Brian Gutekunst: Until we speak with Aaron Rodgers, all options on table

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Aaron Rodgers is out of the darkness, but he still hasn’t shed any light on his plans for the 2023 season.

That was the message from Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst on Tuesday. Gutekunst said that he has not spoken to Rodgers at length since the end of Green Bay’s season and that the team is hopeful about getting word from the quarterback about his thoughts before free agency gets underway on March 15.

Gutekunst referenced the need to hear those thoughts when asked if the Packers want Rodgers back for another year.

“He’s a great player, but until we have those conversations, I think all options are on the table,” Gutekunst said, via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. “We need to have those conversations. We want what’s best for the Green Bay Packers, what’s best for him so we’ll get to that coming up.”

Gutekunst said the team believes Jordan Love is ready to be the starting quarterback, but it still remains to be seen if the Packers will be moving in that direction for the 2023 season.

60 responses to “Brian Gutekunst: Until we speak with Aaron Rodgers, all options on table

  1. This guy my GM needs to man up he is in charge not Aaron there are half a dozen legit reason to move on from him so if you wanna trade him then trade him don’t worry about his ego . Perhaps the only legit reason is you want him to restructure his contract to make it more cap friendly for his next team which he should do as it would also be in his best interest.

  2. Does Love have what it takes to take a team back to the Super Bowl? Maybe he does, maybe he doesn’t. Nobody knows. Does Rodgers have what it takes to take a team back to the Super Bowl? 12 years of history says no. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.

  3. I wonder what’s like to be held hostage a prepubescent teenager? I guess the Packers are finding out now!

  4. Packers are hoping he’s ready to move on either by trade or retirement. Skipping voluntary workouts and the never ending drama tells you all you need to know that it’s time to move on..

  5. Tell Rodgers he’s no longer wanted in Green Bay. Just tell him. If he insists on showing up tell him to wear street clothes, point him towards the sidelines, hand him a clipboard and tell him he’s the most expensive coach in the league. He’ll request a trade to anybody.

  6. Of course Gutenkunst has to play ball and acquiesce to Rodgers’ needs, otherwise he’ll just retire, leaving the Pack without a trade asset and a massive cap hit.

  7. Arrogant Aaron is a narcissistic sociopath. He will not retire. He craves the attention & will not want to go into the HOF the same year as Tom Brady. Gutenkust needs to end this saga.

  8. Does Rodgers have what it takes to take a team back to the Super Bowl? 12 years of history says no.
    ===========

    Its convenient to blame Rodgers.

    Care to review how many times the defense was embarrassed? They gave up 35 points per game in the NFCC Game losses. No QB can win with that.

    Shall we talk about how many times it looked like someone had stolen McCarthys play sheet in the Post-season? Arguably the worst big game coach in history.

    .. I do not believe this Packer team will win another Super Bowl with Rodgers. Rodgers is not the reason for that.

  9. I have always been a Rodgers fan, but his behavior is getting old. The whole dark thing, people who really want to meditate don’t make an announcement. HEY I’m going to sit in the dark to find inner peace. He has great talent, maybe moving to a different team will let it shine again.

  10. Before you speak A A Ron – clear the table. Guess who’s not invited to dinner?? Bye Bye Rog

  11. You would have thought Gutekunst would have been invited to hang out with him on his four day little vacation in total darkness, since he’s left the pack in the dark the last two years.

  12. Cap number is a roster killer and the highest paid employee doesn’t show up for the early stuff to put the team in the best position to win – especially with the young receiving core. Unless both change for 2023 need to move on as can’t build the right culture based on that dynamic.

  13. I’ve always been a fan of Aaron Rodgers, but it’s time for the Packers to formally announce that Jordan Love is the starter, and let the chips fall where they may with AR. This drama is getting ridiculous, the Packers don’t need it.

