AR wants out?!

[Harlan Huckleby]

Just spoke to my brother over Skype and it proved the old adage that the acorn doesn't fall very far from the other acorn. He thinks the packers panicked to save 2021 and gave away the farm (all their leverage in the future.) He is fine with the Pack moving from Rodgers, and makes the point that AR relies on athleticism much more than Brady so an extended deal is no good. The ideal time to trade Rodgers was last spring (I think that Harvey made that point.) The path Packers chose really minimizes their leverage in trade negotiations. Plus now we play 2021 with lame duck, rent-a-QB.

I think the Packer management negotiated like an abused spouse. "Please just stay one more year. you can have everything"

That all said, if Love really pans out it will end up peaches and cream.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Two words:

Matt Stafford

If anyone thinks ARod is worth less than Stafford, they are nuts.

You get 4 years out of Stafford before he hits Rodgers' age.

Make that 5 years more given Rodgers won't be avail for another year.

[texaspackerbacker]

Giving Rodgers "everything he wants"? What would that be? Security that he can finish his career with the Packers? That, if memory serves, is the only thing he's on record asking for.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Giving Rodgers "everything he wants"? What would that be? Security that he can finish his career with the Packers? That, if memory serves, is the only thing he's on record asking for.

I think they should have used their leverage to ride Rodgers into the sunset. Which for me would be 3 more seasons. Rodgers wanted to leave ASAP with minimal strings attached. He certainly suggested this was his goal in past year. PAckers surrendered their leverage and essentially gave him exactly what he wanted, since next spring is now the soonest practical trade opportunity.

[NewsBruin]

I think it was a good decision to get him into camp and make him as shiny an object as possible. Maybe we could have saved some dead money (reported that Rodgers got more salary turned into signing bonus), but getting 12 in the classroom and on the field with Funchess and Little Rodgers is important, as is keeping him and the front office out of extended passive-aggressive column-inch battles and sending collection notices to his mailbox. At this point, I don't know how great our gain would be if we kept playing hardball.

I don't know how many teams will bite on Trade Now vs. Wait For Free Agency, but as long as there's one desperate enough, we can get something for Rodgers. Plus, there's some joy to be had if we ship him to a historic bottom-feeder.

If Rodgers wants to self-sabotage, we'll know as early as possible, instead of seeing him parachute in on Week 6 and check out by Week 10. Regardless, we have to keep Love gassed-up and running.

[NewsBruin]

Posters bring up the revised happy memories of NFL transitions, but for comparisons sake, look at how my local Saints have botched Drew Brees' retirement. They've been in cap hell for years, and when their most-likely-will-retire QB actually retired, they put contracts on Interceptions Costco and the best passer for a skill-position player/best rusher for a QB.

[texaspackerbacker]

I think they should have used their leverage to ride Rodgers into the sunset. Which for me would be 3 more seasons. Rodgers wanted to leave ASAP with minimal strings attached. He certainly suggested this was his goal in past year. PAckers surrendered their leverage and essentially gave him exactly what he wanted, since next spring is now the soonest practical trade opportunity.

At least I agree with you on what they should have done. There seems to be a whole lot of jumping to conclusions being done in here. This "I read somewhere ....." shit, does anybody know for sure - confirmed by the team or Rodgers that this greases the wheels for him to be gone in a year? Or is it just the same old media crap?

Hopefully we'll know within a few days the details of the deal, not just what God damned Shefter and the other assholes speculate about it. And hopefully we find out that he will be around for a helluva lot more than just this year. If it does turn out to be just this year, I for one am NOT pleased about it.

[call_me_ishmael]

Provided Rodgers plays well, they'll get more than that. Probably significantly more. Three big differences: 1) teams aren't afraid to give up draft capital in trades like they were back in 2008, 2) more QBs (Favre was the first with his 2009 season, Manning, Brees and Brady into their 40s) have played well at an old age than in the past, 3) Rodgers played better this year (and probably next year) than Favre did in 2007. Favre was good, but not MVP caliber good. Plus, Favre had two atrocious years leading into 2007. Rodgers was above average the two previous years.

Favre was an all-pro in 2007. Second team but still - keep in mind Brady had a historic year that year with Moss and the Perfect Pats. Very, very good. I agree with the rest other than the nit of atrocious years vs above average years. You make great points with draft capital since teams seem to value picks less these days and then older QBs performing.

[call_me_ishmael]

Two words:

Matt Stafford

If anyone thinks ARod is worth less than Stafford, they are nuts.

I do think he's worth about the same based on age and current contract. I also think the reason the Lions got so much is they picked up an albatross of a contract - that alone is worth probably a #2 based on precedent where the Browns did it for the Texans QB.

[Spaulding]

This seems like to be the best of all worlds. Sure the Packers give up a year of control on Rodgers but given the Love pick last year, I don't think anybody expected the message to be that Rodgers would be with the team beyond 2021 season anyways given the structure of the deal.

Compromising with Rodgers provides the following positives:

- he's now motivated a final season to try and win it all with the team that gives him the best chance to do so
- it allows the Packers another season to monitor Love's progression and if there is an honest hope that he can be an above average NFL starter in the near future

The only real negative is that it cuts Rodgers loose after the 2022 season and possibly after this season if rumors are true that the front office promised to trade him after the season.

