekusnt dealt with things post drafting Jordan Love.#football #nfl #nfldraft #GB pic.twitter.com/uAXQTIF47X
— SPORTSCASTERS LLC (@SPORTSCASTERSSC) May 25, 2021
He Is At A Good Place Personally
Rodgers is newly engaged and appears to be very happy with his personal life and future wife, actress Shailene Woodley.
He vacationed with Woodley, played golf with Tom Brady in the celebrity charity tournament, and guest hosted Jeopardy!
It seems like he is at peace with potentially walking away from the game.
Aaron Rodgers’ summer
– Gets engaged
– Goes on multiple vacations
– Host Jeopardy!
– Attended the Kentucky Derby
– Started and raised funds for the North Valley Community Foundation
– Won #TheMatch
– Won an NBA title
– Has everyone talking about him 24/7I want to live like AR12
— Greg Williams (@GregWilliams28) July 21, 2021
Conclusion
Nobody knows what Rodgers’ next move is.
Depending on the day of the week, there is a new theory that he will either retire, return to the Packers in 2021, or sit out the season.
Only Rodgers knows what his endgame is, but we will get a glimpse into what he is thinking on July 27 when he is due to report to Packers training camp.
Football fans hope to see him playing in 2021 because at 37 years of age, his playing years are winding down.
If Love starts the season, there will be a lot of pressure on him along with massive media scrutiny.
Why would Aaron Rodgers think his fate would be any different than Brett Favre’s?!? Face it, GB is good at setting up the new girlfriend while getting ready to dump the wife!
— KJ (@kjcarson) July 20, 2021
Whenever the Packers get themselves out of this mess, hopefully they take note on how to handle bringing in the franchise’s future quarterback since they have failed twice at it in recent years.
NEXT: Will Aaron Rodgers Tank Green Bay Packers 2021 Season?
RICHARD MIELKE says
it is the front office. they suck at drafting. look at what lamberde did drafting. the only premier player drafted was adams,