NFL News

[jaadam4]

I think people.are.fooling themselves on Rodgers. What you saw last year was a guy going through the motions. I think it's more likely we see closer to MVP Rodgers than a failing Rodgers if he gets a change of scenery.

You never know, he’s pushing 40 so it’s not crazy to think he might be done. That game against the Lions at Detroit was crazy. He was just chucking. However if I had to put money on it I’d say you’re right.

The problem for him is that after so many years with GB he’d have to learn a new system (catered to him obviously) and all new teammates. He spent 18 years with GB, that’s a lot of familiarity that he’ll have to relearn

[CGVT]

If you watch any of his interviews with Pat McAfee, he really loves being a packer. He gets the history, Lambeau and all the rest of that "magic" bullshit.

[Mainevent]

Why would I do that to myself?

[edindetroit]

A healthy Rodgers going through the motions is still better than 20-25 current NFL QBs, Goff included in all honesty.

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[CGVT]

Why would I do that to myself?

Yeah, it is pretty tough to watch. He is a self-absorbed jackass who thinks he is an intellectual.

[ghandi]

If you watch any of his interviews with Pat McAfee, he really loves being a packer. He gets the history, Lambeau and all the rest of that "magic" bullshit.

and last year twice, because he was playing "that team", he thought he could just walk out onto the field, and the Packers would be given two easy victories and their annual trip to the playoffs.

[dpatnod]

Please always remember... and never forget. Fuck Karen Rodgers.

[Mainevent]

Yeah, it is pretty tough to watch. He is a self-absorbed jackass who thinks he is an intellectual.

Well, I was also referring to McAfee. He’s moved from mildly entertaining to clown show with lightning speed.

[CGVT]

Well, I was also referring to McAfee. He’s moved from mildly entertaining to clown show with lightning speed.

I like his show in small doses. I also like him involved in College Game Day and doing some sideline reporting.

But you are right, a little bit of him goes a long way.

[froot loops]

He is awesome as a WWE commentator and part time wrestler. He is one of the best heel promos around. The daily talk show is a little much for my liking.

[Futureshock]

Report: “Real possibility” Vikings move on from Adam Thielen in coming days

Posted by Myles Simmons on March 9, 2023, 12:08 PM EST

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A month ago, Adam Thielen acknowledged that the Vikings might be moving on from him entering 2023 given his large cap hit.

As the new league year approaches, that’s looking a little more likely.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports on Thursday that there’s a “real possibility” the Vikings will “part ways” with Thielen in the coming days.

Minnesota restructured Thielen’s contract last year. He’s under contract for two more seasons, but he’s set to count nearly $20 million against the cap in 2023.

If the Vikings were to cut Thielen, it’s they could use a post-June 1 designation to spread out the cap hit over the next few seasons. If they do, they’d save $13.4 million against the cap in 2023 with $6.6 million in dead money. If they don’t use a post-June 1 designation, Minnesota would save $6.4 million against the cap with $13.6 million in dead money.

By making it known that they’re willing to move on from Thielen now, the Vikings could also find a trade partner before the new league year begins.

Thielen turns 33 in August. He caught 70 passes for 716 yards with six touchdowns in 2022.

Thielen entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and became an offensive contributor in 2014 but he didn’t break out until 2016 with a 69-catch, 967-yard season. He’s No. 4 on the franchise’s all-time list with 6,682 receiving yards, No. 3 with 534 receptions, and No. 3 with 55 touchdown receptions.

[Futureshock]

Jets have no choice but to land the Aaron Rodgers plane

Posted by Mike Florio on March 9, 2023, 11:50 AM EST

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The cat is out of the darkened closet.

At this point, there’s no much excitement among Jets fans for the team to do anything other than trade for quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

What’s their fallback? Jimmy Garoppolo? Please.

They have to get the deal done. Rodgers knows it. And the Packers know it, too.

Case in point — the recent meeting between Rodgers and multiple members of the organization (we’re told vice chairman Christopher Johnson and team president Hymie Elhai accompanied owner Woody Johnson, G.M. Joe Douglas, coach Robert Saleh, and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett) happened not in New York but in California. They all flew out to see him, not the other way around.

In a situation like this, that’s a critical difference. The Jets weren’t interviewing Rodgers; he was interviewing them. The moment Johnson & Johnson heirs Johnson and Johnson got on that plane, it was game over.

Rodgers has the power. Rodgers has the leverage. Rodgers has the control.

And just what have the Jets done to temper expectations? They’re feeding the narrative. They’re relishing the attention. And now they have to close the deal.

Hopefully for them, that won’t result in the Packers asking for too much — and that it won’t result in Rodgers expecting more than the nearly $60 million he’s due to make this year.

