Former Packers executive: Aaron Rodgers standoff likely to last through training camp

GREEN BAY – The status of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers for the 2021 season might not be resolved before late August or early September, former Packers executive Andrew Brandt said Wednesday.

Speaking on "The Ross Tucker Football Podcast," Brandt said that while the opening of training camp July 27 could be considered a possible deadline for Rodgers and the Packers to settle their differences, it could easily go deep into camp or beyond.

"You know my saying: Deadlines spur action," Brandt told Tucker. "And somehow I don't think training camp is the deadline for Aaron and the Packers. What is it? Late August? Early September? He doesn't need training camp. … I don't think training camp is the deadline at all. And secretly like (with) minicamp, the Packers wouldn't mind that because they could give (backup quarterback) Jordan Love real reps."

Brandt also addressed remarks by Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy, who referred to Rodgers as a "complicated fella" during a recent speaking engagement.

"Yeah, it was not helpful," Brandt said. "Is it causing a major chasm between Rodgers and the Packers that wasn't there before? No, of course not. … I just thought Mark didn't need to go there."

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Photo: Michael Conroy, AP)

Asked whether he thought Murphy's remark was accurate, Brandt said, "Do I think he's complicated? I think he's got incredibly high intellect, a wry sense of humor and he can put people 'on blast.' Those are his words, I can remember hearing him saying he can put people on blast. And what that means is they're out. They're just out, he doesn't deal with them anymore. And I wonder if he's put the Packers management on blast. They're just not in his orbit anymore."

Brandt, a former contract negotiator for Green Bay, remains convinced that the Packers' plan all along has been to trade Rodgers and give the starting quarterback job to Love, but not until 2022. And as for what happens this year? Brandt has been on record since the situation blew up on the first day of the NFL draft April 29 that Rodgers isn't going anywhere.

"They're not trading Aaron," Brandt said, "and he can't trade himself."

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