If anybody knows what Aaron Rodgers is going through at this very moment, it's Brett Favre. The Hall of Fame quarterback was in the exact same position 15 years ago when the Green Bay Packers drafted Rodgers in the 1st round. However, he also knows this time is different. The Packers didn't just happen to luck out with a top QB falling to them like in 2005. This was them trading up from #30 to #26 to take the fourth QB left on the board in Jordan Love.
Favre thinks it was a clear message by the team that they were the ones in control. Not the Rodgers. He said as much during an interview on the Rich Eisen Show.
"Nothing against Jordan Love. I mean no disrespect but you trade up to get a guy who...he may turn out to be great. I hope he does. But you trade to get more of a project. He's a little bit unproven. Lot of upside, no doubt about it. But he can't help you get to the Super Bowl immediately. I just think if you're playing for now...Green Bay's one of them who should be playing for now.
They don't draft any weapons. Not just in the 1st round but any weapons that can help immediately, to my knowledge. That just sends a disrespect message to Aaron Rodgers. He has every right to be disappointed if he is."
For his part, Favre believes the pick caught Rodgers off guard.
"Aaron and I get along great. I did talk to him. I'm not going to talk about all that we talked about but he was...let's just say surprised that they went in that direction."
Favre believes this move burned a bridge between the Packers and Rodgers. This situation is enough to where the quarterback will eventually find his way out of Green Bay.
"I think he plays somewhere else...You know Tom Brady, and myself, and Joe Montana, and Peyton Manning just to name a few finished their careers elsewhere...I think Aaron will finish somewhere else. That's my gut.
I guarantee you this and I don't know this for certain but I guarantee you it's got the wheels turning in Aaron's mind. If that's the case, it means there's a chip on the shoulder towards the organization that otherwise was not there. All he needs is a reason other than that reason to expedite that."
Brett Favre speaks from a ton of experience
This man would know. He was coming off a really good year in 2007. He'd just taken the team to the NFC championship. Rather than thank him for that, he was unceremoniously traded to the Jets, paving the way for Rodgers. That situation didn't take long to get ugly. Favre found his way back to the NFC North after one season and signed with the hated Minnesota Vikings.
The way he makes it sound, the situation with Rodgers could end even worse. Everybody knows Rodgers has a history of taking things personally. This is a man who excommunicated his own family. It's hardly a stretch to think things can get icy fast between him, the coaching staff, and the front office. It wouldn't be a surprise if he begins pushing for a way out as early as 2021.
Green Bay may think they have this under control. Favre seems to think otherwise.
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