NEWSLETTER
Well, there you have it. Aaron Rodgers has finally broken his silence. But, as many expected, the quarterback who has made it clear that he doesn’t care for mainstream media saved his big decision for the Pat McAfee show.
Rodgers said that he decided last Friday and wants to play for the New York Jets in 2023. Rodgers also said the hold-up is on the Packers and what they want to get from the Jets as compensation.
Now that that’s out of the way, we’ve got some things to discuss.
What’s next?
Well, the Packers have to trade him.
Rodgers made it clear that when he came out of the darkness retreat, he wanted to play again — despite saying that he entered the retreat 90 percent sure he wanted to retire — it was clear that the Packers no longer wanted him.
Rodgers said, “in 2020, the Packers drafted Jordan [Love] to replace me.” on the Pat McAfee show today. Rodgers admitted that they didn’t draft Love to replace him immediately, but eventually, that was the intention.
After the darkness retreat, Rodgers saw the writing on the wall that the time was now. So, he decided it was time to move on from Green Bay.
Now the Jets and Packers have to agree on a trade for Rodgers. Rodgers said today that the hold-up on him being a Jet was on the Packers (and Jets) hammering out what compensation will look like.
We don’t know what that looks like, but I’m sure we will find out soon.
Rodgers also called the claim that he sent the Jets a shopping list “ridiculous.” In addition, Rodgers said that he told Adam Shefter, “lose my number, nice try,” when Schefter tried to confirm the Dianna Russini report.
So, Rodgers wants to be a Jets, the two sides are working, and Rodgers never gave the Jets a shopping list for free agency. So, that’s where we’re at.
How are we feeling?
A lot is going on here.
On the one hand, I’m relieved that Rodgers has decided. One way or another, he made a decision, and we can begin to talk about the football aspect. There’s the bonus that he won’t be in the NFC North anymore. That’s great too.
Still, on the other hand–I hate it. I know I’ve done my fair share of belly-aching about spending a significant amount of energy on Rodgers and his circus act. But I feel like this was about to get good for Bears fans.
The guy who “owns” the Bears was about to go into foreclosure on that property. The Packers aren’t in a great spot. Allen Lazard is now gone. Rodgers is another year older. But most importantly, Justin Fields and the Bears are on the rise.
2023 feels like the year that Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will no longer be able to cash those checks that he’s been writing with his mouth. It would have been so sweet to see the Bears slap him around a couple of times before he hung ’em up.
Going to the Jets feels like a cop-out. And, instead of hating the Packers and Rodgers, the Jets get lumped into that NFL hatred bucket for many Bears fans. The Jets were a fun story for much of last season. But, this season, they’ll be the Packers east.
It all just feels like Rodgers is taking (and getting) the easy way out. The Packers sold their soul to him and did everything he wanted. They should have to watch that all blow up together.
That’s not the way the cookie crumbled here. So, we move on, and so do Rodgers and the Packers from each other.
