All kinds of moving parts with this Aaron Rodgers’ contract extension. Rodgers wants to be the highest-paid player in the game. He surely wants X amount of guaranteed money, likely more than Kirk Cousins ($84 million) and Matt Ryan ($94.5 million). What else does he want?
He reportedly wants something no NFL player has ever gotten. Something you primarily see in the NBA. A player option.
One thing to watch on the Aaron Rodgers contract negotiations is how much control he will have built into the deal. I discussed here. pic.twitter.com/bGA1VLZlLU
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) May 31, 2018
As you can see, the idea is Rodgers could opt out of his new deal at some point (or points) to renegotiate. It’s a play so he remains the highest-paid player in the game.
There are a couple ways to look at that. It’s great business by Rodgers and what are the Green Bay Packers going to say? No?
Doubtful.
Another way to look at it is it’s pretty damn selfish and arrogant.
What I would do if I were the Packers is tie Rodgers’ player options to Super Bowl wins. Because who gives a crap about MVPs and all the personal honors at this point? If Rodgers can lead the Packers to a Super Bowl win, he earns a player option. If he leads them to another, sure, here’s another player option for ya, pal!
Being a great quarterback is one thing. Being a great quarterback who wins Super Bowls is entirely another.
Ask Dan Marino.
Obviously this is all about money. Why not make it about money AND winning?
Aaron Rodgers needs more money? The Green Bay Packers need more championships.
Clearly, this contract that was supposed to be done months ago is still being negotiated because Rodgers has some lofty demands. In this case, some unprecedented demands.
We’re sure this will get done before training camp, but one thing is certain. Aaron Rodgers’ new deal is going to change the landscape for NFL contracts.
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Makes perfectly good sense to me. Because Rodger’s should be held accountable for Championships regardless if the GM doesn’t give him a championship caliber team. Why should the GM be accountable.
Thinking…Next level.
Lol. And sadly that’s not even my biggest takeaway from this article
I disagree totally that it should be based on Superbowl wins. Rodgers has had three things that prevents that: a poor defense with Capers, no running game or tight end, and MM play calling and lack of schemes. So I understand Rodgers position. It should be based on performance with little around you. If the Packers don’t want this, then trade him. There just may be a few teams jumping at rhe chance to get him. Pay the man and his demands. He’s earned it!
Something not even being considered. It may not even be about the money. It may be about how competitive the team is in a few years. If they are close to winning a super bowl or not. That may be his motivation here.
Yes, doesn’t “opt-out” mean he can force his release? Cause it isn’t a “highest paid” clause. If the second were true, then the team could mix in some performance-bases incentives. Want a godly contract? Play like a god. Not tying it to an SB win, which depends in his teammates in large part, but to TD passes, yards. Take any of his good seasons as the standard. I would not advise linking the contract incentives to low INTs, since that will monetarily deterr him from high risk throws.
As for an opt-out, as in “I want to be released now”, it makes sense because it will pressure the organization to field a competitive team around him, or die trying, as opposed to a bunch of UDFAs and overpaid underperforming players.
Damn straight!!
Everyone (power brokers) in Green Bay has been to comfortable, for too long. Sign a contract with yearly opt out clauses.
Unfortunately this should have happened on his last contract (or even before that), then maybe the powers that be couldn’t have bathed in the warm heavenly waters of job security for so many years.
The damage has been done setting this team back with so many issues. “Almost” too late now, but…..whatever.
Is this coming from A Rodgers camp or the NFPLA?
I don’t see how you can get a large % of your contract guaranteed and then have an opt out in a league with a salary cap, unless the play is phasing out the salary cap.
Howard as usual, making great points giving us something to digest.
If i wanted to really reach, big time reach. I would suggest that Rodgers and his agent are trying to create a means to an end.
I wouldn’t blame him one bit. Why? Because this team sat on it’s hands as far as player acquisition for years. Years and years and years of unproductive drafts. A head coach unwilling to make any real change on defense for years and years until……..he needed a fall guy.
If Rodgers wanted to leave and left, i’d thank him for his service and for putting up with that shit as long as he did and giving us fans hope in spite of the clowns running the circus.
I agree with Howard. Surely something would have to give in a negotiation like this. There’s no way a quarterback who only has one Super Bowl appearance — eight seasons ago — and has not dominated the league statistically in at least two or three years is going to get both the biggest contract in history and the first player option in history. Aaron Rodgers may well be one of the most talented quarterbacks in history, but much of that talent has gone unrealized, partly through some bad decisions he’s made on the field but mostly through questionable personnel decisions by the team and playcalling decisions by the head coach. We can apportion the blame however we please, but I still don’t think Rodgers has enough leverage to force the kind of deal that could easily leave Green Bay holding the bag without a whole lot to show for it.
Let him play out his contract , franchise him twice and then he is free.
I agree with Mikes idea about letting him play out his contract and franchising him. but whatever mess this shitstorm ends up as we have Murphy and his do nothing hands off management style to thank!