Rodgers: 'It's my intention to play for the Jets'
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WLUK) — Aaron Rodgers made it quite clear he played his last down as quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.
A trade between the Packers and Jets isn't finalized yet, but that's the final hurdle before Rodgers heads to New York.
In a nearly hour-long interview on The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers detailed his mindset in wanting to leave Green Bay and play for the Jets.
Watch (CAUTION: May contain profanity):
As it turns out, Rodgers walking off the field with Randall Cobb after the loss to the Detroit Lions is likely the last time he'll be on the field at Lambeau wearing a Packers jersey.
"Since Friday I made it clear my intention is to play and my intention is to play for the New York Jets," Rodgers said.
It's a decision even Rodgers himself didn't see coming when he entered his darkness retreat weeks ago.
"I got to admit, I went into the darkness 90% retiring, 10% playing. My mind was, I'm tired of this, I hadn't gotten back into my workouts yet and I thought that's what was best for me."
But after five days and four nights, Rodgers says he stepped back into the light to learn things had changed on the Packers' side of things.
"I realized that there had been a little bit of a shift and that I heard from multiple people that I trust around the league -- players mostly -- that there was some shopping going on. That they were interested in actually moving me."
A different stance than the one Rodgers felt the Packers took in the week following the end of the season.
"Everything that I was told in the week that I was in Green Bay was take as long as you want and 'we want you to retire a Packer. If you want to come back and play, obviously the door is wide open.' That was the conversation I was going on.
"I wish that in the beginning of the offseason that had been the conversation. I love direct communication. If they had said 'we think it's time to move in a new direction,' 'we love you,' et cetera. I would have said man thank you so much."
Once it became clear the Packers wanted to move on, Rodgers said he shifted his attention to playing next season.
Jets representatives visited him in California last Tuesday.
"We had a nice visit."
And Rodgers made his decision.
"It is what it is. The Packers would like to move on. They let me know that in so many words. They've let other people know that in direct words. Because I still have that fire and want to play, and I would like to play in New York. It's just a matter of getting that done at this point."
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Rodgers is still under contract with the Packers. The trade won't be finalized until both teams agree on compensation, which Rodgers said is the only holdup.
"I don't think there's a scenario where they're like, 'we want this and the Jets aren't willing to give it to us, so we want you back.' That's not the reality."
Rodgers described the last 10 days as bittersweet, knowing that after 18 years, his time in Green Bay is coming to an end.
"I was drafted by Green Bay. I love that city I love that organization.
"I love you, Green Bay. Thank you and I'm as sad as some of you are, but you know we'll meet again."
Up to this point we have only heard Aaron Rodgers' side of things; we have not heard from the Packers regarding their view of how everything transpired. We reached out to the team and were told they would not have a response today.
