NFL Executive Predicts That The Green Bay Packers’ Season ‘Isn’t Going To End Well’

The Green Bay Packers are set to officially begin their 2021 season Wednesday morning when they hold their first official training camp practice.

When the book closes on this campaign roughly six months from now, at least one NFL executive thinks all of Packer Nation will be disappointed.

The Packers agreed to give disgruntled quarterback Aaron Rodgers control of his future, paving the way for this to be his final year in Green Bay. And this executive believes that move could blow up in Green Bay’s face.

“This isn’t going to end well,” the executive said Tuesday. “If he’s already got one foot out the door, what is his commitment level to this team?

“It feels to me like that guy in your company that is applying all over town while he’s still working for you. That’s not exactly a great employee while you’ve still got him.”

Five hours before the NFL Draft on April 29, word leaked that Rodgers didn’t want to play for Green Bay again. The Packers selected quarterback Jordan Love in the first round in 2020 to be their quarterback of the future, and Rodgers was furious that the team never communicated their plans with him.

Rodgers skipped the Packers’ offseason program and mandatory minicamp. And many across the state quickly turned on him.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Packers offered several concessions to entice Rodgers back for the 2021 season. Rodgers was in Green Bay Tuesday when players were scheduled to report to training camp.

Among the concessions Green Bay offered were:

• The 2023 year in Rodgers’ contract would be voided. That is the last year of Rodgers’ contract and Green Bay would not be allowed to place the franchise tag on him in the future.

• The Packers would agree to review Rodgers’ situation at the end of this season, at which time a potential trade could take place.

• The Packers will adjust Rodgers’ contract now to free up salary cap room. Rodgers would not lose any income with the adjustment.

• Rodgers has outlined several issues he has with the team. Green Bay will put mechanisms in place to address those.

On some levels, it appears the Packers won this stalemate.

1.   Green Bay had always targeted 2022 as the start date of the Love-era. And after Love had a truncated rookie season due to COVID, this gives him more time to sit and learn.

2.   The Packers re-adjusted several contracts this offseason and pushed heavy salary cap hits into future years. This gave the 2021 team one last chance to chase a title, something that becomes more realistic with Rodgers on board.

3.   Green Bay should still get substantial compensation if it trades Rodgers after the season.

4.   By re-working Rodgers’ contract now, they’ll free up money to sign pending free agents such as cornerback Jaire Alexander and wideout Davante Adams.

Rodgers got what he wanted by having some say where he winds up in 2022. But what about 2021?

On paper, Green Bay — which has gone to consecutive NFC Championship Games — should be among the Super Bowl favorites. The Packers could bring back as many as 23 of 25 starters from last year and had a solid draft to complement the roster.

But many — including the executive we spoke with — wonder if Rodgers will perform anywhere near his MVP level of 2020.

Remember, when Rodgers and former coach Mike McCarthy weren’t on the same page in 2018, Rodgers completed 62.3% of his passes, his second-worst percentage since becoming a starter in 2008. Rodgers had 25 just touchdowns that year, his fewest in a season where he played at least 10 games. Rodgers fumbled six times and lost three that year, and his quarterback rating of 97.6 was his fourth-poorest since becoming a starter.

With the Packers 4-7-1 after 12 games that season, McCarthy was fired.

The Packers are hoping the return of Rodgers gives them a chance for a “Last Dance” ending similar to the Chicago Bulls’ run to an NBA title in 1998. Rodgers and Adams even posted identical pictures of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen on their Instagram accounts over the weekend.

The difference, of course, is Jordan and Pippen are two of the greatest winners in NBA history — combining for a remarkable 12 NBA championships. Today, Rodgers has just one Super Bowl ring and Adams has zero.

“Yeah, this won’t end like it did for Michael and Scottie,” the executive said. “Those guys could handle all of that drama because that was one of the greatest teams in NBA history.

“There will be a lot — and I mean a lot — of drama in Green Bay this year. But that team they’re bringing back has never won a Super Bowl and I’d be shocked if they win one this season.”