Press Gazette Looks at Rodgers Possible Futures

[CaliforniaCheez]

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080518/PKR01/80518003/1058

The May 18th article in the Press Gazette on Rodgers raises some points and questions that can't be answered now.

The story and career of Aaron Rodgers is about to be written. The contract (money and length) has been fair through use of the incentives. Rodgers as the Packers' starter will be the second lowest paid starter in the NFL.

There are great opportunities for him in the future if he performs well. There are opportunities for the Packers to dump him after giving him 2 seasons as the starter.

As you read the article both sides want it to work and have some protection if it doesn't. There can be very happy times or a not so costly parting of the ways. No judgements are made or acussatins

Nobody wants to overspeak the extreme ranges of possibilities. Everyone is willing to help things proceed in a happy relationship if all goes well.

He has a great financial future if he performs. All fingers are crossed yet escape routes are mapped out.

We have to just wait to see what happens. The future is unknown.
There is flexibility all around.

[Tarlam!]

Our last contract guy was a friggin genius, then, if all you say is true.

[RashanGary]

It is an unusual situation. If Rodgers performs well, the Packers would probably be best served to give him a hefty chunk of money a little early rather than having him break the bank a year later. If he performs so/so, then it's a really tough situation that could blow up in their face if he has a great 2009.

[Patler]

Articles like this are so misleading. It emphasizes Rodgers' "low" salary for 2008, and only at the end briefly mentions the bonus money he has already collected and can collect. Even if he plays out his existing contract, it looks like he will earn about $9 million over 5 years, only two as a starter, and will have had the opportunity to show what he is worth.

Reporters are as bad as the players in looking at a specific "salary" in a given season rather than the overall compensation for the season or the guaranteed money in the contract by way of bonuses.

A few seasons ago Peyton Manning had one of the lowest "salaries" for a starting QB because it was the veteran minimum. Of course he had received a huge roster or signing bonus that same year.

Rodgers has earned $5 million+ over three years for studying, watching, learning and preparing. Now he can earn about $4 million the next two seasons for demonstrating what he can do.

[Rastak]

Articles like this are so misleading. It emphasizes Rodgers' "low" salary for 2008, and only at the end briefly mentions the bonus money he has already collected and can collect. Even if he plays out his existing contract, it looks like he will earn about $9 million over 5 years, only two as a starter, and will have had the opportunity to show what he is worth.

Reporters are as bad as the players in looking at a specific "salary" in a given season rather than the overall compensation for the season or the guaranteed money in the contract by way of bonuses.

A few seasons ago Peyton Manning had one of the lowest "salaries" for a starting QB because it was the veteran minimum. Of course he had received a huge roster or signing bonus that same year.

Rodgers has earned $5 million+ over three years for studying, watching, learning and preparing. Now he can earn about $4 million the next two seasons for demonstrating what he can do.

9 million over 5 years is horrible (for him) if he turns out to be a great QB......what did the other top QB's at his position rake in? If he's good and he sat those years, he's goning to want to hit it big on the 2nd contract. If he isn't good then he should be happy he got that much!

[Patler]

9 million over 5 years is horrible (for him) if he turns out to be a great QB......what did the other top QB's at his position rake in? If he's good and he sat those years, he's goning to want to hit it big on the 2nd contract. If he isn't good then he should be happy he got that much!

If he turns out to be a great QB, what's the difference? He will be richly rewarded, probably just a year from now. To have pulled in 6-8 million for one seasons' play and three season's bench warming isn't too shabby, especially considering he wasn't ready to play the first year or two anyway.

As I recall, he got a better deal than his draft position called for, primarily because of the incentives. He has the chance to hit on some.

[RashanGary]

Rodgers is in a really good spot.

1 - He's only 24 and in his 4th year (I believe Brohm is 23 just for comparison)

2 - He has (what I consider) a top tier QB coach

3 - The team around him looks strong (primarily the perimeter weapons)

4 - The team around him is young and should be strong for a long time

5 - The way his contract is structured and the timing of everything acctually helps him more than it hurts him IMO. He got paid 5 or 10 million to be trained on the job by one of the best and now the Packers only have 2 years to make a decision and he's in UFA. If he's good, he's going to become VERY wealthy and it will happen very quickly with that deadline looming.