Aaron Rodgers Packers - Credit: Green Bay Packers
GREEN BAY, WI (WSAU) – Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers went on the Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday to discuss his future.
The conversation began with Pat McAfee by saying, “I will say this, this isn’t a decision day. This isn’t me announcing to the world what’s going on. We’re days past this. This is clearing things up.” He later pivoted to say “since Friday, my intention was to play and play for the NY Jets.”
According to Rodgers the 2022 regular season, which opened with a 23-7 loss to Minnesota and saw a five-game losing streak between October 9th and November 6th, brought a different feeling. He also says he felt there were times when the team wasn’t direct with him about their intentions.
Rodgers spent time discussing how much he appreciates the city of Green Bay and the organization but he also noted that he feels like it is time to move on.
“It’s the reality. They want to move on. They don’t want me to come back, and that’s fine. They want to move on with Jordan [Love.] He’s an (expletive) great kid. He had a really great year this year, and he’s getting better. He’s got a bright future in front of him, and they have a good, young team,” added Rodgers.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero noted before the interview that trade talks between the Packers and Jets are ongoing and the compensation is still to be determined.
The #Packers and #Jets continue to negotiate on an Aaron Rodgers trade but have not yet agreed to trade terms, per sources.
Green Bay isn’t looking for multiple first-round picks like other QBs (Russell Wilson, Matthew Stafford) have commanded in recent years. Talks ongoing. pic.twitter.com/W1SZlx0UZA
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 15, 2023
Rodgers also told McAfee that he went into his darkness retreat last month “90% retired, and 10% wanting to play,” but that changed over the course of the retreat. During that time, he also discovered that the team had been exercising their options for him through various sources, including other players. “It was clear to me at that point that although the Packers are going to say the right thing publicly, they were ready to move on.
“I don’t know what changed that or what moved that, or if they just said ‘he isn’t making a decision because he hasn’t.’ There are no victims here, I’m not sitting here as a victim. I just think I wish that in the beginning of the off-season that would have been the conversation.”
The NFL’s new league year begins Wednesday afternoon, which is when teams will be able to officially announce free agent signings and complete all trades which involve an active player.
Comments