National Football League

Report: If Packers GM Brian Gutekunst stays, Aaron Rodgers says he'll go

Updated May. 3, 2021 12:59 p.m. ET

Aaron Rodgers’ future in Green Bay isn’t looking very promising.

On Saturday, new reports surfaced that Rodgers would not return as the Packers’ starting quarterback if Brian Gutekunst remains the team’s general manager.

This comes just two days after Gutekunst reiterated at a post-draft news conference that the Packers are absolutely not trading Rodgers this offseason, despite the recent media coverage.

"I do think he’ll play for us again," Gutekunst said.

Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy released a statement on Saturday morning addressing recent reports about where things stand in Green Bay as part of his monthly "Murphy Takes 5" column.

"This is an issue that we have been working on for several months," Murphy wrote. "We are very much aware of Aaron's concerns and have been working with him (and his agent Dave Dunn) to resolve them. … He is not only a tremendously talented player, but has developed into a true leader for us. The relationship that Aaron has forged with Matt [LaFleur] and the other offensive coaches has propelled us to the brink of the Super Bowl in two straight years. We look forward to competing for another Super Bowl championship with Aaron as our leader."

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur added his voice to the commentary following the conclusion of the NFL Draft on Saturday, saying that he "can't fathom" that Rodgers might choose not to return.

"I can't even take my brain to that spot right now," he said. "So I just want to do everything in my power to ensure that doesn't happen."

LaFleur would not reveal details of his recent talks with Rodgers but added that he'll "always remain hopeful and optimistic, and certainly, we'll always welcome him back with open arms. He knows exactly how not only myself but our staff and our players feel about him. Like I said before, I just can't imagine him not being in a Green Bay Packer uniform."

All of the chatter from Green Bay is in the wake of a Thursday report that the reigning NFL MVP wanted out of Green Bay, highlighting claims that Rodgers is unhappy with his position in the Packers organization as contract negotiations continue to drag on and trade rumors begin to surface.

Other alleged reasons for Rodgers’ displeasure date back to last season’s disappointing 31-26 NFC Championship loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Packers moving up in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft to select quarterback Jordan Love.

After everything that has come to light this past week, is there any way for the Packers to salvage their relationship with the two-time MVP?

On Monday's "Undisputed" Shannon Sharpe argued that the franchise has reached an impasse with the all-world QB, and it's either Rodgers or the general manager. Sharpe thinks the solution is simple and would take last year's regular-season MVP.

"Now the question is, who do you have more confidence in over the next three years? Do you believe in the GM or Aaron Rodgers? I'm taking Aaron Rodgers. But I don't see how they work together because Aaron Rodgers doesn't trust him."

"First Things First" host Nick Wright was in full agreement with Sharpe, saying that Rodgers' value to the franchise is much higher than the GM's, and after the season Rodgers had last year, he's in the driver's seat of what happens next in Green Bay.

"I would say if you're a Packer fan this is the first good news you've had in quite some time because Aaron Rodgers is offering you a super easy solution: 'Fire him. Fire him and I'll be happy.' ... If we are being honest, Brian Gutekunst was attempting to fire Aaron Rodgers by trading up to draft his replacement with a first-round pick [Jordan Love]."

But not all pundits are on the same page.

On Friday’s "The Herd," Colin Cowherd broke down why firing Gutekunst isn't the answer, calling the nine-time Pro Bowler Rodgers "petty, passive-aggressive [and] a grudge-holder."

"[On Thursday], Aaron Rodgers was vindictive," Cowherd said. "Not a coincidence on the one-year anniversary [of when] he was humiliated by the Jordan Love pick, he comes back and humiliates the Green Bay Packers, but I get it. He’s frustrated.

"Brian Gutekunst feels like more of an executor of a will than he does GM for a football team. … Aaron is sucking the life out of this franchise, and I get it. … The nature of the Packers is frugal, based on tradition and history, a little conservative. They’re protecting the brand. The nature of Aaron is California cool, progressive, aggressive and go-for-it. It’s not a good fit."

Former Green Bay receiver Greg Jennings agreed with Cowherd’s opinion that the relationship between Rodgers and Green Bay is irremediable. However, he pushed the focus from last year’s draft to this weekend’s.

Jennings shared why he thinks the writing was on the wall for his former teammate after the Packers used their one and only first-round draft pick on cornerback Eric Stokes, rather than picking up a wide receiver.

"There’s a want that everyone on the planet who understands anything about the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers and the weapons that [are] needed, they know he needs another pass-catcher," Jennings said. "[The Packers] didn't get what Aaron [wanted], so it tells me that … they’re throwing dirt on the grave."

Despite Rodgers’ persistent desire for offensive help, the Packers have selected a defensive player with every first-round pick they’ve had in the past decade, with the exception of Love.

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If the situation isn't resolved soon, one potential landing spot for Rodgers could be the Denver Broncos, who notably passed on a chance to draft quarterback Justin Fields with the No. 9 pick in the draft on Thursday. Fields went to the Chicago Bears two picks later.

"[Denver] is one of his potential preferred destinations if he does leave Green Bay," reported NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "At some point, decisions have to be made."

The NFL world has yet to officially hear from Rodgers, but he did attend the Kentucky Derby on Saturday and was approached by NBC Sports.

Rodgers declined to be interviewed but spoke candidly with Mike Tirico off-camera.

Your move, Green Bay.

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