The Chicago Bears have high hopes for their 2021 season. As always though, so much of this depends on their bitter rival Green Bay Packers. No team has guarded the bridge to the playoffs more than them. Largely because they always have the advantage at the quarterback position. Much to the shock of many across the NFL, that could be in danger of changing with the Aaron Rodgers fiasco.
It is common knowledge at this point that the reigning league MVP is not happy with the Packers. Specifically their GM Brian Gutekunst. Somebody Rodgers believes is trying to hasten the process of pushing him out of Green Bay. Most notably by drafting Jordan Love in the 1st round last year. This rift has reached a point where the future Hall of Famer is threatening not to show up. Some find it hard to believe he’s serious. Based on the words of insider Peter King of NBC Sports? It doesn’t sound like it’s getting better.
I don’t know if he and the Packers will make peace. He seems dug in to not play in Green Bay, but today is May 24. A lot can change in 111 days. That’s how far away the season-opener at New Orleans is. With most players, I’d think, They’ll get over it. It’ll get fixed. Not so sure with Rodgers. He’s strong-willed, to put it mildly, and when he decides to do something, that’s usually it.
As of right now, only three resolutions appear in play.
If the Packers wish to bring Rodgers back in, they most likely would have to fire Gutekunst as GM. That seems unlikely after two straight NFC championship appearances. They could trade the quarterback for a healthy return but all signs point to them not considering that course of action. Finally, Rodgers could consider outright retirement. Something King believes is possible.
But there are a few tributaries here. Like: What if the Packers withhold the remaining $23 million of his 2018 signing bonus, and come after the $6.8-million roster bonus he was paid in the spring, and what would Rodgers do about the $2-million collective fine for missing all of training camp that cannot be waived? What if he gets the opportunity to host his beloved “Jeopardy!”? Would he just skip the year and come back—somewhere—in 2022? Impossible to know now.
More than anything, the silence is telling a lot. If the Rodgers situation were truly overblown, one would imagine whispers would’ve emerged by now. They haven’t. Even more interesting is the steps Green Bay has taken since the draft. Signing not one but two quarterbacks in Blake Bortles and Kurt Benkert. That sends a clear message the Packers aren’t certain Rodgers will show up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGwwFgRytjY
Aaron Rodgers exit opens the door wide for the Bears
Chicago hasn’t beaten the Packers since 2018. Rodgers is the primary reason for that. He’s been the reason they have rarely beaten Green Bay for 12 years. Looking ahead to 2021, there was no evidence to suggest this would change. The Packers had come mere minutes from the Super Bowl last season. A slight weakening of the Bears’ defense and their continued QB questions made it easy to predict another lopsided rivalry.
That would change almost instantly if Aaron Rodgers exited the picture. Green Bay’s success has hinged on their quarterback play for a long time. They don’t exactly have an elite defense to compensate for such a loss. Especially when their alternatives are Love or Bortles. Without Rodgers to mask all of their flaws, it feels likely the Packers would fall back into the rest of the pack. That would give the Bears a glorious opportunity to win the division.
Will Rodgers change his mind?
It’s possible. The pull of the game always hits right around the end of summer. If his love for it remains strong, he could easily decide to set aside the differences with team brass and make one more run at that elusive second ring. Given the Bears’ luck? It wouldn’t be a shock. Still, the way things are looking now there is room for hope.