gopackgo972 Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 1 hour ago, Leader said: Andrew Brandt / SI - Rodgers Returns, But What Did He Get? Aaron, by all reports, wanted out of Green Bay, and had for some time. I am still not sure about the “wanting out” part of the reporting, but I do know he had issues there, yes. There appeared to be no one in the Packers front office for whom Aaron felt as a “point person,” someone he could shoot the breeze with about things beyond football and talk to openly and honestly. I have spoken before about the Packers’ tradition of “football guys” running the operation, with great talent in player evaluation but deficiencies in communication and people skills. Although I was clearly a minority in this thinking, I always believed the Packers should be more communicative publicly, as I have always seen them as somewhat of a public trust, but they are not. And I think that filters down to player communications. When the Packers drafted Love, I said two things: 1) we had an expiration date on Aaron and the Packers (what I have always thought to be 2022); and 2) the Packers would have to manage this situation, as we did many years ago with Brett Favre in Aaron’s current role and Aaron in Love’s role, and that’s not easy. It is challenging managing a situation with no specific transfer point and competing interests on each side. And it appeared the Packers had not managed this well. Aaron is not blameless here, but superstars like Aaron drive the product; they move the needle; they merit special treatment. The Packers seemed to be stuck in a pattern of treating everyone the same and not making special allowances for anyone, even Aaron, and that was coming home to roost. It is the world we live in; sports is a star-driven business and stars have to be treated with great care and attention. Adapt or die. I have said for months that the Packers weren’t trading Aaron in 2021, that Aaron can’t trade himself, that he wouldn’t retire, that the Packers would make some kind of financial or other accommodation to have Aaron play this year and that he would be traded in 2022. I believe this is on track. Deadlines spurred action (sound familiar) and after all the angst and breathless reporting of Aaron’s discontent, he is going to play this season for the Packers. There are reported “concessions” made to Aaron, with some information on them, although still awaiting the details. In recent weeks and even as recently as Sunday, I advanced a potential resolution that both sides would hate, but often the most distasteful deals are the ones that get done. It would have had the Packers granting Aaron a void, an ability to get out of the contract—as the Patriots gave to Tom Brady a couple years back—after this season (2021). It would be distasteful to the Packers as they would get no trade compensation in 2022. It would be distasteful to Aaron because if he wanted out of Green Bay as bad as it seemed. But maybe, I posited, the mutual distaste could make it work. It was food for thought. According to reports, there was a meeting of the minds between the Packers and Aaron in this way I advanced, with a void. But, surprisingly to me, the void is after 2022, not after 2021. Thus, the Packers would retain the ability to garner trade compensation for Aaron next year after riding his expected MVP-level play this year. To me, this seems like a win for the Packers. Their plan, in my mind, has always been to play Aaron this year and move to Love next year. My sense was that Aaron was not down with that and perhaps he even suggested to just move the calendar up a year and trade him now, which the Packers have resisted all along. But alas, the Packers will have their wish: Aaron as both MVP and placeholder for Jordan Love. Another concession that was reported was some kind of review of the situation after this year, despite the void not being until after next year. What does that mean? Well, to me, that means Aaron will be traded and have major input into where he is traded. And according to reports the Packers, at Aaron’s request, will be bringing back Randall Cobb to the team; a step, although not a huge ask from the team. Again, my strong sense is that the Packers plan was to move to Love in 2022, next year. And their plan is intact. I am left scratching my head as to what Aaron accomplished here but maybe it was the reporting, not Aaron’s discontent, that was over the top. Wasn’t Aaron, according to reports, “done with Green Bay”? And now he is committed there another year, perhaps even two, for getting a void in 2023 and Randall Cobb? Really? I guess what all of this means is what I have said all along: There is a limit to player empowerment, even for the elite of the elite, in the NFL. Aaron is a true superstar, but in a sport still tilted towards management. He is not James Harden or Anthony Davis; this is not the NBA. The superstars have some power in the NFL, but the teams have more, a lot more. Heck, it took 20 years for Tom Brady to “get out” of New England and exert some level of power. As I say often, the only true driver of player power in team sports is free agency, and NFL teams prevent that well with long-term contracts (which Aaron had) and the franchise tag. NBA superstars always hit free agency; NFL superstars virtually never do. Maybe one day we will have true player empowerment in the NFL, where A-listers like Aaron can truly force teams’ hands in a way that did not happen here. But that day is not today. As great as players like Aaron are, the winning side of the business of football is still the team side. According to reports, there was a meeting of the minds between the Packers and Aaron in this way I advanced, with a void. But, surprisingly to me, the void is after 2022, not after 2021. Thus, the Packers would retain the ability to garner trade compensation for Aaron next year after riding his expected MVP-level play this year. To me, this seems like a win for the Packers. Their plan, in my mind, has always been to play Aaron this year and move to Love next year. My sense was that Aaron was not down with that and perhaps he even suggested to just move the calendar up a year and trade him now, which the Packers have resisted all along. But alas, the Packers will have their wish: Aaron as both MVP and placeholder for Jordan Love. Another concession that was reported was some kind of review of the situation after this year, despite the void not being until after next year. What does that mean? Well, to me, that means