Rodgers’s ‘intention’ is to join the Jets, but no deal is done with Green Bay
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers said in a broadcast interview Wednesday that he intends to continue his NFL career with the New York Jets after 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers.
The four-time league MVP said on “The Pat Mcafee Show” that the Packers plan to move on from him as their quarterback. According to Rodgers, the Packers’ trade demands are holding up a prospective deal that would send him to the Jets.
“I think since Friday I’ve made it clear that my intention was to play and my intention was to play for the New York Jets,” Rodgers said. “And I haven’t been holding anything up at this point. It’s been the compensation that the Packers are trying to get for me and kind of digging their heels in. . . . It is what it is. The Packers would like to move on. They’ve let me know that in so many words. They’ve let other people know that in direct words.”
Rodgers met with Jets officials, including team owner Woody Johnson and Coach Robert Saleh, last week in California. The NFL’S free agent market officially opened Wednesday afternoon. Trades now can be official.
Rodgers said he was 90 percent certain before going on a recent darkness retreat that he would retire, then emerged to find out that his situation with the Packers had changed.
“Everything that I was told in the week that I was in Green Bay [following last season] was: ‘ Take as long as you want. You know, we want you to retire a Packer,’ ” Rodgers said. “. . . Now, when I came out of the darkness, something changed.”
— Mark Maske
● COWBOYS: Dallas released running back Ezekiel Elliott, ending a seven-season run for a twotime rushing champion who never regained the form of his dominant early years.
Elliott will be designated a postJune 1 cut, according to a person who spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the team didn’t reveal details of the decision. The move will save Dallas about $11 million under the salary cap this season. Elliott is third on Dallas’s career rushing yards list.
● BUCCANEERS: Tampa Bay agreed on a one-year, $8.5 million contract with quarterback Baker Mayfield, a person with knowledge of the deal told the AP.
● PATRIOTS: New England added Juju Smith-schuster, a former Pro Bowl wide receiver who won the Super Bowl with Kansas City last season.
A person with knowledge of the deal told the AP it is for three years and could be worth as much as $33 million.
● EAGLES: Philadelphia and six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Fletcher Cox reportedly agreed on a one-year, $10 million contract that will keep him in Philadelphia.
● DOLPHINS: Miami released veteran Byron Jones, three years after making him the highest-paid cornerback in the league with a five-year, $82.5 million deal.
● LLBROWNS: Cleveland reportedly reached agreement with former Kansas City Chiefs free agent safety Juan Thornhill on a threeyear, $21 million contract.
● 49ERS: San Francisco reportedly agreed to a one-year contract with former Raiders first-round defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell in hopes of reviving his career.
● VIKINGS: Minnesota reportedly agreed to terms on a two-year contract worth about $22 million with former Arizona cornerback Byron Murphy.
● LIONS: Detroit re-signed defensive end John Cominsky to a two-year deal.
BILLS: Safety Jordan Poyer elected to stay put by reaching a two-year agreement to re-sign with Buffalo.
● GREEN BAY: The Packers announced they re-signed all-pro kick returner Keisean Nixon.
● RAIDERS: Restricted free agent safety Roderic Teamer resigned with Las Vegas.
● CARDINALS: Arizona announced deals with linebacker Kyzir White, offensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt and defensive lineman Kevin Strong.
White and Froholdt were added on two-year deals, while Strong signed a one-year contract.
● PANTHERS: Carolina, which is expected to select a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft, agreed to terms with former Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders and former Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst, both unrestricted free agents.
● BRONCOS: Denver agreed to a two-year deal with free agent cornerback Tremon Smith worth up to $5.5 million.
● SAINTS: New Orleans and running back Jamaal Williams reportedly agreed on a three-year, $12 million contract
● CHARGERS: Defensive lineman Morgan Fox agreed to terms to remain with Los Angeles.