Aaron Rodgers played the best season of his NFL career in 2020. Just shy of 4,300 yards passing. A 70.7 completion percentage with 48 touchdowns and five interceptions. The guy was unconscious all year long. The Green Bay Packers finished 13-3 for the second-straight season and hung 32 points on the best defense in the NFL for their playoff opener. All they had to do was take down the warm-weather Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lambeau Field and they’d go to the Super Bowl.
Plagued by missed opportunities, the Packers fell 31-26 despite a brilliant game from the 37-year old star. Rodgers wasn’t absent of some blame. He had a chance at a go-ahead TD with just over two minutes left. A lane was there in the red zone for him to run the ball in but he didn’t take it. Green Bay ended up settling for a field goal. A decision that will be hotly debated for months.
After the game though is where a little extra drama took place.
A stoic and dejected Rodgers spoke to the media. He answered the typical questions about what happened or what could’ve been done differently. The QB kept most of his answers routine. However, when the topic of his future came up? He had a few words that turned some head and undoubtedly got some in Green Bay a little nervous.
Aaron Rodgers: “A lot of guys futures, they’re uncertain, myself included.”
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) January 25, 2021
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Rodgers was asked post-game how do you go from here? "I don’t know, I really don’t. A lot of unknowns going into this offseason now. I am going to have to take some time away for sure and clear my head and see what is going on with everything, but it is pretty tough right now."
— Kalyn Kahler (@kalynkahler) January 25, 2021
Aaron Rodgers when asked if he could have convinced Matt LaFleur to go for a TD instead of a FG in the final minutes of the game:
"That decision was made and we moved on." pic.twitter.com/N9EirKVkim
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 25, 2021
After such a whirlwind season, it’s easy to forget how things started. Green Bay trading up to select Jordan Love in the 1st round of the draft. To many that started a timer for the Packers. One where they would likely move on from Rodgers sooner than later in order to pave the way for their new signal-caller. Would they dare move on from him after such a stellar season?
Aaron Rodgers likely isn’t going anywhere. Yet
Truth be told the Packers aren’t at that point yet. They still have time. Love doesn’t become a discussion until his third year. That is when his rookie contract will start being a factor. It’s a four-year deal and the team will need to start figuring out if they have their guy of the future or not. Besides, Rodgers is likely going to win his third MVP. Moving him now makes zero sense considering he is playing elite football.
One could argue trading him now when he’s playing that well might get them a strong return in picks but that is doubtful. Green Bay has to believe they’re close to getting over the hump. One more push could get them that elusive second ring for Aaron Rodgers. Then again with considerable salary cap problems this offseason, that will be a bigger challenge than people realize.
The Packers are running out of time.
Rodgers can’t be expected to be that ridiculously great again in 2021 as he was this year. He’ll still be really good but this felt like Green Bay’s best opportunity to reach the Super Bowl. They failed to cash in. Now those tough decisions they were able to put off are creeping up on them in the rearview mirror.