Turns Out $200 Million Worth Aaron Rodgers Was Practicing ‘Social Distancing’ With Green Bay Packers Up Until New York Trade

Apr 25, 2023 | 8:56 AM EDT

Turns Out $200 Million Worth Aaron Rodgers Was Practicing ‘Social Distancing’ With Green Bay Packers Up Until New York Trade

Apr 25, 2023 | 8:56 AM EDT

After months of suspense and anticipation, Aaron Rodgers has finally parted ways with the Green Bay Packers. He has gone to join the New York Jets after spending 18 years at Lambeau Field. The exit of such a high-profile quarterback was bound to attract some questions and the Brian Gutekunst faced some intense ones from the press. As it turns out, the four-time NFL MVP kept his distance from the front office before sealing his move to New York.

The relationship between Rodgers and the Packers was already strained towards the end of the 2022 season. He had indicated that it could be his last season in green and gold. The season ended in disappointment after the Packers got knocked out of the playoffs at the last hurdle. And since then, the future Hall of Famer hasn’t talked with the Packers front office.

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Only silence from Aaron Rodgers

On the day that Aaron Rodgers left Lambeau Field to try his luck at MetLife Stadium, Packers GM Brian Gutekunst dropped a bombshell. A reporter asked him if he had talked to the QB before he went to the Jets and Gutekunst had a short answer that said a lot in so few words.

“Yeah I have not talked to Aaron. I’ve talked to Dave, done quite a bit but I’ve not talked to Aaron,” Gutekunst said in the press conference.

So that means that Rodgers didn’t talk to the GM even while the trade negotiations were still on. His agent handled all his trade talks and sealed a move that he wanted. That tells a lot about the strained relationship that Rodgers now shares with the franchise he represented all through his career till now.

The Jets won’t mind it though. They have got their target and will hope that he delivers on the promise he comes in with. And the Packers are looking at the future with Love.

Future for the Packers

The Packers always knew that they would lose Aaron Rodgers this off-season. That is why, they were already preparing for the next season with a new QB. For the first time in three decades, the Packers will go into an NFL season without a QB named Aaron Rodgers or Brett Favre. It is time for Jordan Love.

The Packers picked Love in the first round of the 2020 draft. He has been an able deputy to Rodgers for the last three seasons. Now he will finally get his own chance to shrug away his predecessor’s shadow and create a name for himself.

Will Rodgers be successful in New York as fans expect him to be? And will Love be able to guide the Packers into a new era like his predecessor did back in the day? These are some of the burning questions in the mind of the fans. And only time has the answer.

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Written by

Shivam Pratap Singh

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Shivam Pratap Singh is a seasoned NFL writer at Essentially Sports. With a master's degree in international and area studies from a prestigious university, Shivam leverages his academic background to gain a deeper understanding of the global impact of sports. Shivam's passion for football developed early in his career as a writer. One of his breakthrough moments as a writer came when he reported on the '49ers GM John Lynch QB Announcement', demonstrating his talent for breaking news and providing insightful analysis. When not immersed in football, Shivam keeps up with the latest happenings in his favorite soccer club, Manchester United, and the wild European soccer scene. He is a passionate fan of the sport and enjoys writing about the intersection of football and culture.

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Abigail Kevichusa