Wisconsin governor Tony Evers weighed in on the Green Bay Packers-Aaron Rodgers saga and said that he’s happy the “soap opera” is over.
After months of waiting, quarterback Aaron Rodgers has finally made a decision. During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers announced that his intention is to play for the New York Jets.
While that is one hurdle passed, both the Jets and Green Bay Packers still need to negotiate a trade. But one way or another, Rodgers will be leaving Green Bay since he was selected in the first round by the team in 2005.
To say that some are over the whole saga involving what Rodgers wants to do for the 2023 season, is an understatement. Not to mention, waiting for the four-time NFL MVP to return from a “darkness retreat,” which he said helped him make a decision.
On Wednesday, Wisconsin governor Tony Evers provided his thoughts on Rodgers being close to leaving the Packers.
“It’s been kind of a soap opera and I’d like to see soap operas come to an end,” Evers said courtesy of Matt Smith of WISN12 News.
Wisconsin governor glad that Aaron Rodgers ‘soap opera’ is done
“He was good for many, many years here, and if he wants to move on and the team wants to go in a different direction, at least we know it’s done, and we can focus on other things, or focus on getting the Packers’ new quarterback in a better position,” said Evers.
Rodgers had three options for the 2023 season — return to the Packers, play for a different team, or retire from the NFL. The quarterback said on Wednesday that he entered his “darkness retreat” leaning “90-percent” towards retirement. But then, upon leaving, it switched to playing.
As the days passed and the 2023 league year got closer and closer, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst and president Mark Murphy talked about the need for quarterback Jordan Love to play. After all, he is set to become a free agent after this season if the Packers don’t pick up his fifth-year option.
Now, there is clarity as to what Rodgers wants to do, and that’s play for the Jets. The thing is, both organizations need to agree to the terms of a trade. It’s unknown how long that could take.
Since starting for the Packers in 2008, Rodgers led the team to a Super Bowl title in 11 trips to the playoffs. That, and he won four NFL MVPs, including back-to-back awards in 2020 and 2021.
Whenever the trade goes through, the Packers will leave the Rodgers era and begin the Love era.
