Rodgers Wants A New Contract?

@fightphoe93 posted:

It's easy to forget that Wolf/Harlan weren't perfect either.  They botched things pretty badly after Holmgren left, first getting an overmatched Ray Rhodes to coach 1 season, then giving Mike Sherman full GM/coaching duties just 2 years later because they didn't want Favre to have 4 different head coaches in 4 years.  Harlan and Wolf were great, but that really was a few years of colossal mismanagement.   

Wolf and Harlan had earned a fuck ton of goodwill. They inherited a dumpster fire of a franchise, and Wolf pulled off to date the greatest collection of personnel moves in franchise history...that defense he built was incredible. He traded for Bert, and got us to two Super Bowls.

Ted also got a lot of understanding because of all the good he did.

Gunt and Murphy inherited a top franchise...to date, outside of a few great personnel moves, they haven't earned anything yet IMO.

@Henry posted:

If Rodgers was playing with Tampa they would've won by 20 points.

Just like if Rodgers, Brees, P. Manning, Big Ben, and a few others had played in New England over the last decade they'd have as many rings as Brady.

Questions I keep asking, but can't make sense of:

Yes, he is pissed about drafting Love, but if he was that upset, why did he play last year and not draw the line then? 

Wants to retire?  Now he has a hot and famous fiancé, house in CA, chance to be Jeopardy host, so I can understand. Then just retire dude.

Why did this fully break on the eve of the draft? Yes, there were hints he was upset, but the Schefter article couldn't have been "just learned". If he was trying to force a trade before the draft, wouldn't this article have come out a few days/weeks earlier?

Contract extension? Packers offered him one I believe. I wonder if he would like another $10m/yr which will guarantee they are going to lose guys next year (Adams/Jaire)

Seriously, he is upset that team drafted a player that plays the same position as he does after two years of slight decline without telling him and he doesn't want to play for them anymore?  I know athletes are spoiled, but grow up.  If he is upset with anyone it should be with his agent that had him sign a contract where the Packers hold the most of the cards.

If Aaron Rodgers retires (to host Jeopardy or just retire), he would have to repay the team $11.5M this year and $11.5M if he remains retired next year — all from his signing bonus. Unless the situation is repaired to his liking, this is a serious consideration, I’m told. https://t.co/kEQwpexqX0

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 30, 2021

Unless the situation is repaired to his liking

In other words:

This whole thing is a contract dispute. They may be implying it's personal, but its just business. AR doesn't give a shit about receivers or Jordan Love, he wants the money. Its a business and he's effectively in a contract year because he loses all control after this season. GB can kick him to the curb, they can trade him anywhere they want, they can make decisions without stroking his ego, he loses all power. He wants the guaranteed dollars. Who gives a shit at this point, rework his contract, pay him $45M per year guaranteed each year for the next 3 years to be the fucking MVP, and add 7 dummy years on to the back end to space out the hurt over a decade...$13.5M of dead money for 7 years is a small price to pay for a mount rushmore QB. I'm all for players getting control because teams tend to shit on players in general, I'm also for teams being able to field a competitive roster that isn't hamstrung by an expensive QB. Find a compromise, pull the trigger.

@H5 posted:

I don't see Gutekunst as being in over his head. When someone is in over their head they haven't the first clue how to address an issue, which is not the same as making a decision that others may not agree with or understand, or could ultimately not be the right decision. That is not Gutekunst. For comparison, I see Matt Millen in DET as someone who was was in over his head.

Gutekunst is not in over his head. His problem is that the guy over his head is in over his head.

This whole situation would be completely different if the organization works how it should. Murphy's job is to hire the GM and empower him to succeed. Murphy can they play around building sledding hills in the parking lot, but he needs to stay the hell out of football operations and make Russ Ball and MLF report directly to Gutekunst. The whole 3 separate visits to Rodgers thing is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard of in management. Three different people with three different agendas going out to visit him? You either go all at once together and show a united front or you send the GM alone. Those are the only options.

MLF probably went first. There is no way in hell MLF does not want Rodgers back. MLF and Rodgers worked great together and the whole situation is mutually beneficial to them both. He probably told Rodgers he is fully in his corner.

Then Gute probably goes out and says that he wants Rodgers back, but they needed to have a decent backup QB that can win them a few games if Rodgers gets dinged up. Rodgers is smart enough to see what happened in the Brett Hundley games. It's in his best interests to have a guy that isn't a complete stiff around. As others have said, it's not like Love is going to beat him out as a starter any time soon.

