Aaron Rodgers nonsense, NFL Combine reaction, Kyler Murray and more
The Aaron Rodgers nonsense has reached new levels. The Green Bay Packers should take an aggressive stance and end it.
Enough is enough. Call his bluff and be done with it.
The Green Bay Packers have been a football hostage for the past year, constantly waiting on the next missive from their quarterback. Sometimes, Aaron Rodgers speaks through press conferences. Sometimes it’s through a carefully crafted leak. Sometimes it’s on The Pat McAfee Show.
Rodgers speaks often, but rarely is there anything informative actually said.
It’s been this way since the end of the 2020 season. Rodgers simmered after the Packers lost to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC title game. Then, on the opening night of the NFL Draft, a bombshell from the desk of ESPN’s Adam Schefter: Rodgers wanted to be traded. Chaos ensued, and a night which should have been about 32 athletes who worked a lifetime for this moment devolved into where he would play in 2021.
Turns out, Rodgers played in Green Bay. And he was spectacular once more, winning a second consecutive MVP. Then the playoffs, and once more, a spectacular disaster.
Then there was last week, where more Rodgers news broke into the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. Despite everyone assuming he wants to return for another year with the Packers, not so fast.
The timing of all these news tidbits is truly a cosmic miracle.
Now, despite Rodgers saying he’d make a “quick decision,” Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst is waiting for another declaration only days before free agency begins and the tag deadline arrives. Does Rodgers want to be with the Packers or another club? Nobody knows. One would think during his 12-day cleanse, there would have been time to figure this out.
If Rodgers doesn’t have a decision by Monday morning, Gutekunst should deliver news of his own:
Make a decision in 24 hours, or we’re making it for you.
Whether he chooses to exercise it or not, Gutekunst has the power. He can decide start aggressively shopping Rodgers or refuse to move him once more, daring Rodgers to ask the next Daily Double.
If Gutekunst chooses the latter option, he’s going to win because Rodgers still wants to play, and he’s not walking away from $46.6 million. If Gutekunst chooses the former, there will be suitors. The Denver Broncos are the favorite, but the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans have also been mentioned. Play them against each other and get the best offer. If a mystery teams comes to the fore, all the better.
Once the Packers have the offers, call Rodgers and tell him he either commits to Green Bay, or he’s buying a plane ticket. No more stalling.
Rodgers has enjoyed a fabulous career, and the Packers have benefitted from it. A Super Bowl ring, eight NFC North titles, five conference title games and millions of jerseys sold. The 38-year-old has earned the right to dictate his future, but he hasn’t earned the right to make everyone wait an eternity.
The delay on Rodgers’ end has already complicated a difficult offseason for the Packers. Green Bay is well over the salary cap. Moving him saves $20 million, but that decision is getting crammed into a very tight window, hurting the team’s leverage. Additionally, what to do with receiver Davante Adams? If he’s tagged, that’s another $20.1 million to account for.
A good teammate would allow clarity for both other players and the organization. Instead, everybody is left waiting on one man to make a decision of both great magnitude and simplistic levers.
Does Rodgers want to be in Green Bay? Once he answers that, we have a solution and a path for all involved.
How it has taken the better part of two months to draw a one-man consensus is baffling, unless you believe he simply loves to play the role of being reluctantly in the limelight.
Then, of course, it all makes sense.
Power rankings
Top 10 Day Three picks (rounds 4-7) over past decade
1. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys (2016)
2. Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (2016)
3. George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers (2017)
4. Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings (2015)
5. Darren Waller, TE, Baltimore Ravens (2015)
6. David Bakhtiari, LT, Green Bay Packers (2013)
7. Maxx Crosby, EDGE, Las Vegas Raiders (2019)
8. Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington Commanders (2012)
9. Matthew Judon, EDGE, Baltimore Ravens (2016)
10. Trey Hendrickson, EDGE, New Orleans Saints (2017)
Quotable
"“We have to continue to add good players, continue to make sure we’re doing everything we can to maximize our players’ abilities to be successful, and certainly that starts at the quarterback position with Jalen.”"
– Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman on quarterback Jalen Hurts’ future
When the Eagles’ brass spoke on Wednesday, they were very bullish on Hurts. While that can always be a smokescreen to drive up value in a potential trade, it appeared a genuine backing of a third-year player with upside.
After guiding Philadelphia to the playoffs in his first full season as a starter, Hurts has support from upper management and the coaching staff, and could soon have more of it in the huddle. The Eagles own three top-20 picks, acquired in trades last year with the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts. Look for Roseman to bring in another weapon while also fortifying his defense.
Podcast
Random stat
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers only have one more win (291) than Bill Belichick has notched (290) with the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns.
Info learned this week
1. Defensive stars make NFL Combine their personal playground
If your team needs defensive help in the front seven, this is the draft for you.
