The New York Jets reportedly gave Aaron Rodgers an ultimatum before the two sides recently decided to part ways.
Rodgers will not be back with the Jets next season, according to multiple reports. Jay Glazer of FOX Sports said on Sunday that Rodgers flew to New Jersey to meet with the team earlier this month and was informed that he will be cut this offseason.
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Jets were not totally opposed to bringing Rodgers back for another season under new head coach Aaron Glenn. During the latest episode of her “Scoop City” podcast, Russini told co-host Chase Daniel that New York’s brass laid out some conditions Rodgers would have to meet if the 41-year-old wanted to remain with the Jets in 2025.
One stipulation was that Rodgers would have to stop making regular appearances on “The Pat McAfee Show.” The Jets also reportedly told him he could not skip offseason workouts.
“I was told that when they had conversations with Aaron Rodgers about what the future would look like, if you’re going to be part of this team you’re going to attend all of training camp,” Russini said. “You’re not going to do Pat McAfee interviews anymore. … They had a conversation with him of, ‘If you were to stay here, here is how we would want it to be.’ So, this to me is Aaron Glenn getting control back.”
The ultimatum may not have mattered to Rodgers. While it is possible the Jets could have convinced the former MVP to stay, Russini believes Rodgers “wanted to move on” either way.
Rodgers has spoken freely about a wide range of topics during his appearances on “The Pat McAfee Show.” He has vented his frustrations about the Jets on more than one occasion while speaking with McAfee. It would hardly be a surprise if the team wanted to put a stop to that.
Rodgers finished the season with a respectable 3,897 yards, 28 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions. He seemed to play better the further removed he got from his Achilles injury, which probably was not a coincidence.
While Rodgers has no guaranteed money remaining on his contract with the Jets, the team will absorb a $49 million dead cap hit if they cut the former MVP. They can spread that money out over two years if they designate Rodgers a post-June 1 cut. Rodgers would still be able to sign with a new team when free agency begins in March if the Jets were to go that route.