Then our idiot owner equivalent goes out to be the savior. The problem is that he's got Russ Ball reporting to him and telling him that we are about to go off a cliff and we need to clean up their salary cap. Guess what, Russ Ball only gets fired if the cap situation goes to hell. His job security is to keep their bottom line as clean as possible. He is also a guy that was passed over to give the job to Gutekunst, so there's also that lingering with all this.

No matter the outcome now, this episode has caused irreparable harm to the organization. Murphy is where the buck stops because of the way he has set himself up to be the kingmaker with 3 individuals constantly needed to seek his approval that puts them at odds with each other on several occasions. The Packer board needs to fire Murphy and get someone in here. Murphy has now screwed up multiple times (offering Favre money to stay retired, hanging onto TT way too long, and setting up a dysfunctional organization chart). Get rid of him.

@Chongo posted:

This is about a general lack of respect 12 perceives

Aaron's tired of everybody sucking off Tom Brady and is looking for similar lip service for his obviously superior skills. And even after AR got his wish of an NFCCG at Lambeau, he still lost to the inferior cheating QB (who threw 3 picks) ...and then he wakes up to find the entire world sucking off Brady again.

This is all Tom's fault

FUCK Tom Brady !!!

@Henry posted:

Exactly.  It's likely the reason why communication was shit in the first place.

Think about the Rizzi situation.  You have a proven coach that can only help your team.  His salary isn't a cap hit or anything but you pass on the guy and hire a schlub that never coached in the NFL before.

Is that a commitment to winning or dick swinging?

This I agree with.

I agree about Murphy but it sure feels like the Gunt hiring was more of a yes man move than being the most qualified.

@Satori posted:

Aaron's tired of everybody sucking off Tom Brady and is looking for similar lip service for his obviously superior skills. And even after AR got his wish of an NFCCG at Lambeau, he still lost to the inferior cheating QB (who threw 3 picks) ...and then he wakes up to find the entire world sucking off Brady again.

This is all Tom's fault

FUCK Tom Brady !!!

He never should have dumped Olivia...heard she could suck the chrome off a trailer hitch.

@Henry posted:

I agree about Murphy but it sure feels like the Gunt hiring was more of a yes man move than being the most qualified.

Murphy was in charge...I think he was so out of his depth and lacked the connections within the NFL to go hire a proper GM, so he convinced himself he needed someone off the Ron Wolf tree. Rather than Eliot, he chose between Gunt and Balls. Between the two, he made the better choice. You never want a straight money guy over personnel decisions. Ask Manchester United how that has worked out for them with their version of Balls, Ed Woodward.

But a confident, well-connected President would have expanded his search beyond the Ron Wolf tree.

I am not particularly enamored with former college athletic directors, having dealt with several of them personally. There are some truly exceptional ADs out there whose abilities would probably enable them to be a very fine pro franchise president...Barry Alvarez, Jeremy Foley, Mal Moore, Joe Castiglione, etc. but most of them are clowns. The board got enamored with him for whatever reason...maybe they thought the Titletown District was what the franchise needed.

All of the leadership for the Packers are lucky they have a hands-off employer. You have to fuck up epically to get fired from the Packers front office...and they are fortunate they have the most loyal and forgiving fan base in pro sports. Yeah, we want to contend for Super Bowls, but we still buy season tickets and merch if they don't. The #1 role of the GM is...protect the franchise, protect the tradition. Gunt and Murphy either missed how important 12 is to the franchise, or let their egos get the best of them and con themselves into thinking "no player is bigger than the franchise, INCLUDING Aaron Rodgers."

What they fail to realize is...this isn't about 12 being more important than the franchise, it's about recognizing how much of your success is due to him, and treating him as such. That doesn't mean washing his balls, that means treating him like a player with elevated attention not a JAG.

Okay, this is funny.

The Packers blindsided Aaron Rodgers during the 2020 draft, so Rodgers went full Cersei and turned the 2021 draft into the Great Sept of Baelor. pic.twitter.com/5qnmPJdOrn

— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) April 30, 2021

@Chongo posted:

Murphy was in charge...I think he was so out of his depth and lacked the connections within the NFL to go hire a proper GM, so he convinced himself he needed someone off the Ron Wolf tree. Rather than Eliot, he chose between Gunt and Balls. Between the two, he made the better choice. You never want a straight money guy over personnel decisions. Ask Manchester United how that has worked out for them with their version of Balls, Ed Woodward.

