The Green Bay Packers’ recent moves — and how they went about them — could pose a problem in their negotiations with quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on “NFL Live” last week that he believed the removal of quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt, coupled with the abrupt release of Rodgers favorite Jordy Nelson, may have a negative effect when the time comes to negotiate a new deal.
“Well, I think right now, the Aaron Rodgers [contract] … is a more a difficult deal to get done,” Schefter said, via Will Brinson of CBS Sports. “He was not particularly enthralled with the way they handled his quarterbacks coach, Alex Van Pelt, and made it known. When do you ever hear a quarterback speak out in the way that he did about a coaching change that that team had engaged in during the offseason? And then, they go and cut their wide receiver, his favorite wide receiver, who they didn’t even offer a pay cut to. They didn’t even offer him a chance to keep him around Green Bay. They basically said, we’re releasing you and he goes and signs with Oakland.
“So now you’ve lost your favorite wide receiver, your quarterbacks coach … I’m just saying, I’m not doing my team any favors when they act that way with me.”
Rodgers made quite clear earlier in the offseason that he would have liked to have at least been consulted on the Van Pelt change. Will he sever ties with Green Bay over this? Unlikely, but the Packers may have given themselves some extra headaches in negotiations.
