Cory's Corner: It's Up To Aaron Rodgers
The franchise leader in passing touchdowns is torn on what he's going to do.
The ball is in Aaron Rodgers’ court. The ball has been in Rodgers’ court.
The Packers quarterback has held all of the leverage in this whole situation.
On Sunday, we found out from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that the Packers have made a push with a “significant offer.”
The Packers have said time and again that they want the four-time MVP back in Green Bay. And now the Packers have upped the ante by making a large offer for a quarterback that turns 39 on Dec. 2.
Rodgers officiated the wedding of his good buddy and Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari over the weekend. Rodgers gets along swimmingly with head coach Matt LaFleur and Green Bay recently brought Tom Clements, one of Rodgers’ favorite coaches of his entire career, out of retirement to come and be the Packers quarterbacks coach.
The proverbial stars are aligned.
Yet, Rodgers is still torn.
That doesn’t make any sense to me. But don’t try and figure out Rodgers because he’s always been a complicated fella. But, why wouldn’t you want to come back to a place that is comfortable where you’re surrounded by friends? As opposed to leaving and going to someplace new and trying to cram a new system and forging new friendships?=
Is Rodgers still upset about the Packers trading up to take Jordan Love in the 2020 NFL Draft? Probably. But the Packers have gone to great lengths to smooth things over starting with the last offseason into this regular season and even the remarks at the NFL Scouting Combine, which centered on respect and patience from Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst and LaFleur.
The Packers know that if they were to trade a back-to-back MVP, that would be a public relations nightmare. Not to mention, future veterans would likely say no to Green Bay as a free agent spot if they see Rodgers get moved.
The only other scenario that isn’t really being talked about is if Rodgers really wants to keep playing. He mentioned during the season that he would like to start a family and maybe he’s concerned about his long-term health.
If that’s the case, that’s a legitimate worry. We all know how violent football is and all it takes is one 290-pound defensive lineman to roll up on a knee and you could potentially be walking differently, or not walking at all, for the rest of your life.
Today is the day that I thought that Rodgers would ultimately decide. It’s the day that the Packers must decide if they will tag Davante Adams. I was originally against tagging Adams, but if tagging Adams means guaranteeing Rodgers a green No. 12 jersey — go ahead and tag away.
This whole thing has been maddeningly confusing. The speculation has been as lively as an early season hurricane, yet nobody really knows which way Rodgers is going to go.
Rodgers stated last year that he wants to be in control more. He wants to make more decisions and he wants a say in how this team conducts on-field business.
So what’s it going to be Aaron Charles Rodgers? Are you coming back to Green Bay for an 18th season? What say you?
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
__________________________
Comments (62)
NickPerry
March 08, 2022 at 06:38 am
"The Packers know that if they were to trade a back-to-back MVP, that would be a public relations nightmare."
Why Cory? The Packers have bent over bent over backwards to please Rodgers. They've offered to make him the highest paid player in the NFL. They've given him ALL THE TIME one would want to make a decision, even though Rodgers said it would be a quick one. They've screwed up the salary cap for years, and are willing to screw it up some more. ALL they've talked about is RESPECTING Aaron Rodgers while giving him all the time he needs, even though the Packers NEED to make some pretty important decisions.
Seems to me it's been pretty ONE SIDED so far and Rodgers looks like the ass here.
"He mentioned during the season that he would like to start a family and maybe he’s concerned about his long-term health."
Judging by his "Tweet" a week or two ago, it sounded to me like Rodgers was dumped by Miss Woodley. This dude can't keep a women, maybe because he's a complicated fella, or maybe she just got to know him and she didn't like what she saw. I mean, he RARELY has teammates saying positive things about Aaron Rodgers the PERSON, only about Rodgers the QB. Hey, he's great, one of the best ever. But IMO, and it's MY OPINION, the dude is a selfish, egomaniac who cares about ONE thing...SELF!