I think that's part of the problem.  He essentially made a concession to Ball with some bullshit title but I don't think jack squat is delineated in that FO.  Murphy and his "silos" bullshit.  Well, how about too many fry cooks in kitchen.  Hire a fucking chef.

Nerd!

@MichiganPacker2 posted:

Gutekunst is not in over his head. His problem is that the guy over his head is in over his head.

This whole situation would be completely different if the organization works how it should. Murphy's job is to hire the GM and empower him to succeed. Murphy can they play around building sledding hills in the parking lot, but he needs to stay the hell out of football operations and make Russ Ball and MLF report directly to Gutekunst....

MLF probably went first. There is no way in hell MLF does not want Rodgers back. MLF and Rodgers worked great together and the whole situation is mutually beneficial to them both. He probably told Rodgers he is fully in his corner.

No matter the outcome now, this episode has caused irreparable harm to the organization. Murphy is where the buck stops because of the way he has set himself up to be the kingmaker with 3 individuals constantly needed to seek his approval that puts them at odds with each other on several occasions. The Packer board needs to fire Murphy and get someone in here. Murphy has now screwed up multiple times (offering Favre money to stay retired, hanging onto TT way too long, and setting up a dysfunctional organization chart). Get rid of him.

The thing nobody seems to mention is that when Harlan and Wolf came in an turned that clownshow around, they were very clear that there needed to be a clear organizational hierarchy with everyone total control over their jobs.  Murphy has thrown that playbook out and the board is responsible for letting that happen.

Also, as far as MLF is concerned, does anyone think AR is pissed at him also for not going for it on 4th and goal at the end of the season? 

@Grave Digger posted:

If Aaron Rodgers retires (to host Jeopardy or just retire), he would have to repay the team $11.5M this year and $11.5M if he remains retired next year — all from his signing bonus. Unless the situation is repaired to his liking, this is a serious consideration, I’m told. https://t.co/kEQwpexqX0

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 30, 2021

Unless the situation is repaired to his liking

In other words:

This whole thing is a contract dispute. They may be implying it's personal, but its just business. AR doesn't give a shit about receivers or Jordan Love, he wants the money. Its a business and he's effectively in a contract year because he loses all control after this season. GB can kick him to the curb, they can trade him anywhere they want, they can make decisions without stroking his ego, he loses all power. He wants the guaranteed dollars. Who gives a shit at this point, rework his contract, pay him $45M per year guaranteed each year for the next 3 years to be the fucking MVP, and add 7 dummy years on to the back end to space out the hurt over a decade...$13.5M of dead money for 7 years is a small price to pay for a mount rushmore QB. I'm all for players getting control because teams tend to shit on players in general, I'm also for teams being able to field a competitive roster that isn't hamstrung by an expensive QB. Find a compromise, pull the trigger.

Two years guaranteed, and I'd agree with you.  That's another $90 million in his wallet, on top of the hundreds of millions they've already  given him.  When is enough enough?  While the players were different, this organization already stuck it's neck out for him on the front end of his career, pushing a HOFer out of town to give an untested QB the job. Did it work out...yes, but it could have easily gone the other way. 

Something else to consider too - Rodgers got a new contract in 2018 and to date, has received $110.7m on that contract (including a $6.8m roster bonus paid out on 3/19/21).  If he really wants out, would he repay that roster bonus plus the 2 years of unearned signing bonus?  Say Gute tells him he can make a trade happen but he has to pay back $29.8m - the $6.8m roster bonus they just paid out plus the $23m of prorated signing bonus that he received under the assumption he was going to play out a 5 year contract.  I wouldn't think it'd be a huge issue, as I think any team who trades for Rodgers gives him a new deal anyway with a fresh signing bonus.  So he pays $30m back that he didn't actually earn, then new team pays him a $75m signing bonus plus a $15m salary in 2021.  I don't think this is that crazy to ask, as trading Rodgers is nearly impossible due to the massive cap hit. 

Not sure this has every happened so unsure how it would work.  I think this happens with retired players in some situations.  I assume if Rodgers pays back a signing bonus then the team would recoup cap space.  In theory, this would reduce the dead cap hit in trading Rodgers to like $8m, making a trade much easier. 

@RochNyFan posted:

Two years guaranteed, and I'd agree with you.  That's another $90 million in his wallet, on top of the hundreds of millions they've already  given him.  When is enough enough?  While the players were different, this organization already stuck it's neck out for him on the front end of his career, pushing a HOFer out of town to give an untested QB the job. Did it work out...yes, but it could have easily gone the other way.

