It’s time for Aaron Rodgers and Packers to move on

The Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers are behaving like exes who can’t move on from one another despite being in new relationships. The two sides continue dragging each other into the news with disparaging comments focused on controlling the narrative around their break up.

The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman dropped an article earlier this week sharing the breakup details. He was given information from an anonymous source inside Green Bay and texted Rodgers, asking if they were true. Rodgers responded with a phone call and a bunch of bombshell quotes.

Although both sides are trying to control their own narrative, it’s a petty look. At this point, Rodgers is on the New York Jets (happier than ever, according to him) and Green Bay is assessing whether Jordan Love has what it takes to be a successful starting quarterback in the NFL.

The Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers need to move on, quit talking about one another and focus on their current situations.

Some of the highlights from the article include:

• The Packers’ selection of Jordan Love proved to be the “tipping point” in the Rodgers and Packers relationship, even if they didn’t officially split until this year.
• “We didn’t win the Super Bowl,” Rodgers said. “They had their guy in waiting. Unless things changed, I felt like — that’s why I said what I said — there was a possibility they were gonna move on. I knew that (Love) was always a possibility, that they would wanna go, ‘You know what? We tried hard. We tried to win a championship. We had a good team, but now it might be time to go with Jordan, move some contract stuff around and do that.’”
• “According to a source associated with the team who was granted anonymity to candidly discuss the sensitive dynamics between the front office and the star quarterback, early in the 2021 offseason, Dunn, Rodgers’ agent, called Packers president Mark Murphy with a request: Fire Gutekunst or trade Rodgers. Murphy did neither. Months later, news broke that Rodgers wanted out of Green Bay, but the Packers held firm.”
• Rodgers wanted better communication with the front office. The front office thought they improved that, but Rodgers shared that Russ Ball is the only one who took that to heart.
• “They offered him less money than Christian Kirk ($18 million per year) and (Adams) is going, ‘Are you serious right now? I’m the best receiver in the league, and you’re gonna offer me less than Christian Kirk?” Rodgers said. “With all due respect, he’s not on Davante’s level.”
• The Packers weren’t happy Rodgers wasn’t attending OTAs. Rodgers wasn’t happy they weren’t happy he wasn’t attending OTAs, “I think that’s just a cop-out written to try and find something to disparage me about that, honestly, when you know what offseason workouts are really about, it’s completely ridiculous.”
• The issue of texting/face time came up again (eye roll emoji).
• “Like, c’mon man. Just tell the truth, you wanted to move on. You didn’t like the fact that we didn’t communicate all the time. Like, listen, I talk to the people that I like.” That was Rodgers in reference to Brian Gutekunst.
• For whatever it’s worth, Rodgers continues to support Jordan Love and their relationship.

It’s evident that feelings are hurt on both sides. That makes sense. They’ve poured sweat, tears and blood into an 18-year relationship, and didn’t accomplish a second Super Bowl like they hoped. Rodgers didn’t want it to end the same way Brett Favre’s career with the team did.

However, we are getting into dangerous territory. Each has had their opportunity to speak their peace. It’s getting embarrassing now.

The two sides need to keep the other’s name out of their mouth, or this will get even uglier.