New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has surprised some in the football world by expressing that he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
The 39-year-old is a four-time NFL MVP, who despite what some haters think, looks to have plenty left in the tank.
Despite stating that he was “90% retired” prior to his offseason darkness retreat, Rodgers is rejuvenation and seems to be more motivated than ever.
“This is going to be a few-years partnership,” he confidently proclaimed, referring to his newly reworked contract that includes a $35 million pay cut.
Rodgers emphasized that the new contract was a win-win situation for everyone involved: “A win for me – I get paid a ton of money. A win for the team – we get a low cap number and deferred some cash. A win for other guys that we can bring in and sign,” he explained.
The future Hall of Famer’s willingness to take a below-market deal aims to help the Jets remain competitive and potentially bring in more talent to the team (maybe even Rodgers’ former Packers teammate Davante Adams!).
The Jets players are going to play their MOTHER FUDGING ASSES OFF for Aaron Rodgers. The man voluntarily took a $35 Million pay cut so his team could have the flexibility to keep the current talent around him and acquire more over the next 2 years. OTHERWORLDLY team friendly deal pic.twitter.com/kVDygnTH5B
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) July 26, 2023
Rodgers hinted at his big-picture plans: “I want to play a few more years, and it’ll be five after that (being inducted into the Hall of Fame)” he said, alluding to the mandatory waiting period for eligibility.
However, he also acknowledged that he is taking his career one year at a time and would continue playing as long as he enjoys the game and feels physically fit.
Jets General Manager Joe Douglas lauded Rodgers’ gesture, acknowledging his crucial role in providing cap flexibility for the team.
Despite the dramatic restructuring of his contract and the significant pay cut, Rodgers showed no signs of dissatisfaction. “I feel great about what I’m making,” he said, describing the negotiation process as stress-free.
His commitment to the team’s success has been evident, as teammates and coaches have praised him for his unprecedented pay cut, seeing it as a clear indication of his desire to win a Super Bowl with the Jets (who thought we’d be saying that six months ago?!)
While Rodgers won’t be playing in Thursday’s preseason game against the Cleveland Browns, he expressed openness to getting some action in the final preseason game.
For now, the Jets focus remains on evaluating their roster and bolstering their team any way they can (possibly by adding free-agent running back Dalvin Cook).
As Rodgers continues to impress with his on-field performance and off-field leadership, Jets fans eagerly anticipate the next chapter of his illustrious career, hoping it will culminate in their dream of winning a long-elusive Super Bowl.
The good news for Gang Green (and really the NFL as a whole) is that it seems like we’ll be seeing a lot of Rodgers over the next few years, and maybe more.
How do you think Rodgers and the Jets will do this season?
Of course, there will be many hoping for him to fail and that this whole experiment crashes and burns.
But what a story it would be if Rodgers is able to hoist a Lombardi with the Jets before he hangs it up for good…