Rodgers’ future is ‘uncertain’
Former Pleasant Valley and Butte College grad not sure what is in store for him, GB
GREEN BAY, WIS. » Aaron Rodgers said he’s not sure what his future holds in Green Bay. That was all it took to raise concerns about the Packers’ ability to contend in 2021 and beyond.
Green Bay earned the top seed in the NFC behind an All-Pro season from Rodgers, who at age 37 put his team in ideal position to win its first Super Bowl since the 2010 season and the second of his brilliant career.
But the Packers’ season ended with a dispiriting 31-26 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Sunday’s NFC championship game, and it didn’t take long for questions about the team’s long-term commitment to Rodgers to resurface.
After the Packers’ fourth NFC title game loss in seven seasons, Rodgers said “a lot of guys’ futures are uncertain, myself included.” Rodgers has three years remaining on the four-year, $118 million extension he signed in August 2018, but the twotime MVP has acknowledged on multiple occasions that his hopes of finishing his career in Green Bay were complicated by the Packers’ decision to select Utah State quarterback Jordan Love in the 2020 draft.
“There’s a lot of unknowns going into this offseason now,” Rodgers said. “I’m going to have to take some time away for sure and clear my head and just kind of see what’s going on with everything. But it’s pretty tough right now, especially thinking about the guys who may or may not be here next year. There’s always change. That’s the only constant in this business.”
Assuming Rodgers returns, the team around him could look quite different. The Packers’ list of potential free agents includes running backs Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams, All-Pro center Corey Linsley and
cornerback Kevin King.
Linsley was asked Monday about the progress of contract negotiations. MISSING BAKHTIARI » The Packers boasted one of the league’s top offensive lines this season thanks in part to All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari, who suffered a season-ending knee injury on Dec. 31.
Bakhtiari’s absence was much more noticeable Sunday. The Bucs recorded five sacks, matching their output from their 38-10 regular-season victory over the Packers. Green Bay allowed a total of 16 sacks in its other 16 games.
TOUGH FINISH FOR KING, JONES » If this was the last game in Packers uniforms for King and Jones, it will
be a tough way for them to go out.
King played through a back injury that had prevented him from practicing Friday. He was beaten on two touchdown passes — including a 39-yarder to Scotty Miller with 1 second left until halftime — and
committed a pass-interference penalty that helped the Bucs run out the clock. NO GOLD RUSH THIS TIME » Green Bay had the NFL’s best red-zone offense this season, though the Packers referred to it as the “gold zone” due to offensive coordinator Nathanial Hackett’s
love of the movie “Austin Powers in Goldmember.”
That magic was missing Sunday as the Packers twice settled for field goals after having first-and-goal. Rodgers was 2 of 9 with two touchdown passes in goal-to-go plays Sunday. Through the first 17 games of the season, he had been 41 of 59 with 31 touchdowns and no interceptions in those situations.
STAFF DECISIONS » Packers coach Matt LaFleur is 26-6 in his two seasons, and despite questions about his late-game decisions against Tampa Bay, he remains one of the bright young minds in the NFL and isn’t going anywhere.
LaFleur has had the same coordinators — Hackett, Mike Pettine (defense) and Shawn Mennenga (special teams) for his first two seasons. Now he must decide whether to bring them back.