If Aaron Rodgers wants to extend his NFL legacy next season, it will not be with the New York Jets.
The legendary former Green Bay Packers quarterback was supposed to be the final piece in the Super Bowl puzzle for Gang Green.
3 Rodgers has put his teammates on notice depsite failing to make the playoffsCredit: Getty
Instead, a season-ending Achilles injury on his regular season debut derailed the 2023 campaign.
And despite returning to the field, 2024 was not much better as Robert Saleh was sacked weeks into a season that ended with a 5-12 record and only the dysfunctional New England Patriots preventing the Jets from propping up the AFC East.
Per Jay Glazer, owner Woody Johnson has seen enough and is ready to eat $49million in dead cap by making Rodgers a free agent, informing the 41-year-old last week.
If New York parts ways on March 12 — officially the first day of the new season — it will suffer a $14m cap hit in 2025, with $35m deferred to 2026.
That is a heavy outlay on a man the Jets went all in on to sign from Green Bay in 2023, they paid $112.5m to end the longest playoff drought in US Sports and even traded for Davante Adams midseason to keep happy.
But after making former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn the new head coach and hiring Darren Mougey as general manager, it is time for a fresh start.
Rodgers hasn’t given any indication that he is ready to hang up his cleats.
Theoretically, he is in a good position with the Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants all potentially in the market for a QB.
The NFL Draft class — headed by Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward — is believed to be one of the weakest in years for talent under center.
But Shannon Sharpe and Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson believe Rodgers’ decision to skip the Jets minicamp and go to Egypt over the offseason could prove to be a huge stumbling block.
3 Rodgers and Adams were reunited but they couldn’t find a sparkCredit: Getty
3 Glenn has a big job on his handsCredit: Getty
“Raiders need a quarterback, Steelers, Saints, Browns could potentially need a QB,” Sharpe said on the Nightcap podcast. “Do any of those places sound appealing or does he walk off into the sunset?”
“I don’t think he walks off into the sunset,” replied Ochocinco. “The fact that he flew to New Jersey to seek a meeting about his future (proves that).
“But Steelers, take them out of the equation. You’re not going to come in with the attitude that you have, not with that organisation, or with Mike Tomlin.
“Saying you’re not coming to training camp, taking retreats, saying some of the stuff you say through the media. That ain’t happening.”
Sharpe thinks Rodgers needs a reality check and questioned if the future Hall of Famer — who was being touted as a potential Vice President candidate for Robert Kennedy Jr. in 2024 — is truly committed to the game.
“I just think he’s going to have to make a decision,” he added. “Bro, are you going to be serious about this?
“Not showing up to mandatory (sessions). Mandatory doesn’t mean different things to different people. Mandatory means it is required.”
The Jets, who have the seventh pick in April’s Draft, are yet to confirm their decision and for now, are keeping the door open for now.
“Aaron’s a talent, for sure. He’s a Hall of Famer,” said Johnson last month. “I’m not going to voice my opinion. That’s up to them (the new staff).”
“First and foremost, I’ve got the utmost respect for Aaron Rogers and what he’s done in this league as a player,” Mougey added after being announced.
“[He’s] one of the greatest of all time to play the position — one of the greatest players of all time.”
Rodgers has talent, the Super Bowl he won in 2011 and for MVP awards, he also comes with a lot of baggage.