Former Packers executive still believes Aaron Rodgers won’t return
One person who knows a thing or two about the Green Bay Packers moving on from an MVP quarterback is former executive Andrew Brandt.
Brandt was the Vice President of Player Finance and General Counsel for the Packers and was there when the team drafted Aaron Rodgers, and then moved on from Brett Favre.
Brandt understands what it’s like to be in the Packers’ current situation with uncertainty over Rodgers’ future, having drafted his potential replacement two years ago in Jordan Love.
Brandt has said many times that he believes 2022 will be the year of transition from Rodgers to Love, even when it looked like Rodgers was gone last offseason.
On Sunday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Packers could offer Rodgers a new contract that would make him the “highest-paid QB in the NFL on a per-year basis”.
Whether it’s Matt LaFleur in a press conference or Mark Murphy in his monthly column, the Packers have made it clear publicly that they want Rodgers back in 2022.
Andrew Brandt isn’t convinced, however.
Re questions on Aaron: yes, sticking with view that he will separate from Packers. I know: he's playing great and likes the front office more. But it is where I am.
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) February 13, 2022
Last year I said he would be back when many said he wouldn't.
Now I maintain he won't be back as many say he will.
And the Packers putting out how much they want him and how much they'll pay him has me skeptical.
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) February 13, 2022
When a team wants something known publicly as much as they do with Aaron, I wonder.
Why not, as with all other contract negotiations, just work privately on it?
It’s certainly a fair point. Why have the Packers been so open publicly that they want Rodgers back? Is there much to gain from that?
Is it possible the team fears Rodgers will either request a trade or retire, so is making it clear to the fanbase that they did all they could to keep the back-to-back MVP winner? Maybe. It makes you wonder.
Again, Brandt has been there and done it. He knows what it’s like to be in this situation, in Green Bay, with many of the people still working in the front office.
We should know Rodgers’ decision soon. He said he wouldn’t wait too long to make his choice. The Packers have said they want him back, but Brandt makes a good point. Why are they pushing this so publicly?