Aaron will be traded and have major input into where he is traded. And according to reports the Packers, at Aaron’s request, will be bringing back Randall Cobb to the team; a step, although not a huge ask from the team. Again, my strong sense is that the Packers plan was to move to Love in 2022, next year. And their plan is intact. I am left scratching my head as to what Aaron accomplished here but maybe it was the reporting, not Aaron’s discontent, that was over the top. Wasn’t Aaron, according to reports, “done with Green Bay”? And now he is committed there another year, perhaps even two, for getting a void in 2023 and Randall Cobb? Really? I guess what all of this means is what I have said all along: There is a limit to player empowerment, even for the elite of the elite, in the NFL. Aaron is a true superstar, but in a sport still tilted towards management. He is not James Harden or Anthony Davis; this is not the NBA. The superstars have some power in the NFL, but the teams have more, a lot more. Heck, it took 20 years for Tom Brady to “get out” of New England and exert some level of power. As I say often, the only true driver of player power in team sports is free agency, and NFL teams prevent that well with long-term contracts (which Aaron had) and the franchise tag. NBA superstars always hit free agency; NFL superstars virtually never do. Maybe one day we will have true player empowerment in the NFL, where A-listers like Aaron can truly force teams’ hands in a way that did not happen here. But that day is not today. As great as players like Aaron are, the winning side of the business of football is still the team side. The day players have control over teams like the NBA is the day I stop watching the NFL. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mazrimiv Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 I've always wondered why players don't negotiate a "no franchise tag" clause in their contracts. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leader Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 37 minutes ago, gopackgo972 said: The day players have control over teams like the NBA is the day I stop watching the NFL. It's also the day the GB Packers need to start drawing up a domed stadium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isherwood Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 Just now, Leader said: It's also the day the GB Packers need to start drawing up a domed stadium. I do wonder whether it’s possible that some day GB is sold to a billionaire owner? I know some people want that. I certainly don’t, though I also don’t think it would be the absolute end of the world if it did happen. But is it possible, is my question Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leader Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 1 minute ago, Isherwood said: I do wonder whether it’s possible that some day GB is sold to a billionaire owner? I know some people want that. I certainly don’t, though I also don’t think it would be the absolute end of the world if it did happen. But is it possible, is my question I've no clue about the details, but suppose anythings possible right? The "drawbacks" for Green Bay are: - size of the city. - playing in the cold. (I cant tell you what the state taxes are......but some competitors for players have zero income taxes). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isherwood Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 3 minutes ago, Leader said: I've no clue about the details, but suppose anythings possible right? The "drawbacks" for Green Bay are: - size of the city. - playing in the cold. (I cant tell you what the state taxes are......but some competitors for players have zero income taxes). Yeah, those are good points. You hope that a hypothetical owner would understand the power of the brand and the location and how those things intertwine, but that’s probably giving entirely too much credit to lizard people like that. An owner would turn a profit in GB, easily, but would they see more profits with the team moved elsewhere? Anyways, hope we never have to think about it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodjahs12 Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 He’s saying way more in this press conference than I ever expected to be said 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Penske Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 Man, 12s press conference was kind of awkward. Didn't hold much back at all. Wants to lobby for his guys and use his connections. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodjahs12 Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 This is basically a tell all at this point. Never thought he’d have it in him to be this transparent but I can’t help but respect it on some level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltarich87 Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 My takeaway was that this didn't really start with Gute/Murphy since he mentioned a ton of vets during the Thompson years that the team didn't retain. He just reached his breaking point with it in February Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltarich87 Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 (edited) Lmao he actually referenced Kumerow! Incredible Edited July 28, 2021 by deltarich87 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Penske Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 If we didn't know before, we know now that GB's front office is a tremendous talent evaluating machine with a good long-term strategy and horrible communicators and people persons lol. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Penske Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 NOTABLE: he said he does not get to chose where he gets to play next season. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Penske Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 From the top rope on the media creating drama and basically creating fake content- love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incognito_man Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 4 minutes ago, Arthur Penske said: If we didn't know before, we know now that GB's front office is a tremendous talent evaluating machine with a good long-term strategy and horrible communicators and people persons lol. yes, I think Brandt just said exactly that lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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