Cory's Corner: More Hurdles Left For Aaron Rodgers, Packers

Rodgers isn't opting out, but a litany of questions remain. 

The opt out deadline came and went on Friday.

It would’ve made sense for Aaron Rodgers to verbalize why he chose not to opt out this season. The mere thought was a reach at best. I mean, why would the 37-year-old MVP quarterback decide to just surrender a year of his limited playing window? The career of an NFL player is something that cannot be predicted. A sticky cut on FieldTurf or get rolled up on by an unsuspecting offensive lineman and a career could be curtains. 

But what does this mean moving forward? That’s the problem. Nobody knows because nobody is talking. It’s hard to believe this whole thing “started” April 29. As we roll through another national holiday, it’s starting to become ho-hum. 

Deep down I don’t see Rodgers playing anywhere but the Packers this upcoming season. Other NFL teams are set at quarterback for this year and if he really was dead set on not playing for the Packers, he would’ve taken the opt out. 

By now, Rodgers has to know that the Packers give him the best opportunity to win a coveted Super Bowl. But this isn’t about a ring, this about what Tom Brady did after he left arguably one of the best NFL coaches ever. Brady planted the seed of empowerment and since then, Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson and now Rodgers have wanted the same thing. 

I get it, you want more of a say and you want a seat at the table. But my question is, where does it stop? At what point does all that power lose the trust of the locker room?

It would be beneficial if the Packers and Rodgers were able to discuss this before training camp starts. Not just for their benefit, but to avoid an all-out distraction — especially for the guys that are trying to make the team. 

I don’t know what the future holds for both of these parties, but it would greatly benefit both if there would be some honesty. I realize the Packers probably don’t want to even say Rodgers’ name for fear that they make a mistake — like they’ve already done — but Rodgers needs to know how much that team values him as a player and person. 

In addition, Rodgers needs to address what exactly this is all about, without giving coy answers about family. Address what caused these feelings, why he’s compelled to act this way now and what can be done to fix all this. 

So celebrate the opt out deadline coming and going, but be more concerned about what’s next. 

 

 

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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

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10 points
 

Comments (91)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
stockholder's picture

July 03, 2021 at 06:49 am

More speculation? Rodgers just lost his bargaining power. He wants to play! So throw out the retirement too. He's coming back! And they will tell him to;" SHUT THE HELL UP AND DO YOUR JOB". So he will! He's at their mercy. And No matter how he spins this. The truth is he will play; good, or bad. But in the mean time he should get a psychological examination. He's in a maze and there's No way out. The FO won. No one can save him now. So he won't be traded.

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Dr.Rodgers's picture

July 03, 2021 at 10:11 am

Outstanding opinion!

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Packerpasty's picture

July 03, 2021 at 10:11 am

FO was made to look like fools by the sports media, so how is that a win?

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Coldworld's picture

July 03, 2021 at 10:49 am

In what way? Why will they care?

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Crankbait's picture

July 05, 2021 at 06:21 am

What is bad about that ?

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Fubared's picture

July 03, 2021 at 04:04 pm

you got it all right. diva boy needs to take his ego which is an 8 year olds and stfu. either play football or quit, WE HATE WHINERS

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Coldworld's picture

July 03, 2021 at 07:10 am

We knew nothing, we know nothing and we likely aren’t going to know anything for a while. Worth writing about? No.

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Dr.Rodgers's picture

July 03, 2021 at 10:13 am

Yet we clicked on it and read it. Very transactional.

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Fubared's picture

July 03, 2021 at 04:11 pm

we know who created the beautiful fn mystery.

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Coldworld's picture

July 04, 2021 at 12:29 pm

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

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greengold's picture

July 03, 2021 at 07:13 am

He’s switching to Track & Field?

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stockholder's picture

July 03, 2021 at 01:45 pm

Joe Biden is a packer fan. He wants to go to the White House.

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Crankbait's picture

July 05, 2021 at 06:38 am

Joe Biden doesn't know what day it is.
I bet even Aaron Rodgers scratches his head and wonders how he ever got there.

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blacke00's picture

July 03, 2021 at 07:16 am

He was never going to opt out, that was an espn wet dream. For all we know a deal may have already been struck and an understanding has been reached. AR will be at camp and IMHO bygones will be bygones (at least for this year). If you really think about it. Where besides GB does Rodgers have a reasonable chance of getting to the SB? Denver will always have to go through KC. Common sense will prevail for this year...anyway.

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Guam's picture

July 03, 2021 at 07:25 am

"....if he was dead set on not playing for the Packers, he would've taken the opt out."

Umm, no. The opt out would have cost Rodgers a year of his career and would have eliminated any bargaining power he has. An opt out makes him untradeable because he can't play for any team - he must sit out the year completely, not just with the Packers. And then he restarts 2022 in the same position he is in now - a Packer trying to get traded.

His true bargaining power is withholding his services and not playing. That is far more likely to force a trade than an opt out. Will the Packers trade Rodgers if he refuses to play? I don't know. I believe his contract gets tolled and the Packers get cap relief if he refuses to play (TGR might want to weigh in as I am not certain that is the case), so the Packers won't have a financial incentive to trade him. However why would they keep a player who clearly won't play for them and who's value diminishes every year as he ages? They clearly get better value for him by trading him sooner than later although that trade may not happen until well after the season starts and some team gets desperate for a QB.

The opt out was never a real option for Rodgers.

