Zero2Cool
10 months ago


By Michael Silver, Sports ColumnistSep 2, 2024

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers warms up before playing against the Buffalo Bills the 2023 season opener, an appearance that ended after four snaps on Sept. 11 in East Rutherford, N.J.

Aaron Rodgers is eager to see how far he and the Jets can go after his 2023 season ended during the team’s first offensive series of the season.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — He stared down at the glimmering bay, convinced he’d be sticking around for years to come. Aaron Rodgers had just completed a banger of a Pro Day workout at Cal in March 2005, and now he was enjoying a celebratory lunch at the nearby Claremont Hotel with San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Nolan, offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy and quarterbacks coach Jim Hostler.

In his mind, Rodgers wasn’t merely celebrating a great throwing session. The 49ers had the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft, and the Golden Bears star felt certain he’d be their choice.

Nearly two decades later, as the future first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback prepares to face the 49ers in Monday’s season opener at Levi’s Stadium, in what could be the last game he ever plays in Northern California, Rodgers remembers the moment vividly.

“I (completed) 90 of 91,” he recalled, smiling, during a recent interview in a maintenance area at New York Jets headquarters. “We scripted it; (Cal coach) Jeff (Tedford) put the whole thing together. It was a great workout, and then we went to lunch. I thought it was a good lunch. And I’m still kinda like riding high, like, ‘There ain’t no way that other workout’s gonna be like this.’

“The rest is history.”

Rodgers, after the sport’s most visibly uncomfortable draft-day free fall ever, went 24th to the Green Bay Packers, waited three years behind the legendary Brett Favre and commenced a run of football brilliance that included four regular-season MVP awards and a Super Bowl MVP trophy.

Now in his second season with the Jets, for whom he took only four snaps in 2023 before suffering the worst injury of his career, the 40-year-old Rodgers is trying to make more history. Fittingly, he’ll be back in the Bay to begin the 2024 regular season — on “Monday Night Football,” the same platform upon which he tore his Achilles on the other side of the country a year ago.

There’s a lot on the line for Rodgers, who hopes to join Peyton Manning and Tom Brady as the only quarterbacks to start and win Super Bowls for two different franchises. Though he has long been based in the L.A. area during his offseasons, the Chico native still has great affection for the northern part of the state.

His sentimental pull toward the region has taunted him at times. Three years ago, for a brief stretch, Rodgers could legitimately ponder the possibility of finishing his career in a 49ers uniform.

Following the Packers’ shocking loss to Brady and the Buccaneers at Lambeau Field in the NFC Championship Game in January 2021, Rodgers, fresh off his third MVP season, became estranged from his longtime employers. He requested a trade during the spring, with the 49ers as one of his preferred targets.

Instead, with coach Kyle Shanahan looking to move on from starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, the Niners sent three first-round picks to Miami to acquire the third overall selection in the 2021 draft, ultimately choosing Trey Lance as Garoppolo’s heir apparent.

Even in the hours leading up to Lance’s selection, however, there was national buzz that Rodgers might be dealt to the 49ers. As documented in my upcoming book, “The Why Is Everything,” the Niners’ interest in Rodgers fractured the relationship between Shanahan and one of his friends and former assistants, Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur, though it has since been repaired.

While that drama played out, Rodgers could at least daydream about a full-circle homecoming.

“I thought there was a slim, slim possibility,” he said. “I just didn’t really ever think the Packers would trade me within the conference. There seemed to be some kismet (as) in ’05, with me being from Northern California, and San Fran. And as much as it seemed like not the front end of my career, but now the twilight of my career, going back home to my childhood team would have been some fated circumstance, it never really felt like it was gonna be a reality.”

The Packers, it turned out, weren’t about to trade him to anyone. They held onto Rodgers, temporarily repaired the relationship (with the help of a massive contract extension) and kept him for two more seasons — one that saw him earn his fourth MVP, the other a choppy campaign that ended a game short of a playoff berth.

