Aaron Rodgers did what he was supposed to do. He was never going to be a Green Bay Packer for much longer, and he knew it. Rodgers signed a contract extension with the Packers, but he also agreed to waive his no-trade clause to make sure he could be traded to another team. Rodgers did not want to end his career with the Green Bay Packers. He didn’t want to go through the rest of his life regretting a contract that he was contractually obligated to sign. Now, Rodgers is a member of the Minnesota Vikings, and he’s been given a $15 million signing bonus.
Aaron Rodgers is officially on the clock, and he has all the time in the world to become the highest paid player in NFL history. The Packers quarterback has a lot of money to spend, but isn’t going to spend it by playing in Green Bay. He will become the highest paid player in the NFL by hanging up his cleats for good.
After rumors circulated for weeks that the Packers were planning to trade Rodgers, the team made it official on Friday, January 29th. The move brought a lot of talk about what this means for the future of the franchise. Here at Flipsidesports, we asked our writers to weigh in on the topic.. Read more about aaron rodgers trade and let us know what you think.
Aaron Rodgers earns a lot of money for a living throwing footballs. But can one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL pocket more than $18 million without playing a single game for the Green Bay Packers this season?If Rodgers wants to thwart the leadership of the company and keep his assets, he officially has the chance.
Aaron Rodgers could suffer major financial damage if he refuses to play
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With $241 million in earnings in his career, money shouldn’t be an issue for Rodgers. Maybe that explains why he seems willing to sacrifice millions to prove himself right for the Packers.
Not attending voluntary team events wasn’t bad for Rogers’ wallet, but not attending the team’s mandatory minicamp put him in a financial predicament. The Packers may fine their star quarterback $93,085 for missing the entire three-day minicamp. It remains to be seen if Green Bay will punish Rodgers, but the fact that he hasn’t shown up to team-related events seems like an ominous sign of things to come.
And if the reigning NFL MVP is leaving, he should be prepared to pay a high price.
Rodgers must pay a $50,000 fine for each day he missed training camp. If he chooses not to participate at all, the total fine will be $2.05 million. But having already forfeited his $500,000 bonus by missing out on OTAs, one has to wonder if the 37-year-old is worried about the financial side of things.
But if he peremptorily refuses to play for the Packers this season, Rodgers risks far more costly consequences.
Rodgers has a chance to win over $18 million without playing for the Packers
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Does keeping the reserve make the most sense for Rodgers?
Financially, no.
If he doesn’t return to work, the Packers have the right to repay his unearned signing bonus. Rodgers will also not receive the $6.8 million bonus he earned in March, which will be paid in weekly installments through the 2021 season.
But thanks to a recent agreement between the NFL and the NFL Players Association, the future Hall of Fame player can officially pocket $18.3 million without having to play for the Packers.
According to Pro Football Talk, every NFL player who was drafted in the first round is eligible. Signing in October 2020, came out for the 2021 season, no questions asked. That includes anyone who opted out last year, and it doesn’t matter if the player was diagnosed with a high-risk disease. Although Rogers will not receive any pocket money if he chooses this route, the Packers will have to pay him all the money he would be entitled to.
This exit doesn’t seem like a logical move for someone as competitive as Rodgers, but it makes sense from a financial standpoint. He doesn’t have to give up the $11.5 million he’s entitled to as a signing bonus for 2021. In addition, the Packers have yet to pay him a $6.8 million bonus. In total, Rodgers will receive $18.3 million without making a single pass.
Of course, he only has a week to make that decision. So if Rodgers intends to sit out 2021, perhaps he should consider forfeiting the Championship game as an acceptable solution.
Can Green Bay find a way to get a star quarterback back on the team for 2021?
Green Bay Packers general manager Aaron Rodgers waves on the sideline as he leaves the field. | Dylan Buell/Getty Images
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst doesn’t want to trade one of the best quarterbacks to ever set foot on an NFL field.
This should come as no surprise.
But with Rodgers’ continued absence, will Green Bay have to change course and open the phone lines for business? Or will Gutekunst (or someone else in the office) find a way to persuade the legendary quarterback to return for another year?
On the one hand, Rodgers must realize that the Packers give him the best chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy over his head for the second time in his career. Last year they almost won the Super Bowl, so the team clearly has enough talent to compete for a championship. And if young players like Rashan Gary, Jaire Alexander and Darnell Savage Jr. continue to improve quickly, the Packers will be even more dangerous in the future.
Rogers, for his part, clearly disagrees with the way Gutekunst does business. He didn’t like not knowing about Jordan Love. And he can’t be too happy that the team has never wasted a first-round pick on a receiver, running back or tight end since he’s been in Green Bay. At this point, Gutekunst may have done too much damage to repair.
But if Rodgers wants to help his legacy, he should consider coming back for another year. He has a strong coaching staff, a strong head coach, and lots of support from fans and teammates. By leading the Packers to a Super Bowl title, he gets one more ring than Brett Favre and , proving that he is the true king of Green Bay after all.
And no amount of money in the world can buy that kind of respect.
COMPARED TO: Aaron Rodgers may have to admit that Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst knows what he’s doing after all.Aaron Rodgers officially has a path to pocket $18.3 million by not playing for the Packers.. Read more about what happens if aaron rodgers refuses to play and let us know what you think.
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