According to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers would like to be included in the decision-making process in terms of the roster moves being made by management, especially given that some of these moves directly impact him.
League sources have told Robinson that Rodgers is both “frustrated” and “emotional” because he was not consulted before the Packers made some significant personnel decisions this offseason.
The two moves in particular that frustrated Rodgers was the departures of WR Jordy Nelson and QBs coach Alex Van Pelt.
“Both of those decisions [with Nelson and Van Pelt] were made without him,” a league source close to Rodgers tells Robinson. “In both situations, he had no influence with [the front office] before anything went down.”
“I know he’s thinking about that stuff when it comes to the next contract because he should have earned a voice by now. In other places with [elite] quarterbacks, consideration is given to those guys. I think Aaron wants to be engaged in some decisions. But that’s just not the way it works [in Green Bay]. I think that’s obviously frustrating and it’s going to keep coming out.”
Robinson points out that the Packers don’t need to be in a rush to sign Rodgers to a long-term extension, given that he still has two years remaining on his contract and Green Bay could franchise him for the 2020 and 2021 seasons if needed. With this in mind, Robinson says that Rodgers simply lacks the kind of leverage to negotiate a number of situations including his contract and for a say in personnel matters.
The expectation has been that the Packers and Rodgers would get a long-term extension in place at some point this summer, but it sounds like there’s at least a chance that won’t happen.
While the Packers don’t need to sign Rodgers to a new deal to ensure he remains in Green Bay for the rest of his career, it could really strain the relationship if they allow him to enter the final year of his contract and in position to be franchised.
Last year, Rodgers suffered a displaced collarbone fracture that required two plates and 13 screws inserted to help solidify the fracture and accelerate the healing process. He managed to return in Week 16, but the Packers lost to the Panthers were officially eliminated from the playoffs soon after.
Rodgers, 34, is a former first-round pick of the Packers back in 2005. He’s entering in the sixth year of his seven-year, $130.75 million contract that included $54 million guaranteed and stands to make base salaries of $19.8 million and $20 million over the final two years of the agreement.
In 2017, Rodgers appeared in seven games for the Packers and thrown for 1,675 yards while completing 64.7 percent of his passes to go along with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has also rushed for 126 yards. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 11 quarterback out of 39 qualifying players.
We’ll have more regarding a new deal for Rodgers as the news is available.
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