Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers revealed on The Pat McAfee Show on March 15 that he wanted to be traded to the New York Jets. Nearly a month later, it appears something else Rodgers told McAfee could be playing a role in the stalled trade talks.
When the four-time NFL MVP made his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, his first revelation was that he wanted to play for New York after it became clear the Packers didn’t want him. As he provided insight into his process, including the darkness retreat, the 39-year-old also offered a glimpse into his mindset leading up to the decision.
- Aaron Rodgers career stats: 103.6 QB rating, 475-105 TD-INT, 59,055 passing yards
Rodgers told McAfee that he was ’90 percent retiring’ in his mind before he entered the four-day darkness retreat. While he later changed his mind, the comments might’ve had a negative influence on the Jets’ desire to acquire him at the Packers’ asking price.
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Yahoo Sports NFL reporter Charles Robinson made a guest appearance on ESPN Milwaukee’s Wilde & Tausch show. During that spot, he said he believes is that Rodgers publicly talking about how close he came to retiring concerned Jets’ owner Woody Johnson.
“They had trade parameters worked out, and then when Aaron went on Pat McAfee and said, ‘I’m 90 percent retired, I was 90 percent retired when I went into the darkness retreat,’ I think it scared Woody. I think that was one of those things that scared him.”
Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson on the influence of Aaron Rodgers’ retirement talk on New York Jets
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It’s not the first time Rodgers has publicly talked about retiring. The future Hall of Famer said he previously considered it before the 2021 and 2022 NFL seasons. While he has committed to playing football in all three instances following retirement talk, New York is hesitant that it might only be getting Rodgers for one season.
That’s where the Packers’ asking price comes into play. Green Bay is adamant about a specific return, wanting to ensure it receives a high pick in the 2024 NFL Draft order and not wanting to send a 2025 pick back to the Jets if Rodgers retires next offseason.
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For now, the two sides are reportedly locked in a stalemate with no resolution in the imminent future. While the expectation remains that a deal will eventually be reached, it’s increasingly possible it doesn’t happen until after the 2023 NFL Draft.