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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has enjoyed his offseason amid swirling NFL rumors regarding his future. With a victory in “The Match” behind him, the reigning NFL MVP provided an update on when he’ll decide whether or not he’ll play in 2021.
While the drama between the Packers and their franchise quarterback has quieted in recent weeks, issues remain between the two sides. Rodgers has called out the culture within the organization and team president Mark Murphy took shots at the club’s star player.
After the Packers rejected initial inquiries from Rodgers for a contract extension, the three-time MVP requested a trade. While Green Bay eventually relented and has since offered the future Hall of Fame selection a multi-year extension, the tension remains prevalent.
Rodgers dodged questions for months about his future. Now, with the Packers refusing to trade him and training camp closing in, he shed some insight on when he’ll make a decision.
“I’m going to get back to working out and figure things out in a couple of weeks.”
Aaron Rodgers on his plans for 2021 season, via USA Today’s Ben Kenney
Green Bay kicks off its training camp on July 28, when all players are required to report for mandatory practices. For each day Rodgers misses, he’ll be fined $50,000 by the team and those penalties can’t be revoked.
Will Aaron Rodgers play in 2021?
It’s evident that Rodgers wants to play elsewhere. He recognizes that the Packers view Jordan Love as their future and even an MVP award and deep playoff run won’t change that. So, the 37-year-old quarterback wants to finish his career on his own terms.
But the Packers hold all the cards in this scenario. With the NFL opt-out deadline passed, sitting out the 2021 season would mean forfeiting more than $30 million in salary and bonuses. Even as one of the highest-paid players in NFL history, that’s a cost Rodgers likely wants to avoid.
Green Bay made it clear to every NFL team that inquired about a trade that it wouldn’t even be discussed this year. As a result, Rodgers is left with the choice of sitting out this fall or swallowing his pride and playing for an organization that has shown it’s not fully committed to him.
Ultimately, Aaron Rodgers will likely skip the first few days of training camp to put more pressure on the Packers. After leaving the organization experiencing a summer of frustration and uncertainty, he’ll likely return before Week 1 in an effort to win a Super Bowl with the teammates and coaches he enjoys working with.