Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career has followed an unbelievably similar course to the man he replaced in Brett Favre. Both were acquired with 1st round picks. Both rose to superstar status and won their only Super Bowl title at age 27. Each played incredible football well into their 30s but constantly came up short of winning a second ring. Each won three MVP awards. Now it appears each will have left the Green Bay Packers following an NFC championship loss at home due to a rift with team management.
Some people within or close to the organization still believe he’ll be back. Maybe he will. Yet several well-connected insiders continue to suggest that isn’t going to happen. In fact, some of them believe he already has designs on where he wants to play next. Benjamin Allbright of KOA NewsRadio is one of the more accurate insiders in the business. He believes that not only is Rodgers unlikely to return to Green Bay, but it is more likely he instead joins the Denver Broncos.
He made that crystal clear on Broncos Unrestricted.
“I know from personal conversations with people in his camp that he wants Denver. Denver is his top choice…
…I think the only choice is Denver. I think it in terms of the Aaron Rodgers situation, I think that based on everybody I’ve talked to and everything I know about that? There are three options. That is he plays in Green Bay, he retires, or he plays for the Broncos.”
Allbright isn’t the only one saying this either. Veteran reporter and insider John Clayton, formerly of ESPN, appeared on The Frangie Show. He too believes Rodgers is going to hold out this season and will eventually get traded. The destination? Yep, the Broncos.
Clayton on Aaron Rodgers: "I think he holds out into the season and ultimately gets traded. I think he ends up going to Denver." pic.twitter.com/2LV2uRsHo9
— 1010 XL / 92.5 FM (@1010XL) June 22, 2021
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What makes this even more delicious? If proven true, it will be two former Chicago Bears making it happen. Vic Fangio is their head coach and was the Bears’ defensive coordinator for several years. George Paton is their GM and was a scout and personnel director for them in the 1990s.
Aaron Rodgers has a track record of being stubborn
Not just on the field. In his personal life too. He broke off ties with his own family over disagreements. When he sets his mind on something one way or another, he is unlikely to change it. Rodgers has made it pretty clear he isn’t returning to Green Bay unless they give him what it wants. It isn’t money since he reportedly declined an extension worth over $40 million per year. He wants GM Brian Gutekunst fired.
Green Bay obviously can’t do that. Not without opening a Pandora’s Box the NFL may never be able to close again. So the Packers are in a tough spot. They want him to return but he doesn’t want to be there. They also don’t want to trade him because they know Jordan Love isn’t ready. One can rest assured this is exactly what Aaron Rodgers had planned from the start. Now they have a choice.
Trade him now, trade him later, or hold firm and perhaps watch him retire.
It appears that Door #2 could end up being the most likely outcome. Green Bay will wait until they have a better idea of what sort of package teams can offer. Or in this case the Broncos. Once that is clear, they will move Rodgers out for the best package they can get. Then it will be about hoping they can continue to win without him.