The Green Bay Packers Are ‘Disgusted’ With Aaron Rodgers And Ready To Move On

Aaron Rodgers has been a Green Bay Packer for 18 seasons — longer than anyone in franchise history.

According to one report, though, there won’t be a 19^th season.

Bob McGinn, a member of the writer’s wing of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, told the GoLongTD podcast that the Packers are “disgusted” with Rodgers and the veteran quarterback will be in a different uniform in 2023.

“As of right now, I’m convinced — based on my own instincts and knowing the NFL and knowing what happens after all these defeats and discussions with someone who has firsthand knowledge of this organization, of the Packers’ internal debates — that they are done with Rodgers,” McGinn told host Tyler Dunne. “That’s the way it is right now, that he’s not coming back. They’re disgusted with him and they’re done with him and they’re moving on. This is going to involve money and a trade partner and all kinds of things. But I’m totally convinced he is not going to be their starting quarterback this year.”

Rodgers just completed what’s arguably his worst season since becoming a starter in 2008.

His quarterback rating (91.1) was the lowest in that time and his yards per completion (6.8) were his second fewest. Rodgers’ 1.53 touchdowns per game and his passing yards (3,695) were both career lows, as well, when he’s played a full season.

Rodgers skipped most of the team workouts last offseason, and an offense with a revamped wide receiver group never got rolling.

The Packers finished 17^th in total offense and 17^th in passing offense. Green Bay also ranked 14^th in points per game (21.8), finished 8-9 overall and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

Rodgers also continued a disturbing trend of vanishing in big moments and “must win” games.

Rodgers hasn’t led Green Bay to a Super Bowl since the 2010 season and has been outplayed in the postseason countless times. But his performance at crunch time continues to get worse.

Green Bay’s season has ended following home losses for three straight years. In the fourth quarter of those games, Rodgers has gone a combined 10-of-24 for just 83 yards with one interception and no touchdowns. That calculates to a dreadful passer rating of 33.9.

In a Week 18 home loss to Detroit this year, Rodgers was just 2-of-6 in the fourth quarter for 12 yards with one interception, no TDs and a miniscule passer rating of 2.8. That’s right — 2.8.

“They don’t see Rodgers as a guy who’s really working hard anymore,” McGinn said on the podcast. “They see a guy who — when he reported this year — his body wasn’t so-called ‘tight’ and strong as it was. They see a guy who blew off the offseason last year. … They’re done. It’s a hard guy to be done with.”

Another reason McGinn believes the Packers are “done” with Rodgers is the emergence of Jordan Love.

Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst traded up in the first round of the 2020 draft and used the 26^th overall pick on Love. Now, after sitting behind Rodgers for three years, many in the organization believe the 24-year-old Love is ready and has star potential.

Love played in four games in 2022 and finished the year 14-of-21 for 195 yards, one TD, no interceptions and a quarterback rating of 112.2.

Love was outstanding during a loss at Philadelphia in November after subbing for an injured Rodgers (ribs). Love was thrust into action in the fourth quarter and went 6-of-9 for 113 yards and had a quarterback rating of 146.8. He led the Packers to 10 points on his two drives.

Rodgers is set to make $59.5 million in 2023 and $49.3 million in 2024. Green Bay would incur large salary cap hits if it traded Rodgers, or if he retired.

But McGinn believes the Packers are ready to tackle the challenges of trading Rodgers and will soon move on from the veteran quarterback.

“They love Jordan Love,” McGinn said. “They think he’s the second coming now. They’ve seen enough in practice for three years, that they believe he is like Rodgers 2.0. That’s where this organization is coming from right now. They have turned the page, just like they did to Favre in June and July, those months in the summer of 2008 and I don’t see it changing.

“Even if Rodgers comes back to collect that $59 million, I think he’s the backup. He could try to ruin the whole operation. But he knows that’s not going to happen and he’s going to accept a trade somewhere. He knows he can’t live with that, with the Packers’ fans and everybody. It’s Love’s turn. The organization’s going that way. And that’s the way it is. This is everybody, I’m told. This is Murphy. This is LaFleur. This is Gutekunst. This is the whole shooting match. They’ve turned the page.”