NEWSLETTER
It’s a saga that has been baking for 88 days. But what’s done is done.
Aaron Rodgers’ future with the Green Bay Packers, once clear as mud, finally has some clarity:
The new agreement, once finalized, would help set up Aaron Rodgers’ departure from Green Bay after this season, per sources. https://t.co/NojVojcHjy
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 26, 2021
*The Packers would agree to review Aaron Rodgers' situation at the end of this season, per sources. https://t.co/Ku9X9k9lXP
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 26, 2021
*Aaron Rodgers’ contract would be adjusted with no loss of income this year to give the Packers more cap room now.
•Mechanisms will be put in place to address Rodgers’ issues with the team. https://t.co/Ku9X9k9lXP
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 26, 2021
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Packers have made concessions to Rodgers in an attempt to get him back fully in the fold for at least one more season. This news comes on the heels of this morning’s report from NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, who shared that Rodgers was telling folks close to him that he was gearing up to play for the Packers this year. After that? Well, that will be determined at some point down the line.
The new agreement boils down to this:
(1) Green Bay is voiding the 2023 season on Rodgers’ deal a.k.a. the final year of his current contract
(2) The end of this deal comes with the caveat of allowing no Franchise Tags in the future
(3) Rodgers and management will meet at year’s end to discuss his future
Essentially, what this does is allow Rodgers to play out 2021 like it was the cheesedoodle version of The Last Dance. But it also provides Rodgers an opportunity to weigh in on how things go moving forward. In other words, think about how Tom Brady has it working in Tampa. If his assessment is the same then as it is now, then coming to this agreement allows Rodgers to carve is own path out of town while not leaving everyone else in the dark. In the end, everyone in the land of cheese wins. Packers get their QB back. Rodgers gets his potential for a storybook ending. And an out for a new destination, should he decide to take it. Perhaps, most importantly, NFC North fans can start counting down the days until Jordan Love takes over. Even if the wait will take us to the 2022 season.
Not bad, considering Schefter reports Rodgers’ original plan was to sit out training camp and the regular season to prove his point.
This has always felt like a power play from a player who saw the Brett Favre situation and didn’t want to repeat it in full. And, hey, the player won. So, if all this means Rodgers’ days in Green Bay are dwindling, then by all means, start the countdown clock. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to Week 14 in Green Bay. Bears. Packers. Sunday Night Football. Lambeau Field. We’ve already seen the Bears spit in the face of being treated like a homecoming game by the Packers. Remember when they beat Green Bay to ruin Brett Favre’s retirement ceremony in 2015? I can only speak for myself. But I doubt I’m alone in wanting to see history repeat itself. But this time, with Justin Fields under center.
