Rob DemovskiESPN Writer3 minute read
Packers president talks Aaron Rodgers future
Packers president Mark Murphy discusses what’s going on with the future of Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay.
GREEN BAY, Wis. – It certainly looks like the The Green Bay Packers would rather leave Aaron Rodgers and begin the Jordan Love era immediately.
Although Packers president Mark Murphy hasn’t ruled out the possibility that Rodgers could return as the team’s starting quarterback, he’s apparently not the organization’s first choice according to this. Murphy said Friday during an interview at the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association women’s basketball tournament. which takes place in front of the Lambeau field at the Center Resch arena.
“I mean unless, if things don’t go our way, yes,” Murphy said on WIAA when asked if there was a scenario where Rodgers could return. . “He’s obviously a great player and a four-time MVP, but I think he’s trying to find what he wants and what we want, and hopefully we can find a win-win situation.”
Murphy confirmed the Packers gave Rodgers and the New York Jets permission to speak, which they did earlier this week when a Jets contingent met with Rodgers in California.
“We gave them permission, but I really can’t go into detail,” Murphy said. “We really hope we can come to a resolution that not only works for Aaron but for us.”
Murphy then Green Bay ABC affiliate WBAY told that allowing Rodgers and the Jets to meet was done to “help Aaron achieve what he and the Packers wanted, and hopefully create a situation where it’s kind of a win for both parties “.
In this interview, he referred to Rodgers’ career in the past tense.
“Very few players play for one team, and obviously Brett had a great career, Aaron had a great career here,” Murphy told WBAY. “And no matter what, Aaron will be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he’ll be in our Hall of Fame and we’ll bring him back and retire his number. But that’s just one of the things you go to as a team. Again, we want to try to achieve something that’s good for Aaron and good for us.
Murphy also presided over the Packers’ transfer of quarterback Brett Favre to the Jets in 2008, which paved the way for Rodgers to take over. He endorsed then-general manager Ted Thompson’s decision to trade Favre and should theoretically do so before current general manager Brian Gutekunst can finalize a deal.
Murphy reiterated the Packers’ hope that a solution can be found before Wednesday, which is the start of NFL free agency.
The Packers look set to hand over to Love, the 2020 first-round pick who has spent the past three seasons as a backup to Rodgers.
“We have a lot of confidence in him,” Murphy said. “We drafted him and developed him. A lot of credit goes to our coaches and Jordan. But we think he’s ready.”