Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers could lose out on a major NFL opportunity, and his darkness retreat may be hindering his chances.
While Aaron Rodgers may be currently engaged in a four-day darkness retreat, the rest of the NFL world hasn’t slowed down to contemplate the season ahead.
Instead, one team, in particular, is reportedly moving up their timeline to sign a quarterback because there’s been an unexpected contender on the market: former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.
Because Carr has recently hit the free agency market, the New York Jets are considering Carr as a viable option for the future of the franchise.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, Carr has already met with Jets brass and the two sides enjoyed a “very positive meeting.”
“I’m told it was a very positive meeting,” Darlington said. “The Jets really believe Carr is the type of QB that can lead them to a championship.”
While nothing has been confirmed yet, Jets cornerback D.J. Reed is already joking that he’d be willing to sell his No. 4 jersey number to accommodate Carr if he decides to join the team.
The NFL trade window doesn’t open until March 15, which puts Rodgers at a disadvantage. Now would be the time that Rodgers and the Packers could begin hammering out details for an amenable trade, but instead, Rodgers is on a darkness retreat while Carr is on the ground in New York.
Aaron Rodgers could lose out to Derek Carr due to hurried Jets timeline
On ESPN’s “Get Up”, where Darlington issued his report on Carr, NFL analysts debated whether or not Rodgers would win this potential quarterback battle.
Former NFL guard Damien Woody argued that although Rodgers is the more talented quarterback, Carr offers a more convenient package overall.
“You’ve gotta take everything into consideration, not only play” Woody said. “Draft compensation: you’ve still gotta build your roster up. And when I look at everything in its totality, I’m going with Derek Carr. We know Aaron Rodgers is the better quarterback; there’s no question about that. But I think when you look at the Jets, this is not a team that’s all of the sudden, ‘We’ve got everything in place and we just need a quarterback.’ No, they’ve still got offensive line issues. They’ve still got pieces that they need to add to this roster in order for them to take that next step.”
“For me, I look at it as, let me sign the guy that I can sign right now,” Woody continued. “Aaron Rodgers is off on his retreat or whatever. I’ve got Derek Carr, who’s ready to sign with anybody right now who will fill a void that, quite honestly, the Jets have been terrible at the quarterback position, one of the worst positions in the National Football League over the past decade.”
While Rodgers is widely considered to be the more capable quarterback, signing Carr would be more prudent, both financially and temporally. Carr is expected to cost less than Rodgers, isn’t restricted by the NFL’s trade window, and is already discussing possibilities at MetLife.
Rodgers’ darkness retreat may offer him a “a greater sense of peace and love for life“, but clarity could come at the cost of missing out on the Jets.