Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst doubled down on the team's commitment to keeping quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the fold in 2021.
Amid reports of Rodgers being "disgruntled" and telling members of the organization he does not want to return to the Packers, Gutekunst told reporters Thursday (April 29) that the issue has been addressed internally "for a little while now" and the franchise is still working toward bringing back the reigning NFL MVP.
"We've been working through this for a little while now, and I just think it may take some time," Gutekunst said via ESPN. "But he's a guy that kind of makes this thing go. He gives us the best chance to win, and we're going to work towards that end."
Rodgers is still under contract with Green Bay through the 2023 season, but has no guaranteed money remaining on his current deal. Gutekunst said the team has communicated openly with Rodgers and his representatives about a new deal throughout the offseason and spoke once again on Thursday.
"We're not going to trade Aaron Rodgers," Gutekunst added via ESPN.
On Thursday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Rodgers "is so disgruntled with the Green Bay Packers that he has told some within the organization that he does not want to return to the team."
"The Packers are aware of his feelings, concerned about them and have had team president Mark Murphy, general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur each fly out on separate trips to meet with Rodgers at various points this offseason, sources told ESPN," Schefter wrote on Thursday.
Gutekunst responded to the report by telling ESPN, "As we've stated since the season ended, we are committed to Aaron in 2021 and beyond. Aaron has been a vital part of our success and we look forward to competing for another championship with him leading our team."
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero also reported the San Francisco 49ers "reached out" to the Packers on Wednesday (April 28) to inquire about a possible trade involving the Butte County, California native, however, no formal offer was made and a source confirmed there was a "zero percent chance" Green Bay was willing to trade the reigning NFL MVP.
Shortly after Pelissero's report, FOX Sports' Jay Glazer reported "a few teams" contacted the Packers about a possible trade involving Rodgers.
Gutekunst denied speaking with 49ers general manager John Lynch regarding a possible deal for Rodgers on Thursday. Lynch, however, told reporters the franchise "inquired" about the MVP quarterback, but didn't confirm when the conversation took place, adding, "It was a quick end to the conversation; it wasn't happening."
Gutekunst acknowledged that the Packers received numerous calls from other NFL teams after Schefter's report of Rodgers' unhappiness Thursday.
"Sometime after 5 o'clock, after a lot of the stuff had kind of hit the airwaves, I got I think one call," Gutekunst said. "It was very brief, and that was it."
Rodgers has spent his entire career in Green Bay since being selected No. 24 overall in the 2005 NFL Draft, which saw him serve as a backup and eventual heir to eventual Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre during his first three seasons.
However, the Packers made a similar move in the 2020 NFL Draft, selecting Jordan Love at No. 26 overall, choosing to draft Rodgers' possible future replacement instead of getting the former Super Bowl MVP some offensive help with their first-round pick, leading to the initial speculation of a possible split.
Rodgers responded by putting together one of the best seasons of his career, recording an NFL best 48 touchdowns, 70.7 completion percentage and 9.1 touchdown percentage, as well as 4,299 yards and just five interceptions, while leading Green Bay to an NFC best 13-3 regular season record and winning the 2020 NFL MVP award.
Additionally, the Packers once again invested their first-round pick on a defensive player, choosing not to get more help for the 37-year-old quarterback. CBS SportsLine's Allan Bell notes that the Love -- deemed as Rodgers' eventual replacement -- is the only offensive player selected by Green Bay in the first-round of the NFL Draft since 2012 and the team has selected zero wide receivers in round one since 2002.
The 49ers were among six teams reported to be possible trade destinations for Rodgers following the Packers' NFC Championship Game loss in January.
Rodgers' current contract includes a more than $37 million cap hit in 2021 and a nearly $40 million hit in 2022, according to OverTheCap.com.
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