  14. I’m so tired of the PR game, both from Gutey and Rodgers. I just don’t care. Please find a way to trade him so we don’t have to have another 8-8 season, or 10-6 or 6-10….even if they manage to make the playoffs the trend of Rodgers playoff performances has been obvious for all to see, an arrow headed down. He still has trade value to the Jets or one or two other teams, because they can throw a dart for a year or two relatively cheaply, whereas the Packers are on the hook for the insane extension they gave him last year.

  15. Cap number is a roster killer and the highest paid employee doesn’t show up for the early stuff to put the team in the best position to win
    ==========

    $31,623,568, 9th among NFL QBs, with Burrow, Herbert, Hurts, and Jackson on deck for new deals.

    Tom Bradys hit is $3.5mil more…. he’s not even on a roster..

  16. I seem to recall Rodgers’ last post-game presser, where he stated that he would not hold the Packers hostage waiting for his decision. He’s out of the dark, so what is the hold-up this time? Why do the Packers kow-tow to this guy? He’s given them ONE Super Bowl in 18 years. It’s ridiculous.

  17. Tell Rodgers he’s no longer wanted in Green Bay. Just tell him. If he insists on showing up tell him to wear street clothes, point him towards the sidelines, hand him a clipboard and tell him he’s the most expensive coach in the league.
    ===========

    The hard line worked really well with Favre, didn’t it? All that Rubicon crossing, trains leaving the station.

    Under your scenario, there’s absolutely nothing to stop Rodgers from just showing up and destroying their cap through 2026 when his contract runs out.

    If they want him gone, their only option is to work with him on a trade.

    Literally, the only option beacuse he can’t be cut, and they’ve given him financial incentive to keep showing up.

  18. I can shenanigans on BG saying Love is ready. If Love is ready, then he’s ready. It makes no difference at all what you do with Rodgers then. Cutting him, trading him, benching him, none of that makes Love not ready. So why is BG saying then they’re waiting to hear what Rodgers wants? If Love is ready, it’s completely immaterial what Rodgers wants. Your decision has already been made that Love is ready? Then you have nothing to wait for.

  19. minkytails says: “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.”
    ——————–

    By your logic, the Packers switching to me as QB gives them a better chance at getting to the Super Bowl?!? Yikes.

  20. He still has trade value to the Jets or one or two other teams, because they can throw a dart for a year or two relatively cheaply, whereas the Packers are on the hook for the insane extension they gave him last year.
    ============

    The option would become the responsibility of the new team.

    The Packers are on the hook for the past guarantees ($40~mil)

    If they trade him after June 1, they can split that over 2023 ($15~mil) and 2024 ($24~mil)

    Its not ideal, but if they’re really done with him, its completely manageable.

  21. Gutt is a weak sister if you will. Hey to be in charge one must take charge and your not the guy. Sitting around waiting for a decision this long is pathetic. To me he is trying like hell to screw Love is what he is doing.
    Rodgers knows he is coming back for the money and does not want to be traded but he wants to screw Gutt and team who must come up with the bucks to keep Love.

  22. Satan says:
    February 28, 2023 at 10:46 am
    I’ve always been a fan of Aaron Rodgers, but it’s time for the Packers to formally announce that Jordan Love is the starter, and let the chips fall where they may with AR. This drama is getting ridiculous, the Packers don’t need it.

    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
    Thats the problem they are afraid to make this move. If Love fails they lose their jobs. Rodgers is again their safety net for one more year of being employed

  23. I’ve seen a lot of comments from Pack fans on this subject over the past few weeks. I’ve seen everything from “the cap is a myth” to “trade Rodgers” to “cut Rodgers” to “the Packers hold all the cards”.

    Unless there’s something you’re seeing in AR’s contract that I’m not (and please share if you are), Rodgers holds all the cards here.

    -Rodgers has 60 million guaranteed for the 2023 season.
    -His cap hit if he plays is 31 million.
    -If Rodgers retires, the Packers will have a dead cap hit of 40 million.
    -If they trade Rodgers, the dead cap hit will be 99 million over the next two years.

