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The messaging here is a little perplexing.
Adam Schefter reported:
“The Green Bay Packers aren’t going to be in a rush to get something done until they feel they get sufficient compensation for the player that believes he is the greatest player in Packers franchise history. Your talking about a four-time MVP, and they believe there is a premium to be paid for that.”
Before I continue, I want to make it clear I’m not being critical of Adam Schefter. He’s just stating the Packers’ position from what he’s been told. So I’m not going to kill the messenger.
But is the value of a player determined by how he rates himself? That seems like a passive-aggressive shot from somebody at Rodgers.
Rodgers said on the Pat McAfee Show he’s “debatably” the best player in Packers history.
Rodgers’ opinion of himself should be irrelevant in these trade talks. Lamar Jackson wants that reckless full-guaranteed deal Deshaun Watson got, so does that mean Baltimore should give it to him?
Player evaluations of their own value really shouldn’t come into play in negotiations. Players often have a high opinion of themselves, which is important in sports, where confidence is such a huge factor.
“You’re talking about a four-time MVP, and they believe there is a premium to be paid for that,” said Schefter.
However, he’s coming off a pedestrian season, at the age of 39, where his numbers were down, and the team went 8-9.
So yeah, he might have won four MVPs over his 14 years as a starter, but he’s coming off a substandard season. He might have slipped a little bit. The Packers clearly feel that way, because they are looking to move on.
“What did the Broncos give up for Russell Wilson? Multiple ones.” Schefter said.
Yes they did, and that is looking like an awful trade.
Wilson has clearly slipped as a player, and played so poorly last year, he got Nate Hackett fired before completing his first season as head coach. Hackett is now the Jets’ OC.
That is actually an example of why you shouldn’t give up multiple ones for an older QB.
“What did the Rams give up for Matthew Stafford? Multiple ones,” Schefter said.
Yes, but keep in mind, that was like an NBA trade in a way, because the Detroit Lions took on Jared Goff’s very expensive contract in that deal, after he underachieved, taking the player and contract off the Rams’ hands. That is one of the reasons the Rams traded multiple ones for Stafford. Otherwise, it’s highly unlikely they get multiple ones.
Schefter offered the caveat – “Not every quarterback has been traded for a package like that but those conversations have occurred in the Packers building. Never said the Packers asked for that, but they’ve talked about that as an organization.”
The issue with multiple first-round picks is not only the player’s age but not knowing how long he intends to play. He said he was “90 percent retired” before ending the darkness retreat.
If Rodgers only plays one year for the Jets, what is that worth? Probably not a first-round pick. Now if he plays two seasons, that is another story.
No team in their right mind should give up a first-round pick for a one-year rental if that’s what this turns out to be.
So clearly, this trade package, must involve provisions for compensatory picks, based on how long Rodgers plays, and maybe even how well he plays.
But this stuff about Rodgers claiming he’s “debatably” the greatest player in Packer history, should be irrelevant in the trade talks.
Past performance doesn’t insure future results and he turns 40 in December.
I’m not saying he’s slipped, but the Packers clearly think he has, and that is why they are willing to trade him.
If he was coming off an elite season, this trade isn’t happening, whether Jordan Love is there or not.
March 20, 2023
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