from Frank Schwab wit YAHOO Sports! and from www.yardbarker.com
We’ll have to wait for Aaron Rodgers’ full comments on what is happening with the Green Bay Packers.
It was known this week, when news came out that he doesn’t want to play for the Packers again, that he would be attending the Kentucky Derby. That was a chance for him to clear the air and confirm or deny some of the things that have been said about his falling out with Green Bay.
He wasn’t ready to do that, via Matt Hietpas of WBAY in Green Bay. Hietpas said Rodgers wouldn’t talk to NBC, other than some brief comments to Mike Tirico.
The idea that Rodgers was upset that the news broke about his rift with the team — which would insinuate that the Packers themselves leaked on draft day that perhaps the greatest player in team history was fed up with them and wanted out — is a bit dubious. And Rodgers loving Green Bay is not illuminating; the fans have been good to him.
We don’t know any more now than we knew before Rodgers hit Churchill Downs, and perhaps that’s by design.
Aaron Rodgers reportedly will consider retirement to leave Green Bay
from Sam Robinson with Pro Football Rumors and from www.yardbarker.com
While the actual players drafted generated the annual interest the event does, the Aaron Rodgers drama took over Thursday’s NFL headlines. It became known the reigning MVP no longer wants to play for the Packers, with last year’s scrutinized Jordan Love pick at the center of Rodgers’ disenchantment with the franchise.
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst subsequently issued multiple statements indicating the team will not trade its incumbent starter. The Packers are taking a year-to-year approach with Rodgers, but some type of extension discussions have occurred — even after Green Bay drafted Rodgers’ would-be heir apparent last year. Rodgers may now be ready to play another card.
The 37-year-old passer will threaten to retire, unless this situation is repaired considerably, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
One of the first guest hosts on “Jeopardy!” this year, Rodgers is among those vying to succeed Alex Trebek. While his two-week run as host was viewed as favorable, there will be several others in contention for the permanent gig. Rodgers previously hoped to land the “Jeopardy!” gig while continuing his career, and at the time of those comments, regular Green Bay-to-Los Angeles flights appeared to be in the QB’s future. Now, staying in Wisconsin is no longer in the three-time MVP’s plans.
Rodgers’ hopeful trade destinations became known shortly after his desire to leave Green Bay did. The 49ers, Broncos and Raiders appeared on said list. Some buzz about the Broncos moving forward with an effort to land Rodgers emerged on Twitter just ahead of the draft, but Rapoport adds the Rodgers-to-Denver talk was overblown. A few teams called the Packers, with the 49ers confirming as such, but Rapoport notes Green Bay shut down any such efforts.
This stalemate could venture into Carson Palmer-Bengals territory, which would be interesting considering David Dunn — Palmer’s agent at the time he staged a retirement in hopes of ending the Cincinnati portion of his career — also represents Rodgers. Palmer followed through on his retirement threat in 2011, stepping away from the team for several months after making it known he did not want to play a ninth season with the Bengals. The team ended up trading Palmer to the Raiders just ahead of that year’s deadline.
Although Rodgers’ $6.8M roster bonus — paid earlier this year — would be subject to forfeiture if he retires, per Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap, the future Hall of Famer has banked a considerable amount of money in his 16-year career. Both he and the Packers could dig in here, creating a lengthy stalemate.