By Mike Rifkin
The NFL draft is usually met with so much optimism, teams drafting young players to fill a need. The 2021 NFL draft was met with negativity for one NFL franchise. Hours before the first round began it was reported that reigning MVP Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers wants a trade out of Green Bay Rodgers last season for the second time in three seasons led the Packers to the NFC title game, yet Green Bay’s thought process in the 2020 draft was to trade up a couple of spots and take the guy who will eventually replace Rodgers in Jordan Love
The Packers did the same thing when they took Rodgers when Brett Favre was still playing at a high level, but Favre had discussed retirement at specific points. But Rodgers sat on the bench and waited four years. He won a Super Bowl, but it could have been more. Rodgers never lost those games; the defense did by giving up so many big plays. Rodgers did all he could come to no avail.Rodgers did not show up with mandatory minicamps this week and had been saying he wants a trade. Recently in an interview on SportsCenter, Rodgers said he likes Love, his teammates, and coaches, which is strictly an issue with the front office.
This led to Packers President Mark Murphy saying the whole situation with Rodgers has “divided the fanbase.” On June 12th, at an event at Lambeau Field, Murphy called Rodgers a complicated man. Here is the thing, Mr. Murphy, without Aaron Rodgers, what are the Green Bay Packers? They don’t get all the primetime games they currently do. Are they a playoff team? Probably not. Aaron Rodgers is the reason this team has been in the NFC Championship game twice in three seasons.
The Packers are looking ahead to the future when they should be happy with where they are now. Rodgers saw what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did this offseason after winning the Super Bowl after defeating the Packers in the NFC title game. They kept all of their free agents because they wanted to play with Tom Brady and took a pay cut. Meanwhile, in Green Bay, the organization’s president is taking shots at his quarterback, who is already unhappy.
Rodgers should want out, and if the Packers genuinely are looking to the future, they should trade him.
But Mark Murphy, remember your team needs Rodgers a lot more than Rodgers needs the Packers. If the team chooses not to trade Rodgers and sits out, he can either retire or go host Jeopardy. There is an old saying that you don’t know what you got until it’s gone. Get ready, Green Bay, because Aaron’s exit is on you, not Aaron Rodgers.
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