It was inevitable. The moment the NFL opened the door for players to feature in the 2028 Olympics, there was always going to be a conflict.
Fortunately, we're not there yet, but Jordan Love's recent comments will have caught Brian Gutekunst's attention.
According to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, Love sat alongside Packers legend Donald Driver at their charity softball game. The topic of the Olympics came up, with Driver noting that the Team USA flag football quarterback was sitting next to him.
Love's reply? "Never say never."
You know who would like to say "never" but probably can't? Gutekunst. According to ESPN, the Packers' GM said he's a fan of flag football being part of the Olympics but would prefer "if we kept the NFL players out of it."
Packers need to put a stop to Jordan Love's possible interest in playing Olympic football
This is a slight change in tone from Love's previous answer about the topic, when he said he had "other things to worry about" than flag football. And, to be fair, his "never say never" answer was hardly a desperate plea to join Team USA.
The Games aren't for another three years, but someone has to play quarterback, and there's at least a decent chance an NFL player takes the spot. The issue comes with timing, as it will likely conflict with the beginning of training camp.
That alone might stop Love from even considering it. His main focus is on winning a Super Bowl.
Gutekunst has a point. The timing of his comments only adds to the narrative of the Packers attempting to take the fun out of the NFL (see: Tush Push), but he is right. Flag football at the Olympics is great, but at what cost?
The Packers, or any team, having a key player gone at the start of camp isn't ideal, and what if they suffer an injury?
Love's latest stance was likely nothing more than a passing comment. There's little to zero chance he will feature in the Olympics, but his reaction might just be enough to keep Gutekunst up at night.