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GregC's picture

July 03, 2021 at 09:40 am

Thank you for writing what I was going to write. The opt out would have made no sense at all for Rodgers. My best guess about his motives are that he really is making a hard run at getting traded. If management holds firm and does not trade him, this dispute might drag into the regular season. But if it does drag on, it will become a huge distraction during training camp, so I would expect the Packers to trade him then for whatever they can get, even if it's not a lot. That's what happened with Favre.

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Packerpasty's picture

July 03, 2021 at 10:13 am

he is making a run at getting traded because he knows thats exactly what the FO had in mind until his MVP season...

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LambeauPlain's picture

July 03, 2021 at 07:29 am

Cory...did I miss something? When did Rodgers ever threaten to opt out? All I read were speculative sports gossipers spreading sensationalism.

I still have zero clue what Rodgers beef is. A seat at the table to make FO decisions.? QB for life guarantees? Assistant GM with player veto power?

I seriously do not think he is demanding this. And I am more of the belief he doesn't know what he wants either. Time for a nap.

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pacman's picture

July 03, 2021 at 10:08 pm

This is a media circus because that's what media does. It's all click bate nowadays and they don't know more than we do. We don't know what AR really wants but I would bet that he does. He has always been very careful with his words.

The longer this goes on, the worse his reputation gets. It's probably past the point of return to being a pure Packer. In today's media and money age, it's probably too much to hope for that a great player doesn't get an ego complex. The days of players like Starr and DiMaggio are gone.

This would probably never happen with a team that has an owner. An owner would never treat his star player that way. Management didn't do it's job and from what I heard as reported, Murphy should be fired and AR should play. As a fan since the 60's, I am quite disappointed in the Packers management all around for the last 5 years

But AR's luster is certainly dulled by this action.

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porupack's picture

July 04, 2021 at 07:10 am

Did management forget to sign a contract with Rodgers, or something like that which managers are supposed to do in their Job description?

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pack69go's picture

July 04, 2021 at 11:31 am

I totally agree. I requested shareholder info to see if we could get Murphy fired and have run into a road blocks.

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Fubared's picture

July 04, 2021 at 10:56 am

His beef? His beef? His ego was tarnished by the team drafting his replacement without discussing it with him. How hard is that to get. This is diva boy who was not consulted or warned in advance, were going to find a backup to step in when your gone.
Instead like us he learned about this on the news and that pissed him off.

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Leatherhead's picture

July 03, 2021 at 07:33 am

If he wanted to lead the team, he’d be leading the team.

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Packerpasty's picture

July 03, 2021 at 10:14 am

these are grown men that don't need a rah rah leadership, winning is what they want and Rodgers is the one to lead them in winning.

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Leatherhead's picture

July 03, 2021 at 11:59 am

It is ALWAYS leadership that makes the difference. Always.

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KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

July 03, 2021 at 07:29 pm

Leatherhead,
You always have great commentary!

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Leatherhead's picture

July 04, 2021 at 10:46 am

Thank you, Knock. As you can see, people disagree.

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greengold's picture

July 04, 2021 at 12:05 pm

You always do a great job of cutting to the quick. Well done, Leatherhead.

The Times They Are a-Changin’!

Come gather 'round people, wherever you roam
And admit that the waters around you have grown
And accept it that soon you'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you is worth saving

Then you better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone

For the times, they are a-changin'

Come writers and critics who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide, the chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon, for the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who that it's namin'
For the loser now will be later to win
For the times, they are a-changin'

Come senators, congressmen, please heed the call

Don't stand in the doorway, don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled
The battle outside ragin'

Will soon shake your windows and rattle your walls

For the times, they are a-changin'

Come mothers and fathers throughout the land
And don't criticize what you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command
Your old road is rapidly aging

Please get out of the new one if you can't lend your hand
For the times, they are a-changin'

The line, it is drawn, the curse, it is cast
The slow one now will later be fast
As the present now will later be past
The order is rapidly fading
And the first one now will later be last
For the times, they are a-changin'

Happy 4th of July to you, and everyone here!

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PeteK's picture

July 04, 2021 at 12:12 pm

Excellent choice of lyrics, GG. The majority of change is good, but I still want AR for one more try.

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Packers0808's picture

July 03, 2021 at 07:59 am

Rodgers is nothing more than heat seeking missile at this point looking for sympathy, attention and a larger man bun!

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Dr.Rodgers's picture

July 03, 2021 at 10:16 am

Looking up to his main protector, David.

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KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

July 03, 2021 at 07:47 pm

Rodgers was quickly becoming somewhat irrelevant in the NFL with his mediocre play the past 3 or 4 years combined with all the young talented QB's playing so well in the league. Rodgers buys into LF's offensive system and surrounded by a team with lots of talent and lo and behold he wins the MVP. However, he still harbors anger and resentment for the Packers drafting Love, so on draft day through his proxies he drops hints he is unhappy not wanting to play for the Packers. Now all of a sudden he is constantly in the news which is what his ego always wanted. He is going to milk this issue of being unhappy for as long as he can because he constantly has his name in the news. Love the player but hate the person. Please trade his ass or force him sit on the bench regardless of salary before trading him next year. Make an example out him if you have too. Unfortunately, too many fans on here only care about wins and losses versus having quality people/players representing the Packers. I'm of the opinion you can win games with quality individuals who happen to be good players.

I'm a big supporter of the FO, but if they cave to the diva they have to go! I am so ready for the Jordan Love era! Bring it and I think most of us will be so impressed with the number of 2021 victories.

