GREEN BAY, Wis. — Signs are everywhere that Sunday night is for Aaron Rodgers: He walked out of Lambeau Field with his arms around his best friend Randall Cobbhe did not want to give away his match shirt and he tried to suppress his emotions in the final moments of the post-match session with reporters.
Before anyone drafts a retirement paper or a commercial deal, consider the other indicators that come after. Green Bay Packers‘ end of season lose 20-16 arrive Detroit lion: He did and said some of the same things after the Packers were knocked out of the knockout stages last season. And the season before that.
However, this time there will be no knockout. All the Packers needed to do was beat the Lions on Sunday night and they won the right to attend. Instead, they finished 8-9 and missed the post-season for the first time in coach Matt LaFleur’s four seasons.
Rodgers said on Sunday: “At some point the carousel stops and it’s time to get off, and I think you’ll know when it’s time. “And that’s something to be pondered over. Is it time yet? Besides, what is the organization doing? That’s part of it, too. But the flame of competition will always be there. I don’t think that’s going to go away.” . Sometimes I think it’s going to be moved on to other things that may never fill that huge void. See how it feels when I get out of this.”
Last season, Rodgers announced his decision to return on March 8. He signed a three-year, $150 million contract extension shortly after. That deal includes a $58.3 million bonus plus more than $1 million in other guarantees if he competes in 2023. Rodgers insisted on Sunday that he could forgo the money. there.
When asked what the deciding factor would be, Rodgers said: “It’s the feeling.” He then goes on to list some of the things that can influence that feeling.
“Do I feel like I have anything left to prove to myself?” he say. “Do I want to go back and prepare for another job? Or is it time? Time to retire? Time to let another voice lead this team?
“I think I need to get out and reflect on those things. Those things are real to me. I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved in this tournament, but I’m also a real person. economy and I understand where we are as a team We are a young team; there may be some changes with some of the older people and maybe it’s time to leave but I maybe take a moment and say no, man, I need to get back there and keep running, but I’ll have to see how it feels when I’m away from it.
Rodgers admits his decision could also be influenced by whether the Packers bring in players like Cobb. David Bakhtiari, Mason Crosby and Marcedes Lewis.
Even if the organization has yet to tell Rodgers directly whether it wants him, it has done so openly. Last month, general manager Brian Gutekunst told reporters he wanted Rodgers back. LaFleur said he believes the organization still feels the same, even after one of Rodgers’ most underperforming seasons.
“Yes, in my mind, absolutely,” LaFleur said. “But I think, in the end, he will decide that.”
Although Rodgers doesn’t appear to want to play for another team in case he’s not ready to retire, the Packers want to move on. Jordan lovehe didn’t close that door completely.
Rodgers’ final throw of the season was blocked by Lions safety Kerby Joseph with 3:27 remaining in the game. The Packers never got the ball back. It was Rodgers’ 12th interception of the season – the second-highest after just 13 he threw in 2008, the first season he started. Joseph, who eliminated Rodgers twice in a November game in Detroit, became the first player to knock him out three times in a regular season.
Still, Rodgers has no doubt he can still play at a high level, just like he felt this time last year, as he wrapped up his second straight NFL MVP season and season fourth prize in his career.
“The answer is yes,” he said.
However, Rodgers found life at the trade-off of wide receiver Davante Adams arrive Las Vegas raid in March for rough skiing, although the Packers drafted three expansions in Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson and Samori Toure. Even so, Rodgers said there’s “a lot of young, good talent on this team.” [and] if some guys jumped from year one to year two, the offense could be a lot different.”
Like he did after last season, Rodgers said he wants to step away from the season and “get emotional out of it.”
That’s what he did for most of his 20 minutes in the media auditorium on Sunday night.
Until the very end.
That’s when he was asked, if this were it, what would he miss the most. Rodgers paused for 10 seconds and said, “I’ll miss you guys. I’ll miss the fans.”
He paused again, regained his composure, and said, “Yes. Thank you.”
And he entered another season of contemplation.
