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SPORTS Thursday 16 March 2023
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Rodgers plans to play for Jets in 2023, awaits Packers’ move

By STEVE MEGARGEE time in Green Bay might be “Everything that I was told him realize the Packers be the coordinator there.”
AP Sports Writer done. in the week that I was in probably didn’t want him Saleh and Johnson both
Aaron Rodgers said Murphy spoke of Rodgers Green Bay was: ‘Take as back. expressed their interest in
Wednesday he intends to in the past tense while dis- long as you want and we “It was clear to me at that adding a veteran quar-
play for the New York Jets terback to a roster that al-
in 2023 after 18 seasons in ready features one of the
Green Bay and the four- league’s best defenses.
time NFL MVP quarterback If Rodgers ends up with the
is waiting for the Packers to Jets, it would be a case of
trade him. history repeating itself.
The 39-year-old Rodgers, The Packers sent a 39-year-
speaking during an ap- old Favre to the Jets in
pearance on “The Pat 2008, a move that ushered
McAfee Show” on YouTube in Rodgers’ arrival as Green
and Sirius XM, said he be- Bay’s starting quarterback.
lieves the Packers want to Favre won three MVPs with
move on and make 2020 Green Bay during his Hall of
first-round draft pick Jordan Fame career.
Love their starting quarter- Rodgers backed up Favre
back. for three seasons after the
“At this point, as I sit here, Packers selected him out
I think since Friday I’ve of California with the 24th
made it clear that my in- overall pick in the 2005
tention was to play and my draft. Love has backed up
intention was to play for Rodgers for three seasons
the New York Jets,” Rodg- since the Packers traded
ers said. “I haven’t been up to take the former Utah
holding anything up at this State quarterback with the
point. It’s been compensa- 26th overall pick in 2020.
tion the Packers are trying Rodgers’ future has been
to get for me, kind of dig- the subject of speculation
ging their heels in.” Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) reacts as he leaves the field after an NFL ever since the Packers se-
Packers president and CEO game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan 2. 2022, in Green Bay, Wis. lected Love.
Mark Murphy has acknowl- Associated Press Rodgers acknowledged
edged the team granted the selection caught him
the Jets permission to talk by surprise. One year later,
to Rodgers, the face of cussing the quarterback’s want you to retire a Packer. point, that although the he skipped the Packers’
the franchise since Hall of future with Green Bay TV If you want to come back Packers were going to say mandatory minicamp in a
Famer Brett Favre was trad- station WBAY last week dur- and play, obviously the the right thing publicly, that standoff with Packers man-
ed to the Jets in 2008. The ing an appearance at the door is wide open,’” Rodg- they were ready to move agement.
Jets sent a contingent that Wisconsin Interscholastic ers said. “That was the in- on,” he said. “I don’t know But the two sides eventually
reportedly included owner Athletic Association girls formation I was going on.” what changed that or what patched things up.
Woody Johnson, coach basketball championships. As he pondered his future, moved that if they just said, Rodgers signed a contract
Robert Saleh and general “Very few players play for Rodgers spent multiple ‘Hey, we need to make a extension with the Packers
manager Joe Douglas to only one team,” Murphy days last month on a iso- decision here because he last year after producing a
Rodgers’ home in Southern told WBAY. “Obviously Brett lation retreat in Oregon, hasn’t made a decision second straight MVP sea-
California last week. had a great career. Aaron where he said he stayed here yet.’ son. When he was asked
Rodgers expressed his ap- had a great career here. alone in a room in total Again, there’s no victims last June at the Packers’
preciation for his 18 seasons Regardless of what hap- darkness. here. I’m not sitting here as mandatory minicamp
in Green Bay but added pens, Aaron will be in the Rodgers said he was 90% a victim.” whether he expected to
that it’s time for the Packers Pro Football Hall of Fame. leaning toward retirement The Jets’ interest in Rodg- finish his career in Green
“to do the right thing.” He’ll be in our Hall of Fame. at the time of the retreat. ers has been apparent as Bay, Rodgers replied, “Yes.
“I have nothing but love in We’ll bring him back, re- When he was done with the they seek to end the NFL’s Definitely.”
my heart for every Packer tire his number. This is just retreat, he said, he noticed longest active playoff Those plans apparently
fan and everybody who one of the things that we a difference in the Packers’ drought. They lost their final changed after a 2022 sea-
works in the organization,” go through as a team. approach toward his future six games while going 7-10 son in which he had his low-
Rodgers said. “My life is bet- We want to try to achieve with the franchise. last season and haven’t est passer rating as a starter
ter because of my time in something that’s good for “Now when I came out of reached the postseason (91.1) and threw 12 inter-
Green Bay. both Aaron and us.” the darkness, something since 2010. ceptions, his highest total
But we’ve just got to look Rodgers had said at the changed,” Rodgers said. Their new offensive coordi- since 2008. Now Rodgers
at the reality. They want to end of the 2022 season “I’m not exactly sure what nator is Nathaniel Hackett, believes his time in Green
move on. They don’t want that he would need time that was, but something who earned raves from Bay is done.
me to come back and to decide whether to re- changed. ... I realized there Rodgers while coordinating “Coming to this reality has
that’s fine. They’re ready turn to the Packers, request had been a little bit of a Green Bay’s offense from been really bittersweet,”
to move on with Jordan. a trade or retire. He said shift. I heard from multiple 2019-21. Rodgers said. “I was drafted
That’s awesome. Jordan’s Wednesday he had discus- people that I trust around “There’s a lot of reasons why by Green Bay. I … love that

going to be a great play- sions with Packers officials the league players mostly the Jets are attractive,” city, love that organization.
er.” regarding his future shortly that there was some shop- Rodgers said Wednesday. Always going to have love
The Packers had no imme- after the team wrapped up ping going on, that they “But there’s one coach for that organization.
diate comment on Rodg- a 8-9 season that ended a were interested in actually that has meant as much to But the facts are right now
ers’ remarks, which follow string of three straight NFC moving me.” me as any coach I’ve ever they want to move on, and
days of speculation that his North titles. Rodgers said that made had. And he happens to now so do I.”q