“He’s a choke artist” – Skip Bayless calls out ‘over-protected’ Aaron Rodgers with Packers QB’s future in limbo
Aaron Rodgers has recently sparked rumors that his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers could potentially be over. He is yet to commit to what he plans on doing for the upcoming 2023 NFL season, making it appear that all options are on the table. This includes returning to the Packers, seeking a trade, or possibly even retiring.
While many believe that the Packers need everything in their power to keep Aaron Rodgers within the organization to give them their best chance of winning moving forward.
However, Skip Bayless has a much different take on the situation. He believes the Packers are stuck with Rodgers in a bad situation due to his contract, but he's not the guy that they can rely on in their ultimate pursuit of another Super Bowl.
Here's what Skip Bayless had to say about Aaron Rodgers' career in the NFL Playoffs during a recent Undisputed episode:
"This guy is a choke artist. I don't care what you say, he's a choke artist. I can show you game after game after game. He's now 7-9 since that long ago, galaxy far away, Super Bowl that he won, because they were a road Wild Card team with Mike McCarthy as his head coach. They had to go on the road every time and the expectations were way down here.
"Nobody saw him coming .. They got to the Super Bowl and you know what happened .. They did it. That was his one and only Super Bowl and he won it."
Bayless continued:
"But since then, after he became a made man .. he went 7-9. Now I can show you that the seven wins that he has are all flimsy at best. They're over Kirk Cousins and Joe Webb and the 'Dez Caught It' game and the 'Odell Boat Trip' game to Miami rather than going up to Lambeau.
"I can show you just off the two intergalactic field goals from 'Mason Crossbar' at Jerry World. It's like shaky, shaky, shaky. He's lucky to be 7-9 and then this is what you get. But the joke is on the Packers. I'm sorry, but they gave him his guaranteed money. They're stuck."
Aaron Rodgers: "I think I can win MVP again, in the right situation"
"I am worn out from Aaron Rodgers." — @RealSkipBayless https://t.co/1kt5Fq0qzc
Skip Bayless believes the Packers are stuck with Aaron Rodgers whether they want him or not. Due to Rodgers' current contract situation, Bayless might be right.
Aaron Rodgers contract with the Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers signed a record-setting contract with the Green Bay Packers during the 2022 NFL offseason. The deal is worth more than $150 million across three years, making him the first athlete in American sports history to sign a contract worth more than $50 million in AAV.
It would be nearly impossible for the Packers to even consider cutting Rodgers during the 2023 off-season. If they do so before June 1st, they would carry $100 million in dead cap money. After June 1st, they would still carry $75 million in dead cap money. Releasing is not an option, as it makes no financial sense.
The possibility of trading Aaron Rodgers is also a bit slim. It likely won't happen prior to June 1st, as doing so would carry more than $40 million in dead cap money. Trading him after June 1st still carries about $15 million in dead cap money. While it's a bit more manageable, it would still cripple them financially. This is part of the risk that comes with signing mega-contracts.