Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has had a rocky relationship with the management of his organization for a few years now, stemming back to the decision to spend a first-round draft pick on now-backup quarterback Jordan Love. Now, reports indicate that the Packers do not intend to go another season with Rodgers at the helm.
Bob McGinn, a beat writer who has reported on the Green Bay Packers since 1979, offered a report on the situation during an appearance on Tyler Dunne’s Go Long Pod. Following “discussions with someone who [has] first-hand knowledge,” McGinn said this about the tension between team and player:
“They are done with Rodgers. He’s not coming back. I mean, they’re disgusted with him, and they’re done with him. And they’re moving on.”
Rodgers has been in headlines frequently lately, as much has been made of a four-day retreat into darkness that the NFL MVP is taking to clear his mind and focus on what he wants to do next season. The half-week of light deprivation is meant to allow Rodgers to decide if he wants to play in the upcoming football season, and if so, for whom.
As rumors swirl, the same backup QB who drove a wrench into this relationship may be the final reason that it ends, according to Aaron Nagler. On Twitter, Nagler shared a quote from a recent article from Packers News, writing:
"At one point late last year, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst told an NFL colleague he was convinced it was time the organization move on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers and see what Jordan Love had in him." @TomSilverstein https://t.co/7lq1WDWfb6
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) February 18, 2023
‘”At one point late last year, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst told an NFL colleague he was convinced it was time the organization move on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers and see what Jordan Love had in him.” @TomSilverstein’
Following an appearance on the Pat McAfee show, Rodgers raised eyebrows by speaking about his ‘darkness retreat’ and what he hoped to achieve through the four days, as reported by Fox News:
“I think it’s going to be important to get through this week and then to take my isolation retreat and just to be able to contemplate,” Rodgers said. “All things, my future, and then make a decision I feel like is best for me moving forward and the highest interest of my happiness.
“I’ve had a number of friends who have done it and have had profound experiences. It’s something that’s been on my radar for a few years now, and I feel like it would be awesome to do regardless of where I was leaning after this season. It’s been on the calendar for months and months and months, and it’s coming up in a couple of days.”
During the same show, Rodgers seemed to be hinting at interest in joining the New York Jets, due to his love of offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hacket, saying:
“Love Hack. Hack is my guy. Love him and Megan and the kids. They’re really special to me. We really bonded when he was in Green Bay. He made it fun. He made the room fun. He made the weeks fun.”
Even though Rodgers wasn’t able to make a deep playoff run this year, he is still managing to keep the offseason entertaining, and for that, fans thank him.
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