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White92's picture

July 03, 2021 at 09:55 pm

Be careful what you ask for

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snowdog's picture

July 04, 2021 at 01:02 pm

Lead ... Follow ... Or .. Get the hell out of the way

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greengold's picture

July 04, 2021 at 01:25 pm

Snow Dog is victorious.
The land of the Overworld is saved again.
- Neil Peart

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Crankbait's picture

July 05, 2021 at 06:52 am

Never been a big supporter of the FO in Green Bay. I sometimes feel that not having a dedicated owner is detrimental at times.

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ricky's picture

July 03, 2021 at 08:03 am

Either Rodgers comes back or he doesn't. He gets traded or he doesn't. He plays well or he pouts like the last few years under MM. I don't care any more. I can't put any more time or energy into speculation, concern or worry. What happens will happen. I fully understand that the writers at CHTV and elsewhere have space to fill, and are doing their best to keep topics fresh and find new wrinkles to explore. But on this issue, I'm done. After all, Rodgers had everything he wanted last year to win the SB: home field advantage throughout the playoffs, which is what he said the team needed to succeed. They didn't. So what will it be this year? Will the Packers win the SB this year? Quite frankly, I doubt it. For some reason the offense seems to fall asleep for long periods of time in the middle of the game, and the defense is put on the field way too much, and the lack of a pass rush exposes weaknesses in the secondary that winning QB's, like Brady, exploit. Rodgers, on the other hand, gets close to the end zone and focuses on one player, Adams, ignoring the rest of the field. It happened last year, it'll happen again. So, if Rodgers moves on, I'll miss him until the new guy shows what he can do.

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Crankbait's picture

July 05, 2021 at 07:01 am

MM was a putz. He was clueless at crunch time in the playoffs.
let's get Rogers back and I for one will be pulling for him to silence all his critics , win the big one, then drop the mic.

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shmelbs's picture

July 03, 2021 at 08:28 am

I suspect the FO, like the rest of the world, knows the Packers are much better with Rodgers at QB right now. However, it looks like they've been building a post-Rodgers roster since MLF came on board. Rodgers is just shortening their timeline by a year or two if he doesn't return. The FO didn't want to be in this position now, but they were likely going to be here in a year or two, anyway. So how concerned are they with the current situation?

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Leatherhead's picture

July 04, 2021 at 05:32 pm

I suspect the 1265 Brass has some real concerns about having their team led by someone who has made it clear that he doesn’t want to.

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Roadrunner23's picture

July 03, 2021 at 09:04 am

The NFL is slowly becoming the NBA with:
*Player empowerment
*BLM social justice suck ups
*Over inflated contracts
*Players always acting like they’re so disrespected
*Players getting coaches and GMs fired

The NFL like the NBA, MLB, NHL will eventually see their ratings plummet because of owners and GMs putting up with this BS.

The lunatics are starting to run the asylum and when that happens it’s all downhill.

Someone take a stand and stop the madness!

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Dr.Rodgers's picture

July 03, 2021 at 11:00 am

Good grief! But some of it may be true. I blame the officials.

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KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

July 03, 2021 at 07:49 pm

Amen!

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PeteK's picture

July 04, 2021 at 09:13 am

Are we just getting older and are not willing to deal with the change? In my youth in the 60s, I remember the older fans being angry at players with long hair, white shoes, outspoken, and the first million dollar contract. Let's not even talk about male earrings, my dad would have done a Van Gogh on me, hahaha.

7 points
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EricinGB's picture

July 03, 2021 at 09:07 am

Interesting Management Biased Spin: rather than Rodgers losing the locker room, consider this: Rodgers is standing up for the locker room and the players respect him for it. This is significant...especially in light of the Packers situation with Adams, Lazard, Tonyan, MVS and Alexander...all candidates for new contracts...what will happen with signing the Packers core ascendig players? Why is it that these management biased articles put the finger on Rodgers as the problem rather than look at the consequences questionable decisios towards loyal high performing players like Nelson (who would have played for the veteran minimun) and would have been an excellent #2 receiver...or Peppers who would have liked to stay or Rodgers QB coach Scott....if management mistreats Rodgers, players will naturally think "what about me?" Rodgers has lowest guaranteed money of any top 15 QB putting him (not the organization) and is at extreme risk in the event of injury. Prediction: fix Rodgers situation and address management hubris or Green Bay will need to pay above market to keep our ascending players...even then, we might not be able to keep Adams, Tonyan or Alexander...Rodgers is the canary in the coal mine that is alerting us: something is wrong with the culture towads the players...

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GregC's picture

July 03, 2021 at 09:58 am

I didn't detect any spin in the article. I don't know where you're getting that. I suppose it is possible that there is something wrong with the culture toward the players, but if that was the case, I think we would've heard more rumblings, especially from former players. I think it is a very corporate culture in Green Bay, which may feel a little restrictive for some players, but I doubt that it is a major problem. Free agents have joined the team if the price was right, and a lot of players who could've left have chosen to stay.

Apparently Rodgers wants to have input on roster decisions, so do you think other prominent players should have input as well? How would that work? Would a select group of players take a vote on who to keep and who to get rid of? Rodgers' apparent beef about wanting to have input on roster decisions is the weakest part of his case against the team--assuming it really is part of his case, because he hasn't actually come out and said it. Jordy Nelson's performance went down the toilet the year before the Packers let him go, and he wasn't much better with the Raiders the next year. Then he retired. Julius Peppers did have one more good season after he left, but then he declined and retired the following year. It is often a tough call about whether to hang onto veteran players with big contracts, but I don't think we get anywhere by giving their teammates input into those decisions. The teammates are biased toward short-term success rather than long-term success, and personnel decisions are not their area of expertise anyway.

