Aaron Rodgers Returned And Promptly Trashed The Packers Organization

People thought the Aaron Rodgers saga was finally over. After agonizing months of him staying away from the Green Bay Packers due to differences with the front office, an agreement was finally reached to bring the future Hall of Famer back just in time for training camp. It certainly took some concessions. Among them included the Packers voiding the last year of his contract, making 2022 the final season of his deal. On top of that, the language was reworked to where if he chooses to retire next season? The Packers still have to pay him whatever money is owed. This basically gives Rodgers way more control over his future. That Green Bay gave in to those demands is a surefire sign of how desperate they were to get him back. Not a great look for Jordan Love. As photographs flooded in of the 37-year old arriving at the team facility, everyone thought the drama was finally ending. They were mistaken. Barely 24 hours later, the quarterback stepped in front of the media for the first time.

Rather than play it coy, the man delivered a press conference for the ages.

It was a true airing of grievances. After receiving the first question, Rodgers proceeded to talk for literal minutes at a time without stopping. He covered everything that had angered and frustrated him for the past two years in how the Packers organization had mishandled not just him but other former teammates. The refusal to consult him on hiring head coach Matt Lafleur, the release of wide receiver Jake Kumerow, and of course the drafting of Love. When they tried to calm him with an offer of more money, Rodgers felt insulted.

There was a point where he even considered retirement. He was ready to stay home rather than return. Only when the Packers proved willing to rework his contract did the two sides come to an agreement. That didn't make him any happier though. Rodgers is still angry with how the organization has taken him for granted over the years. At one point he even openly stated that players don't come to Green Bay for vacations. They come to play with him and the chance to win a title.

He's not wrong.

Whenever the Packers have ventured into free agency, they've often had success. Not because they're offering loads of money but more because they have Aaron Rodgers. The odds are fairly strong that wouldn't happen if he weren't around. While the superstar is 100% committed to playing this season, he didn't offer any promises about the idea of returning in 2022.

Aaron Rodgers sounds like a man on his last ride

He even posted a photo of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen on his Instagram. A clear nod to the "Last Dance" documentary detailing the rise and fall of the 1990s Chicago Bulls dynasty. Everything about that press conference suggests this is it for him. The 2021 season is going to be his last in Green Bay. He'll give it everything he has. After that? His future will lay either in retirement or on another roster. The big question is how this will impact the team. One can imagine the tension isn't going away. Will it end up being a distraction? Time will tell. The Packers are enduring a lot of changes this offseason. Aaron Rodgers overshadowed their changes to the defensive coaching staff. Not to mention losing one of their key starting offensive linemen in Rick Wagner. Left tackle David Bakhtiari going on the PUP list. This team has high expectations. Can they hang together enough to meet them?