Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy conceded that quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ unsettled status with the team is impacting the fans.
“The situation we face with Aaron Rodgers has divided our fan base,” Murphy wrote in his monthly column posted Saturday on the team website. “The emails and letters that I’ve received reflect this fact.”
Rodgers’ beef with the franchise has made offseason news, and Packers coach Matt LaFleur said recently he doesn’t know if the MVP-winning quarterback will show up when mandatory minicamp begins Tuesday.
Rodgers has skipped voluntary workouts with the Packers — atypical from his usual behavior — after the world became aware of his desire to leave Green Bay on Draft Day.
The Packers have continued to insist they have no plans to cut or trade Rodgers, and Rodgers risks fines of $93,000 if he bails on mandatory workouts.
Late last month, Rodgers told ESPN’s “SportsCenter” that his issue with the organization is more about philosophy and less about the team drafting his presumed replacement, Jordan Love, a year ago.
In his column, Murphy reiterated Green Bay’s desire to bring back Rodgers.
“We remain committed to resolving things with Aaron and want him to be our quarterback in 2021 and beyond,” he wrote. “We are working to resolve the situation and realize that the less both sides say publicly, the better.”
But Murphy did have something to say about the progress of Love, the 22-year-old who didn’t see any action in his rookie season.
“It was a shame for Jordan that the pandemic impacted so much of his rookie year. Although it wasn’t a completely wasted year, he had no in-person practices in the offseason program and no preseason game experience,” Murphy said. “Although it is hard to tell a lot in the offseason practices, both Matt LaFleur and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett have said they like what they’ve seen from Jordan this offseason.
“Hackett said that the biggest difference this year is his confidence in the system, and that his decision-making, timing and accuracy have all improved. It’s obviously helped him to get reps with the first-team offense this offseason. The preseason games this year will be crucial in his development.”
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Last year Rodgers, 37, threw for 4,299 yards and a career-best 48 touchdowns with just five interceptions in leading the Packers to the best record in the NFC (13-3) and an NFC Championship Game appearance.
–Field Level Media