He’s a Super Bowl MVP. He’s a two-time NFL MVP. He is considered by many to be the most talented quarterback the NFL has ever seen. But after stating on the record historically innumerable times his desire to remain a Green Bay Packer for life, a tumultuous post-season absent the playoffs along with a massive front-office shakeup and power shift might have Aaron Rodgers whistling a different tune.
“Coaches coach and players play.”
This is what Mike McCarthy has preached and stated on the record as often as Rodgers has stated his desire to stay in Green Bay. At least that’s what the coach would have you believe anyway. Maybe McCarthy actually believed for a long time what he was professing, but was the coach toeing the line to the letter of his own law a few weeks ago when he interjected himself into the hiring of the Packers’ GM? There has been some buzz Aaron Rodgers was not too thrilled about the supposed choice of Russ Ball as general manager, but the words spoken publicly on the subject came from McCarthy.
In the blink of an eye, Mark Murphy did an about face, jumped off his top pick for GM — Russ Ball — and scrambled quickly to settle for Brian Gutekunst in order to appease his head coach. In that same moment, Mike McCarthy went from embattled incumbent with his backside quickly approaching the hot seat, to an empowered figurehead within the organization who no longer even answers to the GM he helped attain the position.
And somewhere, Aaron Rodgers was watching.
Cut to a few days later when the Packers made the announcement that Frank Cignetti, a Pittsburgh native and old McCarthy colleague from way back in the day, would succeed quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt while the latter exited for the same role within the Cincinnati Bengals organization.
Wait a minute. Say WHAT??? Alex Van Pelt left working with Aaron Rodgers to take the same position and to work with Andy Dalton? Rodgers loves Van Pelt and vice versa. No?
He probably was given no choice but to leave.
Van Pelt wanted career freedom and likely anticipated an offensive coordinator position that never came available for him this year. And because Mike McCarthy, being the stubborn SOB he is took Van Pelt wanting to be out from under his thumb as a personal insult, gave zero consideration to keeping him on with a one-year deal or any other arrangement. The moment Van Pelt expressed he did not want to be under a long-term deal that would prohibit him from being promoted elsewhere, he was likely dead to McCarthy.
So now McCarthy, fresh from his victory of manipulating team president Mark Murphy and hand-picking his choice for general manager, decides he wants to show his quarterback who’s boss. So he scapegoats Van Pelt, blaming him indirectly for Brett Hundley’s stunted development and preparation, lets Rodgers’ friend and QB coach walk without so much as a word and then to twist the knife further, hires an old crony from back in the day — a lifetime quarterback coach who never played the position at a high level.
In other words, exactly what Aaron Rodgers has stated on the record that he does NOT want in his position coach.
“Coaches coach. Players play.”
Were Aaron Rodgers words yesterday nothing more than a little venting in a high pressure, big money business, or was the quarterback dismayed and amazed by not only the power and influence his head coach was able to exude over the last few weeks, but also the subsequent level of disrespect Mike McCarthy paid him by not even communicating with him about the change of his position coach?
There are many questions left unanswered.
What does Aaron Rodgers REALLY think of Mike McCarthy as a coach?
How does Aaron Rodgers feel about Mike McCarthy’s power play in the selection of the GM?
What does Aaron Rodgers think about Mark Murphy atop the football power structure?
How does Aaron Rodgers feel about the Packers passing on other candidates as GM and the subsequent decimation of the Packers’ scouting department as a result of the chaos that has occurred since?
How does Aaron Rodgers feel about re-signing with a team that is in such total disarray?
How much power will Aaron Rodgers wield?
HOW MUCH POWER WILL AARON RODGERS WIELD?
Answer: As much as he wants.
He has been/is the power of this franchise right now.
If Rodgers left andMcCarthy stayed, what’s the Packers record?
Now, if Rodgers stayed and got a new coach, whats the Packers record?
You get the idea.
“Coaches coach. Players play.”
Uh-huh, and executives exec.
Everyone needs to check themselves. Rodgers earns his pay….the rest of this circus?….not so much.
I will insist with this: Rodgers should play through 2019 without an extension. That way he can test weather our management will have been improving the team. If he feels he won’t get a ring here, he will be able to pick his new team AND salary.
Not only is this a great idea, but it’s plausible. At this point Aaron needs to take control over the rest of his career. He’s got to be smart enough to know MM has cost him dearly. Plus, it might be the only way our team has any chance of ever replacing this mediocre dictator of a coach.
Bring a picture of Big Mike and a picture of himself to Ginger Gap and say…. choose.
If you were a QB would you want to play for Green Bay? An O line that gets you killed, no TE, a coach who has run the same shit plays for 10 years, an aging WR group and no defense at all.
