Clayton: Rodgers, Packers saga could come to a head next week

Next Friday could resolve what might happen to Aaron Rodgers this season.

NFL players have until July 2 — next Friday — to opt out for the 2021 season. That system was set up last year because of the pandemic. Roughly 70 players elected to sit out the 2020 season. Opting out moves the terms of the contract back for a year.

Rodgers doesn’t want to be a member of the Green Bay Packers because he’s mad at team management for drafting quarterback Jordan Love and not getting him enough as far as pass catchers. Everyone expects him to hold out of training camp and into the season to force a trade.

But finances could play into the possibility that Rodgers might just decide to skip this season and get traded next year. Sure, Rodgers wants to play. He’s the reigning MVP and is coming off back to back 13-win seasons. Opting out, though, has huge financial implications for Rodgers.

He’s already lost $93,085 in fines for skipping minicamp. Missing the season would cost him his $14.7 million base salary. The Packers could ask him to repay a $11.5 million proration of his signing bonus. He’d lose a $6.8 million roster bonus. He would be fined $2.05 million for missing training camp. He’s already lost a $500,000 workout bonus. Total that up, and he stands to lose $35,643,085.

If he opts out, everything moves into next year, and he gets paid $150,000 for the 2021 season .

With next Friday being the deadline, the threat of a Rodgers’ opt out probably won’t get management to change its position in not trading him. An opt out would kill the Packers chances of going to the playoffs. They probably would be a six- or seven-win team. It could also cost the Packers Davante Adams, who is a free agent next year. Adams is such a loyalist to Rodgers he probably would prefer to leave and not stay in Green Bay.

Plus, without Rodgers, the Packers would have to go into a rebuilding mode. A couple weeks ago, Peter King came out with the idea that the Packers could eventually ask Rodgers to play out this year with the promise they would trade him next year. But Rodgers may not have enough trust of the front office to consider that. Opting out would definitely put the Packers in position to trade him after the season.

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