‘Sooner Rather Than Later’ for Rodgers’ Decision

“Certainly, what he’s kind of thinking is going to be important” in building the rest of the roster, GM Brian Gutekunst said at the Scouting Combine.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Mar 1, 2023 12:45 PM EST

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Green Bay Packers

INDIANAPOLIS – After contemplating his football future during a darkness retreat, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he’ll make his final decision “sooner rather than later.”

During an appearance on Aubrey Marcus Podcast, which is billed as a “destination for honest and vulnerable conversations about the deeper questions in life,” Rodgers said his contemplation won’t turn into Brett Favre 2.0.

“I remember when Favre, before he retired, there were times it was in April and May and we weren’t sure if he was going to come back because he didn’t come to any of the offseason program,” Rodgers said. “And then in 2008, he actually did retire in March and then said, ‘No, no, no, no’ – actually in June after OTAs – ‘I actually want to come back and play.’ And that’s when he got traded to the Jets and there was obviously a lot of tension that summer.

“But for everybody involved directly and indirectly, it’s best for a decision earlier, and I feel really good about the conversations that are going to be had, that have been had with important people in my life, yourself included, that helped orient me.”

The Packers’ season ended on Jan. 8, so Rodgers has had 52 days to wash away the memories of 2022 and decide if he’s ready to commit to the grind of a 19th NFL season – in Green Bay or elsewhere.

Speaking at the Scouting Combine on Tuesday, general manager Brian Gutekunst told a group of local reporters that he understood Rodgers’ process.

“Whenever you played as long as he has and you put as much into as he does, I think he does need that time and I respect that,” he said.

Gutekunst said he hadn’t talked to Rodgers since the exit interviews at the end of the season.

While eager for Rodgers to come to a resolution, there are still two weeks until the start of the league-year so there wasn’t a five-alarm-fire’s worth of urgency.

“Certainly, before free agency, I think. I think that would be good,” Gutekunst told a group of local reporters. “I don’t know if there’s anything firm but I think that would be helpful for our football team.”

Because they haven’t spoken, Gutekunst had no idea if Rodgers wanted to play at all – let alone if he wanted to play in Green Bay or another team.

Rodgers’ decision will impact just everything else that’s to follow this offseason.

First and foremost, it’s the salary cap. If Rodgers plays for the Packers, his 2023 cap charge would be about $31.6 million. If Rodgers winds up being traded, the dead-money charge would be $40.3 million.

Moreover, Gutekunst might be more inclined to keep some useful veterans, such as tight end Marcedes Lewis, receiver Randall Cobb and kicker Mason Crosby.

“Really, I think there’s a lot of things on the table right now,” Gutekunst said when asked about how roster-building with and without Rodgers. “Certainly, what he’s kind of thinking is going to be important.”

On the podcast, Rodgers said he entered the retreat grappling with two emotions regarding his future. Retirement, he said, was “scary.” Playing again was “unknown” because of the uncertainty on where he’d be playing.

He exited the retreat believing both options are “very beautiful … really nourishing and special.”

He continued: “Life is about making decisions and living your great name story and going through the ups and downs of the journey, because that’s what makes the best stories. The best stories are the most incredible high and everything went your way. No, it was like, ‘Can you believe this happened after this and this and this, and then this happened, and then we overcame this and then we overcame that?’

“In that story, the great story, there’s mistakes, there’s regrets, there’s sadness, there’s joy, there’s frustration, there’s sorrow, there’s heartbreak, there’s elation. It’s all part of it. It’s all part of life, and my life has been football for as long as I can remember, and I’m fucking damn proud of it.”