I wish him well, I really do but I'm done. I want to look to the future, get whatever we can for him, and HOPE Jordan Love can be a Top 10 QB, because I think with a few more pieces, this team is good enough to compete with a top 10 QB.
Make the trade Gute, I for one HAVE YOUR BACK and honestly believe you'll build us a winner.
Rossonero
March 08, 2022 at 06:57 am
Amen. I've been done for a while. It's just time to move on. Who cares about a PR backlash? Anyone who's old enough to remember the Favre drama knows that it's painful at first, but long-term, it was the right move for the franchise.
What's puzzling is the Packers taking such a short-term view of the franchise now it seems. Rodgers has too much power....can you imagine what this front office would've done with Favre? Rodgers may never have gotten a chance to be a full-time starter. People are judging Love off a one game sample size vs. the Chiefs....which is way too small. It's too early to throw the towel in on him, but by extending Rodgers, they basically are doing just that.
stockholder
March 08, 2022 at 06:59 am
Another personal attack. Just stop. This has nothing to do with his Love life. The situation in GB is about money.
marpag1
March 08, 2022 at 08:13 am
I agree with you, Nick, that I probably wouldn't be buddy-buddy with ARod in real life. But who cares? This is not real life. This is football, and I don't care if he's a nice guy.
It's business. And to my mind, I like the potential return of trading the 39 year old, together with his onerous, unmanageable and burdensome cap hit, more than I like keeping him on the roster.
NickPerry
March 08, 2022 at 03:21 pm
Me too... Right now I'm thinking about EVERYTHING the Seachickens just got for Russell Wilson. Maybe the Packers don't get quite that much, but it would have damn close.
Leatherhead
March 08, 2022 at 08:55 am
Nick, that was the correct question. “Why?”
I’m a guy who wants people all in, all the way. I want everybody working together towards a common goal. How can we expect Rodgers to lead this team on the field?
Make the trade, Gute.
Coldworld
March 08, 2022 at 09:12 am
The public relations nightmare would be if we keep him and the Packers don’t win out and it starts to dawn on more people just how much pain keeping him has invited for the future.
It’s interesting looking at general football blogs that the national public in fact seems pretty unsympathetic to Rodgers. While the reasons may be unfair in part and even wholly fictitious, the idea that this is nonsensical in the public mindset seems far fetched.
Moreover, such moves by aging QBs are more common than the alternative. There is a whole lot of chaff being thrown about that seems idle fancy at best.
crayzpackfan
March 08, 2022 at 09:56 am
I guess Rodgers has found himself in a relationship with someone who actually won’t dump him. Her name is the Green Bay Packers.
marpag1
March 08, 2022 at 06:47 am
Same old, same old. Next.
PatrickGB
March 08, 2022 at 08:58 am
I thought it would be over by now.
stockholder
March 08, 2022 at 06:50 am
I want Rodgers back. But the Packers Franchise must come first. The Bang for the Buck is Gone. The situation is BIZARRE! Rodgers has a contract. Love is waiting. Adams shouldn't be franchised.
PeteK
March 08, 2022 at 07:51 am
Yes, the team comes first. I just don't see the team having a chance at a championship either way, so let's start over with some draft picks and a much better cap situation.
Coldworld
March 08, 2022 at 09:46 am
All things come to an end. The biggest danger is not having the fortitude to face up to that until too late and the franchise is hamstrung.
Savage57
March 08, 2022 at 06:51 am
Why go someplace else? To escape his legacy.
The stakes to remain in Green Bay are too big. If he stays, makes it to another NFCCG and fouls the bed again, I'm not sure his ego could handle it.
jurp
March 08, 2022 at 09:04 am
When He shits the bed in the playoffs yet again, for whatever team He decides to grace with His Presence, He'll once again blame everyone but Himself. I believe that He is incapable of taking responsibility for His negative actions.