By the time Green Bay was finally willing to deal him in spring 2023, Shanahan and the Niners had moved forward with Brock Purdy.

Though it presumably will never happen, Rodgers does wonder how a collaboration with Shanahan would have played out. Stylistically, it could have been challenging. Rodgers knows this from experience — specifically, from the transition he made in 2019, when LaFleur was hired in Green Bay.

After spending most of his career in an offense conceived by McCarthy (who left the Niners after that ’05 season to become the Packers’ coach), one that gave him great latitude at the line of scrimmage, Rodgers was asked to adapt to a scheme that restricted those options. The “Audible Thing,” as LaFleur dubbed it to me shortly after taking the job, took a full season to navigate.

Shanahan, LaFleur’s mentor, is arguably even more exacting when it comes to his expectations for the quarterback’s reads, decisions and processes. Could these two headstrong, highly accomplished competitors have vibed and thrived as coach/play-caller and QB?

“I mean, I’ve thought about that from time to time, and I’ve had conversations with people who think that’s an interesting idea,” Rodgers said, smiling. “I don’t know; it’s one of those ‘what if?’ things. He is a phenomenal play-caller. I think he’s a fantastic coach. I think anything can work if two people can find a common ground. The common ground for great relationships is respect.

“So, even though Kyle seems to be — I don’t know what the right word is, ’cause I’m kind of speaking out of turn and don’t know him that well — but he seems to be very headstrong, which I think is a phenomenal attribute. It’s almost like, had that imaginary world happened, with his genius, what would you actually need to change? (I feel like) it would work because he’s a genius and I have a lot of years of experience.”

It’s likely a moot discussion. Instead, Rodgers is trying to help an embattled coach — Robert Saleh, Shanahan’s defensive coordinator in S.F. from 2017-20 — pull a flagging franchise out of its extended malaise. The Jets haven’t made the playoffs since the 2010 season, the longest current postseason drought among teams in the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB.

With Rodgers, there is hope, largely because of his long history of thriving amid adverse and daunting circumstances. He was hardened by early experiences that included an unlikely college path: Barely recruited out of Chico’s Pleasant Valley High, he spent a year at nearby Butte Community College, earning a scholarship to Cal only after Tedford showed up in Oroville to watch him throw to another prospect, future Bears tight end Garrett Cross.

In his junior year at Cal, despite the team being ranked third in the country, the Bears were denied a Rose Bowl berth because of shady and improbable nuances of the then-BCS-governed selection procedure.

A few months later, in the wake of that command performance at Pro Day, Rodgers took a visit to 49ers headquarters and began to feel less secure about his coronation as the No. 1 overall pick.

“When I went to the Niners’ facility, I got time with Mike Nolan and Mike McCarthy separately,” Rodgers recalled. “With Mike (McCarthy) it was great, ’cause Mike knew the West Coast offense, so I was like totally, ‘Ah, man, Bill Walsh, Paul Hackett. …’ We were talking about Joe Montana ’cause he was with him, so it was such a fun meeting.

“And I kinda straight-up asked him, ‘What do you think?’ And my recollection is, ‘I think we’re gonna take you’ were his words. It’s been 20 years; whether or not that’s what was said, who knows? Maybe I wanted it to seem like that. But when I met with Mike Nolan, I didn’t feel like there was the same type of connection I had with Mike McCarthy. So I wasn’t super confident.”

He has spent 19 years making the franchise regret the decision, which is obvious: While Smith enjoyed a fine career, Rodgers will go down as one of the best quarterbacks ever to spin it.

In head-to-head battles, however, the Niners have more than held their own. Though Rodgers’ teams have won six of nine regular-season clashes against S.F. — including the 2021 thriller at Levi’s that ended with Mason Crosby’s walk-off, 51-yard field goal — he’s 0-4 against the 49ers in the postseason. Those setbacks include a beatdown in the 2019 NFC Championship Game at Levi’s and the 2021 divisional playoff upset at Lambeau Field sealed by Robbie Gould’s 45-yard field goal on the final play.

