While Mark Murphy is the Packers general manager, Aaron Rodgers is their quarterback. During Super Bowl XLV there was a number of controversies about what some would call unsportsmanlike behavior by Mark Murphy. One such incident was when Aaron Rodgers let his t-shirt do all the talking against the Vikings.
Aaron Rodgers has often talked about his dislike for the Green Bay Packers, and has even gone so far as to wear a shirt to games portraying the team as a bunch of old people. But he did not do that this past weekend, when he was caught on camera wearing a shirt that did not have any Packers logos on it. Instead, Rodgers was wearing a shirt with a picture of the team’s former owner, Mark Murphy.
This offseason has certainly been busy for Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers team. Rodgers caused a firestorm in the NFL on draft night when it was reported that he had demanded a trade with his former team. Since then, Packers president and general manager Mark Murphy has desperately fought the damage, to no avail. Rodgers clearly doesn’t want to play in Green Bay anymore, and Murphy’s recent statements don’t convince him otherwise. The team president recently called his superstar QB a complicated guy, which led to a calculated response from Rodgers, who was wearing nothing but his jersey.
Mark Murphy fends off Aaron Rodgers of the Packers
. Rodgers made it clear during the offseason that he had no interest in continuing his NFL career with the Packers. He called for a swap earlier this year and has not changed his mind in recent months. The nine-time Pro Bowl standout missed all of Green Bay’s voluntary offseason workouts. And when the Packers opened their mandatory minicamp last week, Rodgers was still nowhere to be seen. Rodgers seems to have already made up his mind about his NFL future, but Murphy’s recent comments haven’t helped his return. In fact, they just made it worse. The situation we’re in with Aaron Rodgers has divided our fans, Murphy wrote on June 5 in his monthly column on the Packers’ official website. …We remain committed to resolving the issues with Aaron and want him to be our quarterback in 2021 and beyond. We are working to clarify the situation and understand that the less said publicly by both parties, the better. Accusing Rodgers of dividing the fanbase is one thing, insulting him is another. During an event at Lambeau Field last week, Murphy threw even more oil on the fire. I think a lot about Ted Thompson, as most of you know, a great general manager who passed away, Murphy said, according to the WGBA. Thompson] talked a lot about Aaron, and it wasn’t just Aaron. Many different players. He said: He’s a complicated man. So I’m just gonna say it. Yeah, that will definitely convince Rogers to stay.
Rodgers has been relatively quiet since asking for a trade earlier this season. He’s undoubtedly heard Murphy’s comments, in addition to the media pressure caused by his continued absence from the game, but the QB has yet to speak out, aside from some vague comments on SportsCenter last month. But Rogers may not need to say a word to make his point. On Tuesday, he let his jersey do the talking. During a video press conference with Tom Brady, Phil Mickelson, Bryson Deschambault and Brian Anderson for Capital One’s The Match, Rodgers wore a black T-shirt with the words I’m Offended on the chest. The T-shirt also featured an angry emoji under a short but pithy message. The press conference was Rogers’ first public appearance since Murphy’s comments about the tough guy. Sure, his jersey could be considered pure coincidence, but Rodgers isn’t that naive. Everything he does, especially this offseason, is calculated to perfection. Your turn, Murphy.
What’s next for the current NFL MVP?
Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers warms up before a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in 2019 | Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images There are clearly more questions about Rodgers’ future with the Packers than there are answers. The reigning MVP seems to be holding out until the deal is done, and he may be willing to sit out the entire 2021 season if it doesn’t happen. If Rodgers does not report to the team before the season begins in the fall, the Packers have the right to fine him $2.05 million in training camp and $93,085 in minicamp. He has already lost $500,000 by not showing up to previous workouts. According to Spotrac, Rodgers will lose $35,643,085 if he misses the entire season. But for a guy who has made more than $240 million on NFL contracts alone, Rodgers won’t be too worried about that.
