Aaron Rodgers understands the Green Bay Packers were planning for the future when they selected Utah State quarterback Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
However, Rodgers–like Tom Brady and Drew Brees before him–is hoping to play well into his 40s. The 36-year-old said Friday he still feels confident in his abilities moving forward.
But Rodgers also acknowledged there are a lot of factors at play, and noted that while he would like to finish his career with the Packers, it might not be something he can control (via Rob Demovsky of ESPN):
“I think it was more the surprise of the pick, based on my own feelings of wanting to play into my 40s, and really the realization that it does change the controllables a little bit,” Rodgers said during a nearly 40-minute conference call. “Because as much as I feel confident in my abilities and what I can accomplish and what we can accomplish, there are some new factors that are out of my control. And so my sincere desire to start and finish with the same organization, just as it has with many other players over the years, may not be a reality at this point.
“And as much as I understand the organization's future outlook and wanting to make sure they're thinking about the team now and down the line — and I respect that — at the same time, I still believe in myself and have a strong desire to play into my 40s. And I'm just not sure how that all works together at this point.”
Rodgers was very measured in describing his reaction to the Packers' decision to draft love.
Rather than chastise the front office for not selecting a receiver, Rodgers was diplomatic in saying each organization naturally desires future stability, particularly at the quarterback position.
That said, there are no guarantees Rodgers remains a Packer for the remainder of his career if the two sides eventually reach an impasse.
Follow Us
Subscribe