It's Time for Green Bay to Trade Aaron Rodgers
/Before the NFL draft last night a bunch of rumors started to swirl that Aaron Rodgers wanted out of Green Bay.
I am a Packers fan, as you all know, but I am not an Aaron Rodgers fan. My dad, who is also not a fan, can vouch for this. Hell, RD can vouch for this. Just ask him about our conversation the day the Packers drafted him, I was not too happy and neither was my dad. But, he has been great. He won a Super Bowl, and should have gone to more. The Packers have pretty much dominated the NFC North ever since he took over as the starter. He always keeps them in games. He has single handedly won big regular season and playoff games. He is a multiple MVP winner. He is one of the best QB's in the league. I was wrong and RD was right.
The fact is that Rodgers is older, he is becoming more of a head case, he has outside interests that are Hollywood centric and the Packers have gotten the best he has to offer in my opinion. I say trade him for a king's ransom, or just let him waste a year not playing if he is going to demand a trade. I'm all for player empowerment too. Players should have some kind of say in where they play, but not one year after they sign an extension. I feel the same way about the James Harden trade. He gave up on Houston, and no matter how good he has been in Brooklyn, the way he exited Houston will always stay with me. And this isn't like Paul George asking for a trade to the Clippers. He worked with Oklahoma City's front office to make the trade work out for both teams. Aaron Rodgers and James Harden did not, or are not, willing to do that. They both just want out because things aren't the way they want it to be with their teams.
I do agree that the Packers have not made the best choices with Rodgers as the face of their franchise. They drafted a cornerback last night when plenty of wideouts were available. I like the Jordan Love pick last year, but they did that without talking to him. They have no real solid number two receiver behind Davante Adams. And the Matt LaFluer hire is still puzzling to me. But he could have just said no to the extension that they offered last season. He agreed to it and put pen to paper, and now he is unhappy, going so far as to tell some of his teammates he wants out.
This is childish. This is one of the many reasons why I did not want Green Bay to draft him so long ago. Everything has to be about him. He only cares about himself. He wants to be the star. He wants to be the only player that people talk about when they mention the Packers. Basically, Aaron Rodgers is selfish. So, like I said, either trade him to a team of the GM's choice, the team that makes the best offer, or let him waste the rest of his contract stewing about still being in Green Bay. I know he has his "wish list" of teams, but I do not think any of those teams can make a solid offer. Denver has already said they are out. The Raiders have nothing of real value except for a plethora of future picks. And the 49ers, I want nothing to do with Jimmy Garroppollo, and they do not have the picks to make this trade work. Hell, I would go the route that the Spurs did with Kawhi Leonard. Kawhi wanted out and he wanted to go to LA. But the Spurs didn't like either offer from both LA teams. It didn't meet their criteria. Then Toronto came calling, offering DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a solid amount of picks. The Spurs also got to keep all their young talent. Kawhi went to Toronto, won a title and then got to go where he wanted as a free agent. The Spurs, while not the dominant team they were in the early 2000's, are still a headache to play, and they are going to be really good again really soon. That's because they dictated the trade. Green Bay needs to go that route.
Personally, I'd trade him for a goldmine of picks and a really good second receiver. I would also try to land a young defensive stud. I'd go after someone like Devin Bush or Khalil Mack or Aaron Donald or Jamal Adams. Shoot for the stars. See who is willing to give up an emerging star on the defensive side of the ball. Why not? Apparently the 49ers were willing to give up a ton, so why wouldn't some other team. Rodgers is better than Ben Roethlisberger, so wouldn't the Steelers give up Bush and a bunch of future picks for him. The Bears just drafted a QB, but Fields could sit for a year or two behind Rodgers and the Packers could get the best linebacker in football. I know the Rams just traded for Matt Stafford, but Rodgers owns him. So why wouldn't the Rams give up Donald to get an upgrade at QB. And I know the Seahawks current QB isn't happy there, so why not swap QB's and then add on Jamal Adams? That would be ideal in my opinion.
In the end I say let Rodgers go. Go out and get as much as possible for a beleaguered malcontent. Now is their best opportunity. Or just let him sit out and be grumpy. Who cares. Green Bay doesn't owe him a damn thing, and they should treat it that way. No matter what choice they make, I say move him. Bring on the Jordan Love era. Let's do it.
Ty
Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.
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