Will Aaron Rodgers continue playing for Green Bay Packers?
Although the Green Bay Packers aren’t even considering an exchange for Aaron Rodgers, the current NFL MVP appears to have made his mind on the saga. Aaron Rodgers, who requested the Packers to trade him, is reportedly upset with the franchise’s front office and general manager Brian Gutekunst for the team’s refusal to stick to him long-term.
According to NFL Network, in regard to the contract offered from Green Bay’s end, Rodgers has one key priority; “guarantee”.
Understandably, Aaron Rodgers wants a contract promise that he will be the team’s starting quarterback in the near future. Now as it stands, a drama that began with Jordan Love’s selection could lead to a nasty split between the two sides.
“This year Rodgers will play for the Packers”
ESPN’s “First Take” arranged a debate on whether it’s time for Rodgers to pack and leave the Packers. During the talk show, former San Francisco 49ers safety Louis Riddick explained why he thinks Aaron might leave the Green Bay franchise at the end of the season.
Riddick said, “I don’t think Aaron Rodgers finishes his career with the Green Bay Packers. I think he’s going to, I think this year I think he plays for Green Bay, I think they’ll figure out a way in order to appease him monetarily in order for them to maybe get one more year out of it. But I don’t think I’d look at the plan and it was okay. I’m okay with the plan that they had as far as drafting his successor and planning for the future. That’s what Brian Gutekunst is supposed to do. That’s what every general manager is supposed to do. So I never had an issue with that plan.
He continued, “It’s just the manner in which the plan was carried out. And as soon as you lose awareness as a front office executive and as a principal decision-maker, as soon as you lose awareness as to the power that players have and the leverage that they have to demand different treatment then there’s quicker you are going to be on the street and/or occupying a lower-level position in a front office again. Because you’re going to kind of lose control of your football team and lose sight of what’s really important in terms of team building and that is as Mike Holmgren alluded to making sure… making sure that your superstars are happy. And that’s the mistake that they made.”
“Plan for the future”
“The mistake was not drafting Jordan Love. The mistake is not telling your Hall of Fame quarterback that this is what the plan is. You understand how this business works. It worked for you that way when we drafted you and Brett (Favre) was still here. We’re giving you the respect of letting you know that ‘look we’re not trying to ship you out the door right now but we have to plan for the future’”, the former safety concluded.
What awaits for the reigning MVP?
Amidst all this noise, the Packers confirmed that no substantive trade negotiations related to their incumbent quarterback have taken place with any team. They have made it clear that they want Rodgers to stay with them for the long haul.
Meanwhile, club GM Gutekunst recently said in an interview that the franchise is “resolute” to have Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback. The 37-year old QB has been a member of the Green Bay Packers since 2005. Now, it remains to be seen how long he decides to stay there.