Bure9620
March 08, 2022 at 07:02 am
It's up to him because Gute and MLF let it be up to him. This will not be good for the franchise.....there will be more bullshit from him this season, they exit the playoffs early, rinse repeat and this crap all over again. "Rodgers needs talent around him" or some other garbage the national media will try to sell. It will be everyone elses fault but Rodgers. The coach, Gute, the line, the receivers. The defense, special teams. Can we just move on? Can we atleast see if Jordan Love indeed cannot play? I would like to see it for a season myself. If not, draft your guy in '23 with the massive draft capital that would be available. There will be dark times ahead I am afraid as Rodgers will bleed this franchise dry.....
Thegreatreynoldo
March 08, 2022 at 06:59 am
One shoe is likely to drop today. If it the news that he is staying, then several other shoes should follow, but the one that I think is most important would be the terms of AR's extension. If GB tacks on two years for $100M, that's going to be an issue next year and in the years to come.
This contract at that amount devised by Ken Ingalls is not unlikely:
https://twitter.com/KenIngalls/status/1499053187264925703/photo/1
dobber
March 08, 2022 at 07:40 am
"One shoe is likely to drop today."
It's about time. I think ARod waits until after the tag deadline this afternoon to do anything--if he does today at all--but the dominoes should start dropping today and we'll see a flurry of activity leading up to the start of the league year next week.
"This contract at that amount devised by Ken Ingalls is not unlikely:"
HOLY GEEZ! Look at 2023--2024---that's likely to be over 22-ish% of the Packers' cap! $24M in void year obligations? I feel a little ill.
Thegreatreynoldo
March 08, 2022 at 07:55 am
I have been writing about how AR's contract would look and why that's the reason I am okay with trading him: I can't devise a contract for AR that isn't butt ugly.
Moreover, all these extensions that have to happen. The players have the Packers over a barrel on them, so I'd expect all of them to be a tad richer than I might think is deserved. But then, I am pretty cheap and often am surprised by the contracts dished out to some players (and by how parsimonious the NFL seems to be to certain players).
jurp
March 08, 2022 at 09:09 am
At this rate, we'll have 1958 level of play in the mid-20s, after AR retires and Love becomes a top-10 starter for some other team.
The Packers primarily wore navy blue and white uniforms in 1957 and 1958 - may as well bring them back as the "alternates" for 2025 and 2026.
Coldworld
March 08, 2022 at 09:20 am
I’ve been saying for ever that the reality is that staying makes no sense for either party at this point, for exactly that reason. The fact that the organization would even seriously consider throwing that kind of money at him with this roster/cap position should be alarming to everyone.
dobber
March 08, 2022 at 09:23 am
The problem is that there's a contingent here that sees this as "Rodgers hate"...which I would argue is the wrong take on this situation.
Leatherhead
March 08, 2022 at 09:24 am
I know you’re a fan of what AR brings to the field, and you would rather keep him but the finances would really handicap the team.
Let Adams walk and take the 3rd round comp pick.
Make the trade, Gute. Rodgers for the #9, Jeudy, and $20 million in relief.
Release Cobb and Z.
Lphill
March 08, 2022 at 07:53 am
Who did he tell he was torn or is it just more speculation?
Leatherhead
March 08, 2022 at 09:05 am
If he wasn’t torn, then why wouldn’t he just announce it? Then the Packers could move forward on decisions impacting hundreds of lives? Is he just trying to be a jerk, or is there another explanation.
jurp
March 08, 2022 at 09:10 am
"Is he just trying to be a jerk..."
Hmm. What other explanation IS there?
Coldworld
March 08, 2022 at 09:25 am
At a guess he’s got a list of demands or he goes. He’s waiting to see if the Packers cave. I’m also wondering if he realizes that if they do, the pressure on him will be unparalleled. More so than if he runs to Denver or wherever. A poor season here (regardless of the degree of fault fairly attributable to him) will be like nothing we’ve seen here I suspect. No one in Lambeau will have a place to hide.
dobber
March 08, 2022 at 09:55 am
In the end, if his demands are mostly secret, we have no idea just what exactly was conceded to keep him or left off the table to facilitate his departure. It could be this is all window dressing to satisfy some other plan or timetable.
