Aaron Rodgers addresses his situation with the Packers
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – Aaron Rodgers has finally addressed his situation with the Green Bay Packers.
He confirmed that he did not show up to the first day of voluntary Packers Organized Team Activities in an interview on ESPN’s SportsCenter, saying about his future, "anything's on the table at this point".
Rodgers did address the reasons for his discontent, saying it is not about the Packers drafting his potential replacement in Jordan Love, but philosophy.
“With my situation, look, it’s never been about the draft pick, picking Jordan. I love Jordan. He’s a great kid. A lot of fun to work together. Love the coaching staff, love my teammates, love the fan base in Green Bay. An incredible 16 years,” Rodgers said on ESPN. “It’s just kind of about a philosophy and maybe forgetting that it is about the people that make the thing go. It’s about character, it’s about culture. It’s about doing things the right way.”
Rodgers is coming off his third MVP season with Green Bay and he believes it threw a wrench in the Packers' plans for the future. Brian Gutekunst has been the general manager and selected Love with the 26th overall pick in 2020.
“Green Bay has always been about the people. From Curly Lambeau being owner and founder, to the 60s, to Lombardi and Bart Starr and all those incredible names. To the 90s teams with Coach Holmgren and Farvey and the Minister of Defense, to the run we’ve been on. It’s about the people,” continued Rodgers.
The news of Rodgers' unhappiness first came to surface on the first night of the NFL Draft on April 29. President Mark Murphy, GM Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur have all said the Packers are committed to Rodgers as the team’s quarterback in "2021 and beyond."
Rodgers seems to believe the Packers have lost their way as an organization.
“I think sometimes people forget what really makes an organization. History is important. Legacy of so many people who’ve come before you, but the people, that’s the most important thing, Rodgers said on ESPN. “The people make an organization. People make a business. And sometimes that gets forgotten. Culture is built brick by brick, the foundation of it by the people. Not by the organization, not by the building, not by the corporation, it's built by the people. I’ve been fortunate enough to play with a number of amazing, amazing people. And got to work for some amazing people as well. It’s those people that build the foundation of those entities."