Aaron Rodgers Explains Issue With Green Bay Packers, Praises Jordan Love

Aaron Rodgers has finally publicly addressed his issues with the Green Bay Packers. Nearly one month after it was first reported that the quarterback no longer wants to play for the team, Rodgers doesn’t appear to have changed his mind.

Speaking with Kenny Mayne during the anchor’s final “SportsCenter” appearance, Rodgers didn’t directly say that he wanted to be traded. Rodgers denied having an issue with backup Jordan Love, though he might not have appreciated the way the draft pick was made.

“With my situation, look it’s never been about the draft pick, picking Jordan,” Rodgers said Monday night. “I love Jordan; he's a great kid. [We’ve had] a lot of fun to work together. Love the coaching staff, love my teammates, love the fan base in Green Bay. An incredible 16 years. It's just kind of about a philosophy and maybe forgetting that it is about the people that make the thing go. Its about character, it's about culture, it’s about doing things the right way.”

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst didn’t notify Rodgers of the plan to trade up and pick Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Yahoo Sports has previously reported that Rodgers won’t return as long as Gutekunst is still with the team.

“I think sometimes people forget what really makes an organization,” Rodgers said. “History is important, legacy of so many people who've come before you. But the people, that’s the most important thing. People make an organization, people make a business and sometimes that gets forgotten. Culture is built brick by brick, the foundation of it by the people, not by the organization, not by the building, not by the corporation. It’s built by the people.”

Last year, Rodgers acknowledged that it was unlikely he’d finish his career with the Packers. The 37-year-old went on to win his third MVP award, seemingly ending any chance that Green Bay might try and move on from him for the 2021 season.

“A lot of this was put in motion last year, and the wrench was just kind of thrown into it when I won MVP and played the way I played last year,” Rodgers said Monday night. “This is just kind of, I think, a spill-out of all that.”

Rodgers didn’t report to voluntary OTAs at Lambeau Field Monday. The decision cost him a $500,000 bonus.

There’s speculation that Rodgers would choose to forfeit much more money if the Packers don’t trade him this offseason. Green Bay has shown no signs that it is willing to entertain trade offers for Rodgers.