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GREEN BAY
The consensus is that QB AARON RODGERS mastered the room at his Wednesday press conference, laying out in clear, precise terms why he was frustrated with the cold managerial style of Packers management.
Matt Schneidman of The Athletic neatly lays out the layers of Rodgers critique:
If you hoped Aaron Rodgers would emulate his college teammate Marshawn Lynch by saying, “I’m only here so I won’t get fined,” then you’re probably disappointed after hearing the reigning NFL MVP speak for more than 30 minutes following the Packers’ first training camp practice Wednesday.
For the first time since news broke on Day 1 of the NFL Draft of his displeasure with the organization, Rodgers spoke at length with reporters about the situation. He held nothing back. He was open, honest and insightful, revealing frustrations that still exist with no guarantees of fading.
“This wasn’t just a draft-day thing,” Rodgers said. “It started with a conversation in February, after the season ended. I just expressed my desire to be more involved in conversations directly affecting my job.”
And that was just the start.
The three most important sectors of all this are why Rodgers felt (and, to an extent, still feels) the way he did about the organization, where the two sides are now and what happens next, particularly regarding the potential that Rodgers stays with the Packers beyond this season.
Let’s dive into all three.
Why he felt the way he did
Treatment of outgoing veterans Rodgers listed 12 former teammates as ones he felt were mistreated or disrespected on their way out of Green Bay: Charles Woodson, Jordy Nelson, Julius Peppers, Clay Matthews, Randall Cobb, James Jones, John Kuhn, Brett Goode, T.J. Lang, Bryan Bulaga, Casey Hayward and Micah Hyde.
“I wanted to help the organization maybe learn from some of the mistakes in the past, in my opinion, about the way some of the outgoing veterans were treated, and just the fact that we didn’t retain a number of players that I felt like were core players to our foundation, our locker room, high-character guys,” Rodgers said. “… Guys who were exceptional players for us but (also) great locker-room guys, high-character guys, many of whom weren’t offered a contract at all or were extremely low-balled or were, in my opinion, not given the respect on the way out that guys of their status and stature and high character deserved.”
Lack of commitment to him beyond 2021 Though Rodgers had three years remaining on his contract entering this offseason, only one of them (2021) contained guaranteed money. He never received a hard commitment beyond this season and felt like a “lame duck” given the Packers traded up in the first round to draft his apparent successor, Jordan Love, in 2020.
“I had to assess the situation, not necessarily wanting to be a lame-duck quarterback, especially after an MVP season,” Rodgers said, “which I think you can understand.”
Rodgers said the two sides discussed restructuring his deal to free up salary-cap space for the team, but that’s not what irked him.
“It was more just the approach to not mention anything past 2021 (that) made me feel like I wasn’t in the future plans, which again, I get it,” Rodgers said. “It’s a business, and I’m not a victim here. I’ve made a ton of money here, and I’ve been really fortunate to play a long time and to play here. At the same time, I’m still competitive, and I still feel like I can play. I proved it last year, so I feel like making a commitment past the 2021 season was not a big deal, and there are ways to do that. That wasn’t necessarily accomplished, so that’s why we’re here.”
Exclusion from free-agent discussions In short, Rodgers has felt — and still feels — he should at least be part of discussions about prospective free agents (not necessarily having the final say) given his standing among peers across the league and because of his knowledge of how the Packers operate, inside and outside the locker room, from his 13 years as their starting quarterback.
“I’ve trained with a number of NFL guys most of my career in the offseasons,” Rodgers said. “My agency, Athletes First, has sent a number of high draft picks over the years. I’ve tried to pass along information. It hasn’t really been used, shall we say, so I wanted to offer my services as a recruiter. I think we can all understand Green Bay isn’t a huge vacation destination. People come here to play with me, to play with our team and know they can win a championship here. The fact I haven’t been used in those discussions is something I wanted to change moving forward. And I felt like based on my years, the way I can still play, that that should be a natural part of the conversation.”
Rodgers said he wasn’t consulted about hiring Matt LaFleur as head coach. Disclaimer: He loves LaFleur. They get along swimmingly, and none of this is because of their relationship.
But …
“It’s decisions like that that have happened over and over and over again that make me realize that the organization looks at me and my job as just to play,” Rodgers said. “In my opinion, based on what I’ve accomplished in this league, the way I care about my teammates, the way I show up in the locker room, the way I lead, the way I conduct myself in the community, you should tie myself to a little bit more input. The rules are the same for most people, but every now and then there (are) some outliers, guys who’ve been in the organization for 17 years and won a few MVPs, where they can be in conversations at a different higher level.
