© Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via Imagn Content Services, LLC
We’ve still got four hours until the draft starts, and there is no indication the absurdity of today will slow down at any point. Earlier in the day, it was reported that the 49ers contacted the Green Bay Packers about trading for Aaron Rodgers. Were they panicking? Messing with us? Due diligence?
Now we have our answer. Aaron Rodgers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, wants out of Green Bay.
More on Aaron Rodgers’ being unhappy with the Packers:https://t.co/LS1yFNDLtK
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 29, 2021
According to the report, Rodgers has entered a stage of his life where his priorities are changing. Recently engaged, Rodgers, who was taken off guard by the Packers trading up for and drafting Jordan Love in the first round last year, recently hosted Jeopardy! and is living at home in California. The Packers have offered Rodgers an extension after he refused to restructure his deal.
The #Packers remain committed to Aaron Rodgers. @TomPelissero said there is “zero” chance of trading him. It’s all about getting an extension done… and if that happens, this should take care of the matter (until next time). https://t.co/Lv56tHCC6M
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 29, 2021
The Packers’ brass has flown out to California to meet with Rodgers in person and Rodgers’ agent Dave Dunn has flown to Green Bay to meet with them. As of yet, there’s been little progress. One interesting idea from Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated; Rodgers could, like Brett Favre before him, threaten to retire.
Aaron Rodgers’ leverage—simply threaten to retire. (I think he may have gotten a look at that playbook in the early stages of his career.) https://t.co/G6r3fuuS9j
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 29, 2021
What comes next? Who knows. But you can bet the Packers are getting plenty of calls right about now. Rapoport reported it’s about an extension… but Jay Glazer disagreed, saying it’s “more than a contract deal.”
Aaron told Packers he doesn’t want to return as @AdamSchefter said and I think it’s more than a contract deal, I think he’s pretty strongly convicted that he doesn’t want to go back to Packers.
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) April 29, 2021