Podcast: The GM perspective on the Aaron Rodgers/Packers standoff
Former NFL general manager Doug Whaley joins the podcast.
Three years ago, Doug Whaley interviewed for the Green Bay Packers’ general manager job.
The team of course promoted from within with Brian Gutekunst and, now, Gutekunst is in an all-time standoff with quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers does not want to play for the Packers… the Packers have maintained that they will not trade him… so here we are. This could all linger on for weeks. Maybe months. We’ve heard plenty from those around Rodgers’ camp, but what about Gutekunst? The Packers couldn’t care less about messaging and the public narrative right now but there is a GM perspective to consider through this all.
This week, we heard from the man who started this Packer Way: Hall of Famer Ron Wolf.
And on the Go Long Podcast linked below, Whaley offers his unique perspective.
Better communication might’ve helped but we keep coming back to one common theme: What is Aaron Rodgers so afraid of?
Also on this episode, Whaley relives the team’s decision to cut fan favorite Fred Jackson. I don’t think our Bills and Packers readers here will want to miss this episode…
Fascinating podcast. It's so interesting to listen to people who used to work in the front office about decision-making and talent evaluation. Sure adds a lot of perspective for us armchair GMs.
They talked a lot about the lack of communication between Gutekunst and Rodgers before the pick of Love. But nobody really acknowledged that Gutekunst has already said publicly he could have handled the communication better. I personally think he deserves a little credit for that. Not that I expect Rodgers to forgive and forget, but it does show Gutekunst is aware and likely willing to learn from it. Nobody on the podcast thought it would have really changed anything anyway.
Again, good stuff and keep the podcasts coming!