Let’s start with one of many stars from the University of Georgia with defensive tackle Jordan Davis, who at 341 pounds ran a 4.78 40-yard dash. For comparison’s sake, that’s .02 seconds faster than Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Then there’s Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson. A potential No. 1 overall pick, Hutchinson set a 3-cone record for edge defenders with a time of 6.73 seconds. His training partner, Minnesota edge rusher Boye Mafe, also helped himself with a 40-time of 4.53 despite weight in at 265 pounds. Additionally, the Golden Gopher starred in the vertical and broad jumps, showcasing an explosiveness seen in his tape.
READ MORE: 2 days, 7 prospects and a lifetime of work
Furthermore, there was plenty of reason for pass-rushers such as Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon), Jermaine Johnson (FSU), Travon Walker (Georgia) and David Ojabo (Michigan) to believe their draft stock improved in Indy.
Talking to people around the league, don’t be surprised if at least a half-dozen edge rushers go in the first round, with another couple of interior defenders join them. It’s very possible a quarter of the top 32 picks are dedicated to those positions.
2. Cardinals send major message to Kyler Murray through extensions
As it turns out, the Arizona Cardinals were willing to give Erik Burkhardt’s client an extension.
It just wasn’t Kyler Murray.
On Wednesday, the Cardinals extended head coach Kliff Kingsbury through 2027, matching the deal given to general manager Steve Keim. The extension for Kingsbury is questionable considering he’s been part of multiple late-season swoons, much like his quarterback, who remains without a new pact.
Taking care of Kingsbury, who has been publicly silent about wanting an extension, and leaving Murray wanting is a major statement by ownership. Arizona also puts Burkhardt in an awkward position. He and Kingsbury are getting paid, and while Burkhardt still needs to advocate for Murray, the relationship dynamic between he and the team have been altered somewhat.
For Murray, this has to be infuriating. He’s a much better quarterback than Kingsbury is a coach, and yet the extension he’s been adamant over went the other way. Perhaps this is the beginning of Arizona paying everyone, but it certainly feels like the proverbial shot across the bow at its brightest star.
3. Colts did themselves no favors with Carson Wentz talk
I wrote a column about this from Indianapolis earlier in the week, but it deserves a quick section.
The Indianapolis Colts are clearly ready to move on from quarterback Carson Wentz after sinking first- and third-round picks into him, only to get one mediocre season. However, his trade value tanked some on Tuesday, when general manager Chris Ballard refused to show any confidence in Wentz, instead making it appear the team couldn’t move on quickly enough.
Ballard’s true feelings showing on the surface are a miscalculation, allowing prospective teams to low-ball him based on his own words. The Colts will likely still net a mid-round pick because Wentz is a quarterback in a league desperate for them, but the presser unnecessarily complicated the issue. Ballard should have spoken about Wentz being a terrific player who the team remains excited about, but that they’ll always listen to offers. Instead, he tanked his value.
Then there was head coach Frank Reich, saying this to all of us hours later:
"“I know I believe in Carson, I believe in him,” Reich said. “I stuck my neck out for him. Last year, I was a big part of that decision to get him here and I believe he’s going to continue to have a lot of success at quarterback. That might be here, it might not be here. That decision has yet to be determined. But I still believe in the person and I still believe in the player.”"
The Colts are a well-run organization, but this was poorly handled.
4. Ravens have big advantage in Lamar Jackson negotiations
Sometimes, three percent is worth the price.
Lamar Jackson is entering his fifth year and despite gleaming trophy case and a pair of AFC North titles, yet he’s without an extension. Why? Largely because he lacks leverage.
Jackson is one of the few players not represented by an agent. If he were, the Ravens would be getting consistent phone calls to discuss a long-term deal. If there wasn’t a good-faith negotiation, we’d be hearing leaks about Jackson’s unhappiness, forcing Baltimore to comment publicly on the situation or give him the cash.
Instead, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta can quietly sit and allow the rookie deal to play out in 2022 should he choose. At the combine, DeCosta spoke about Jackson’s situation, and there wasn’t much urgency.
"“We’ve discussed this at length and I’ve said this before: We will work at Lamar’s urgency. He and I have had ongoing discussions. We’ve talked fairly recently as well. He knows how to find me; I know how to find him. I was very happy to see him working out on the West Coast recently with some of our guys. That’s exciting. Something that we really think will help us this year be the very best team we can be.”"
Of course, Jackson could speak out, but that puts him in a tough spot. For some, he’ll show poorly in doing so. Also, it’s bad business for the player himself to get into a spat with his team. Enter an agent, who can do so on his behalf and work the media in the meantime.
Jackson should consider hiring some representation, because three percent of a fortune is much less than what he’s losing to avoid it.
5. Expect Tyreek Hill extension from KC soon, opening up cap space
The Kansas City Chiefs and star receiver Tyreek Hill are about to sign a lucrative extension.