If those defeats were crushing, Rodgers’ first game with the Jets, on Sept. 11 of last year, was something beyond that. With a “Monday Night Football” audience and a raucous MetLife Stadium crowd revved up for his debut, he charged out of the tunnel carrying an American flag to honor the anniversary of the worst-ever attack on U.S. soil, creating an indelible image.

Then, on the Jets’ first offensive series, came a play he’ll never forget: Rodgers took a shotgun snap and was quickly engulfed by Bills edge rusher Leonard Floyd, who sacked him as he spun. Slumped to the turf, the quarterback knew instantly that his Achilles was torn.

Inside, Rodgers was ripped up, his dreams delayed at least a year.

There were rumors that Aaron Rodgers, watching the Jets’ game against the Atlanta Falcons on Dec. 3, 2023, would return late last season after recovering from his torn Achilles tendon, but he remained sidelined.

“It was devastating,” he said. “It was heartbreaking. I don’t know what would have been worse — like, maybe playing a bunch of games, having some success, and then having something happen where you could see that we (would have made) a run? Or kind of getting hurt before you even knew what the hell you were gonna be?

“We’re a better football team on paper than we were last year, so that’s exciting.”

As he prepares for a do-over, Rodgers, who sat out the preseason but looked strikingly back to his old self in training camp, can’t help but wonder whether the football gods are messing with him: He’ll once again make his debut on “Monday Night Football,” this time in the region where he once starred, against a 49ers team that signed Floyd in free agency to rush the passer opposite Nick Bosa.

“I saw that,” Rodgers said, laughing and recalling his eventful history with Floyd, which included a sick pump-fake that got the pass rusher, then with the Rams, to leave his feet as the quarterback raced past him to the end zone in the Packers’ 2020 divisional-round playoff victory over L.A. at Lambeau.

“I like Leonard,” Rodgers said. “I have a lot of respect for him. Obviously, he’s not trying to hurt me (on the play that led to his Achilles tear). But yeah, “Monday Night Football,” back home…”

Yes, Rodgers still calls NorCal home. And for those who may be wondering, he still has a tangible attachment to Berkeley: After conspicuously distancing himself from his alma mater when Tedford was fired in 2012, Rodgers has been a gung-ho supporter since Justin Wilcox, with whom he is close, was hired as Cal’s coach a little more than four years later.

When Rodgers runs through that tunnel Monday night, he’ll be carrying so many memories from his time in the Bay Area — some happy, some less so. Unlike last year, he won’t be displaying the Stars and Stripes.

“I don’t think there’ll be a flag,” he said.

A Cal flag, perhaps?

“That would be sweet,” Rodgers said. “That might get some fans on my side.”

Good luck with that.

If nothing else, even as they boo, perhaps Niners fans can quietly appreciate the opposing quarterback’s resilience — and ponder what might have been.

https://t.co/R64mx2vgTz 

Michael Silver wrote:



