Report: MVP Aaron Rodgers does not want to stay with the Green Bay Packers
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP/CBS 58) -- Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has reiterated that the team remains committed to quarterback Aaron Rodgers amid a report that the reigning MVP doesn't want to return to Green Bay.
ESPN reported Thursday in the hours leading up to the NFL draft that Rodgers doesn't want to return to the Packers.
Reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers is so disgruntled with the Green Bay Packers that he has told some within the organization that he does not want to return to the team, league and team sources told ESPN on Thursday.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 29, 2021
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Gutekunst said in a statement released by the team that "we are committed to Aaron in 2021 and beyond."
Ian Rapoport says Rodgers' agent was in Green Bay for several days to work on a contract extension -- one that did not happen.
There are on-the-field reasons for discontent. The Packers drafted a quarterback in the first round last year and haven't given Rodgers a lot of help at receiver.
The 16-year Packer recently brought up his relationship with the Green Bay Packers on national TV.
"Yeah, so far it's definitely been my team. I said last year I didn't know if that was actually possible to finish there. I still feel like that's where we're at. I don't know that a lot of that's in my hands, but I guess we'll just kind of see as we go."
Packers fans at Lambeau say it's 2008 all over again.
It certainly has that same feeling in Green Bay as the Packers might be heading toward their first quarterback transition since trading Brett Favre nearly 15 years ago.
There's always a lot of activity on Draft Day, but with multiple reports that Rodgers wants out of Green Bay, the phones will likely be ringing off the hook.
The Packers have reportedly already had a few teams calling to ask about potential trades. Green Bay has shut those down so far, and it seems like their plan A is still to keep Rodgers.
ESPN says President Mark Murphy, Gutekunst and LaFleur have all flown out to see Rodgers this off-season.
When he was asked about the MVP's contract on Monday, Gutekunst confidently deflected.
"I'm not really sure where you are coming from," he said. "What I will say is we're really excited about Aaron Rodgers and his future with the Green Bay Packers, we think he's going to be our quarterback for the foreseeable future and I think that obviously every year there's different things you go through to get to the season and we're going through them now -- whether it be contractually, working with our players on other things, and that's where we are."
The NFL MVP has never been traded immediately after winning the league's top award, and so far, the Packers have not given any indication that they are willing to let Rodgers go. But as the Draft gets going, anything can happen.