The opacity here frustrates all of us, but "protects" the rationalization sure to follow on the part of all constituencies.
Coldworld
March 08, 2022 at 10:11 am
Honestly, I don’t really care about the motivations on Rodgers part other than to suggest that there may be more than mere greed or caprice.
dobber
March 08, 2022 at 09:24 am
"If he wasn’t torn, then why wouldn’t he just announce it? "
And therein lies the real question...
Guam
March 08, 2022 at 08:07 am
Please, just let it be over.......soon.
Leatherhead
March 08, 2022 at 09:32 am
It will be. Rodgers will choose, or the choice will be made for him.
The Downside to Freedom of choice is that you HAVE to choose.
Doug_In_Sandpoint
March 08, 2022 at 08:08 am
If you franchise Adams today, he won’t love it, but can’t it be renegotiated almost immediately to in effect “untag” him? Once the dust settles let Ball work some cap magic. Maybe we’ll be able to afford both of the AND 9 other offensive players.
marpag1
March 08, 2022 at 08:28 am
Yes, but you need to be under the cap enough to afford the franchise tag, which for receivers is something like 18-19 million. So the Packers will have to find that cap space to tag him, which probably means cutting players and renegotiating others. They would have something like 1 week to get that done.
dobber
March 08, 2022 at 08:28 am
They're going to have to cut way past breakeven on the cap anyway just to sign draft picks and do business this year, so--as TGR says above--a lot of the cuts and extensions are going to happen anyway.
Once they have Adams in place, there's time to move his money around (or deal him). But until they do one of those things, he's an albatross on the 2022 cap.
Thegreatreynoldo
March 08, 2022 at 08:46 am
Davsnte,'s tag is $20.12M. He gets 120% of his "salary" in 2021- cap # minus game active bonus.
Coldworld
March 08, 2022 at 09:32 am
I believe a tag can only be withdrawn once FA has started, and hence the new NFL year. Thus the team will have to take steps to cut cap regardless of what Rodgers decided in that scenario. We could find ourselves in the worst of both worlds. I’m not sure if withdrawing a tag affects comp picks either.
Packers0808
March 08, 2022 at 08:39 am
Rodgers simply has become like Favre was, "a pain in the ass"!
McFly
March 08, 2022 at 08:57 am
Who exactly are you quoting there? Or do you just not understand quotation marks?
dobber
March 08, 2022 at 09:26 am
"Who exactly are you quoting there?"
Deanna Favre. ;)
McFly
March 08, 2022 at 10:43 am
Hahaha zing!!!
BirdDogUni
March 08, 2022 at 09:56 am
You know he can quote himself right?
McFly
March 08, 2022 at 10:44 am
Of course, I "do that all the time"!
Packers0808
March 08, 2022 at 10:16 am
His girlfriends.
Spiker
March 08, 2022 at 08:51 am
Dumb move to offer that much, I don't believe a thing he says. He wants to be GM, coach and a QB that can't win the big game in the playoffs. Dump his royal ass
PatrickGB
March 08, 2022 at 08:55 am
I keep hearing the music from Jeopardy playing in my head. Da da da da da da da…..dump dada DA , Da ,Da! Dump DA.
dobber
March 08, 2022 at 09:27 am
That's funny, I keep hearing the Benny Hill theme music... ;)
Starrbrite
March 09, 2022 at 11:52 pm
Ha—dang it Patrick—you put that song in my head—-aaggh! —lol
mbpacker
March 08, 2022 at 09:01 am
Can't wait for this movie to come to an end no matter the ending!
croatpackfan
March 08, 2022 at 09:02 am
This become nothing else but laughable...
FO finaly make Packers totaly ridiculous organization. I bet Bears (still sucks) fans, Queens fans and Lowlions fans are enjoying. Feeling that they have better poised organization than beloved Packers. Shame...