As reported first by Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network and confirmed by FanSided, the Chiefs and Hill’s agent Drew Rosenhaus began talks in Indianapolis, which are expected to continue this week. With Kansas City about to tag left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. at $16.5 million, the Chiefs need to free up cap space. General manager Brett Veach can do so by extending Hill, perhaps opening up $13-14 million. Currently, Kansas City has $10.6 million in space.
Hill, 28, has been a Pro Bowler each of his six NFL seasons, along with earning three First-Team All-Pro berths. Over that span, the speedster has 6,630 receiving yards, 66 total touchdowns and a Super Bowl ring. Now he’s about to get paid for a second time, after signing a three-year, $54 million extension in Sept. 2019.
Additionally, watch for the Chiefs to potentially restructure quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ deal. The contract is built to move money around, and doing so would give Kansas City and extra $22 million in flexibility.
Two cents
No general manager has a bigger facelift ahead than Joe Schoen.
The New York Giants were mismanaged horribly in four years under former general manager Dave Gettleman, leaving the 42-year-old Schoen with a mess to clean. New York is $6.5 million over the salary cap and just to be compliant, might trade running back Saquon Barkley. The problem? Barkley has seldom been healthy over the past two years, and figures to bring back a mid-round pick.
Additionally, owner John Mara has stated the team will give quarterback Daniel Jones another chance. Does this also mean the Giants plan to pick up his fifth-year option this spring? If so, Schoen is tied to Jones — at least financially — through 2023 despite him making little progress over three seasons.
The good news? New York has a pair of top-10 picks. The Giants can improve dramatically if they hit, something they didn’t do under Gettleman in those situations, selecting Barkley, Jones and left tackle Andrew Thomas in such situations.
With free agency moves limited by cap problems, Schoen needs to crush the draft and hope head coach Brian Daboll can fix Jones. It’s a tough, tricky road for the Giants.
Inside the league
Malik Willis is going to be the first quarterback off the board come the 2022 NFL Draft. I wrote it during the Senior Bowl, and I’m writing it now.
Willis has been incredibly impressive both in showcasing his high ceiling, and as importantly, during interviews. He’s seemingly a great kid who has both the best athleticism and arm in this rookie class. While his accuracy and inconsistent mechanics — those issues are tied together — are concerning, his upside is tantalizing.
Being an Atlanta native, he makes so much sense for the Falcons. They could sit him behind Matt Ryan for a year, allow Willis to learn head coach Arthur Smith’s system, and then transition into a starter for 2023. Other teams to watch include the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos, although the chatter around Denver is more about a veteran than rookie.
One other team: the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh has the 20th-overall pick and Willis could be there. If he’s not — the guess here is not likely — would general manager Kevin Colbert move up? The Steelers have been more aggressive in recent years, sliding up 10 picks to nab linebacker Devin Bush, and the following year, trading their 2020 first-rounder for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
If Colbert believes in Willis, and it’s rumored Pittsburgh has interest there, would he make a big move to jump into the top-10? Many teams need a quarterback, but none worse than the Steelers.
History lesson
The Rams have had both Curt Warner and Kurt Warner on their team.
Same decade, different results.
The original was a No. 3 overall draft pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 1983, going one spot after Los Angeles selected Eric Dickerson. Warner totaled three Pro Bowls in seven seasons for Seattle, but his career was also marred by a torn ACL in 1984. In ’90, Warner played one year with the Rams, notching 49 carries for 139 yards and a touchdown before retiring.
Eight years later, the then-St. Louis Rams signed Kurt and in ’99, he became a starter following Trent Green’s knee injury. Warner, an undrafted free agent out of Northern Iowa, burst onto the scene, throwing 41 touchdowns and being named NFL and Super Bowl MVP in the ultimate Cinderella story.
Parting shot
Ready to see Mitchell Trubisky treated like a starting quarterback again? It’s about to happen.
After four lackluster seasons with the Chicago Bears — which saw him go from No. 2 overall pick to the team declining his fifth-year option — Trubisky signed last offseason with the Buffalo Bills for one year and $2.5 million. While backing up Josh Allen, Trubisky threw eight passes for 43 yards and an interception.
And yet, he’s about to be paid and given the inside track to a starting job.
Many will ask why any team wants to pay Trubisky $10 million or more annually after his Chicago flop. The answer is because teams are desperate for quarterbacks, and Trubisky was a top pick, who is still young, and who is being talked about by Buffalo as someone who learned and was a professional in 2021.
Additionally, the interest in Trubisky is an indictment of other options. With Russell Wilson likely staying put and both Carson Wentz and Jimmy Garoppolo costing draft picks, Trubisky seems like a good option. He’s cheaper than the aforementioned names and only costs cap space.
Finally, it says plenty about the rookie crop. Willis is fascinating, but the other prospects are either limited or projects. Why spend a first-round pick on such a low-upside player when Trubisky gets you to the same place, but you keep a premium choice for another position?
Paying Trubisky makes no sense in many ways, and some sense in a few, and teams will fight each other to do it.