    Rodgers holds all the cards. And yes, the cap is very, very real. There are tricks to kick the can down the road, but the bill eventually comes due.

  24. The Green Bay Packers will be wandering in the wilderness as long as Brian Gutekunst is running this operation. He has single handedly slammed the door shut on the Packers Super Bowl window with his absurd drafts – giving up a #1 and a #4 to move up and draft a quarterback from the Mountain West Conference when Rodgers had 4 years left on his contract, and then panicking after 1 season when they realized Love was no where near ready to start – and overlapping Love’s contract by giving Rodgers an iron clad 3 year guaranteed deal for a cool 60 million each year. After trading #17 to the Raiders, he entered last year’s draft with two #1’s and a pair of #2 picks … but instead of getting 4 good players, he spends the second #1 on a defensive tackle that didn’t play much, and then was forced to give up a #2 pick to … the Vikings!! … in order to select a wide receiver. Was that really necessary? Couldn’t he have simply selected Christian Watson with a #1 selection, and then found two good players with his two #2 picks?? Year after year after year the Packer special teams were ranked at or near the bottom of the league – making no real move to improve them until the 49ers came to Green Bay and won a playoff game with a blocked field goal and a blocked punt turned into a defensive touchdown. This past season they cut Amari Rodgers – a 3rd round wide receiver who had a hard time catching, but was real good at fumbling. Deep down Rodgers loves the Packers but he realizes this front office clown show has the green and gold going nowhere.

  25. The Packers knew when Rogers was ready and they stopped acquiescing to Favre and his mishugg. Sounds like they’ve reached the same point along the way with Rogers. There was a message sent in that last sentence from Gutey. I hope Rogers was listening.

  26. I like Gutey’s style. His delivery reminds me of my wife — in her job, she says she delivers the worst possible news in the nicest possible way. Hope Rogers was listening.

  27. The guy needs a huge dose of humility. Keep him and bench him, and start Love. Win or lose, it’s time to send him a message that he’not bigger than the organization or the team.

  28. The Packers need to hire an interpreter the specializes in New Age gibberish if they want to talk to Rodgers, lol.

  29. I wish my Packer fans would show me some loyalty and quit complaining. Just be glad they have me and not Wentz.

  30. I’m not a huge fan of Rodgers, but I couldn’t believe the negative reaction to his darkness retreat thing.

    What gives on that? How is that different from other spiritual practices that people engage in all the time? It’s not hurting anyone. People do sweat lodges, meditation retreats, chanting, days & weeks of silence, et al.

    To hear all of the “it’s so wacky” stuff made me feel like we’re back in the 1950’s. Live & let live.

  31. Insane how much the front office coddles this guy. This is what happens when you don’t have an owner to throw his weight around.

  32. When you signed Aaron to that massive extension last year is became clearly obvious that Love is not the future and the way Aaron played last season he should have been replaced if Love was a capable starter, which the coaches have decided he is not. The only issue is how to eat that $100 million or so dead cap hit, do they clear the roster this year and start over next year, do they split it up, do they just keep Aaron and let him play out his contract and trade Love for whatever starting the rebuild process. Nothing is good, really should play for draft picks and try to be competitive again in 5 or so years…the price when an idiot GM over pays a declining QB.

  33. The Aaron Rodgers clown show has worn out its welcome! Its old and tired. No one wants to see it any more.

  34. -If they trade Rodgers, the dead cap hit will be 99 million over the next two years
    ==========

    This is incorrect.

    If he’s cut the hit is $99~mil, beacuse the 2023 option becomes fully guaranteed.

    If he’s traded, its the same as if he retired. The Packers owe all past guaranteed money.

  35. The Green Bay Packers will be wandering in the wilderness as long as Brian Gutekunst is running this operation.
    ==========

    I think its coaching.

