Sources make it clear that nothing has changed in the Packers/Rodgers stalemate. Nothing, that is, other than the fact training camp is rapidly approaching. Players in Green Bay need direction ASAP.
First, we need to get you to Green Bay this fall and do an in-person hangout.
Second, I think the Packers are wise to let the clock run and make him make the decision. Rodgers has leverage given he is the league MVP but the only reason the Packers are in this position is that they have back ups and possibly the heir apparent. I am not mad at Rodgers. I think the Packers are far better with him. I also am a fan of the Packers first and while I think the franchise has not won as many Super Bowls over the last 30 years that they maybe should have, the franchise is rarely out of contention and given the talent around the QB, I think the team will be OK.
Humans hate uncertainty - we would rather have certainty that is less pleasant as opposed to uncertainty at all - but in this case I think the coachspeak kicks in: Focus on the players that are here as that's what you can control. My advice to the anonymous (and rightly frustrated) Packer player would be: Love is your QB1 until further notice. That's all you can do.
And I keep thinking: Rodgers' health last year was an anomaly. We could go through all kinds of gyrations and have Rodgers injure his knee early in game one and be done for the season (or career?). It happened against the Bears a few seasons ago. No single player, even the MVP, is worth more than the team. NFL = Not For Long
The thing that still makes no sense is what is Rodger's actual end game here? He's made statements implying he thinks he has leverage from winning the MVP but leverage for WHAT? He still has not come out and stated he wants a trade, and if thats what he wants - the ship has sailed for 2021 and he knows that. He's not going to retire, he's not going to sit out - he wants to maximize the his golden years the best he can. So what is he wanting that he isn't getting? The more his surrogates speak out, the worse he looks. All of the reporting about his "gripes" with the team continue to look more and more thin, it seems as if this whole situation is 100% him making the FO squirm and feel shitty in revenge for making him feel that way last spring. Thats it.
I agree with the veteran who said the Packers need to act definitively. To hell with the public fawning over Rodgers. He's a great player, but it's time to move on.
TD, another question - when you talk to GMs or personnel guys, do you get the sense that some GMs, after seeing how Rodgers has behaved towards McCarthy, towards Gutekunst, etc., would be reluctant to bring him into the org? From my position, I can tell you that I've brought highly-regarded subject matter experts into my org who had reputations for malcontent-ish behavior, and it quickly became a situation where it was better for the culture to manage those professionals professionally out of the business. Wondering if GMs are also treading with caution? If so, that would make Las Vegas, not Denver, the ideal trading partner because Mayock & Gruden need a win, and they're both arrogant enough to overpay & think they can fix the culture issues.
One more question - We've seen more "Page Six" stuff on Rodgers this offseason than workouts, training, etc. - is he still taking the same offseason approach as in years past?
Finally, a couple of additional points. If Rodgers is done in Green Bay, the Packers should explore trade packages for Davante Adams. If they determine he's unlikely to re-sign in GB, they can get more for him now (by far) than the third-round compensatory pick they'd pick up in 2023.
As great as David Bakhtiari is, I'd probably have the same conversation, quietly, with his agent. As close as he is to Rodgers, coming off an ACL and heading soon into the twilight of his career, what's his trade value? At least a D1, maybe more. The Packers could potentially pick up two additional first-round picks, along with additional day two & three picks, while keeping the high-upside/ascending players to build around Love.
This won't be popular with the fans, but fans also have short memories. At this point, it's about positioning the team for long-term success with a new, ascending QB - and getting out of salary cap jail—one step back, three steps forward.
Great article per usual. It’s gonna be a long couple months as Packers fans, as I foresee this game of chicken going into training camp.
I’d be curious to hear opinions (including Steve Calhoun’s) as to whether it would be better for Love to:
1. Start in 2021 with a great supporting cast and team around him or
2. Spend 2021 developing as the backup to Aaron, become the starter in 2022, but do it with (what will likely be) less talent around him due to cap casualties.
With Option 1, he may not be ready to start this year, but having a strong team around him could buoy his confidence and make strides. However in year 2, we could see what looks like a regression, as the Packers release players to get under the cap.
With Option 2, he gets another year of seasoning and (hopefully) some mop up duty in regular season games. His first year starting in 2022 could be rough, and an already challenging situation for him could become worse.
I feel that we've all been in situations similar to Rodgers. You feel that you've been wronged or disrespected in same way or another and become hell bent on getting what you want. As unfortunate as it may be, time goes on and with it, you start to look like the one overreacting for being stubborn and not forgiving. You detailed what this looks like in Rodger's situation. Eventually teammates are going to wonder if he genuinely wants to be back, or if he's just sticking it to the FO. QB being the most important position, I don't see how the team effectively practices with new plays & formations if their No.1 is out the entire offseason.
I'm in agreement that Gute isn't going anywhere and I highly doubt GB is willing to sign Rodgers to a long-term deal given the capital they used to acquire their future No.1. I honestly don't care what happens at this point. I'm excited to see Love take over the reigns even if there are significant growing pains. The team won't achieve as much as they could've with Rodgers this year but there will likely be massive disruption to the roster next year anyway. If some Peter King type deal is made where Rodgers commits to playing if the team promises to trade him next year, I like that too. The only scenario I hate is trying to undo a sunk cost by extending Rodgers and pulling a plug on Love.