“I’m not asking for anything that other great quarterbacks across the last few decades have not gotten, the opportunity to just be in conversation. So if you’re gonna cut a guy (Jake Kumerow), who, based on a meritocracy, was our second-best receiver in training camp last year for the majority of camp, maybe run it by me, see what I feel. I might be able to change your mind. But at least to be in the conversation makes you feel like you’re important, you’re respected. And that’s what I tried to convey in February and for the first couple months, but no, it hasn’t been that. That’s just the way they do it. I don’t necessarily agree with it, but objectively, there’s been a lot of success here over the last 30 years. I just wanted to be a little bit more involved, and I understand that’s not the way it went.”
Rodgers clarified that he’s not asking to be involved in all personnel matters, just decisions in general that “affect my ability to do my job.” He also understands that some of the players he would’ve preferred to stay in Green Bay might not have continued their success with the Packers and that some, like Nelson with the Raiders, didn’t exactly thrive with their next team.
“It’s different when a Jordy Nelson has got me throwing him the ball, it’s different when Randall Cobb’s got me throwing the ball, it’s maybe a different motivation when some of these guys go elsewhere,” Rodgers said. “It’s different to move to a new team. Yeah, some of those decisions would have been different, but maybe bringing back a (Julius Peppers) for $3 million and a one-year deal when he really desperately wanted to retire as a Packer might have been a good thing to do. Maybe letting Jordy play another season here, who knows what would have happened, him mentoring (Davante Adams) and allowing him to take the mantle of the No. 1 receiver and how the locker room could see that humility and be inspired by it.
“I think that’s often not given enough credence, how important that is, veterans leading by example, by their attitude, how they conduct themselves and how they show the younger guys how to be a professional. To me, that’s worth something. It might not be worth $9 million a year, which Jordy was scheduled to make that season, but he was willing to take a pay cut — way down — and I think it would have been worth it to keep guys like that. Or Charles Woodson. Charles wanted to take a pay cut as well to stick around, and he obviously still played at a high level when he left. He made a Pro Bowl in Oakland, and not to mention, 70 percent Charles Woodson is an incredible player for us, just what he brings from a leadership standpoint, professionalism, toughness. Being able to be a part of conversations like that, I feel like I have a unique perspective.”
How they handled contract talks According to Rodgers’ side of the story, it seems the Packers tried to save face by throwing money at him instead of guaranteeing him a more influential voice in decision-making. That didn’t work.
“I said from the start it wasn’t about the money,” Rodgers said. “… It was about trying to be a resource for the organization that I care about and love so much. So when the money came at me, the backstory to that is there’s a part of me that did think there would be conversations about an extension based on my cap number, this season and next season. It seemed natural based on the way I played to at least have a conversation about it. There wasn’t a conversation, not until into May. And that, to me, seemed like an analogy you guys would understand. You guys have a fantastic year at work, you write some great stories, you go to your boss and say, ‘I just had an incredible year, I think I deserve a pay raise or some security,’ and the boss says, ‘Ah, let’s see how it goes.’ A couple of months down the line, you get another job opportunity, go back to your boss and say, ‘Hey, I’ve got this amazing job.’ ‘No, no, no, we love you. We do want you to stick around. We do care about you.’ It’s just not the same feeling, you know?”
Serious retirement consideration Rodgers acknowledged that he considered retiring, and it wasn’t just a casual thought. He spoke with numerous former teammates about what retired life might look like. However, his competitive urge won out.
“The fire still burns, and I wanted to be on the football team,” Rodgers said. “… As I got back into my workouts, I just realized that I know I can still play and I want to still play, and as long as I feel I can give 100 percent to the team, then I should still play. … I also wanted to see how my body responded after some of the intense training over the last couple months, and I felt really good.”
Where sides are now
What Cobb’s arrival means From the outside, it would appear the Packers have already given Rodgers more say in personnel decisions given their pending acquisition of Cobb, a close friend of Rodgers’ who played in Green Bay from 2012 to 2018 and caught 44 touchdowns from the reigning MVP. However, GM Brian Gutekunst said Rodgers has no more input on personnel than he did before, just that the Packers need to figure out how to use it better. Cobb turns 31 next month and the Packers just drafted slot receiver Amari Rodgers from Clemson, but the quarterback still feels strongly that Cobb can play at a high level.