Imagine 12 on The Vikings….. Barf….but what if? He could break the curse, I wonder what they would pay for him?
I think a head coach would communicate in advance with a future hall of fame quarterback about changes to the QB coach. Not sure that a bull headed play caller/offensive coordinator/ and self proclaimed highly successful head coach would feel the need to communicate the change.
There is nothing special about Cignetti. In fact there is a lot to be concerned about Cignetti’s past NFL experiences. There was no need to make that change except to have a scape goat for Hundley.
I do think Rodgers is starting negotiations with his comments, and I believe those negotiations are not all about money ,and yes, money will be a BIG part of it. Rodgers is also saying it needs to be a fit for both sides. It is not going to be a one sided deal. Rodgers also wants some action from the Packers in providing and developing an entire team around him. Rodgers in his way is telling the Packers the same thing McCarthy said, just change a couple of job titles.
McCarthy- “I want to be here, but it has to fit for me, too. I’ve done this job long enough, I wouldn’t want the GM to hire me or partner with me if we don’t fit together…. It has to be a partnership.”
I once believed Rodgers would want to get his extension in place before the start of the 2018 season. I’m not so sure anymore. I really thought when I read Rodgers comments that Rodgers was giving his sly smile and joking while making a point. Once I saw the video it was clear Rodgers was not happy.
Reasonable heads will probably prevail, however this could go sideways real quick. I know Rodgers could say he will not sign an extension. I would hate that, but could understand. On the other side the Packers could say we will let you run your contract out, then we will franchise you for a year or two, then trade you to a bottom dweller in the AFC. I would also hate to see that.
I don’t know why, but after this offseason power play from MM all I can picture is Cartman as MM saying “You will all learn to respect my authoritah”
Thanks for adding some quotes Howard. There were many more that should have been included but I don’t profess to be a journalist. Especially not a paid one at any rate.
I think Rodgers is very cognizant of not wanting to come off like a diva or pissing off the Packers contingent like Brett Favre did before him, but there is ample evidence that has existed for years demonstrating Rodgers unhappiness with McCarthy. I think Rodgers would credit Mike McCarthy for being a major force in helping him develop and yada yada yada, but I don’t think Rodgers has ever thought Mike McCarthy is a great head coach.
I for one would like to see more of your writing, and less from another who obsesses over Rodgers personal life.
Can this website lose that virtue signalling photo, please. All it does is remind me of some free agent hood-rat who should have never wore a Packer uniform. Lose it for good. Never use it again,..ever.
That being said, here’s some stuff taken from an article where Rodgers said he may have to someday play elsewhere. The 34-year-old acknowledged Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press that he may have to play for another team like Brett Favre did at the end of his Hall-of-Fame career.
Rodgers said he doesn’t think Favre ever fathomed leaving Green Bay before the Packers dealt him in 2008 to the Jets to make room for Rodgers. Favre finished his career in Minnesota.
“I think you have to be humble enough to realize if it could happen to Brett, it can happen to you,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers also said in an interview with ESPN Radio on Thursday that he was caught off-guard when the Packers chose not to retain his position coach, Alex Van Pelt, last month.
Then after speaking about some other QB deals, which shows he is paying attention to moves, he had this to say about Brady. Then, there’s Brady, the mainstay who’s seeking his sixth Super Bowl championship Sunday when Patriots play the Eagles.
“It’s ridiculous. We’ve been to one. This is his eighth in 17 years,” marveled Rodgers. “It’s kind of standard operating procedure around there.”
Yes, it is ridiculous that you’ve only been to one. Who is to blame for that?
I’m not going to be so quick as to say McCarthy was a major force in his development, it could have easily have been Clements, or even someone from the outside, we may never know. we’ve always heard from multiple people about Rodger’s intelligence, going so far as to call him the smartest person in the room. I can picture a scenario where, Rodgers teaches McCarthy, not the other way around. But, i’m speculating.
Which leads me to this. I think Rodgers brought up the Favre exit, not as planting a seed, but referencing that it was the Packers who had that final decision. So that same thing could happen to him.
Lastly, I think Rodgers has thought’s on both Ted and McCarthy…as it pertains to not building the best team to compete, and not coaching and/or calling plays to put them into the best position to advance. So considering that, i think that Rodgers been very loyal to those guys and the Packers by not displaying much of that and just biting his tongue. Rodgers also had a ringside seat to the Favre fiasco, and is far too smart to go down that road that Favre did. Rodgers is also cognizant of the fact his window is closing.
At the end of the day if Rodgers left, i’d fully understand. At the same time if that were to occur, he’ll be far more respectful with how he leaves, than Favre was.