First, we need to get you to Green Bay this fall and do an in-person hangout.
Second, I think the Packers are wise to let the clock run and make him make the decision. Rodgers has leverage given he is the league MVP but the only reason the Packers are in this position is that they have back ups and possibly the heir apparent. I am not mad at Rodgers. I think the Packers are far better with him. I also am a fan of the Packers first and while I think the franchise has not won as many Super Bowls over the last 30 years that they maybe should have, the franchise is rarely out of contention and given the talent around the QB, I think the team will be OK.
Humans hate uncertainty - we would rather have certainty that is less pleasant as opposed to uncertainty at all - but in this case I think the coachspeak kicks in: Focus on the players that are here as that's what you can control. My advice to the anonymous (and rightly frustrated) Packer player would be: Love is your QB1 until further notice. That's all you can do.
And I keep thinking: Rodgers' health last year was an anomaly. We could go through all kinds of gyrations and have Rodgers injure his knee early in game one and be done for the season (or career?). It happened against the Bears a few seasons ago. No single player, even the MVP, is worth more than the team. NFL = Not For Long
The thing that still makes no sense is what is Rodger's actual end game here? He's made statements implying he thinks he has leverage from winning the MVP but leverage for WHAT? He still has not come out and stated he wants a trade, and if thats what he wants - the ship has sailed for 2021 and he knows that. He's not going to retire, he's not going to sit out - he wants to maximize the his golden years the best he can. So what is he wanting that he isn't getting? The more his surrogates speak out, the worse he looks. All of the reporting about his "gripes" with the team continue to look more and more thin, it seems as if this whole situation is 100% him making the FO squirm and feel shitty in revenge for making him feel that way last spring. Thats it.
I agree with the veteran who said the Packers need to act definitively. To hell with the public fawning over Rodgers. He's a great player, but it's time to move on.
TD, another question - when you talk to GMs or personnel guys, do you get the sense that some GMs, after seeing how Rodgers has behaved towards McCarthy, towards Gutekunst, etc., would be reluctant to bring him into the org? From my position, I can tell you that I've brought highly-regarded subject matter experts into my org who had reputations for malcontent-ish behavior, and it quickly became a situation where it was better for the culture to manage those professionals professionally out of the business. Wondering if GMs are also treading with caution? If so, that would make Las Vegas, not Denver, the ideal trading partner because Mayock & Gruden need a win, and they're both arrogant enough to overpay & think they can fix the culture issues.
One more question - We've seen more "Page Six" stuff on Rodgers this offseason than workouts, training, etc. - is he still taking the same offseason approach as in years past?
Finally, a couple of additional points. If Rodgers is done in Green Bay, the Packers should explore trade packages for Davante Adams. If they determine he's unlikely to re-sign in GB, they can get more for him now (by far) than the third-round compensatory pick they'd pick up in 2023.
As great as David Bakhtiari is, I'd probably have the same conversation, quietly, with his agent. As close as he is to Rodgers, coming off an ACL and heading soon into the twilight of his career, what's his trade value? At least a D1, maybe more. The Packers could potentially pick up two additional first-round picks, along with additional day two & three picks, while keeping the high-upside/ascending players to build around Love.
This won't be popular with the fans, but fans also have short memories. At this point, it's about positioning the team for long-term success with a new, ascending QB - and getting out of salary cap jail—one step back, three steps forward.
Great article per usual. It’s gonna be a long couple months as Packers fans, as I foresee this game of chicken going into training camp.
I’d be curious to hear opinions (including Steve Calhoun’s) as to whether it would be better for Love to:
1. Start in 2021 with a great supporting cast and team around him or
2. Spend 2021 developing as the backup to Aaron, become the starter in 2022, but do it with (what will likely be) less talent around him due to cap casualties.
With Option 1, he may not be ready to start this year, but having a strong team around him could buoy his confidence and make strides. However in year 2, we could see what looks like a regression, as the Packers release players to get under the cap.
With Option 2, he gets another year of seasoning and (hopefully) some mop up duty in regular season games. His first year starting in 2022 could be rough, and an already challenging situation for him could become worse.
I feel that we've all been in situations similar to Rodgers. You feel that you've been wronged or disrespected in same way or another and become hell bent on getting what you want. As unfortunate as it may be, time goes on and with it, you start to look like the one overreacting for being stubborn and not forgiving. You detailed what this looks like in Rodger's situation. Eventually teammates are going to wonder if he genuinely wants to be back, or if he's just sticking it to the FO. QB being the most important position, I don't see how the team effectively practices with new plays & formations if their No.1 is out the entire offseason.
I'm in agreement that Gute isn't going anywhere and I highly doubt GB is willing to sign Rodgers to a long-term deal given the capital they used to acquire their future No.1. I honestly don't care what happens at this point. I'm excited to see Love take over the reigns even if there are significant growing pains. The team won't achieve as much as they could've with Rodgers this year but there will likely be massive disruption to the roster next year anyway. If some Peter King type deal is made where Rodgers commits to playing if the team promises to trade him next year, I like that too. The only scenario I hate is trying to undo a sunk cost by extending Rodgers and pulling a plug on Love.