Rodgers: 'Won't Be Long' on Decision as Free Agency Deadline Looms
Analysis 3/12/23
Aaron Rodgers says his decision on whether he'll play in 2023 is coming soon.
With rumors of a potential trade to the New York Jets picking up steam, Rodgers spoke about his looming decision in an interview with retired NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall at a charity flag football game in California.
"Stay tuned. I think it won't be long," Rodgers said in a video published Saturday. "There's a time limit for all this."
The limit Rodgers might be referring to is the start of the new league year on March 15. Deadlines can spur action in the NFL, and the Green Bay Packers brass has said it wants a resolution before the start of free agency.
The Packers appear ready to move on from Rodgers and plan to facilitate a trade to New York. The Jets, meanwhile, are clearing cap space for a potential acquisition. On Saturday, the team restructured the contracts of Laken Tomlinson, Tyler Conklin, and D.J. Reed, clearing just over $15.2 million.
“It’s a situation where I think we wanted to help Aaron achieve what he wanted, as well as the Packers. Hopefully, it’ll create a situation where it’s a win for both sides,” Packers President Mark Murphy said on Friday. “I think ideally for everybody would be to have this resolved before the start of free agency on March 15.”
Representatives from the Jets flew to California to meet with Rodgers on Tuesday and reportedly left the discussions feeling optimistic about their chances of bringing in the veteran quarterback.
"It's always interesting meeting important figures in the sport," Rodgers told Marshall, referring to his meeting with Jets officials, including owner Woody Johnson.
This isn't the first time Rodgers has indicated he was close to making a decision. On March 1, he said he would decide "soon enough" and didn't want to drag things out during an appearance on The Aubrey Marcus Podcast. Before the Super Bowl, Rodgers said he'd decide following a three-day isolation retreat, but his retreat ended on Feb. 23, almost three weeks ago.