“To get Randall back is really special,” Rodgers said. “It’s something that I talked about back in February, wanting to bring in a true slot receiver I thought would make our offense more dynamic. I think Randall’s a dynamic player — he has been when he’s been healthy.”
Relationship with Gutekunst “I would say it’s professional at this point,” Rodgers said while adding that he never asked for Gutekunst to be fired. Gutekunst also described his relationship with Rodgers as “professional.” It’s clear the two (plus president Mark Murphy and Rodgers) aren’t exactly best friends. But that doesn’t matter as much in the immediate future if the Packers win games.
So have they given him what he wants? The interesting thing about Rodgers’ news conference was that despite everything he expressed displeasure about, particularly with regard to his desire for more influence in decision-making, it seems as if he hasn’t received assurances that he’ll get what he wants.
“I’m not sure,” he said when asked about that. “At this point, I can only say one of the things was to be involved in free agency. Look, I mean, I just talked to Preston Smith, why he came here and why he actually took a pay cut to re-sign. He knows that we’ve got an opportunity to win a championship when I’m playing, and it’s a sentiment that’s echoed by other players across the league who hit me up that I’m friends with. They want to come or get traded to come to Green Bay. They want to be a part of an opportunity to win a championship, and that’s why I just wanted to make myself available to have those conversations, to be maybe someone that tips it over the edge if you’re trying to sign a specific guy.”
Well, 2021 free agency has passed (though the trade for Cobb technically could fall into the category of what Rodgers is talking about), and 2022 free agency might come with Rodgers in a different uniform. So if the Packers have assured him of more of a voice in free agency, what have they really given him?
Desire to actually be in Green Bay So how was Rodgers’ first day on a field with the Packers since the NFC Championship Game? By all accounts, he’s all-in, and that’s really all that matters for the Packers’ prospects for this season.
“I love my teammates. I love the city. I love my coaches,” Rodgers said. “It is a lot of fun to be back here and, like I said, I’m competitive and I realize the type of team that’s in place here. It’s a team that has a lot of talent on it. It’s been close the last couple years, so I’m definitely excited about this season. I’ve had a lot of great conversations over, I’d say, the last two weeks with various teammates past and present, and that’s definitely refueled the fire to go out and lead and perform at my best. I felt really good today after a long hiatus, just being back out there and feeling like the rhythm and the timing and the accuracy was where I wanted to be.”
What happens next
Chances he stays beyond 2021 For Rodgers to remain a Packer beyond this season, it seems Murphy, Gutekunst and the organization would have to change how players such as Rodgers are valued, both in their play and their voice. If the Packers haven’t given Rodgers either yet — and there’s no concrete evidence they have — it’s hard to see that changing over the next couple of months before we do this dance again. So what would it take for Rodgers to stay?
“I really don’t know,” he said. “I think things in that direction haven’t really changed at all. I think I’m just going to focus on this year. There’s a lot of moving pieces besides myself, expiring contracts from a number of guys, so there’s going to be a lot of tough decisions at the end of the year. I’m just going to enjoy this year, then revisit that conversation at the end of the season.”
It seemed the plan all along was for Love to take over in 2022. Nobody knows how well he can play in an actual game yet. We’ll find out this preseason, but even that might not be a great indicator. Rodgers knows that as long as Love is on the team and Rodgers’ own contract doesn’t tie him to Green Bay beyond this season, a chance remains that the front office wants Love to take over next season, whether that’s ill-advised or not.
Rodgers said that it’s not his understanding that he gets to choose where he plays next season if he doesn’t want to stay in Green Bay.
“I’m definitely not closing the door on anything,” Rodgers said. “I’m always optimistic in the ability to change. I would never want anybody to give up on me, and I feel like I’ve made a lot of changes over the years to try and improve myself both as a person, as a teammate, as a player, and I’m always going to be optimistic in change being possible.”
The Davante Adams situation If Rodgers wants to stay in Green Bay beyond this season and the team wants the same, would Adams settle for not being the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL if it meant he got to stay with Rodgers? As of now, the Packers don’t want to make him that, and Adams is entering the final year of his deal after a historically productive 2020 season.