4 points
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packer132's picture

July 03, 2021 at 10:03 am

There is nothing wrong with the culture towards the players. Packers paid top dollar to resign Bakhtiari, Clark, Jones, and brought back 20 of 22 starters. If they were treated badly, they would not have stayed with the team. Nelson played one year for the Raiders before he retired, and Green Bay tends to release players a year early rather than a year late. I have no beef with letting Sitton, Wells, Daniels, Bulaga, Linsley go. Its a fine line with managing salary, production, and age. Packers were a year early drafting Love, though Rodgers had two average years with injuries and nobody is going to ace every call. Enjoy the improved roster, 13-3 teams for the last two years, and rookie coach. I have no complaints.

3 points
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PatrickGB's picture

July 03, 2021 at 10:11 am

I believe that #12 THINKs that he is standing up for the locker room. Or maybe he has some friends in the locker room that he felt was mistreated. But he can’t have it both ways because there is a number and cost limit on every team. Players rise and players fall and the team has to always try and project into the future. It’s a balancing act. #12 was probably projected to cost too much for the team to keep him well into his 40’s which was his dream and he lashed out this year.

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Packerpasty's picture

July 03, 2021 at 10:18 am

thats right...the Rodgers haters want to spin that he is losing the locker room and players respect, I would think the opposite could be happening...all these players know what can happen to them in the NFL. Here one min gone the next.

3 points
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GregC's picture

July 03, 2021 at 01:42 pm

I haven't heard anyone say that Rodgers is losing the locker room. I don't think he is, but I don't think he's galvanizing the locker room in his favor either. From what the players have said and done, it appears that they are just going about their business and letting the Rodgers thing play out, because they have no power to affect the outcome anyway.

6 points
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HawkPacker's picture

July 03, 2021 at 10:25 am

Hey Eric,

Just remember that Rodgers got top dollar with his current contract and he signed that contract. He should live up to the contract!

1 points
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Coldworld's picture

July 03, 2021 at 10:58 am

Rodgers is a Caesar Chavez to the oppressed Green Bay 90? Ha ha doesn’t do that statement justice.

1 points
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joejetson's picture

July 03, 2021 at 07:48 pm

I disagree with your assertion that the Front Office doesnr want to pay their veteran player fairly. They are at or above the salary cap. You can make an argument that theyre paying the "wrong" players, but the fact that they're at or over the cap proves they're not pocketingthe money that could go towards player salaries.

4 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

July 03, 2021 at 08:56 pm

The Truth Seekers have arrived.

2 points
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Bure9620's picture

July 04, 2021 at 07:28 am

This has nothing to do with Adams, Alexander and others. This is purely Rodgers, he is even saying it has nothing to do with a contract....

3 points
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greengold's picture

July 04, 2021 at 09:03 am

“Rodgers has lowest guaranteed money of any top 15 QB putting him (not the organization) and is at extreme risk in the event of injury. Prediction: fix Rodgers situation and address management hubris or Green Bay will need to pay above market to keep our ascending players...even then, we might not be able to keep Adams, Tonyan or Alexander...Rodgers is the canary in the coal mine that is alerting us: something is wrong with the culture towads the players...”

What??? Have you ever heard of a front loaded contract???

This kind of misses the mark, don’t you think, Eric? The Packers made Aaron the highest paid player in the NFL for years. He took all of that money up front, and now he wants more? How fair is that?

They’ve paid to keep their star players, as best they can. I see the problem might be more with Rodgers, who doesn’t want to be an employee, and doesn’t want to lead the Packers at QB moving forward. He saw what Tom Brady got. What Peyton Manning got before him. I’m convinced Aaron wants that now. What more can the Packers do?

1 points
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TarynsEyes's picture

July 03, 2021 at 10:17 am

Can we stop being pests about what Rodgers is going to do when he's obviously fixated on beating Brady in the golf match I assume will be a must-watch sports event?

7 points
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Dr.Rodgers's picture

July 03, 2021 at 10:19 am

Yes, for real.

2 points
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Packerpasty's picture

July 03, 2021 at 10:19 am

ten times more exciting than any NFL game for sure!! Cant wait...drives, chips, putt's,,,wah..gonna be none stop excitement...

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Fubared's picture

July 04, 2021 at 10:53 am

Ya and he can wear his beautiful mystery t shirt and show everyone how hurt he is. What an FN wuss. No wonder he wasnt drafted higher. He made that bed with attitude and payed for it.

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Since'61's picture

July 03, 2021 at 10:40 am

I posted yesterday that since Rodgers didn't opt out it means that he wants to play somewhere this season. Also it's not about the money because an opt out would have been financially beneficial to Rodgers, more so than a hold out, and financially good for the Packers.

I think that Rodgers will stay out until after the Packers hold their practices with the NY Jets in August. Rodgers was not happy when the Packers practiced with the Texans in 2019 so I'm guessing that he will prefer to avoid the practices with the Jets as well.

Trade talk is quiet but anything is possible. Rodgers either knows he is going to be traded or he is going to play for the Packers. Why hold out and lose about $30 million. He's too competitive and it's too late in his career to miss an entire season. He and the Packers have made their respective points. His best move is to play and make a statement to the Packers FO. I think he'll be back under center for week one. Thanks, Since '61

6 points
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flackcatcher's picture

July 03, 2021 at 01:33 pm

Both the FO and Rodgers have entered the end phase here. What happens is up to the two parties now. My gut says the Packers were going to renegotiate the last three years of his contract and try for a Brady like deal. But Rodgers made clear that's out the window. I do agree that Rodger's best move is to report and get ready for the season. Beyond that I'm unsure. Just will wait and see.