It's enough when the market says so. 38 or not, bet there's a dozen teams that would gladly pay him as the top QB in the league for 2 years to be their leader.

When you can't play any more, the chance at that money dries up. I don't blame any athlete for getting as much as they can for as long as they can.

Fuck, if my Postal Carrier neighbor could get $100 million for delivering the mail, I'd raise a beer to him.

@Goalline posted:

What the fuck is wrong with me?

Have you got some time?

Gute's building this team around Jordan Love, isn't he.

@Packiderm posted:

Robbie was one of my favorites growing up along with Skironski!

Man, I am going to hate myself your bursting your bubble....Bob owned a medical equipment company that bought the company I worked for in Milwaukee in the early 90's. He kind of bought it to give his son a gig as GM, but he relished being a "Lombardi Packer" in the sales side.

I was chosen as the guy he'd do a ride along with in SE Wisconsin when they took over. Spent the day in sales calls ( all Packer talk) and driving to sales calls. Never asked me a single question about myself or my family. Not one. Just a monologue about his playing career. I was disappointed and to this day  ,I "shut it down" when I find myself in a setting when someone just wants to talk about themselves.

OTOH. Neighbor (Bears fan) and his son stumbled across Donny Anderson in a golf locker room once (They didn't know who he was). Donny asked the kid all kinds of questions about his football team and chatted for 10 minutes. My neighbor finally said, "You look like you played football" and Donny replied, "Yeah, I played a little." That was it.

What different encounters!

CHI having a good draft.

Packers draft a QB in the 2nd just to stir things up.

Is the complexion of any other division changing more this off-season than the NFCN?

12 is no better than 4.  Fuck 'em both....

Trade the guy move on to the next era.  

@Chongo posted:

Fuck...how about the guy that cooks your eggs at Denny's?

I don't eat at Denny's. That's beneath me & that cook isn't worthy of my presence.

You’ve been in the Bay Area too long

Has Rodgers come out with an interview I missed?

Sheesh you dicks are getting way worked up over nothing.

Hey .....Packers are on the clock!!!

Aren't we all?

While I don’t blame the players for wanting to get every penny they can, the owners and fans are the ones giving them the opportunity to earn the megabucks they are hauling into their wallets. The fact that players now not only want the money, but the power to play wherever they want, a say in who the franchise should employ as coach and hire as players, and the ability to force teams to do what they want through media manipulation is just more than many fans can stomach. Most of us just feel dang lucky to have a job, and even better if it pays a good wage. To watch the prima donnas of the NFL, NBA, etc., act like everyone owes them everything is a kick in the gut to fans and to the average working person.

@Fandame posted:

While I don’t blame the players for wanting to get every penny they can, the owners and fans are the ones giving them the opportunity to earn the megabucks they are hauling into their wallets. The fact that players now not only want the money, but the power to play wherever they want, a say in who the franchise should employ as coach and hire as players, and the ability to force teams to do what they want through media manipulation is just more than many fans can stomach. Most of us just feel dang lucky to have a job, and even better if it pays a good wage. To watch the prima donnas of the NFL, NBA, etc., act like everyone owes them everything is a kick in the gut to fans and to the average working person.

While I think all parties have culpability in this ongoing saga, the part that stings me after having slept on it is the concerted effort of Rodgers all these years to NOT be Brett. Yet in the moment of truth, he pulls the same diva bullshit. I don't care if he wants his fair share of the qb market value. I don't care if Murphy, Gute et all have wounded his ego. It's clear they didn't learn the proper lessons from 2007. What i care about is his camp or whoever dropping this bomb on FANS the day of the draft. Yeah, it worked to maximum effect. But it also took all the wind out of my sails as far as this draft and upcoming camp/season. Not to mention the fact that "adult" Aaron used back channels and didn't man up and publicly express his mindset to the people who've been all in on supporting him for 16 years. It's his business, but the way it's unfolded makes him no better than the guy who crapped on him in all his selfishness 14 years ago. Plenty of blame to go around, but doing and saying all the right things for literally years only to piss in our punchbowl at the end is cowardly. And once again, is "being right" or "feeling wanted" really so all encompassing that you would burn every bridge on your way out? And as far as AR regarding Jordan Love, fuck you, you hypocrite. You paid it forward exactly the way you said you would not. The way you claimed NO ONE deserved.

@Boris posted:

I don't eat at Denny's. That's beneath me & that cook isn't worthy of my presence.

