It’s been quiet on the Aaron Rodgers front for a while now. Almost too quiet. The Packers and Jets are still working on a trade for Rodgers, which might only happen on draft night. Or, perhaps even further out. Maybe not at all?
- That’s a third option suggested by Green Bay Packers offensive lineman David Bakhtiari on Tuesday’s Bussin’ With the Boys episode with Taylor Lewan and Will Compton. Rodgers’ long-time teammate said that the Packers are rebuilding and could keep Rodgers and pay him not to play in 2023 if the Jets don’t meet their demands in a trade.
- Here’s the full quote from Bakhtiari:
โThe Packers are rebuilding, whether you think so or not,โ tackle David Bakhtiari sad. โCould they be good? I donโt know. Could they be bad? Probably if youโre betting more people are gonna think theyโre gonna be bad than good, right? Isnโt that fair to say? So then theyโll be like, โWell, weโre gonna suck anyways. We want what we want, and weโre not gonna bend to anyone. So weโll just eat it. . . . Weโll pay you, we donโt care. If weโre gonna do it our way, itโs gonna be on our terms. If not, what are we gonna be, Super Bowl contenders anyway? So weโll eat it, you can hang on the side. Weโll pay you your money, and then weโll suck anyways, get the picks, as compared to dealing him for something that you shouldnโt have.โ
- Do I think the Packers would do that? No. Is it inconceivable? Also, no. It’s a very valid point by Bakhtiari. One that highlights just how much leverage the Packers have in these negotiations. Aaron Rodgers gave them that leverage when he took to the airwaves last month to declare that he wanted to play for the New York Jets next season and said his goodbyes to Packers fans.
- So, as he did to the Packers for years, Aaron Rodgers has already put his potential new team in an unreasonably challenging position by doing things his way. But at this point, the Jets can’t have Bakhtiari’s third option come to fruition. They have a defense ready to win and have spent money on the other side of the ball in free agency. They also watched the QB market pass them by while placing their eggs in the Rodgers basket. The Jets have to get this deal done and compete in 2023, or this has all been a massive swing and miss by their front office and ownership.
- You can listen to Bakhtiari’s comments here:
- The Denver Broncos’ offseason program began on Tuesday, and quarterback Russell Wilson was among the first in the building. According to 9News in Denver, Wilson arrived at the Broncos facility before the sun rose and reported to get his 12th NFL season underway.
- Wilson and the Broncos are looking to forget a dreadful 2022 season that featured a shell of the QB that the Broncos traded for and extended just a year ago, a rookie head coach falling on the sword after just 15 games, and a sideline blowup during an embarrassing Christmas Day loss to the Rams.
- Suppose new head coach Sean Payton is going to have any shot at turning this thing around. In that case, it’s going to require Wilson to show a dedication greater than he did last season in Denver or even in his final seasons in Seattle, in which he reportedly went after the jobs of GM John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll.
- According to ESPN, Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Devin White has requested a trade. White is coming off a 2022 campaign where he compiled 124 total tackles and 5 1/2 sacks. He also added two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
- The Buccaneers selected White with the No. 5 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. White has been an impact starter since he arrived in Tampa Bay. He racked up nine sacks and 140 tackles in 2020 when the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is set to make $11.7 million in 2023.
- While it sounds like Tampa Bay doesn’t intend to trade White, they would be foolish not to listen to offers. Likewise, teams searching for a dominant middle linebacker should be on the phone with Tampa.
- This is pretty cool! I grew up blocks from Comiskey Park (yes, it was Comiskey 2.0 then) and fondly remember listening to the crowd reactions and fireworks after home runs through my bedroom window at night.
- Well, this complicated things a bit …