Aaron Rodgers reportedly declined two-year offer

It’s never been about the money for Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers, 38, declined a two-year contract extension offer from the Green Bay Packers this offseason that would have made him the highest-paid quarterback in football, according to ESPN.

The extension would have tied Rodgers to the Packers for five more seasons through 2025.

Packers CEO Mark Murphy, GM Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur all reportedly flew out to California in the spring to try and find common ground with their QB. NFL Network reported in March that Green Bay was 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 Tuesday 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.

Last May, after the Love pick, Rodgers acknowledged that “my sincere desire to start and finish with the same organization … may not be a reality.” At the time, it seemed he was looking for the team to recommit to him. Rodgers then won his third MVP award in 2020 while keeping Love nailed to the bench.