Advertisement 1

BRENNAN: Post-game message well played by Rodgers

Article content

The incredibleness of Aaron Rodgers’ MVP season extended beyond its final snap and post-game shower.

Advertisement 2
Story continues below
Article content

It included a stellar performance on the Lambeau Field press room podium.

Not only did Rodgers somehow manage to stop short of throwing Matt LaFleur all the way under the bus and backing over him a couple of times for one of the most lame-brained coaching decisions in NFL history, but through the pain of a heartbreaking loss he amazingly maintained focus on his future.

Article content

Like standing in the pocket with a fierce pass rush closing in, Rodgers heaved a message to his bosses that, a day later, they held up to show it had been received.

Sure, when he talked about the “uncertainly” of his future, there’s a chance the 37-year old star was hinting he might want to move on unless the Packers keep their stars and surround him with added talent for a couple of more strong runs at a Super Bowl title.

Advertisement 3
Story continues below
Article content

There’s an even better chance he was publicly pitching for a new contract, which is what NBC’s Mike Florio said a source told him.

Either way, the Packers bit.

“There is no way in heck Aaron is not going to be on the Packers … we’re not idiots,” CEO Mark Murphy said on Green Bay radio station WNFL. “Aaron Rodgers will be back. He’s our leader.”

Rodgers downplayed his comments Tuesday during his weekly chat on the Pat McAfee Show, saying he was thinking more about RB Aaron Jones and C Corey Linsley and other teammates who are without contracts going forward.

“I don’t think that there’s any reason I wouldn’t be back,” he said. “But there’s not many absolutes in this business.”

At the same time, Rodgers is in a great renegotiating position.

Advertisement 4
Story continues below
Article content

As the best player in the league this season, he made $33.5 million. But his salary drops to $22.35 next year, $25.5 million in 2022 and $25.5 million in 2023.

At that mere pittance, some of his peers he won’t even be able to look at in the face.

Right now, Patrick Mahomes’ annual stipend is $45 million, while Deshaun Watson makes $39 million, Russell Wilson makes $35 million and Ben Roethlisberger is at $34 million.

It’s expected Lamar Jackson, who has won just one post-season game in his career, is about to push his way toward the front of the line by signing an extension worth $40 million a year.

So yeah, Rodgers deserves a raise. And good for him to be able to play the game so well, well after his last game had been played.

IN THE HUDDLE

Advertisement 5
Story continues below
Article content

In five seasons with the Rams, Jared Goff has led the team to one Super Bowl appearance and two first-place finishes. In 2020, the Rams wound up second, then upset the division-winning Seahawks in the wild card game as Goff played with a broken thumb on his throwing hand. On Tuesday, GM Les Snead was asked if Goff would be the team’s QB in 2021. Seemed like a redundant question. Of course he will be, right? “Not going to get into specifics on those,” he said. “What I can say is Jared Goff is a Ram in this moment and I said its way too early to speculate. The future, that’s a beautiful mystery.” Sounds a lot like the future involves the first overall pick of the 2016 draft being one of as many as 18 QBs on the move this offseason … After 12 seasons it’s going to be very difficult for Matthew Stafford to leave Detroit. Maybe not the team as much as the 7,720-square foot mansion he has put up for sale with a listing price of $6.5 million. Located just outside the city in Oakland County, it includes what’s being called “the largest infinity pool in the state of Michigan”, five fireplaces, a 625-bottle wine cellar, a coffee bar, a glass elevator and a half-basketball court with the original floor the Detroit Pistons used at the Silverdome. Would Stafford even be able to find such comfort in Indianapolis? … San Francisco backup QB Nick Mullens had a successful operation on his elbow to avoid Tommy John surgery last month, according to the NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. He should be fully recovered for training camp.

Advertisement 6
Story continues below
Article content

GOING DEEP

Montreal-born kicker JJ Molson was among six free agents signed by the Packers on Tuesday. All of them had spent time on the team’s practice roster this season … Looks like two former Steelers stars will be renewing acquaintances on Super Sunday after all, with the Chiefs RB Le’Veon Bell (knee) and Bucs WR Antonio Brown (knee) both expected to be healthy, according to ESPN’s Dianna Russini … Also expected to come off the shelf for the championship title are Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins (calf) and Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. (ankle) … In the monitoring period from Jan. 17-23 a total of 844 players and team personnel were tested for COVID, with just two new confirmed positives, both team personnel.

ON THE COACHING FRONT

Advertisement 7
Story continues below
Article content

Another barrier has officially been cleared, this time by the Washington Football Team, with the hiring of Jennifer King as first full-time African-American female assistant position coach in NFL history. King, who was with the team in 2020 as a coaching intern mostly reporting to RB coach Randy Jordan, will be the team’s assistant running backs coach. A seven-time All American QB and WR in the Women’s Football Alliance from 2006-17, King also interned with the Panthers in the 2018 and 2019 off-season, and as an assistant in the AAF …. After bumping Matt Canada up to the offensive coordinator job, the Steelers are speaking to Mike Sullivan about being their quarterback coach. He’s going to be busy, bouncing back and forth between them and the Penguins. Oh, no. sorry, the Mike Sullivan that has their interest is the director of recruiting for the Army football team in West Point and before that was QB coach with Broncos after stints as OC with Giants and Buccaneers … The Chargers have hired Joe Lombardi to be their offensive coordinator. He has spent the past five seasons as the QB coach in New Orleans …

dbrennan@postmedia.com

Article content
Comments
You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.
Join the Conversation

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

Latest National Stories
    News Near Tillsonburg
      This Week in Flyers