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SanLobo's picture

July 03, 2021 at 02:40 pm

Agree, and to add to ‘Packerpasty’s earlier comment, “FO was made to look like fools by the sports media, so how is that a win?” While some disagree, GB’s FO has taken a beating in much of the popular press over this situation. For Rodgers, if he felt he has been disrespected by the FO, then this is what he wanted. Probably not all he wanted, but in the end, when it comes time to suit up, in his mind it may be enough.

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Since'61's picture

July 03, 2021 at 05:47 pm

Rodgers was seen working out with a few of the Rams in Malibu. Apparently he is working to stay in shape so he is probably assuming that he’s going to be playing somewhere.
Thanks, Since ‘61

6 points
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Coldworld's picture

July 04, 2021 at 12:35 pm

He’d be a fool not to keep his options open.

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Swisch's picture

July 03, 2021 at 01:04 pm

Fascinating quote from Brook Lopez -- and highly relevant to the Packers and Aaron Rodgers -- after the Bucks beat the Hawks in a big playoff game Thursday without their superstar in Giannis:
"What's great about today is we were all basketball players playing together on offense and defense. We were playing off one another, making plays, making extra passes. It was a lot of fun tonight."
What Lopez was saying subtly, perhaps subconsciously, was that it was a lot more fun, and highly effective, to not rely so much on one player to dominate the game while his teammates largely stood around waiting for rare opportunities like crumbs falling from the table.
I don't think Lopez was taking a jab at Giannis. Championship teams need superstars like him to get to the top of their sports against so much strong competition. Giannis seems like a great guy with a great attitude of effort and determination.
He also seems like a good-to-excellent teammate, but he may have to adjust his approach for the Bucks to be at their best. He may have to let other guys handle the ball more and take more shots. He may have to be more coachable -- including allowing himself to be taken out of the game more often so that he's fresher at the end. (He may also have to modify his free throw shooting, which isn't working all that well, anyway).
***
Superstars like Giannis and Aaron Rodgers need to take a step back at times. Are they working with their coaches and teammates as fully as possible to maximize the effectiveness of the team.
In the case of Rodgers, is he forcing the ball downfield too often instead of taking open shorter passes? Is he overruling play calls from the sidelines? is he getting all of his teammates involved as much as possible?
It's a tough challenge for superstars. We want them to step up in the big moments of big games, but they can get carried away. They can try to do too much.
Fine tuning that balance between doing too little or doing too much is a real difficulty. They key is to listen to the coach, who can see the big picture better than any one player, even a great player. It's huge.
It is perhaps true to say that Tom Brady, Joe Montana, and our own Bart Starr have outdone Aaron Rodgers in being more coachable, and being more willing to take on lesser roles for the benefit of their teams winning multiple championships -- while at the same time still being able to step up to make key plays themselves in the clutch. I don't know, but it's worth discussing.
In any case, it's something Rodgers has to come to terms with, in my opinion, and it would seem to be much more productive for him to focus on his best role for the team rather than on any of his other unexpressed concerns, which are apparently mostly personal, if not self-absorbed.
I want both of these guys showing their amazing skills with their current Wisconsin teams. I'm a big fan of both. I want the best for them as players and persons. However, for their good and ours, they need to have the humility to reassess themselves for good of the team, even while continuing to fuel their fires to excel as individuals.

0 points
2
2
GregC's picture

July 03, 2021 at 01:56 pm

I agree with your main point. I was a Pistons fan in the 80s, and I remember when they traded their best offensive player, Adrian Dantley, and then won two championships. When Dantley was there, the team ended up standing around watching him go one-on-one to try to score. The other four guys ended up flat-footed on offense. After Dantley was gone, the offense flowed much better. I don't think Rodgers has held the Packers back in that way, though. He does fixate too much on Davante Adams at times, but I think that's a pretty minor quibble. The offense flows well with Rodgers, and the stats of the other players (Aaron Jones, Robert Tonyan, etc.) reflect that. This holdout really is a problem, though, and it will become a glaring problem if it continues during training camp.

5 points
5
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Swisch's picture

July 03, 2021 at 03:28 pm

Thumbs up from me, Greg, for your good comment that is much appreciated.
What I would say in response, as perhaps a difference in viewpoint, is that there's a world of difference between what works in the regular season and what works in the playoffs.
Giannis and the Bucks, also Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, have done much better in the former than in the latter.
I'm not knowledgeable enough to thoroughly analyze by myself the last three possessions of the Packers in the playoff game this past season against the Bucs. However, I do question whether Rodgers would have done better to give more handoffs to Dillon, and to get other guys on the team not named Davante more involved. That also brings up the question as to whether Rodgers was piloting the team solo, or truly taking in the input from the flight controller on the sideline in Coach LaFleur.
I truly don't know. These are key questions, though, if we want to beat the best of teams in the biggest of games to get over the top for titles.

2 points
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GregC's picture

July 03, 2021 at 03:43 pm

No doubt, the offense looked a little stilted in those last few possessions, especially near the goal line, and it may have been Rodgers' fault. We will probably never know what the decision-making process was.

4 points
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greengold's picture

July 03, 2021 at 06:31 pm

I agree with you both, Greg & Swisch.

I also remember AD well. Followed him religiously. Dantley was one hell of a player, but, you’re right!