But what will the Jets do if either the Packers or Rodgers try to take advantage of the fact that the Jets have to get this deal done? They’ll probably do the same thing they’ll do if/when Rodgers makes it clear he’s not coming to the offseason program (he absolutely should), or if he gives them a list of friends he wants them to sign (Randall Cobb, Marcedes Lewis, etc.) They’ll smile and nod and say, “We’ll get right on that, sir.”

Who cares if he’s not there for the offseason program? (Again, he absolutely should be.) The Jets didn’t have Brett Favre until training camp had opened in 2008, and but for his partially torn biceps tendon they would have made it to the playoffs. The Jets already have a solid team, and Rodgers could be the difference maker.

At this point, whatever may happen in January won’t make a difference. The Jets have written the blank check in March. They’ve offered to sell their souls to the Prince of Deliberate Darkness. The only question is whether Rodgers will accept.

[Futureshock]

Packers, Aaron Rodgers careen toward a divorce

Posted by Mike Florio on March 9, 2023, 10:33 AM EST

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Lost in the ongoing flirtation between the Jets and quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the inescapable reality that Rodgers and the Packers are done.

Two years ago, the 49ers called the Packers the day before the draft and inquired about trading for Rodgers. The Packers laughed and hung up the phone.

Now, the Packers have freely granted the Jets permission to speak to Rodgers. And speak they have, sending the team’s entire power structure to California in an effort to persuade Rodgers to bite the Big Apple (don’t mind the maggots).

Through it all, the Packers have kept their mouths shut. They didn’t even leak that they’d given Rodgers permission to speak to another team. It’s almost as if they’re four points ahead with three minutes left and they’re just trying to milk the clock and not blow it.

Blow it they would if Rodgers decides he’s not interested in the Jets, and that he wants to stay in Green Bay. It already feels too late for that, but Rodgers has yet make any of his decision(s) known for 2023, a year and a day after he announced he’d return to the Packers for 2022.

Although nothing official has been declared this year, the tea leaves are pointing to no more Wisconsin ayahuasca for Aaron Rodgers. Any other outcome would be a surprise at this point.

[Futureshock]

Report: Jets optimistic about landing Aaron Rodgers

Posted by Josh Alper on March 9, 2023, 8:15 AM EST

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The Jets have returned from meeting with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and word is that they are feeling good about spending a lot more time with Rodgers in the future.

Dianna Russini of ESPN reports that team owner Woody Johnson left the meeting with Rodgers feeling excited about the match with the quarterback. He and the rest of the traveling party — General Manager Joe Douglas, head coach Robert Saleh, and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett were also there — returned to New Jersey feeling optimistic that they will be able to bring Rodgers to the team.

Visiting with and selling Rodgers on the Jets was part of that process and another part involves working out trade compensation with the Packers. There doesn’t appear to be a bidding war, so the Packers’ bid to maximize their return could hinge on being willing to eat some of the money owed to Rodgers in order to improve the assets coming back to Green Bay.

Next week’s start to the league year may not be a deadline to getting a trade done, but both teams would likely prefer to have things settled before they start moving on to free agency so the next few days could bring some resolution to the Rodgers situation.

[Futureshock]

Kelvin Beachum: Kyler Murray needs to grow up a little bit

Posted by Josh Alper on March 9, 2023, 6:29 AM EST

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The Cardinals are heading in a new direction after hiring head coach Jonathan Gannon and General Manager Monti Ossenfort since the end of the 2022 season and one of the questions that the franchise will have to answer is if their reboot will extend to the quarterback spot at some point in the near future.

Decisions to draft and extend Kyler Murray were made by people no longer in the organization and Murray’s play ahead of last year’s torn ACL didn’t do much to convince the world that he’s a sure thing as the face of the franchise.

Tackle Kelvin Beachum is set for free agency after helping to protect Murray the last three seasons and he shared his thoughts about the quarterback during an appearance on Arizona Sports on Wednesday. Beachum said quarterbacks “have to be able to lead an entire organization, you’ve got to lead a team” and that Murray is still going through the process of becoming that kind of a leader.

“It’s not a completed process,” Beachum said. “I didn’t say he lacks leadership, I just think he needs to grow up a little bit. I think if he has the ability and willingness to grow up, he’s going to be just fine. They paid him for a reason, they paid him because of his talent. He has the ability to lead. When you’re in that position, we need you to lead more. You’re the face of the franchise . . . you have to lead in every single capacity.”

Murray’s progress may be impacted by the need to focus on recovering from his torn ACL during an offseason that will also require him to learn a new offense, but the Cardinals will need him to show it if they’re going to continue on the same track after switching gears elsewhere.