La-de-dah.

@Chongo posted:

Fuck, if my Postal Carrier neighbor could get $100 million for delivering the mail, I'd raise a beer to him.

I'd raise a beer to mine if he would just deliver my mail to me instead of my neighbors and stop giving me the neighbors mail.

Switch your mailbox with your neighbor - problem solved!!

No, because tamperin with mailboxes is a felony offense!

File this under, "I don't like the sound of this."

One of my colleague's wife works at a large architectural firm in Denver. Over the past couple months they've been working on a proposal for a large project in Boulder. In the process, they've been meeting with the couple that owns the property multiple times over the past couple months. That couple is Aaron Rodgers and her fiancée, Shailene Woodley. Apparently the two of them made multiple trips to Denver to meet with various architects, evaluate proposals and pick an architect.

Shailene Woodley has owned this Boulder property for some time. They explained that it's never her formal residence - just a random getaway for her. One of many properties. In fact, the people at the architecture firm were wondering why the couple was devoting so much time to the project. The news that broke yesterday suggests that the reason is that the couple fully intends to reside in Colorado at some point in the near future.

Does that guarantee that he'll leave the Packers and play for the Broncos? Of course not. But the fact that he's spending so much time in Denver and devoting time to their house here does make me concerned.

I think there's a very good chance he's traded in early June, after the cap hit wouldn't be so bad (it goes from $30M+ to $14M). Hope I'm wrong.

You're right, I don't like the sound of that.  Sigh...

listen, if denver gives us surtain, next years 1+2 and 2023 1+2 - bah felicia.  we have a shit ton of cap room after the dead money and move on, legacy burned but he obv doesn't give a shit about that - seriously ashamed of 12.  ar did this all wrong.

nobody has mentioned the fracture this will create in the locker room too.  there are guys that signed their big deals with the understanding that AR was going to be in for the long haul, he basically shafted all those guys.

Do you think for a second Rodgers ego will allow him to walk away?  This isn’t like Megatron or Andrew Luck.  This is the MVP of the league.  He won’t be viewed as a hero.  He’ll be branded a quitter and in the end he will piss off a lot more people than win them over in the court of public opinion.

Rodgers is a diva, he has a huge ego, and he’s about as passive aggressive as they come.  But he also cares deeply what people think about him.  I mean, he’s the anti Brent and worked his entire career not to be or become that guy.  But it’s ironic how things come full circle and ultimately that’s on him.

The NFL isn’t some charity organization and it’s about as cutthroat as it gets.  Players are commodities.  The players Union is practically in collusion with the owners to extract as much money as humanly possible out of the game despite not addressing or fixing simple issues that would benefit players and teams collectively.   How does that impact Rodgers?  Other than making a shit ton for money, he’s very limited in terms of options that actually benefit him other than money.

The Packers know this, and they will say all the right things but in the end they hold most of the cards.  Rodgers will either have to make peace and be the good soldier again or escalate things and basically force the Packers to trade him.   But that actually helps GB as well.  They control the timing and destination and given how the QB position is overvalued they should be able to extract a kings ransom in return.

Yes it would suck to not have 12 be the QB and have things end this way, but nothing lasts forever and time marches on.  I think this is an untenable situation and expect GB to deal him to the highest bidder after June 1.  That should help GB free up enough cap space to extend Davante and Jaire and I would expect they will get at least a couple of decent players back in return plus multiple draft picks that should keep the Packers relevant for some time.

Lets say it is Denver - you get Surtain and let’s say their next 2-3 years of high draft picks and maybe another decent veteran player and Teddy B to bridge the gap to JL?    That’s not such a bad way to end up as it positions the Packers pretty well in the post Rodgers era.  

When two huge egos collide (Murphy / AR) it typically does not end well. Just like dealing with kids who strive for power, Murphy played this all wrong & wasn't able to let AR "think" he had power. Murphy was hell-bent on showing AR that he had the power. I've seen this 100 times with teachers / administrators / management .... when someone "misbehaves" the motivation is almost always either for; attention, power, or revenge. AR is a "power" guy, when he felt he didn't have any it turned into revenge. When someone inside the Packers leaked that Murphy sought no input from AR in HC selection and then on top of that told him "don't be the problem", it was a clear PUBLIC message to AR that "I have all the power". Now some may think AR should just "stay in his lane" and have no power, but as I've told teachers many times about dealing with"power" kids ...."do you want to be right, or do you want to be effective"? Murphy "screwed the pooch" on this.