Rodgers turned down extension
It’s never been about the money for Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers, 38, declined a two-year contract extension offer from the Packers this offseason that would have made him the highest-paid quarterback in football, ESPN reported Tuesday.
The extension would have tied Rodgers to the Packers for five more seasons through 2025.
Packers CEO Mark Murphy, GM Brian Gutekunst and coach Matt Lafleur reportedly flew out to California in the spring to try and find common ground with their QB. NFL Network reported in March that the Packers were working on renegotiations to placate the reigning MVP.
This contract offer was the natural result of their efforts to resolve this standoff prior to training camp, which opens next week for most NFL teams, the Packers included. It remains an open question whether Rodgers will show up on time, if at all.
Rodgers’ discontent was never motivated by money, however. Rodgers doesn’t want to be in Green Bay. His decision to decline that offer reinforces that more money won’t change how he feels.
Rodgers’ problems go all the way up the organization to Murphy. Rodgers is fed up with the organization’s inner workings and a lack of trust.
The straw that broke the camel’s back reportedly was the Packers’ 2020 firstround selection of Utah State quarterback Jordan Love without informing Rodgers of possible plans to replace him.
In April of this year, Rodgers reportedly tried to force his way out of town in a trade to the 49ers. The night before the NFL draft, the 49ers reportedly called the Packers with a trade offer.
Rodgers is under contract through 2023.
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Colleges: The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference became the first conference on record to mandate COVID19 vaccinations. In a statement, the SIAC, which competes in Division II, said that all players and coaches must be fully vaccinated in order to compete. The policy also applies to staff and other auxiliary groups, including officials, band members and cheerleaders. The SIAC will honor exemptions players receive from their respective campuses for medical or religious reasons. However, unvaccinated players will be required to undergo COVID-19 testing as established by local health officials.