The saga between quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers continues to get uglier. It’s becoming clear the Hall of Fame quarterback isn’t happy. Enough to where he is contemplating retirement if the team doesn’t grant him a trade out of town. People are trying to figure out how things got this bad. While some feel it’s about money, all the information points in a different direction.
Rodgers has built up serious resentment and hatred for Packers GM Brian Gutekunst. It appears the quarterback has disagreed with several of his personnel decisions since he took over for Ted Thompson. Yet the one that really kicked off their feud was selecting quarterback Jordan Love in the 1st round of last year’s draft. According to Bob McGinn of The Athletic, it has gotten so bad that Rodgers has even resorted to giving Gutekunst a nickname.
One that Chicago Bulls fans will find deliciously ironic.
“According to sources, Rodgers has mocked Gutekunst in group chats with his teammates in Green Bay by referring to the GM as Jerry Krause. The late Krause, the general manager of the Chicago Bulls during their run of six NBA championships, was loathed by Michael Jordan for some personnel moves with which Jordan disagreed.
The Packers are well aware of Rodgers’ hard feelings toward Gutekunst but, at this point, are taking the high road insisting their sole focus is having Rodgers as their quarterback in 2021 and beyond.”
By now Krause has become somewhat of a legend in Chicago sports history. While the man deserves massive credit for building the Bulls dynasty of the 1990s, he’s also the one who wanted to break it up sooner than it was. Krause grew resentful of Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson hogging all the credit for the team’s success. He wanted to show everybody that he could build a championship team without them and sought multiple chances to trade away key players such as Scottie Pippen whenever possible.
Rodgers clearly sees himself in the same position as Jordan was in the late ’90s. An all-time great still playing MVP ball who is constantly hounded by a GM who wants to prove he doesn’t need that crutch to find success. The comparison is rather appropriate. By the sound of things, Rodgers is tired of backstage politics. So he’s forcing Gutekunst’s hand.
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Yep, can confirm those Krause texts are absolutely true. https://t.co/ltecLScTW7
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) May 5, 2021
Aaron Rodgers may never play a snap in Green Bay again
There are several different media sources who claim the 37-year old quarterback is done with the Packers. Unless Gutekunst is fired, the likelihood of him returning in 2021 seems almost nonexistent. Green Bay can’t be expected to fire their GM over something like that. It would set a dangerous precedent for one and also Gutekunst has gotten the team to back-to-back NFC championship games. There is no reason to fire him other than because the quarterback dislikes him.
That leaves the two sides in a standoff. Two choices appear to be on the table. Either the Packers trade Aaron Rodgers to another team, something they’ve vehemently said they won’t do. Or Rodgers opts to retire. Right now it seems Green Bay is hoping some time away from the team will help their star quarterback cool off. Maybe he’ll come to his senses in a month or so. Yet based on what’s been reported, they’re just being naive. Rodgers is dug in and unlikely to move once his mind is made up.
So, to borrow a basketball saying. The ball is in Gutekunt’s court.
He may have no choice but to bite the bullet and trade Rodgers elsewhere. It’s either that or risk the star QB retiring and leaving the organization with nothing. No draft compensation and no clear successor on hand. While they do have Love, most signs point to many in the organization feels he is not ready. Either way, NFC North fans will rejoice if and when the superstar QB leaves.