“No, that’s not gonna happen,” Adams said, maintaining he’ll only take a deal that pays him more than any other wideout. “You know, I don’t want to. It’s not about being a baby, but what other profession do you take less than what you have earned? That’s not how it goes. The fans may see it different in certain ways, and I’m sure there’s a lot of fans that see it the same way that myself, my family, my agent and most of the league sees it. I’m not a baby, so I’m not going to not show up, and I’m not complaining about it. At the end of the day, I’m not poor right now; you know I’ll be OK to get through and go and try to win a Super Bowl again. … I have earned the right to be paid the highest in the league.”
Thoughts from Mike Florio:
To the extent that Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers returned to Green Bay with a verbal promise that they will consider trading him after the season, Rodgers has reason to doubt whether the Packers will actually do it.
As Paul Allen of KFAN said during my weekly spot with him on Wednesday morning, and as Chris Simms reiterated during our special Wednesday hiatus edition of PFT Live, Rodgers believes the Packers told him early in the offseason that they’d trade him, and then they didn’t trade him.
Rodgers didn’t mention that he’d been told he’d be traded during Wednesday’s press conference, during which he peeled the curtain back on his relationship with the organization. But that’s another factor in this dysfunctional relationship that points toward 2021 being the quarterback’s final year in Green Bay.
Remember, the catalyst for the Rodgers-wants-out reports wasn’t Schefter’s draft-afternoon report that he was apparently holding in his back pocket for whenever he deemed the time was right. The spark came from Paul Allen, who reported on the morning of the 2021 draft that the 49ers tried to trade for Rodgers, that the Packers refused, and that Rodgers was pissed off.
He still seemed a little pissed off on Wednesday, and he had no reason to pull punches. Even though he caved and showed up without getting much in return, he has the bully pulpit. On Tuesday, he showed that he’s willing to use it.
GM Brian Gutenkist, who had to be relieved that Rodgers was in camp without the Packers having to give up much of anything but vague, easily-broken promises, says Rodgers has always had input. Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com:
“He’s here,” Gutekunst said Wednesday, shortly before the team’s first practice of training camp. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him be here and go out there on that field and not be in all-in. I’ve always been confident of that. He is a true competitor, he’s a true professional. When he steps between those white lines, I’ve really never seen anything other than that.”
Packers coach Matt LaFleur said the Packers were “quite frankly very unsure” whether Rodgers would be back this season, but said communication progressed “and we got to a good spot.”
Gutekunst wouldn’t go so far as to say this could be Rodgers’ last go-round with the Packers or whether he would trade the reigning league MVP after the season — if that’s what the quarterback wants.
“What I will say is that I think Aaron, with what he’s done for this organization, I think he deserves at least the conversation every year about where we’re headed, where he’s headed and to get together, and we’ll make decisions,” Gutekunst said. “The club will always determine what’s best for the Green Bay Packers, but I think he’s earned the right to have those discussions.”
Rodgers reportedly wanted Randall Cobb back in Green Bay; Gutekunst claimed Rodgers always had input in personnel decisions despite suggestions otherwise but said it wasn’t always handled the way it should have been.
“Aaron’s had kind of the same input he’s always had, which has been a lot,” Gutekunst said. “He’s earned a place at the table. I think he always has. I think one of the things to this offseason I think is learning how to incorporate that.”
Nora Princiotti of The Ringer gushed:
This is what happens when Aaron Rodgers stops being polite and starts getting real.
Welcome to a Real World: Green Bay appreciation post. Or an Aaron Rodgers appreciation post. Or, more specifically, an Aaron Rodgers press conference appreciation post. In his first public presser at Packers training camp, speaking one day after he reportedly agreed to restructure his deal with Green Bay, Rodgers was polite but unflinching, and made it clear in his 30-minute appearance that while he wants to play for the Packers this season, he has unresolved issues with the organization.
(after she recounts the content)
That, ladies and gentlemen, is the tea. It’s delightful and rare to hear that type of candor from an NFL podium, and satisfying to hear Rodgers acknowledge the events that have made up the biggest story in the league for the past six months. His remarks Wednesday were not out of a thirst for drama or to air dirty laundry though. (OK, maybe a little.) Rodgers answered every question clearly, which diminishes the likelihood he’ll be asked the same questions again. It’s been obvious for a long time that he has qualms with his status in Green Bay, and putting it all out in the open helps take the air of scandal out of the story and places the onus on the Packers to compromise. It seems like a plus for Rodgers, and probably a plus for the team that he spoke so openly. It was definitely a plus for Jake Kumerow. The truth will set you free.
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