The Aaron Rodgers saga has captivated the NFL world since everything spilled out on draft night. That moment it was revealed the future Hall of Famer didn’t intend to return to the Green Bay Packers. Not without some changes to the organization. Namely the removal of GM Brian Gutekunst. Obviously, the Packers were never going to do that. Thus the two camps remain locked in a standoff ever since.
Now different parties continue to offer insight into what is happening. Former teammates John Kuhn and James Jones insist Rodgers will eventually be back. At the same time, multiple insiders like Jay Glazer and Benjamin Allbright insist the quarterback has no intention of doing so. He is dug in. So much that there is a genuine belief he may be willing to sit out the season if necessary.
His interviews of late have done nothing to quell those beliefs.
Rodgers is preparing for a highly-anticipated golf match between him and Bryson DeChambeau vs. Tom Brady and Phil Mickelson. While the quarterback has kept most of his comments on the upcoming contest, he mentioned something about his approach to this offseason that was a bit eye-opening. One that sends a signal that he isn’t chomping at the bit to play football this year. Ben Baby of ESPN picked up on it.
“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to work on my mental health,” Rodgers said. “I haven’t dealt with bouts of depression or anything, that I think for whatever reason, are OK to talk about if you’re talking about mental health. I’ve just really been trying to think about what puts me in the best frame of mind. What habits can I form that allow me to feel most in my body, most present, happiest? And that’s what I’ve been doing.”
This would seem to suggest one thing above all else. While Rodgers may not be depressed, he is no longer happy with the state of things. Namely being in Green Bay. After what has happened the past two years? It is easy to understand. The Packers didn’t consult him on the hiring of head coach Matt Lafleur. Then they didn’t give him a heads up before they drafted Jordan Love in the 1st round of the 2020 draft. After all he’s done for that franchise, wouldn’t you feel a little hurt and disrespected?
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Aaron Rodgers knows it’s a business and doesn’t care
The Packers have tried to justify their approach with what happened back when they drafted Rodgers in 2005. If it worked back then, why not again? Yet they do this while failing to invest enough resources in a Super Bowl window that is open now. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throw every penny and draft pick they have into giving Tom Brady help last year and he beats Green Bay to reach the Super Bowl. Where he then wins a seventh ring.
Yet Green Bay continues to expect Aaron Rodgers to just elevate everybody on the offense himself. No big-ticket free agents. No 1st round picks on offense. Yes, he has DeVante Adams and Adam Jones but clearly they weren’t enough to get past San Francisco in 2019 and the Buccaneers last season. Then the Packers go and draft a cornerback in the 1st round. So why should Rodgers be excited about playing for that organization again? One that won’t include him in their decisions, won’t invest major resources in him, and just got done drafting his eventual replacement?
Maybe he’s being selfish but honestly, it isn’t hard to see from his point of view.
It remains possible that Rodgers could still end up returning to Green Bay. The itch to set aside differences and make one more run at the Super Bowl is strong. At the same time, there is definitely bad blood between him and management. Now it sounds like his love for the game itself is being poked at too. Never a good sign for a player that age.