Teams want Rodgers released after IR move
For once it’s a Hail Mary the Packers won’t like.
A few unnamed NFL teams are arguing that Green Bay should have to release Aaron Rodgers after the team put him on injured reserve on Tuesday, citing a rule that states a player must suffer a new injury to be placed on IR, according to an ESPN report.
The Packers shut down Rodgers this week once they were eliminated from the playoffs. Rodgers had returned from IR, and a broken collarbone, to play Dec. 17 against the Panthers. Rodgers played most of the game, but came out when coach Mike McCarthy said he was “sore.” The Packers’ loss, combined with the Falcons victory over the Buccaneers on Monday night ended Green Bay’s long-shot playoff hopes. The next day, Rodgers’ season was officially finished.
The rulebook states that a player must suffer a new injury that would not allow him to play for at least six weeks in order to go on IR. If not, the team would have to release the player upon his return to health. It does not appear as if Rodgers suffered a new injury — at least, the Packers haven’t pointed to one — and thus there are QB-eager teams around the league arguing there should be a stunning new prize for teams to vie for in the offseason.
According to ESPN, the NFL referred all comments to the Packers, who declined to comment. A source told the website Rodgers wouldn’t have been medically cleared to play Saturday against the Vikings — still, the truth of that is debatable had the Packers still been playing for a playoff spot.