National Football League

Has Aaron Rodgers become more talk than substance in Green Bay?

Published Jan. 18, 2023 7:32 p.m. ET

Aaron Rodgers is back in the news.

The reigning MVP quarterback was eliminated from playoff contention in Green Bay's heartbreaking Week 17 loss to Detroit, and though he's done suiting up for the season, he's far from finished when it comes to talking about his game.

His latest comments came on "The Pat McAfee Show," where he expressed his confidence in his ability to play quarterback at an elite level. He refused to specify though, whether that would be as a member of the Packers.

"I think I can win MVP again in the right situation," Rodgers told McAfee. "Right situation, is that Green Bay or is that somewhere else? I'm not sure. But I don't think you should shut down any opportunity."

Bold statements of this sort are nothing new for the enigmatic veteran, but nonetheless, "Undisputed" cohost Shannon Sharpe is growing increasingly annoyed with Rodgers' antics.

"I told you he was going to do this," Sharpe told Skip Bayless Wednesday. "Is he going to be in Green Bay, or is he going to be elsewhere? Those are his only two choices, because he's not retiring and leaving $60 million on the table. But I don't care where you play, you stunk your last game in Green Bay.

"That goes to show you right there what's important to him: Individual awards. … He's thinking about an individual award: MVP. Ain't no championship important. Ask Brady what he's thinking about. … Green Bay, you haven't learned your lesson yet. At some point in time, just move on. … You're not winning any more championships with him. He doesn't want to be there. Green Bay, stop letting this man hold you hostage!"

Bayless was equally perturbed.

"[This man] is a blame-deflecting, finger-pointing, diva of the highest order. And he has been too often overprotected by the media. … I am worn out from Aaron Rodgers. … He is low on intangibles … but the arm talent is supreme. … He's now 7-9 since that long-ago, galaxy far away Super Bowl that they won. … The seven wins that he has are all flimsy at best. … It's like shaky, shaky, shaky, he's lucky to be 7-9. … But the joke is on the Packers, I'm sorry. They gave him his guaranteed money, they're stuck."

Aaron Rodgers non-committal on a return to Packers

Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe react to Aaron Rodgers' comments.

And Colin Cowherd saw right through what he believed was strictly a ploy for attention.

"I'm going to give you four teams that had quarterback indecision this year," he said on "The Herd." "Tampa, [Tom] Brady retired and unretired. Very fuzzy for months. How did Tampa do? 8-9, and just shelled in the playoffs. … Arizona … 4-13, and Green Bay, Aaron, Ayahuasca, not going to be there with the young receivers, 8-9. … For the record, what has been the NFL team in the last five-to-six weeks that has had indecision at quarterback? Baltimore, and they lost four of five games.

"The idea that this is just 'no big deal, I'll take my time' … I believe that Aaron gains some level of power keeping everybody guessing. He couldn't do this if they had an owner. But this is Aaron's way to be a topic, to get discussed, because he's not getting discussed for playing. … Favre did this too, it was ego. Favre loved to keep Green Bay discussing. … And so, you can wait all you want, be fuzzy all you want … I think it matters. I think you've got to be all in, all in now."

Has Aaron Rodgers played his final game in Green Bay?

Colin Cowherd predicts if Aaron Rodgers has played his last game in Green Bay.

Rodgers is taking his time to make a decision about his future, but if he does decide to walk away from football, it won't be due to a lack of self-assurance.

"We had all the conversations we wanted to have about football for now, and we'll take some time to contemplate the future," Rodgers said about his recent conversation with Packers GM Brian Gutekunst.

"I think no player wants to be part of any type of rebuild," he added. "I said that years ago. Reloads are a lot of fun because you feel like you're close, you're only a couple guys away. They're not pressing for any type of specific answer, and I'm not mentally or emotionally at that point to give one."

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