01 August 2023 , 12:20
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Aaron Rodgers insisted his time with the Green Bay Packers is done ‘for now’ as the New York Jets quarterback left the door open for a potential reunion.
Earlier this offseason amid plenty of speculation, the Jets finally completed a sensational trade with the Packers to acquire the four-time MVP. Rodgers, the 15th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and a fifth-round pick were sent to New York in exchange for the 2023 13th overall pick, a 2023 second-round pick (no.42), a sixth-round pick (no.207) and a conditional second round pick in 2024.
Rodgers enjoyed 18 years as a member of the Packers, winning a Super Bowl ring and a collection of individual accolades. However, Green Bay expressed a willingness to move off the veteran this offseason and progress with young quarterback Jordan Love, who the franchise selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, with Rodgers moving to New York.
The Packers bringing in Love undoubtedly lit a fire in Rodgers to prove himself again in the form of successive MVP awards. There was reported animosity between Rodgers and his annointed successor, but the Jets quarterback has since shut down such a notion.
When asked about his relationship with the Packers, Rodgers told Up & Adams: “All love. Definitely love. I talked to Jordan [Love] on the eve of training camp, talked to Matt [LaFleur]. I still talk to a lot of people over there, players - I talked to Rasul [Douglas] recently. I’m always in touch with Preston [Smith].
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“Love those guys man, there are so many guys I really care about over there. A lot of the people that hit me up because I’m older are the workers so I’m still talking to so many people in the building who have been there forever. I love that place.
“That chapter is closed for now - we’ll write the epilogue at some point, but yeah, a lot of love and gratitude for my time there.”
Aaron Rodgers is preparing for his first season with a new team after 18 years with the Green Bay Packers (AP)It will be interesting to see how Rodgers responds after a difficult 2022 campaign; he threw 12 interceptions - the most for him in a single campaign since 2008, his first year as a starter. The 39-year-old also failed to post a single 300-yard passing game for the first time in his career, while his passer rating of 91.1 was also the lowest since he took the reins in Green Bay.
The Packers finished with an 8-9 record and missed the playoffs following a disappointing campaign, yet Rodgers’ arrival in New York resembles an exciting new era for the Jets. Robert Saleh’s team enjoyed a promising 2022 season only for poor quarterback play to derail a playoff push as the team finished 7-10 - and bottom of the AFC East.
Rodgers will lead the Jets against other star quarterbacks in the division, including Buffalo Bills superstar Josh Allen and Miami Dolphins ace Tua Tagovailoa. He is clearly excited to be there, taking a $34 million (£26.5m) pay cut to grant the Jets more cap space to add talent before the NFL trade deadline on 31 October.