Aaron Rodgers Just Took a Page Out of Tom Brady’s Playbook
The Green Bay Packers can finally rest at ease as star quarterback Aaron Rodgers is nearing his return. Rodgers is finalizing a reworked deal that provides him more control over his NFL future. It’s a move involving taking a page out of Tom Brady’s book before his final season with the New England Patriots.
Aaron Rodgers will finally return to the Packers
After months of uncertainty regarding Rodgers’ future with the Packers, the star quarterback is nearing his return.
The 37-year-old is finalizing an agreement on a reworked contract that will bring him back before the 2021 season. Despite the lingering tension and doubt, Rodgers will play at least this upcoming campaign in Green Bay.
His new deal will feature greater control over his long-term NFL future. It will also open the door to him garnering what Brady received with the Patriots before his departure.
Aaron Rodgers just took a page out of Tom Brady’s playbook
With Rodgers slated to return to the Packers, his long-term future beyond the 2021 season remains a central question.
The star quarterback purposely set up his restructured standing with the franchise to control his NFL future. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the future Hall of Famer’s new agreement with Green Bay provides him the freedom to decide where he wants to play in 2022.
Rodgers will shortly possess in many ways what Tom Brady secured with the New England Patriots before the 2019 season. The seven-time Super Bowl champion reworked his contract with New England to allow him to have a small window of time to explore free agency.
Although Brady possessed a strong connection with the Patriots, he fully exercised the opportunity to examine other options. It quickly led him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he found immediate success leading the franchise to a Super Bowl in his first year.
Beyond that, Brady holds a significant say in how things operate in Tampa Bay, whereas he didn’t possess much of a vocal contribution in New England. His arrival led the team to add several players like Rob Gronkowski, Leonard Fournette, and Antonio Brown, who all played significant parts in helping guide the franchise to a championship.
Rodgers wants that control with the next chapter of his NFL career that may inevitably guide him down a similar path of playing elsewhere like Brady.
Green Bay set up for an all-or-nothing 2021 season
Beyond Rodgers‘ new agreement giving him control of his future after the 2021 season, it sets up an all-or-nothing campaign.
It places significant pressure on the team to make the most of the opportunity ahead as it will likely be the last go-around for the 37-year-old in Green Bay. The franchise is on the doorstep of competing for a Super Bowl after reaching back-to-back NFC championship games.
Rodgers is also coming off arguably the best year of his career while guiding the Packers to becoming one of the league’s most productive offenses. Meanwhile, the front office re-signed star running back Aaron Jones to keep the running game stabilized. The team is returning largely the same roster that should make them frontrunners to win another NFC North division title.
The route may be more challenging in 2021, with the likes of the Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, and Seattle Seahawks all likely being stiff competition. If it’s indeed Rodgers’ last season with the Packers, the pieces are in place to make it an extremely memorable campaign.
Contract figures courtesy of Spotrac.
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