The Green Bay Packers appear to be ready to turn the page in their franchise’s history book thanks to a variety of factors.
Aaron Rodgers has been the Green Bay Packers‘ starting quarterback since 2008. He’s won four MVP awards, achieved 10 Pro Bowl nods, and most importantly, secured a Super Bowl for the green and yellow.
All good things must come to an end, and though it once felt like it would be Rodgers would be the one pulling the plug on the relationship, it may in fact be the organization choosing to move forward without the other party.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Packers trading Rodgers this offseason, “remains an option,” according to sources.
We’re not just talking about it being an option, though. Apparently, the franchise’s preference would be to trade Rodgers.
Here’s what Schefter had to say:
"“A scenario that once seemed unthinkable, a Rodgers trade could be driven by financial reasons, the state of the Packers franchise and ultimately the feelings of the team and the star quarterback.League sources believe the franchise prefers to move on from Rodgers, just as it once did with Brett Favre. Those sources also believe that Rodgers is well aware of the Packers’ feelings on the situation.”"
Packers can get out of a sticky financial situation
Sticking with Rodgers means the Packers would be committing to competing. Given that they are already over the salary cap, that makes things difficult and expensive. Especially since Rodgers is relatively picky about who he wants around him.
Should the Packers move on from Rodgers, they can pivot completely toward a rebuild and cut costs in the way of other players crucial to competing in doing so.
Green Bay nearly qualified for postseason play this year, only missing out on the extended part of the season because they lost their final win-and-get-in game of the season.
Assuming Rodgers doesn’t retire, the Jets are the destination front of mind as his next destination. They hired one of his close former coworkers in Nathaniel Hackett to be the team’s next offensive coordinator. They also keep referencing a ‘veteran quarterback’ that is in their plans for next season.