I’m always going to wonder what the real story is on many of these & other issues.

1 points
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White92's picture

July 03, 2021 at 04:40 pm

Interesting point. Not sure that I agree. The superstar route worked ok for Jordan and the Bulls

3 points
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Swisch's picture

July 03, 2021 at 05:14 pm

Michael Jordan may be one on the prime examples of a guy who had to adjust his game to share the ball more in order to start winning championships.
I do agree we need superstars, White92. The other players should be grateful to them when they do extraordinary things to elevate the team. However, sometimes those other players can do a lot more than they're being allowed to do, and are being stunted by the superstar to the detriment of team success.
As I wrote, it's a tough challenge for the superstar to find that groove of stepping up to the lead the way without stepping on the toes of his teammates by diminishing their contributions. However, that's a big part of becoming truly great
Sometimes with a superstar, less is more. The superstar needs to trust his coach to help him to know when to push forward to take over a game and when to pull back so as to facilitate his teammates. If the coach isn't up to it, then it's time to get a new coach.
Phil Jackson seems to have helped Michael Jordan find the balance of individual greatness with team glory. I hope Giannis trusts Coach Bud for discernment toward that same end.
It's be great to have Rodgers back with the Pack if he is willing to defer to Coach LaFleur. To the degree Rodgers has been cooperative in the past, he needs to continue it; if Rodgers has been less than cooperative at times, he needs to resolve to give way going forward.

2 points
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greengold's picture

July 03, 2021 at 05:24 pm

Swisch, you’re 100% correct.

Jordan didn’t start winning Championships until he was 7 years in the league, and realized he didn’t have to do everything! Been thinking Giannis needs to hear this too. For years.

The parallels are very clear, IMO.

2 points
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packer132's picture

July 03, 2021 at 08:08 pm

You can't compare basketball with 5 players to football with 11 on the field. One player in basketball can dominate and no one player can dominate in football. Rodgers makes the Packers better, but it may be time to start a new era. I know he changes calls from the coach, and if he returns, will he be a team player? We will find out in August what he plans to do.

2 points
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White92's picture

July 03, 2021 at 10:00 pm

That's a great point and I totally agree. But I also think a lot of people on here don't realize how hard it is to get a Hall of Fame caliber quarterback. They think we'll just plug in Jordan love and everything will go as according to it how it has been the last 20 years.

2 points
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greengold's picture

July 04, 2021 at 08:19 am

Hey White92,
You mean like Brett Favre? He was a Super Bowl winning QB in leading the Packers to the Lombardi Trophy in 1996. And then he wasn’t, playing 14 more years without leading his teams to win another.

Aaron Rodgers? Won a ring in 2010. It is 2020, and he hasn’t been able to QB the Packers past the NFCC game in those 10 years since, going 0-8 in opportunities to lead the Green Bay back to the Super Bowl again.

Both added MVP trophies to their mantles, further securing their HOF status, but no Super Bowls.

Maybe people on here don’t realize how hard it is - to move on from - a HOF QB. Oddly enough, Favre played 16 years for the Packers too. Maybe it is time to move on. It’s not like the Packers don’t have options at QB. They have their R1 successor, Jordan Love, whom they studied, interviewed & planned for... traded up for to lead us into the next era, which only now looks to be starting a year earlier than planned.

Aaron Rodgers is the one who apparently is calling his era in Green Bay, “over.”

We can’t be those people who now will only accept HOF caliber QBs in Green Bay. You don’t just get them, and plug them into the QB1 role. You search for them. You acquire them. You develop them. The Packers are trying to establish this as their process for their QB position. That appears to be what the Packers are now doing, in their hopes to continue that high level of success at the position. That, they did plan for. As a fan, I can support that.

2 points
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greengold's picture

July 03, 2021 at 05:59 pm

2003 was an interesting year for the Packers.

We crushed the Broncos, and the Queens laid down in an epic fail against Arizona to clinch the division with a 10-6 record.

Monday before, Favre went off for 4 TD passes the night after his Dad, Irv, passed away. RIP.

Packers won their Wildcard game vs. SEA on the Al Harris pick 6.

Packers lost the Divisional Round game that season on 4th & 26. I won’t get into the details...

The Packers had 456 passing Targets that 2003 season, which marks the last time the Green Bay Packers had less than 500 passing Targets, prior to 2020, where the Packers had 498 passing Targets.

We’ve all speculated on many levels as to what might be going on. Matt LaFleur dialed in the fewest Targets in 17 years for the Packers. How much do you think AR embraces that, despite winning an MVP?

I think we can safely add this noticeable change in direction to a more balanced, or run heavy attack, to the long list of reasons for Rodgers stance, which I really do believe to be multifaceted, both professional & personal.

The last two seasons represent a noticeable shift in Total Targets numbers, which means the Packers are running the ball a lot more under MLF. We can pretty much assume AR was calling his shots more than ever in 2018, where he threw 616 total Targets.

Two years prior, he threw 407 to our WRs alone, and 614 total Targets in that 2016 season. AR threw a career low 285 Targets to his WRs in 2020. I don’t think Brett Favre ever had over 400 Targets to his WRs alone. Favre always had a mean of around 335/year, and threw 321 Targets DD, Javon Walker & Robert Ferguson in 2003.

I think AR was afforded a lot more freedom during the last 4-5 years of Mike McCarthy’s tenure, as McCarthy’s game plans and oversight regularly underperformed. All of this stuff together might lend some credence to Mike Tirico’s take on this, or, just adds to a long laundry list.

https://nypost.com/2021/05/18/mike-tirico-talks-aaron-rodgers-and-his-ri...

