(RADIO.COM Sports) Speculation of star quarterback Aaron Rodgers possibly leaving the Packers organization picked up steam after Green Bay's loss to Tampa Bay in the NFC championship game on Jan. 24.
While an exit from Green Bay doesn't appear likely, the 37-year-old Rodgers wants a new contract, according to reports, and speculation about his relationship with the organization having tension is still swirling. With that as context, former Packers offensive lineman T.J. Lang, who remains close with Rodgers, joined 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit on Monday and expressed the belief that Rodgers is "hellbent on some revenge" toward Green Bay ownership.
"I think he was quietly pissed when they took Jordan Love a year ago," Lang said. "The one thing I'll say about Aaron Rodgers, pretty much the last 10 years of his career he's wanted that team to just go all-in for one year. 'Just give me some pieces, let's just go all-in, let's trade a future first if we have to get a couple guys. Let's just go all-in and try to win this thing.'
"And then last year, he hinted at them doing that, 'Hey, I'm excited, let's see who they can bring in,' and they bring in a QB. I think that was the ultimate slap to the face when you feel like you're one pice away from winning the whole thing."
Lang doesn't envision a scenario in which Rodgers leaves the Packers, but he does think Rodgers will force the Packers' hands in what they have to do in order to keep him on the team.
"I think he's gonna make them pay, man," Lang said. "I think he's gonna want some sort of new deal where they guarantee a couple more years for him, security wise, being in Green Bay. I don't think he wants to go anywhere, but I think he's going to hold their feet to the fire and say, 'Hey, if you're going to keep me around, A) you're going to pay me and B) you're going to bring in some players that I want to play with where we can take this next leap."
Lang believes that the Packers will have no choice but to be more aggressive in adding pieces around Rodgers.
"Aaron Rodgers, sitting in the driver's seat right now coming off an MVP year," he said. "He just gets to sit back and plan his future out the way he wants to, and not a lot of guys have that authority or leverage."
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