Aaron Rodgers Absent for First Day of Packers' Mandatory Minicamp
Former Cal star took another step in his attempt to force his way out of Green Bay by missing the first day of the Packers' mandatory three-day minicamp on Tuesday.
This is not a surprise, but it is the first time in his 16-year NFL career that Rodgers has missed a day of minicamp.
ESPN's Adam Schefter said Tuesday that a source told him Rodgers’ stance has not changed.
"As it was told to me yesterday, Aaron Rodgers is 'as strong as hell' on this,” Schefter said. “Now, you take that for whatever that means, but there are little morsels of information that trickle in. That one trickled in yesterday – him feeling the way he does.”
Packers coach Matt LeFleur did not say much about Rodgers' absence after Tuesday's workout:
Rodgers is subject to $93,085 in fines if he does attend the entire three-day camp. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday that the Packers have considered waiving the fines and giving Rodgers an excused absence. Rodgers could be $15,515 for missing Tuesday, $31,030 for missing Wednesday and $46,540 for missing Thursday.
LaFleur did not say whether Rodgers would be fined, saying only it was “team business.”
LaFleur said he remains optimistic the issues between the Packers and Rodgers will be resolved. The coach feels confident Rodgers will be ready for the start of the regular season if he misses offseason workouts.
Rodgers' absence is primarily symbolic at this point. He does not need a minicamp to be prepared for the 2021 season, and the fines are small change for Rodgers, who earned more than $70 million over the past three years and was scheduled to make more than $37 million in 2021.
However, the situation could reach a breaking point if Rodgers sits out the start of preseason training camp, which begins July 27.
Fines during training camp run $50,000 per day missed and cannot be waived.
More significant than the fines would be Rodgers' absence as the Packers begin serious preparation for their first preseason game on August 14 and their first regular-season game on September 12.
Rodgers' absence means second-year quarterback Jordan Love will take the first-team snaps during the minicamp.
Rodgers already has missed enough of the offseason program to forfeit his $500,000 workout bonus.
Rodgers was vacationing in Hawaii with his fiancée, actress Shailene Woodley, during the first week of Offseason Training Ativities last month. .
Wide receiver Davante Adams also skipped the OTAs last month, but he was present for the first day of the Packers' minicamp on Tuesday.
Green Bay's other four top receivers -- Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard, Equanimeous St. Brown and Devin Funchess -- were also absent for last month's OTAs, but all four attended the first day of minicamp on Tuesday.
Rodgers, who won the MVP award for the third time in 2020, has said little publicly about his dissatisfaction with the Packers and his reason for wanting a trade. But last month on ESPN SportsCenter he said the issue was the "people" in the Packers organization. Presumably he was referring to Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst, although Rodgers never specifically said he wanted Gutekunst removed, which isn’t likely to happen anyway.
The Packers have repeatedly said they will not trade Rodgers, who has three years left on a contract that does not include a no-trade clause.
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Cover photo of Aaron Rodgers by Jeff Hanisch, USA TODAY Sports
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