"If there's a rebuild going on, I won't be a part of it" - Aaron Rodgers gives Packers an ultimatum, open to leaving franchise
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers' roller-coaster 2022 season ended unceremoniously. After a 4-8 start, they won four straight games and only needed a win in Week 18 against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field to make it to the playoffs. But they lost 20-16 and were eliminated from playoff contention.
GOFF. CHARK. GAME OVER. #DETvsGB https://t.co/2Xbn0PvuuN
Rodgers has been silent since that loss to the Lions and skipped his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show last week to process the defeat and ponder upon his future. On Tuesday, the Packers star marked his return to the show with a stern warning to the franchise, saying:
"If there's a rebuild going on [in Green Bay], I won't be a part of it."
Rodgers gave context to his stance, saying:
"I came back and really wanted to finish my career, and Green Bay in 2019... we, you know, were feeling each other out on offense and and our defense played pretty damn good. And a lot of people said I was washed, couldn't really play anymore, wasn't the same. And then I won two MVPs in a row. Without really doing anything different.
"I'm sure there's a lot of the same sentiment this year. You know, I have a lot of comments about a lot of that I like to keep to myself or I'll share, you know, off air just because out of respect for the whole process."
The four-time NFL MVP believes he can match Peyton Manning's record of five MVP awards as long as the situation is right:
"Do I still think I can play? Of course. Can I play at a high level? Yeah. The highest. I think I can win MVP again in the right situation. Right situation... is that Green Bay or is that somewhere else? I'm not sure. But I don't think you should shut down any opportunity.
"But like I said during the season, it's got to be both sides actually wanting to work together moving forward. I think there's more conversations to be had. I think no player wants to be part of any type of rebuild."
Watch the entire episode below:
Aaron Rodgers ready to move on from Packers
When the Packers dropped to 4-8, many fans and analysts suggested that the team should shut down Aaron Rodgers and give Jordan Love the opportunity to prove that he could be the team's starting quarterback. The team resisted that temptation and finished the season with Rodgers under center.
Love will enter the final year of his rookie deal once the 2023 season commences unless the Packers decide to pick up the fifth-year option in his rookie contract. If they do, they will be committing a significant portion of their 2024 cap space to Love while also having Rodgers on board, whose contract doesn't run out until 2026.
Rodgers will turn 40 this year, and if the Packers deem Love to be his long-term replacement at quarterback, they will have to test him in 2023. If they opt to go that route, Rodgers claims he would understand and move on to a new team. He told McAfee:
"If they want to go younger and think Jordan is ready to go there, then that might be the way they want to go. And if that's the case, I still want to play, then there's only one option. To play somewhere else."
The Packers will have to make a big decision this off-season. Should they commit to Aaron Rodgers or trade him and make Jordan Love the starter? It's a tough call.