The jury is still out on whether Aaron Rodgers' tumultuous relationship with the Green Bay Packers can be salvaged. But even if the situation is broken beyond repair, don't count on the franchise parting ways with the veteran quarterback just to avoid further drama.
"I understand how logical it is for everybody to wonder, 'Okay, what are the teams he can go to? Let's start trying to figure out the teams,'" NBC Sports football columnist Peter King told The DA Show on Tuesday. "Well, of course Denver would be interested. And I do believe that Las Vegas would be interested, too. But, at the end of the day, it takes two to tango, and it's going to take an absolute earthquake for [Packers president] Mark Murphy and [general manager] Brian Gutekunst to trade Aaron Rodgers to anybody."
According to a report from ESPN's Dianna Russini last Tuesday, there's a growing belief around the league that Rodgers -- who won his third league MVP award last season -- isn't going to play for Green Bay in 2021, and that the Denver Broncos are the favorite to acquire him, should he be made available in the coming months.
This news from Russini came roughly four days after NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that Rodgers is seriously considering retirement as an option unless the complex situation with the Packers is "repaired to his liking." Green Bay has remained adamantly opposed to the notion of trading Rodgers.
In 2020, Rodgers completed a career-high 70.7-percent of his passes for 4,299 yards with 48 touchdowns and just five interceptions. According to Spotrac.com, the 37-year-old has three years remaining on his contract with Green Bay, and his $37.2 million cap hit this upcoming season is expected to lead the entire league.
If Rodgers does elect to retire, he would have to repay the Packers $11.5 million in each of the next two years, per Rapoport.
The entire NFL conversation between King and DA can be accessed in the video and audio players above.
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