Leatherhead
March 08, 2022 at 10:09 am
No, the FO has taken the high road all the way, they've allowed Rodgers time to make his decision, and he'll make it very soon or it will be made for him.
They've offered to make him the highest paid guy in the league. What else are they supposed to do?
As far as the Lions and Vikings and Bears.............
Detroit will fail. They have sucked for most of my life and I'm old. My Old Man said they used to be good once. It's not the players, or the coaches, or the GM. It's Detroit.
The Vikings will fail. They always do. Once Upon A Time, they failed in the Super Bowl. Then they failed in spectacular fashion in a couple of championship games. Part of the joy of the NFL season, for me, is watching their season go down the crapper, and it's better if they had a little hope.
The Bears will fail. They will fail to protect Fields, they will fail to put people around him, and Justin Fields will be the newest addition to the failed Bear QBs of the past.
Trubisky. Cutler. Chapman. And now, Fields.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 08, 2022 at 09:48 am
I'm tired of being tired!
After all the BS ARod has put the Packer organization and their fans through the past couple years (off field without even addressing choking in playoffs) there isn't enough potential SB trophies even close to make all this BS worth it. I want his ass gone! I want a new start with a lot of fresh eager faces. I want players thinking and acting as a team. Let's forge a new identity for the Packers and watch a lot of talented young players and their development. It's time....
Difer
March 08, 2022 at 09:31 am
If Rodgers was going to stay with the Packers, I think he would have already committed. Perhaps the contract rumors are FO generated to convince GB fans it did all it could do to keep Rodgers.
Leatherhead
March 08, 2022 at 09:52 am
The simplest solution is the best. Fewer moving parts=less likely things go wrong. And a lot less drama for all parties.
Per Spotrac:
Currently, we're just shy of being $30 million in the hole. That's without committing another $20 million to Adams.
Trading Rodgers reduces the hole to only $10 million. We can get another $22 million by releasing ZSmith and Cobb. That gets us out of the hole with a little bit of room to wiggle.
Simple solution. Make the trade, Gute. Let's get this show on the road.
cheesehead1
March 08, 2022 at 10:07 am
If Rodgers goes to Denver, please don’t take Drew Lock in return. Hope Love develops, if not grab a top QB prospect next year where there’s supposed to be a good class. Load up our picks for a top five D.
Leatherhead
March 08, 2022 at 10:11 am
We will need a backup, and I'd rather go with Lock than Benkert.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 08, 2022 at 10:34 am
Agree!
BirdDogUni
March 08, 2022 at 10:32 am
Defense wins Championships. I see no reason to try to disprove this theory and every reason to embrace it.
Tag-n-trade DA for Denver's 2nd round pick this year, and draft Pierce or Watson with it.
Trade AR to Denver... For 1st round picks and 2nd round picks this year and next year.
Take Denver's #9 pick and draft best pass rusher available: Travon Walker or Jermaine Johnson or David Ojabo. Take Denver's other 2nd round pick and draft best BPA. (OL, DL, S, ILBer, WR)
Use our #28 to draft best DL available.
BirdDogUni
March 08, 2022 at 10:38 am
This didn't age well... LMAO
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 08, 2022 at 10:36 am
Rodgers coming back! Damn!
stockholder
March 08, 2022 at 10:41 am
Yes ! Trade Love. If Rodgers goes down you'll get picks.
MooPack
March 08, 2022 at 02:32 pm
This day will be talked about for years. Either for what could have been or GBP Superbowl winners. Bring out the Raiders Of The Lost Ark meme "You chose wrongly... You chose wisely meme. Anything in between will be failure. And the failure rate is high.
Reportedly what Broncos gave Seattle for Wilson shortly after report on Rodgers. Packers would have got at least that much for Rodgers.
@AdamSchefter
Trade package:
Seattle gets QB Drew Lock, TE Noah Fant, DL Shelby Harris, two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a fifth-round pick.
Denver gets Russell Wilson and a fourth-round pick.