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sports Thursday 2 March 2023
Rodgers says decision on future will come 'soon enough'

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — planned this retreat sev-
Aaron Rodgers says he will eral months ago and that
make a decision on his fu- it wasn't planned specifi-
ture "soon enough" as the cally so that he could think
four-time MVP quarterback about his football future.
ponders whether to play Rodgers said he wanted
next season and if his future a chance to "disconnect
remains with the Green Bay from technology and from
Packers. the world" and give himself
Rodgers, 39, discussed "the gift of rest."
his future while speaking But the solitude did give
on an episode of the "Au- him plenty of opportunities
brey Marcus Podcast" that to consider the possibilities.
was released Wednesday Rodgers said he would
morning. He spent much of have plenty of incentive if
the 1 1/2-hour conversation he does come back after
describing his recent isola- a 2022 season in which he
tion retreat in which he said had his lowest passer rating
he spent four days alone in as a starter after the Pack-
a dark room. ers went 8-9 and missed the
"There's a finality to the playoffs.
decision," Rodgers said. "I He compared it to the situ-
don't make it lightly. I don't Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the De- ation he faced heading
want to drag anybody troit Lions, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Green Bay, Wis. into 2020, which marked
around." Associated Press the Packers' second year
The podcast was released under coach Matt LaFleur
one day after Packers happen soon." stages of Brett Favre's ca- "Look, I'm answering ques- and the season after the
general manager Brian Gutekunst also indicated reer in Green Bay, when tions about it because I team drafted Love. Rodg-
Gutekunst was asked about that he believes 2020 first- the Packers didn't know get asked about it," Rodg- ers earned MVP honors in
Rodgers and said that they round pick Jordan Love is whether the Hall of Fame ers said. "I'm talking about 2020 and 2021.
"haven't had the conversa- ready to be an NFL start- quarterback would play or it because it's important to "I've been doubted be-
tions that we need to have ing quarterback. Love has retire. Rodgers backed up me. If you don't like it and fore," Rodgers said. "Hon-
yet." Gutekunst indicated backed up Rodgers the Favre for the first three sea- think it's drama, me being a estly I felt in the first year
he hoped a decision was past three seasons. sons of his career. diva or whatever, just tune that Matt was here, Matt
made by the start of free Rodgers, who is due to Favre did retire in the spring it out. That's fine. But this is was in Green Bay in '19 and
agency on March 15. make about $59.5 million of 2008 before changing my life. It's important to me. I felt at times like a game
"There's been some contact if he plays, noted that "for his mind, leading the Pack- I'll make a decision soon manager, like I didn't quite
back and forth," Gutekunst everyone involved, directly ers to trade him to the New enough and we'll go down understand what we were
said. "Obviously he's had and indirectly it's best for a York Jets because they that road and be really ex- doing at times on offense.
some things on his plate. decision earlier." already had announced cited about it." My job was to take care
Hopefully those things will He referenced the latter Rodgers as their starter. Rodgers has noted he of the football and I did.q

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

By LARRY NEUMEISTER Black coaches. him to delegate those mat-
Associated Press The judge said Flores can ters to a truly neutral arbi-
NEW YORK (AP) — NFL let a jury decide the merits trator as a matter of funda-
Coach Brian Flores may get of his discrimination claims mental fairness."
his day in court to press dis- against the league, the The league did not immedi-
crimination claims against Denver Broncos, the New ately respond to a request
the league and its teams York Giants and the Hous- for comment from The Asso-
after a federal judge on ton Texans, but he must ciated Press or say whether
Wednesday rejected the pursue his claims against Goodell would recuse him-
argument that his lawsuit the Miami Dolphins through self from the process.
must be handled in arbi- arbitration. Flores brought the lawsuit
tration, presumably be- "We are pleased that after he was fired by Miami,
fore Commissioner Roger Coach Flores' class claims where he led the Dolphins
Goodell. of systematic discrimination to a 24-25 record over
The written decision by against the NFL and sev- three years. Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline
Judge Valerie Caproni eral teams will proceed in According to the lawsuit, during the second half of an NFL football game against the New
in Manhattan was issued court and ultimately before Miami Dolphins owner Ste- England Patriots, Jan. 9, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
months after lawyers for a jury of his peers," attorney phen Ross told Flores he Associated Press
the league tried to get the Douglas Wigdor said in an would pay him $100,000
lawsuit moved to arbitra- email. for every loss during the quarterback in violation The Dolphins responded to
tion, citing contracts that He added: "We are disap- coach's first season be- of the league's tampering the lawsuit when it was filed
coaches had signed. pointed the court com- cause he wanted the club rules. When Flores refused, by saying it vehemently de-
Flores sued the league and pelled arbitration of any to "tank" so it could get the he was cast as the "angry nied any allegations of ra-
three teams a year ago, claims before Mr. Goodell draft's top pick. Black man" who is difficult cial discrimination and was
saying the league was "rife as he is obviously biased The lawsuit alleged that to work with and was de- "proud of the diversity and
with racism," particularly in and unqualified to rule on Ross then pressured Flores rided until he was fired, the inclusion throughout our
its hiring and promotion of these matters. We expect to recruit a prominent suit said. organization."q