1 points
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Swisch's picture

July 03, 2021 at 05:50 pm

It's an understandable, although unacceptable temptation for a superstar to become more and more a prima donna. After all, the superstar is making more money, getting greater ratings, and is the one accomplishing the sensational feats on the field.
It gets to the point, it seems, where the player can directly or indirectly intimidate the coach with threats that it's the coach that's more likely to lose in any power struggle.
I won't comment on any particular players -- and it's difficult to determine the inner dynamics of a team, anyway -- but allowing the coach to coach is a key to winning championships, in my opinion.
What a delicate position it is for a modern coach to give his superstar enough freedom of expression but still be firm enough to draw the line now and then! It seems much tougher than in Lombardi's day.
It may help if the coach can convince the superstar behind the scenes that being coachable is in the best interest of the superstar overall. During the game is not the time or place for arguments.
The coach has to be in charge for the team to thrive, especially in crunch time. Again, no small accomplishment for the coach to not be heavy-handed but also not a lightweight.
It would seem to make a huge difference if the superstar is understanding of this dilemma, and willing to defer.

2 points
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Irish_Cheesehead's picture

July 03, 2021 at 06:26 pm

I think Rodgers knows that for every day he loses money for failing to report, he can make extra dollars by doing an easy job online. Damn CheeseheadTV!

10 points
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PackerBacker84's picture

July 03, 2021 at 09:29 pm

I’ve been a packer fan since 92. I’ve seen generations of teams build and break down numerous times. I’ve also seen players from numerous teams, including ours, try to state their ”case”. I’m a father and a proud packer fan. I recently sported my packer hat on the lazy River in Vegas with my wife and was a sitting duck to all I passed. My response? “I don’t know, and at this point, I don’t care. A-ARON is going to do what is best for him. But I’ve got a family that needs to my undying attention at this point in my life. I can’t afford to invest my time in someone who’s financially comfortable and has no issue at this point in what he’s got left to accomplish in a league that he clearly has an issue with”. I love him as a man and a player, accomplished so much to say the least. In the end, AINT NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT! If he shows, he shows. But we’ve got a team that’s pretty good, not just on paper, to compete and develop a young buck with a promising future and give us fans a chance to enjoy some competitive football. The point? It’s all good.

3 points
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porupack's picture

July 04, 2021 at 07:03 am

Cory, the fans don't necessarily need to know what Rodgers is thinking, nor the details of what is going on. This is all fan angst. Chill. It is not for us to know until the season starts. What they do is better kept behind closed doors. The fact that little is being said, and coy statements about family demonstrates a degree of professionalism, meanwhile the two sides are left to work out the best options available. I have been of the opinion since the 29th of April, that Rodgers will play for the pack this year. My opinion of his personal side is quite low, but if in the end, he honors his contract, I'll respect him again.

2 points
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HarryHodag's picture

July 04, 2021 at 08:37 am

The worst case is he shows up then puts in a half-hearted effort. I still maintain he did that the year McCarthy got fired. But if he wants to win, Green Bay has a better shot then either Denver or Las Vegas.

At this point he has few realistic options. Even a wealthy person doesn't torch $30 million just to make a point.

What he needs to do is give it his all, shoot for another MVP, shoot for the Super Bowl and then tell the Packers he wants a trade. Next year they are more likely to give it to him and his trade value would still be good.

Training camp should be interesting. What he needs to do is face the media/public and say the off-season is over, he's giving it his all as a professional, and the business angle will have to wait. He should also say he's not talking about it during the season. That won't stop the national sports media dopes(NSMD) from writing about it ad nauseam.

1 points
5
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Since'61's picture

July 04, 2021 at 10:39 am

Rodgers can be accused of many things in his personal behavior but I have never seen or heard anyone accuse him of not being a professional or dogging it on the field at any point in his career. He has a reputation for working hard in practice and for leaving everything on the field.

Your accusation that he put in a half-hearted effort in 2018 when MM was fired in totally unfair. Why? Because he played that season with a broken tibia and a torn MCL sustained during the first game of the season. If he wants to be half-hearted or get his coach fired he had every justification for sitting out games due to his injuries.
Instead he showed up and played in every game which in fact proves just the opposite of your comment. It also shows his dedication to the sport and his teammates. Even the final meaningless game he showed up and played and suffered a concussion as a result. Rodgers had and still has nothing to prove to anyone in terms of his play on the field.

What you are doing is condemning him for his behavior during the off season which is quite frankly irrelevant and combining with his on field performance which is ridiculous. All that matters is what he does on the field while he is playing for the Packers. In that respect he has earned whatever he is paid and he has earned the right to sit out the meaningless OTAs if he chooses to do so.

If Rodgers does show up to play for the Packers in 2021 I'm confident that he will work hard and play hard as he always has. And once again I will post what I have been posting since 2014. If the rest of our roster played their positions as well as Rodgers has played QB for the Packers we would be undefeated SB champions. Case closed.

Being the QB means that Rodgers gets more of the acclaim when we win and more of the blame when we lose. that's become part of the deal when ESPN in particular created the myth that the QB is why teams win or lose games and championships. No QB plays alone, especially when His take the game out of their QBs hands. When your Qb is your team's best player and is an MVP/HOF QB you either let him run the offense and you accept the consequences.