    Gute made good signings. Za Smith was a game wrecker. Preston Smith has been solid. Amos was a plus safety. Douglas was an under the radar homerun. Campbell solidified the middle, and is the best signing of them all.

    I like his drafts. He has made good picks in my opinion. There are 7 1st rounders on the D.

    Why can’t this unit get to respectability? How many teams in this League haven’t made this heavy kind investment and are getting better results?

  36. He seems spiteful enough to wait right until the moment after Mr. Irrelevant is picked to announce his decision

  37. I would love for BG to just have the guts to say:

    “Jordan Love is ready. He’s our starting QB in 2023. What we do with Aaron, or what Aaron decides to do for himself in regards to playing or retiring, we’ll figure out in time..”

  38. Looks like Rodgers did learn something from his Dark Retreat …………… how to keep the Packers in the Dark LOL!

  39. I have full faith in Love to be our next great QB it’d be a big mistake to let him escape thru FA as we waste another year with the prince of darkness who would wanna play in 2024 also enough already trade him .

  40. I thought he was supposed to have a idea of what he was going to do after the darkness thing enough already!

  41. arnoldziffel says:
    February 28, 2023 at 11:33 am
    The Green Bay Packers will be wandering in the wilderness as long as Brian Gutekunst is running this operation. He has single handedly slammed the door shut on the Packers Super Bowl window with his absurd drafts – giving up a #1 and a #4 to move up and draft a quarterback from the Mountain West Conference when Rodgers had 4 years left on his contract, and then panicking after 1 season when they realized Love was no where near ready–SORRY ARNOLD—the Monday morning QB and draft hindsight is BS. Drafting Love was NOT a mistake even if he ends up being a bust. Yes, that’s right! GM’s who wait until they’re desperate for a QB–see: Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Carolina, Raider, Jets etc. end up doing desperate things. There are now numerous reports that the light went on for Love in year 3, we shall see if that happens or not. As for your drafting critiques, yes in hindsight he could have drafted Christian Watson in the first, and passed on Devonte Wyatt, but the jury is still out on both. Every draft could be redone years after the fact. More to the point, Gutey’s draft last year was amazing getting Watson, Romeo Doubs, Zach Tom and some others, to the point where how his two first rounders turnout will be icing on the cake. He’s also drafted Jaire Alexander, Rashan Gary, Elgton Jenkins–all franchise cornerstone players. His epic free agent class of Z Smith, Preston Smith, Billy Turner and Adrian Amos put this team back in contention and opened the door for Rodgers MVP seasons. What Gutey couldn’t “plan for” was how the Love pick lit a fire under Rodgers, no one seems to put a value on that. As for the Rodgers contract, yes, a blunder, but with the Packers leadership of LaFleur and Gutey reporting to President Mark Murphy it’s hard to know who really wanted that, but yes, they all blew that one.

  42. No one seems concerned with what all of this drama is doing to Jordan Love. He showed some real pomise in the brief opportunities he received, and hasn’t had one negative thing to say. Is it good for a quarterback’s ego and sense of value to be kept on a string until they figure out what is happening with Rogers? I would think that what is in Love’s best interest, both short and long term, is the most important part of this. It would be tragic to screw Love up while coddling Rogers.

  43. It just seems like Rodgers is going to be stuck in Green Bay for one more year and neither Rodgers, the Packers nor their fans will be too happy about it.

  44. The time to trade him was last year. What did they do? Signed him to a massive new contract. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Now they are stuck with him and want him gone. No one is going to give them anything for this PITA.

  45. And yes, the cap is very, very real. There are tricks to kick the can down the road, but the bill eventually comes due.
    +++++
    Yep. And Green Bay’s is they negotiate the right to turn roster bonuses into signing bonuses with their big ticket signees. If Rodgers wants to go, he’ll let the numbers change to get traded to where he wants to go. Green Bay will pay the piper in Year 1 of Love.

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