Irritated Rodgers joins Packers
Aaron Rodgers returned from a tumultuous offseason of uncertainty eager to get the Packers to the Super Bowl after falling a step short the past two years. But nobody’s making any promises regarding the 37yearold quarterback’s future beyond 2021.
The reigning MVP participated in Green Bay’s first trainingcamp workout Wednesday, Then he made it clear in a news conference that some of the issues that caused him to skip the team’s organized team activities and mandatory minicamp remain unresolved.
Does he expect to be back with the Packers next season?
“I really don’t know,” Rodgers said. “I think I’m just going to focus on this year. There’s a lot of moving pieces besides myself, expiring contracts from a number of guys, so there’s going to be a lot of tough decisions at the end of the year. I’m just going to enjoy this year and then revisit that conversation at the end of the season.”
Both the quarterback and Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst described their relationship as “professional.”
But asked about the issues that led to his frustration, Rodgers gave a reply that lasted nearly six minutes.
The threetime MVP wanted to have a voice in the decisionmaking process and believed the organization didn’t treat departing highcharacter players with enough respect — mentioning more than a dozen former Packers, including Charles Woodson, Jordy Nelson and Julius Peppers.
He also hoped the Packers would commit to him beyond this season and asked to help recruit free agents. Rodgers indicated he didn’t get the answer he wanted.
“I felt like if you can’t commit to me past 2021 and I’m not part of your recruiting process in free agency, if I’m not a part of the future, then instead of letting me be a lameduck quarterback, if you want to make a change and move forward, then go ahead and do it,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers cited the Packers’ decision to cut Jake Kumerow last year and wondered why team officials couldn’t have given him the chance to talk them out of making that move.
“I’m not asking for anything that other great quarterbacks across the last few decades have not gotten, the opportunity to just be in conversation,” Rodgers said.
Gutekunst said Rodgers would be involved in the team’s decisionmaking process, but added that’s not a change from the past. However, one transaction could indicate Rodgers is getting a bigger role.
The Packers acquired receiver Randall Cobb from the Texans for an undisclosed draft pick. Cobb spent his first eight seasons in Green Bay before playing for Dallas in 2019 and Houston in 2020.
Rodgers noted that “I’m really excited Randall’s coming back.” Watson reports: Deshaun Watson was on the field for the start of camp with the Texans.
Watson asked for a trade in January before 22 women filed lawsuits alleging that he sexually assaulted or harassed them. Houston police and the NFL are investigating the allegations, but no charges have been filed.
Watson reported to training camp to avoid being fined $50,000 a day.
Briefly: Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson was absent after testing positive for the coronavirus . ... QB Zach Wilson, the Jets’ firstround draft pick, is still without a contract . ... Cincinnati QB Joe Burrow said his surgically repaired knee is “just about 100%” after his rookie season was cut short by the significant ligament damage in Week 11.