It’s been over two weeks since Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers told Pat McAfee that he plans to play for the New York Jets in 2023.
Rodgers, however, hasn’t been traded yet. And while a deal is still expected to happen, the door has been left for Rodgers’ return to Green Bay, which has seemingly made some Jets fans nervous about the deal getting done.
Yahoo Sports reported this week that a hold-up in the trade talks is the Jets’ desire for protection in the deal in case Rodgers only plays one season in New York.
From Yahoo Sports: As the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets continue to chip away at trade negotiations for veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a key holdup has emerged: protection for draft pick compensation in the event that Rodgers doesn’t play in the 2024 NFL season.
The trade is currently orbiting a deal that would swap Rodgers for two high draft picks, according to multiple sources who spoke with Yahoo Sports. The sources characterized a deal as getting “closer” despite stiff negotiation over how those picks would stack up and whether the package would include “give back” protection for the Jets if Rodgers does not play beyond the 2023 season.
That’s a legitimate concern for the Jets — no NFL team would be ok with giving up a passel of draft picks for a player they’ll only have for one season.
One reason why this might be such a big issue is because of comments Rodgers made to McAfee earlier this month.
The future Hall of Fame quarterback told McAfee that he went into his darkness retreat expecting to retire.
Rodgers says he was 90 percent ready to retire when he went into the darkness. @PatMcAfeeShow
— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) March 15, 2023
Those comments likely spooked the Jets. If Rodgers was 90 percent ready to retire at one point this offseason, it seems very possible that he’ll retire next offseason when he’s 40 years old.
It’s a reasonable concern for the Jets and one that was likely exasperated by Rodgers’ comments to McAfee.
If Rodgers would be more direct with everyone — specifically the Packers, which he apparently refuses to communicate with — this deal would probably already be done.
But Rodgers’ diva antics have led to a hold-up in trade talks and now, who knows when this trade will finally be completed.
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