Thus the scenarios are this:

1) Rodgers plays at MVP level and Packers win the Super Bowl
2) Rodgers plays at MVP level and Packers still fail to make playoffs or get bounced in playoffs
3) Rodgers plays at MVP level but then gets injured and Love plays but flops
4) Rodgers plays at MVP level but then gets injured and Love plays and looks decent
5) Rodgers plays at MVP level but then gets injured and Love plays and looks great
6) Rodgers play regresses to 2018/2019 level of play
7) Rodgers plays at 2018/2019 level but then gets injured and Love plays and flops
8) Rodgers plays at 2018/2019 level but then gets injured and Love plays and decent
9) Rodgers plays at 2018/2019 level but then gets injured and Love plays and great

In scenarios 1/5/6/7 I think the Packers win as I don't see Rodgers leaving after a Super Bowl win and I don't see the Packers not extending Rodgers and caving to all his demands then too.

In scenario 2 I think the Packers lose as Rodgers is definitely gone and proving that last year wasn't a fluke and that he'll continue to play at a level few QB's have ever known. Then again the Packers kinda win as well as his trade value is still sky high.

In scenario 3 the Packers get burned if they can't find a way to permanently fix things with Rodgers. If he still forces his way out and Love sucks, then technically they've driven out generational QB for nothing.

Scenarios 4/7/8 are kind of a muddle unfortunately.

Needless to say, it's going to be an interesting 2021 season.

[call_me_ishmael]

I think it will be written in the contract that if Rodgers formally requests a trade by X date, the Packers must trade him or he is granted his release on X date.

I'm less clear on how they would let him choose his next destination. What if the place he wants to be doesn't offer the best trade package?

[texaspackerbacker]

They're saying "gentlemen's agreement" - just a hand shake. I don't know if I'm buying that either. Supposedly he is still Packer-owned for '22 with the understanding they will trade him. McAfee says Rodgers "did this for future generations of Packer players" so they won't get "disrespected" like Rodgers, Favre, Nelson, etc. Yeah right. Paying somebody that kind of money is disrespecting them? Give me some of that kind of disrespect. So assuming it's true as it seems to be shaping up, Rodgers gets traded after this season or becomes a complete free agent after 2022 - which I don't think they would let happen. That being the case, Murphy and Gutekunst fucked up the Packers future royally IMO. McAfee framed it like a couple getting a divorce but postponing it - one small shred of hope, they could still settle their differences and get back together. I'd like to buy into that idea, but optimist that I am, that's a bit hard to believe.

I'd say this is a dark day in Packer history - if what they're saying is true.

[NewsBruin]

I don't wish harm on the innocent, but I'd be so happy if a midseason Dak Prescott re-injury resulted in Rodgers getting involuntarily reunited with Mike McCarthy.

[hoosier]

LOL

[Jaire]

The pressers with Gute and Rodgers reveal the problems. It's very clear nothing has changed between AR and Gute. AR's presser is highly recommended.

A few things:

1) AR was upset how GB treated CMIII, Woodson, Jordy, Cobb, Hayward, Hyde etc. Never mentioned Kumerow but did mention the WR he thought was 2nd best in camp was let go last year. I wonder who that was. He makes very good points here. I am 90% on AR's side.
2) AR never had any input in past. At all. So Gute is not maybe lying but means something very different by "input."
3) AR has no choice about where to go next year. Never had an offer to guarantee him 2022, nor about where he goes. (All reports are b.s.. Schefter is a lying sob. Nothing true at all.)
4) never been about money
5) AR almost retired but decided to return in the last 2 weeks after talking with former and present team mates. This explains why nobody really knew what was going to happen. He reallt only just changed his mind.
6) IMO: if Gute really did change and take AR's suggestions, AR would definitely retire in GB. But now listening to Gute (this AM) that ain't happening. (Gute should go imo, while I acknowledge he does some things ok. Some probs go back to TT esp getting rid of Woodson. This is going to be an ongoing prob with Gute.)
7) He never leaked anything nor his camp. He doesn't know where leaks came from but esp on draft day (which I assume came from NFL to drive up ratings and controversy.)

I really really recommend listening. AR spills the beans after 4 years and is 90% right imo. He just wants to help. Every other premier QB has had more say than he has got: KEY STAT . Finally, Gute clearly says (between the lines) that the only reason Cobb is coming back is for AR and what's "best for GB." HE distances himself from that decision. They are not on the same page as AR and very likelt never will be imo (and AR's). Cobb's money is doubtless less than the extra money they had offered AR. So it was easy for Gute to concede on Cobb.

tl;dr The FO got absolutely everything. AR nada except Cobb. He just wants to play still, decided not to retire, and wants to win: still loves the team and GB. Cobb was a concession but GB was willing to pay AR much more than Cobb will ever cost. Why they are getting it done imo.

Interesting to note he said ge lived tge organization twice after he checked himself saying it the first time. He's handling it well (professionally) but has a justified big beef with the FO. He's decided to go public because nothing has changed nor will.