Brett Favre Says He Thinks Aaron Rodgers Won’t Finish Career With Green Bay Packers
Apr 29, 2020, 3:18 PM
Quarterbacks Brett Favre #4 and Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers watch the final minutes of a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers from the sideline November 6, 2005 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Steelers defeated the Packers, 20-10. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre believes that Aaron Rodgers won’t finish his NFL career with the Packers after the organization drafted Utah State QB Jordan Love.
Favre discussed Rodgers’ future with the Wisconsin based franchise during an appearance on the NBC Sports Network program the Rich Eisen Show on Wednesday, April 29.
“I think he’ll [Rodgers] play somewhere else,” Favre replied to Rich Eisen before the radio host could finish his question.
FULL CLIP of @BrettFavre saying he thinks @AaronRodgers12 will finish his career in another uniform:#Packers #NFL pic.twitter.com/7hmlV64vrN
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) April 29, 2020
Eisen continued his question, “You think he will not end his career as a Green Bay Packer, just like you?”
“My gut tells me no,” Favre said. “I don’t know this for certain, but I guarantee you, it’s got the wheels turning in Aaron’s mind. If that’s the case, then that means there’s a chip on his shoulder toward the organization that otherwise was not there. All he needs is a reason other than this reason to expedite that.”
Jordan Love and Aaron Rodgers
Favre told Eisen that he’s spoken with Rodgers since the Packers selected Love with No. 26 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 23.
Green Bay traded up four spots in order to secure Love with the first-round pick.
“I’m not going to talk about all that we talked about, but he was … let’s just say surprised that they went in that direction,” Favre said.
.@BrettFavre says #Packers drafting Jordan Love sends the wrong message: pic.twitter.com/2RGPbDuTM5
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) April 29, 2020
Favre said the Packers should be one of the teams “playing for now” and Love doesn’t help Green Bay’s current win now mode.
“They don’t draft any weapons, not just in the first round, but any weapons that can help immediately, to my knowledge. And that just sends a disrespectful message to Aaron Rodgers,” Favre said. “He has every right to be disappointed if he is.”
Rodgers hasn’t spoken publicly since the NFL Draft nor has he posted on his official Twitter account.
Love acknowledged that he spoke with Rodgers shortly after Green Bay selected him.
Similar Situations
In 2005, Rodgers was placed into a situation that’s similar to the one Love is currently in, when the Packers drafted him late in the first round while NFL legend Brett Favre was still years away from retirement.
“I’m not surprised that he reached out to Jordan, being in a similar situation himself 15 years ago,” Favre said. “We had a great relationship in spite of — I wouldn’t say it took a turn for the worst when I left, but he was basically caught up in the middle of a hornet’s nest, if you will. I don’t foresee that happening here. I think Aaron will do whatever. It’s not his job to mentor Jordan Love.”
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Rodgers sat on the sidelines and waited three seasons for the opportunity to take over for Favre as the Packers’ starting QB.
“This discussion went on when I left Green Bay. It’s not the head guy’s job to mentor the next guy. That guy’s ultimately there to take your spot. Now, if Jordan were to ask, ‘Can I watch extra film with you?’ I would be shocked if Aaron said no. I think he would go over and beyond to help, but he’s not going to go out of his way, and I can’t blame him.”
Placed in a similar situation more than a decade ago, Favre said that Green Bay ” burned a bridge” with Rodgers by drafting his potential successor.
“Green Bay’s not going anywhere without Aaron Rodgers in the next few years,” Favre said. “If he plays like we expect him to play, they’ve got a shot with or without a first-round receiver. So I would do all I could to not burn that bridge, and I don’t think they did that. I think they burned a bridge that’s going to be hard to overcome. At some point, I think it will rear its ugly head.”
"I think (the #Packers) burned a bridge that's going to be hard to overcome." –@BrettFavre on Green Bay drafting Jordan Love in the 1st Round: pic.twitter.com/2digBEEsJ6
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) April 29, 2020
Rodgers has four years remaining on his contract and isn’t set to become an unrestricted free agent until 2024.
