Latest On Aaron Rodgers’ Timeframe; Jets To Aggressively Pursue Rodgers

For Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, all options remain on the table: He could return to the Packers in 2023, he could ask to be traded, or he could retire. The 39-year-old said that during his performance The Pat McAfee Show last week that he will reflect on his future during a four-day, four-day “darkness retreat” that will begin after tonight’s Super Bowl (via ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky).

Rodgers said he will be retiring to a small house in an undisclosed location and his only contact with the outside world will come when his meals are delivered. While recent reports have suggested Rodgers will play in 2023 rather than walk away from a staggering amount of money, Rodgers told McAfee that retiring is a very real possibility.

“For sure; it’s a real thing, 100 percent.” Rodgers said. “So it’s going to be important to get through this week and do my isolation retreat and just be able to think about all things about my future and then be able to make a decision that I think is best for me, forward and in the future highest interest of my happiness and then move on.”

The implication here is that Rodgers will notify the Packers of his decision shortly after his retirement, despite being team president Markus Murphy confirms there is no deadline at this time (video shortcut via ESPN’s Dianna Russini). Murphy acknowledged the club would like to have an answer sooner rather than later and he expects to have clarity on the matter no later than when free agency opens on March 15.

Multiple Packers sources say SNY.tv’s Connor Hughes (video shortcut) that they expect Rodgers to return to Green Bay. However, Hughes and NFL.com duo Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero report that the Packers will honor his wishes no matter what the four-time MVP decides to do.

Of course, that means that if Rodgers decides he wants to play for another team — which might actually be Green Bay’s preference — the Packers will work with him to make that happen (although Rodgers would have to agree to a revised contract first in order to complete it). to enable a trade). While Green Bay will reportedly not be selling its iconic franchise to an NFC club, there will still be multiple suitors.

The Jets and Raiders have already been linked to Rodgers in various reports, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler says he’s “more confident than ever” that New York will aggressively pursue Rodgers (subscription required). The Jets believe they are close to competition, and they’ve identified Rodgers as Plan A. Only when a Rodgers pursuit is unsuccessful will the team switch to it Derek Carrwhich Fowler says is Gang Green’s #2 choice.