The Green Bay Packers undoubtedly felt there was plenty of room for optimism back in January. Though they’d lost the NFC championship, it was fair to think the team still had a clear window to reach a Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers had just delivered the best season of his career. Their defense had seen its best improvement in 10 years. They had a good offensive line and weapons. This was a team loaded for another run.

They probably long for those days now. Rodgers kicked off an incredible domino effect in April when it was announced he wouldn’t be returning to the organization citing differences with Packers management. Specifically GM Brian Gutekunst and team president Mark Murphy. Green Bay tried to make good by offering him a contract extension. One that would make the 37-year old QB the highest-paid player in the NFL.

Rodgers declined.

That was when everybody realized that this was way more serious than people thought. The quarterback is dug in and it appears nothing short of purging the entire front office might change his mind. Something the Packers won’t do. So that leaves two options. Either trade the reigning MVP of the league or dare him to retire. Based on what Las Vegas sportsbooks are telling Bill Huber of Fan Nation? It is going to be the latter.

“Las Vegas sportsbooks are preparing for Aaron Rodgers to retire and not return to the Green Bay Packers.

Because of the importance of the reigning NFL MVP, Westgate SuperBook recently closed all its NFC North markets, including projected wins, playoff odds, divisional odds and weekly lines for the four division teams, one oddsmaker at the sportsbook said via a Twitter direct message.

Two other sportsbooks contacted after that initial message said the expectation is Rodgers is going to announce his retirement sometime before the first practice on Wednesday.”

Does this mean Rodgers is willing to walk away from the game? No. The belief instead is he’s merely going to sit out until the Packers eventually cave and trade him. This is a similar situation to what Carson Palmer did several years ago when he had a falling out with the Cincinnati Bengals. He “retired” in 2011 and stayed away from the team. Then midway through the season, they sent him to Oakland. It probably isn’t a coincidence that Rodgers may take the same approach. He has the same agent Palmer did back then.

Aaron Rodgers is acting like a man with a plan

It seems as if this is something he’s been preparing for going back several months. Perhaps even as far as the spring of 2020. That of course was when the Packers set an ending date for him in Green Bay by drafting Jordan Love in the 1st round. While he had nothing against the kid personally, that decision seemed to be the final straw for the future Hall of Famer. Even as he prepared for the upcoming season, he may have been planning his exit strategy.

Nobody knows for sure what Aaron Rodgers will actually do. Yet the warning signs up to this point aren’t great for the Packers. He’s missed OTAs and minicamps. Every credible insider has said he isn’t happy there and wants out. His best wide receiver broke off contract talks with the team. Perhaps a clear indication of how little confidence he has that his quarterback will return.

None of it looks good.

Rodgers doesn’t need the money. His personality has always suggested somebody who holds grudges whenever he feels slighted. It’s a big part of what has made him an incredible quarterback. The problem is the Packers made the incorrect assumption he’d just shut up and keep playing until they say he’s done. That mistake could haunt them for a long time.