Kind of interesting to have for archives.
UserPostedImage
Fan Shout
dfosterf (30m) : Make sure to send my props to him! A plus move!
Zero2Cool (2h) : My cousin, yes.
dfosterf (2h) : That was your brother the GB press gazette referenced with the red cross draft props thing, yes?
Zero2Cool (2-Jul) : Packers gonna unveil new throwback helmet in few weeks.
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : I know it's Kleiman but this stuff writes itself
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : "Make sure she signs the NDA before asking for a Happy Ending!"
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : @NFL_DovKleiman Powerful: Deshaun Watson is taking Shedeur Sanders 'under his wing' as a mentor to the Browns QBs
Zero2Cool (30-Jun) : Dolphins get (back) Minkah Fitzpatrick in trade
Zero2Cool (30-Jun) : Steelers land Jalen Ramsey via Trade
dfosterf (26-Jun) : I think it would be great to have someone like Tom Grossi or Andy Herman on the Board of Directors so he/they could inform us
dfosterf (26-Jun) : Fair enough, WPR. Thing is, I have been a long time advocate to at least have some inkling of the dynamics within the board.
wpr (26-Jun) : 1st world owners/stockholders problems dfosterf.
Martha Careful (25-Jun) : I would have otherwise admirably served
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Also, no more provision for a write-in candidate, so Martha is off the table at least for this year
dfosterf (25-Jun) : You do have to interpret the boring fine print, but all stockholders all see he is on the ballot
dfosterf (25-Jun) : It also says he is subject to another ballot in 2028. I recall nothing of this nature with Murphy
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Ed Policy is on my ballot subject to me penciling him in as a no.
dfosterf (25-Jun) : I thought it used to be we voted for the whatever they called the 45, and then they voted for the seven, and then they voted for Mark Murphy
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Because I was too lazy to change my address, I haven't voted fot years until this year
dfosterf (25-Jun) : of the folks that run this team. I do not recall Mark Murphy being subject to our vote.
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Ed Policy yay or nay is on the pre-approved ballot that we always approve because we are uninformed and lazy, along with all the rest
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Weird question. Very esoteric. For stockholders. Also lengthy. Sorry. Offseason.
Zero2Cool (25-Jun) : Maybe wicked wind chill made it worse?
Mucky Tundra (25-Jun) : And then he signs with Cleveland in the offseason
Mucky Tundra (25-Jun) : @SharpFootball WR Diontae Johnson just admitted he refused to enter a game in 41° weather last year in Baltimore because he felt “ice cold”
Zero2Cool (24-Jun) : Yawn. Rodgers says he is "pretty sure" this be final season.
Zero2Cool (23-Jun) : PFT claims Packers are having extension talks with Zach Tom, Quay Walker.
Mucky Tundra (20-Jun) : GB-Minnesota 2004 Wild Card game popped up on my YouTube page....UGH
beast (20-Jun) : Hmm 🤔 re-signing Walker before Tom? Sounds highly questionable to me.
Mucky Tundra (19-Jun) : One person on Twitter=cannon law
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : Well, to ONE person on Tweeter
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : According to Tweeter
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : Packers are working on extension for LT Walker they hope to have done before camp
dfosterf (18-Jun) : E4B landed at Andrews last night
dfosterf (18-Jun) : 101 in a 60
dfosterf (18-Jun) : FAFO
Zero2Cool (18-Jun) : one year $4m with incentives to make it up to $6m
dfosterf (18-Jun) : Or Lions
dfosterf (18-Jun) : Beats the hell out of a Vikings signing
Zero2Cool (18-Jun) : Baltimore Ravens now have signed former Packers CB Jaire Alexander.
dfosterf (14-Jun) : TWO magnificent strikes for touchdowns. Lose the pennstate semigeezer non nfl backup
dfosterf (14-Jun) : There was minicamp Thursday. My man Taylor Engersma threw
dfosterf (11-Jun) : There will be a mini camp practice Thursday.
Zero2Cool (11-Jun) : He's been sporting a ring for a while now. It's probably Madonna.
Martha Careful (10-Jun) : We only do the tea before whoopee, it relaxes me.
wpr (10-Jun) : That's awesome Martha.
Mucky Tundra (10-Jun) : How's the ayahuasca tea he makes, Martha?
Martha Careful (10-Jun) : Turns out he like older women
Martha Careful (10-Jun) : I wasn't supposed to say anything, but yes the word is out and we are happy 😂😂😂
Mucky Tundra (10-Jun) : I might be late on this but Aaron Rodgers is now married
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
1h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

2-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

2-Jul / Fantasy Sports Talk / dfosterf

1-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

29-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

25-Jun / Around The NFL / Martha Careful

23-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

20-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

20-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

20-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

18-Jun / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

16-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

15-Jun / Random Babble / Martha Careful

14-Jun / Around The NFL / beast

14-Jun / Community Welcome! / dfosterf

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.