Report: Rodgers considers retiring over returning to Packers

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Ever since the Bears traded up in the first round to draft Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, much of the attention in Chicago has been spent on the team’s new face of the franchise, and deservedly so. But another story, regarding the face of a different franchise is worth checking in on too.

I’m talking, of course, about the drama unfolding between the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers.

Adam Schefter sent shockwaves through the NFL just hours before the first round of the draft kicked off on Thursday by tweeting that relations had deteriorated so poorly between Rodgers and the front office, that Rodgers told some within the organization that he doesn’t want to return to Green Bay in 2021.

In the 24 hours since that initial bombshell, things have apparently not gotten any better. On Friday, Schefter followed up by saying Rodgers has begun telling some of his Packers’ teammates that as of now, he doesn’t plan on playing for Green Bay this season.

But the biggest head-turner came in the form of an Ian Rapoport tweet, sent just a few hours later:

Imagine it: Rodgers so unhappy in Green Bay that he’d forfeit $23 million just to get out of town. According to Spotrac, Rodgers has earned over $240 million over his 16-year career, so $23 million clearly doesn’t mean as much to him as it would the average Green Bay resident, but still, that’s a hefty chunk of change to consider giving up.

If he truly does walk away from the Packers, or forces his way out via trade, it would have huge implications in the NFC North as well. For decades the Packers have reigned over the rest of the division at the QB position. For much of that time the Bears were the quarterback basement dwellers, and by drafting Justin Fields on Thursday the Bears took a step towards closing that gap. But if Rodgers’ days in green and gold are truly numbered, then the Pack may take the Bears’ spot at the bottom of the quarterback conversation soon.

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