Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers Extension Remains Stuck in Mud
By Erik Lambert
The Green Bay Packers are facing a potentially serious situation and they know it. This is the price of having an elite quarterback like Aaron Rodgers.
He expected to be treated like an elite quarterback, particularly in the bank account. Rodgers is a two-time MVP who’s carried the team to the playoffs year after year and won them a Super Bowl. Yet as things stand today he’s the 10th-highest paid quarterback in the NFL. Among the names who currently sit above him include Jimmy Garoppolo, Kirk Cousins, and Derek.
While all talented none of them are remotely close to the accomplishments of Rodgers, and he knows it. That’s why he wants a raise and in all likelihood the desire to be the highest-paid quarterback (and player) in the NFL. He’s certainly earned it. The problem is the Packers are doing everything in their power to resist this inevitability. Not so much because they can’t pay it but likely because it would put an enormous damper on their salary cap.
That would explain why according to Pro Football Talk there’s been little to no progress on the extension talks between the two sides.
"“Per a league source with knowledge of the situation, no meaningful progress has been made recently between Rodgers and the Packers on a contract extension. That doesn’t mean a deal won’t happen, but nothing will be happening immediately — barring a sudden and dramatic change.”"
Packers have the leverage unless Rodgers is willing to hold out
This situation comes down to who is willing to hold their ground more. As things stand, the Packers appear to have the upper hand. They have Rodgers on his current contract for two more seasons. By the end of the 2019 season, he will be 37-years old. From that point on, rather than sink long-term money into him they could use the franchise tag for two-straight years if they wished. This way they’d only have to pay top money for two years rather than four or more if they extended him right away.
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The only way Rodgers would be able to force their hand is if he chose to hold out. Everybody saw what life without him was like last season. The Packers finished outside the playoffs for the first time since 2008, looking decidedly average. If he threatened to subject them to more of that cold reality again, there’s a strong chance the team would be forced to budge. Does he have it in him to do so? That’s a fair question that only he can answer.