The Green Bay Packers’ shocking decision to trade up for Utah State quarterback Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft was apparently meant to send a message to veteran QB Aaron Rodgers.
Fresh off an appearance in the NFC Championship Game, Green Bay was in line to get a pro-ready prospect in the first round who could help Rogers immediately. That never came to fruition.
Instead, the Packers looked to a future without Rodgers under center. It’s a future that could come sooner rather than later.
According to Bob McGinn of The Athletic, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has grown tired of Rodgers’ act and passive-aggressive style.
“Public niceties aside, my sense is LaFleur, fresh from a terrific 13-3 baptismal season, simply had enough of Rodgers’ act and wanted to change the narrative. With a first-round talent on the roster, the Packers would gain leverage with their imperial quarterback and his passive-aggressive style,” the report wrote. “If the Packers do indeed want to become a running team next season, they surely wouldn’t want Rodgers rocking the boat and becoming even more difficult to coach.”
This seems to be more of an indictment of Rodgers than anything else. Remember, his relationship with former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was reportedly strained before Green Bay fired McCarthy during the 2018 season.
Rodgers, 36, is coming off a 2019 campaign that saw him throw for 4,002 yards with 26 touchdowns and four interceptions. The future Hall of Fame quarterback still seems to be in his prime.
Despite this, the marriage between Rodgers and his original Packers team could very well be on the brink. The 2020 season will likely be a defining one for this relationship.
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