NEWSLETTER
Even in their attempts to show Aaron Rodgers how much they want him back, the Packers continue to find ways to make things continually weird and awkward while doing so.
For instance, President/CEO Mark Murphy recently said the Rodgers situation was dividing the Packers’ fanbase. And while that feels like one of those situations serve as a reminder time is a flat circle, what makes this even more squirmy is that Murphy did so while responding a question that doesn’t even ask about Rodgers in the first place. Heck, it’s technically not even a question. But that’s just one piece of the puzzle.
Because even though Murphy, who in the same post said the front office wants to making things right with Rodgers, found himself discussing Rodgers again days later. And once again, doing so in an odd fashion again:
Packers President Mark Murphy calls Aaron Rodgers a "complicated fella." https://t.co/vosq5yFTh8
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 12, 2021
While speaking at an event at Lambeau Field, Murphy channelled the late Ted Thompson — the former Packers GM who drafted Rodgers — to relay the following story: “I’m often reminded though … of Ted Thompson, as most of you know, just a great general manager, passed away (earlier this year). (Thompson) often talked about Aaron, that he’s a…and it wasn’t just Aaron, a lot of different players. He would say ‘He’s a complicated fella.’ … So, I’ll just say that.”
What in the wide world of word salad was that?
If Murphy has been trying to use his words to help calm the situation, I don’t think it’s helping. Referring to your quarterback as being divisive, then using someone else’s anecdote to call him “complicated” in the same week is a special brand of weird. It’s almost soap opera-like at this point in terms of ridiculousness. And frankly, I’m here for it.
Rodgers was officially a holdout from Packers camp this week. One Packers beat writer opines there’s only a 5 percent chance he returns to Green Bay. A national insider envisions the Packers falling apart if Rodgers plays elsewhere. And at some point, this figures to trickle down to his teammates. After all, we’re only a month removed from Davante Adams saying he would have to do “some extra thinking” about sticking around if Rodgers leaves.
What the next chapter of this story will bring is beyond me. But my popcorn is ready to see how this story continues to develop in strange and awkward ways.
