Aaron Rodgers says his ‘intention’ is to ‘play for the New York Jets’
NEW YORK — Aaron Rodgers says he wants to play for the Jets.
That was the news Gang Green nation wanted to hear from the superstar quarterback as he made an appearance Wednesday afternoon on “The Pat McAfee Show” with more than 480,000 tuning in to the YouTube show.
“Since Friday, I’ve said my intention was to play and to play for the New York Jets,” the four-time NFL MVP said.
But Rodgers made it clear that he is still under contract to the Green Bay Packers, so this isn’t a done deal yet. Now the Packers and Jets have to work out a deal that puts the 39-year-old QB in green and white.
Speaking from Southern California, Rodgers said it wasn’t until Friday that he realized he wanted to continue his career and not walk into retirement.
He said he told the Jets contingent — owner Woody Johnson, GM Joe Douglas, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and head coach Robert Saleh — that flew out to California last week to meet with him in person that “I’m not ready to make a decision about anything.”
But now he is. And he is ready to move on from the Packers.
Rogers, who went on a darkness retreat in Oregon, said he found out when he emerged that the Packers were ready to move on from him and hand the team over to Jordan Love.
“It was clear to me at that point, although they were gonna say the right thing publicly, they were ready to move on,” Rodgers said.
He said he wished Green Bay had made that clear to him at the beginning of the offseason.
Rodgers called the idea of moving on from the team that drafted him with the 24th overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft “bittersweet.”
He said he spent time during his retreat thinking about both scenarios: retiring or returning for a 19th season in the NFL.
49ers agree to terms with former Raiders No. 4 overall pick Ferrell
Clelin Ferrell, a defensive end who went to the
Raiders two selections after the 49ers selected Nick Bosa, is reportedly joining the 49ers on a oneyear deal.
Ferrell, 25, was taken by the Raiders at No. 4 overall in 2019 out of Clemson after being the Ted Hendricks Award winner as the nation’s top defensive lineman. The pick was criticized in draft circles, with Ferrell regarded by most as a player that could have been selected much later in the first round.
The 49ers have already lost defensive ends Samson Ebukam and Charles Omenihu in free agency to the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs, respectively.
Ferrell, whose signing was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, never became the kind of quick-twitch pass rusher associated with a No. 4 pick but had his moments as a base end and was regarded as an excellent teammate. He played in 58 games with 30 starts in four seasons with the Raiders in Oakland and Las Vegas. The franchise did not extend Ferrell a fifth-year option.
Credited with 10 career sacks and 32 quarterback hits, Ferrell joins Javon Hargrave as new blood on the 49ers’ defensive line on a defense far superior to anything he played with in Oakland or Las Vegas.
Ferrell will get the opportunity to expand his game under the tutelage of highly-regarded Kris Kocurek and has the ability to slide inside and play tackle as well as be a base end.
— Jerry McDonald, Bay Area News Group
Baker Mayfield agrees to deal with Bucs
TAMPA, Fla. — The Bucs are signing a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and No. 1 NFL draft pick.
At least he was in 2018. Free agent Baker Mayfield agreed to a oneyear contract worth up to $8.5 million with the Bucs on Wednesday. It includes a $4 million base salary.
The headband-wearing walk-on turned first overall pick by the Browns is joining his fourth team in three seasons.
Here’s how the NFC South stacks up at quarterback. The Saints have Raiders free agent Derek Carr. The Falcons will choose between Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke, who agreed to a deal Tuesday. The Panthers traded for the No. 1 overall pick, with which they will likely choose between Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud.
Mayfield, meanwhile, will battle Kyle Trask for the Bucs’ starting job in training camp.
Don’t bet against him. Mayfield, 27, signed a one-year make-it contract with the Panthers last offseason and won the starting job over Sam Darnold. When the Panthers fired coach Matt Rhule after a 1-4 start, Mayfield sustained a high ankle sprain and missed a start. When he returned, the Panthers had gone to P.J. Walker at quarterback and Mayfield was released.
— Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times