Free agency has arrived and Aaron Rodgers is still not a New York Jet
Well, the seemingly unthinkable has happened. We have made it all the way to free agency and Aaron Rodgers remains a member of the Green Bay Packers. Not only that, but there is hardly anything new to report about the situation. It seems as if the entire sports media world is in the dark regarding Rodgers and the trade talks that surround him.
Last Tuesday, the New York Jets flew out a front-office contingent to meet with Rodgers in California, led by owner Woody Johnson, head coach Robert Saleh, general manager Joe Douglas, and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. The meeting reportedly went well. Two days later, ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported that the Jets were “optimistic” they were close to acquiring Rodgers. All seemed to be going according to plan.
But then one day passed without reports of a deal. And then another. And another.
Coming into Monday, many figured the completion of the deal would be reported prior to 12 p.m. ET, which marked the opening of the NFL’s legal tampering period.
It did not happen. As of this writing, the legal tampering period opened more than 10 minutes ago, and there has still been no word whatsoever on what is going on between Rodgers, Green Bay, and New York.
Multiple members of the media continue to report they are hearing that the Jets and the Packers do not have word on Rodgers’ plans and are waiting on him to inform them of his decision. This has been the story since late last week. Nothing new has materialized since the meeting on Tuesday. All we continue to get are a multitude of tweets just like this one from ESPN’s Packers reporter, Rob Demovsky:
We're an hour away from the start of the free agent negotiating period, and I'm told neither the Packers nor the Jets know what Aaron Rodgers is going to do.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) March 13, 2023
Russini says teams around the league are waiting for the Rodgers saga to transpire as the first domino to fall in this free agency period.
There are lots of decisions and moves being made off what Aaron Rodgers decides to do.
Teams and agents waiting to make moves as many believe it’s the biggest domino to fall to get this free agency going.
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) March 13, 2023
ESPN’s Adam Schefter says the Raiders and Texans are expected to lead the pursuit for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who has often been mentioned as a potential fallback option for the Jets if Rodgers doesn’t work out. Schefter also mentions the Jets as a potentially interested team, although he makes it clear that New York is still focused on Rodgers.
When the negotiating window for free agency opens in under an hour, the Texans and Raiders are expected to pursue former 49ers’ QB Jimmy Garoppolo, per league sources. Jets also could get in, but they’re in wait-and-see mode right now.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2023
Now that we’ve reached this point, it will be very interesting to see how the Jets proceed. Without knowing whether or not Rodgers’ contract will be added to their salary cap, how will they handle negotiations with free agents? Joe Douglas is about to answer that question over the next few hours.
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Woody is going to undo a lot of JD’s good work with this and allow AR to choose players. If this all goes wrong he’s got no business firing anyone. He should cede control to his brother again.
Tannehill and Johnny Football looking good right about now.
I’m ready to trade for Stafford and leave Rodgers looking like an idiot.
Run…do not walk away!!! If Trump were president Woody Johnson would be sipping tea across the pond while football people finished this team.
I’ve hated this since it was first announced and now even our backup is gone.
This franchise….what r the words.
I can’t believe Saleh would want Rodgers in his locker room. I imagine that without Woody’s pressure, the Jets would already be looking elsewhere. The media-locker room circus will be a nightmare all season long if Rodgers jumps aboard.
Forget this Tool! Aaron got bored spinning one franchise around each year, now he’s further enjoying spinning two franchises around. Move on, make a pitch for Stafford or Jimmy G….or Lamar if he backs away from a fully guaranteed contract. I already hate Aaron and he’s still 3000 miles away.
Pretend he decided to retire, then what would you do….then do that.
Rodgers would be in shock, the Packers too….we have the upper hand, they are stuck with each other unless we take him, screw him.