by Aaron Rodgers announced that he would not make a decision about joining the New York Jets if he made his announcement on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday, but the quarterback had a lot to say in his lesson on the program.
Rodgers took a long time to announce his plans for 2023 and did so on his own terms. The Green Bay Packers will continue with Jordan Love, who they drafted in the first round in 2020. The Love era will begin in Green Bay while Rodgers begins his next chapter in New York.
What did Rodgers say on Wednesday? Here were his best quotes:
Clarify why he’s with McAfee
“I’ll say that. This is not a decision day. This is not me announcing what’s going on. It’s me to clear this up. The decision has already been made. Coming on the show would never announce anything.”
Rodgers made it clear that he had made his decision to join the New York Jets. He wanted to announce his decision.
Decided to retire – then make the switch
“When I came out of the darkness, something changed. I realized that there had been a slight shift. The Packers were interested in trading me. When I went into the dark I was 90% retired – 10% playing. ”
Rodgers seriously considered retiring when he went into retreat and meditated. When he came back into the world, he found out the Packers wanted to continue and they wanted him to pull a Packer back (much like Brett Favre). Rodgers thought about it and still wanted to continue playing.
Knew he would be with Jets for days
“Since Friday, I’ve made it clear that I want to play and play for the New York Jets … Nothing stopped me at that point. It’s the Packers and the compensation they’re trying to get for me.”
Rodgers made his decision to join the Jets on Friday. The process was not protracted on his side.
Mixed feelings at Packers
“The Packers would like to continue. You let me know that in so many words. They said the right thing in public, they wanted to move on… I still have that fire and I want to play.”
Rodgers wanted to spend his entire career with the Packers and potentially even leave the game after the 2022 season. The Packers, wanting to move on, influenced him to change his mind and reconsider his decision.
More about the packers
“I love Green Bay. i love people I love so many people in this city. I’m not upset about it. I love every Packer fan and this organization.”
Rodgers said it was “all love” upon his departure from Green Bay, although he seemed upset that the organization wanted to move on.
On his reported “wish list” with Allen Lazard and Odell Beckham Jr.
“Who wouldn’t want Odell on their team? I have no demands. My only demand is transparency.
Later that night, OBJ responded to the clip of Rodgers talking about him. Sounds like he’s interested in a collaboration.
Rodgers also called out some reporters on the report as he wanted a tangent on the players he reportedly wanted. He also left to bat for the Jets, who signed Lazard.
“He’s a damn great guy. He’s a great guy and anyone would be lucky to have him in their dressing room.”
Love for Jordan Love
“Jordan (Love) is going to be a great player. He’s a freaking great kid, they have a good young team… If I hadn’t won back-to-back MVPs, that decision would have happened two years ago.”
Rodgers believes the Packers will be fine without him and Jordan Love will do the quarterback job. If he hadn’t won MVPs, the decision to continue might have been made sooner.
The request to Packers – and his legacy
“I think my plea is, and I will say, that’s debatable, but I would say that I’m arguably the best player in franchise history. I’m sure in conversation. What is not disputed is that I am the longest-serving Packer in history.”
Rodgers is one of the best players in Packers history and holds multiple franchise records. He’s the longest-serving Packers player, but Green Bay has plenty of franchise greats. Don Hutson, Ray Nitschke, and Bart Starr. Jerry Kramer, Paul Horning, Forrest Gregg, Herb Adderley and Reggie White would like a word.
Interest from other teams and seeing Davante Adams again?
“I think there were other teams that were interested and obviously there are certain players that I have a lot of love and affinity with and reuniting with a certain person would have been special.
“I’m not naming names but there’s definitely a guy in particular, he and I have this special unspoken relationship. If there’s someone I wanted to put on a ‘demand list’, if you can include any player in the league, it would be (that) one specific person.”
Rodgers appeared to have considered the Las Vegas Raiders and reuniting with Davante Adams in 2023. They’re arguably the best quarterback wide receiver connection in the NFL in six years.