Blame and guilt are 2 sides of the same coin. Neither accomplishes anything or creates any solutions. It just takes your focus on your goal. Which in the case of the Packers and the NFL should be winning the SB, preferably now. The common ground for the Packers and Rodgers is winning the SB in 2021. That is what they should be working towards. The rest of is just window dressing. Enjoy the 4th of July everyone. Thanks, Since '61

5 points
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greengold's picture

July 04, 2021 at 10:58 am

Great points, Since’61!!! You have a Happy 4th of July too!

1 points
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HarryHodag's picture

July 04, 2021 at 11:18 am

I guess you missed his stats for that year. Every QB plays hurt, but I found it particularly worrisome when he misses passes to wide open receivers.
It also begs the question why your hero was so vocal when things went south about the 'offense'(McCarthy's) and Mike was shown the door.

McCarthy won a Super Bowl, kept the team in the playoff hunt even with Ted Thompson only helping out a little, especially in later years. Yet he badmouths MM and gee, he gets fired.

Believe what you want. I gave up on AR awhile ago. I'd settle for a lesser QB who isn't such a pain in the butt.

2 points
4
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greengold's picture

July 04, 2021 at 01:53 pm

Harry, I’m right with you on your last paragraph.

All the other stuff, I agree with Since’61 there was no way he was tanking.

Personally, I think the last 3 years of McCarthy’s tenure were a bit more like a rudderless ship. Same ship, but with no real direction. AR was doing pretty much what he wanted to do. There was no balance run/pass. Our starting QB was pretty much working without a system of checks & balances. We all could see it with the way Mike McCarthy was letting the team go stale.

Aaron Rodgers pissed me off, completely, with his draft day stunt and his subversive MO throughout what has become an ordeal for any Packers fan. I bought the 12 jersey, the Throwing Dimes & Suck It Signs t-shirt, was super supportive of him, but saw what was occurring and didn’t think it was conducive to winning football. Too much diva, not enough team. I’ve felt that way the last 4 or 5 years.

Regardless, I supported him throughout, until April 29th, 2021. He torched that bridge for me. Now, I’d rather not deal with his BS, because I can’t and don’t trust him to lead our team to winning another Lombardi Trophy.

All he had to do was be square, upfront and honest. Instead, he continues to this very day playing us fans for fools. He lost me.

Bring on Jordan Love, and let’s go win this thing. Happy 4th, Bubs!

4 points
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Since'61's picture

July 04, 2021 at 01:17 pm

Harry -
1. I’m aware of ARs stats for every season he has played.
2. Not every QB plays with injuries and many have in fact missed games with less injuries than Rodgers played with in 2018, including Bart Starr who missed games with sore ribs during the 1968 season.
3. No one got MM fired but MM. If you were paying attention you would know that he was never the same coach after the combined loss to Seattle in the 2014 NFCCG and the sudden loss of his younger brother only 10 days later. That alone would be enough to cause anyone to reassess their priorities at least. In fairness to MM I give him credit for sticking to his responsibilities through it all. MM had personal integrity and he believed in his system, his players and the Packers tradition. However by 2017/2018 he was going through the motions and it was pretty obvious to most of here at the blog at that time and we discussed it. (You we’re not here at the time).
4. If you have a credible source(s) of Rodgers vocal comments about wanting MM fired please post the source and I’ll be happy to check them out.
5. I have followed sports too long to believe in or to have any heroes. Lombardi, Starr, Nitschke, Mickey Mantle and their like are long gone and probably never to be seen again. Players, entertainers, politicians, business tycoons all seem to have their issues and become disappointing to their followers. That’s why all that matters to me is what a player does on the field. Rodgers record on the field speaks for itself. The rest is irrelevant. The Bronx Zoo Yankees (‘76 - ‘81) hated each other, their manager and their owner. Yet between the lines they went to 4 World Series and won 2 of them. All of the off field stuff meant nothing when they stepped on the field. Since then I’ve ignored the off field BS
and focus only on the results on the field.
6. It’s not about heroes. It’s about being fair.
7. Since this is the 4th of July my true heroes are the guys I served with in the Nam, especially those who did not make it back. Them and my Dad, who served in combat in the Pacific during WW2 and then served 27 years (‘52 -‘79) in the NYPD.
If you’re not speaking about them or our servicemen I respectfully request that you don’t use the word hero around me. Enjoy the holiday.
Thanks, Since ‘61

3 points
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NitschkeFromTheGrave's picture

July 04, 2021 at 08:45 am

"Rodgers needs to know how much that team values him" ???

Dude, you need to layoff your private time with Dr Phil & Oprah.

Roger's need to "Man-Up"

4 points
5
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PeteK's picture

July 04, 2021 at 09:33 am

I believe it's a certainty that he is coming back. However, we are very big Packer fans and keep getting suckered into reading and reacting to these stories. So who's at fault media or readers. A major paradox in our country is the following: Americans need more personal discipline in order to be happy because there are many trappings in our free society.

4 points
4
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Fubared's picture

July 04, 2021 at 10:51 am

anyone who thinks the pack will trade Rodgers this year is way off base. Hey, pack fans know one of the mantras, of this org, we have HOF qb's, if we just score more points then our opponent we dont need a top defense. All we need is a lets try and plug the hole in the dam defense while were putting up points.
Thus, the pack cannot afford to chance not having someone to put the points up.
I mean keeping King. redmond, etc. If you can be happy with those guys running around on D, I must be right on baby.

2 points
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PeteK's picture

July 04, 2021 at 12:25 pm

The structure is there on defense, with a few solid complimentary players( drafted) , it could become one of the best in the league.

1 points
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