GREEN BAY, Wisconsin – At the Green Bay Packers-mandated minicamp on June 7, Aaron Rodgers said the final snap of his NFL career would “definitely” be with the team that drafted him in 2005. I said yes.
Performing on January 17 Pat McAfee ShawRogers opened the door to an alternate reality.
“If they want to be young and they think Jordan[Love is]ready to go, that might be the way they want to go. If it’s not, and they’re saying, ‘No, no, no, I still want you to play,’ then that’s all we do. You have to be in the right situation with a roster that looks like you can win . “
Rogers, 39, has no interest in being part of the rebuild, as he has said in the past. Also, as he has said in the past, the important thing for Rodgers at this point in his career is to win his second Super Bowl ring.
The ball therefore appears to be straight into Packers Court. And it boils down to one of three things.
For one, do general manager Brian Gutkunst and team leadership think this version of the Packers has run its course after an 8-9 season? It means deciding to hand the reins to Love, a 2020 first-round pick who probably has no interest in being a four-year backup.
Secondly, do you think Gutekunst just needs a tweak to the roster? That would mean going with some younger players but putting Rodgers at the center .
Third, does Gutekunst see this season as a blip on the radar? That means bringing back as many key players as possible under the constraints of the salary cap.
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In other words, what’s the plan? Rebuild, retrofit or reload? How does Rogers believe he fits into any plan?
“I don’t think any opportunity should be closed,” Rodgers said. I think we need a conversation.I don’t think any player wants to participate in any type of rebuilding.I said it many years ago.Reloading is a lot of fun.
The team is only “a few guys away” after their first losing season since 2018. Rodgers thought so after losing to Detroit. A healthy offensive line and the growth of receivers Christian Watson and Romeo Dubs could mean a renaissance for him after a struggling season.
The presence of some of his favorite players, such as receiver Randall Cobb and tight end Marcedes Ruiz, will influence his decisions as he considers them part of the winning formula. .
“This game is about relationships,” Rogers continued. “It’s about players you play with and rely on, even if they don’t make it big in the stats book. A man like Marcedes Ruiz, he’s a key cog in the locker room and the team’s momentum. A career together. If I’m playing, I want that guy next to me.
“I want the best Randall Cobbs in the world. If he wants to keep playing, in my locker room. I want to re-sign the Gru guys at
Of course, Rogers still has to decide his future. He and the team spoke as part of last week’s annual exit interview, and will continue to do so throughout the offseason. Parallel to the question is Gutekunst’s vision of fixing a team that has gone 39-10 and missed the playoffs over the past three seasons.
If Rogers is ready to play and sees the potential to fight for a championship, he will come back. What if not?
“Look, I really wanted to come back and finish my career in Green Bay,” said Rogers. “In 2019 we were feeling each other on offense and our defense was playing pretty good. I said no. I will row without doing anything in particular.
“I am sure there will be a lot of the same sentiments this year. But do you think I can still play?Of course.Can I play at a high level?Yes.Great.I think I can win MVP again in the right situation.It’s the right situation.Is it Green Bay? Or another place? I don’t know.”
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