Aaron Rodgers still did not decide on the future; retirement

Four -time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers is still undecided about his future and did not exclude the opportunity to retire when he spoke publicly on Thursday afternoon for the first time since he was released since he was released New York Jets Last month.

In a nearly 45 -minute performance at “The Pat McAfee Show”, Quarterback offered a small clarity on his other steps or on the decision -making time, but said he was transparent with the teams that follow their services.

“I didn’t say anyone. I didn’t hold any hostage,” Rodgers from his house in Malibu, California, said. “I was honest about where I was mentally, and some of the limitations I have right now in my life guarantee my attention.

“I am open to something and attached anything. Retirement could still be a possibility, but right now I have focused – and will continue to be in my personal life. And that is what I told the coaches. These are still interviews.

He also said that next week the NFL proposal will have no impact on his plans.

“I was a little shocked. I’m not shocked now because I didn’t think it was a possibility. Listen, of course, if they want to move on, it’s perfectly fine, but shocked because I just flew on the ground. You could tell me on the phone if we didn’t even talk.”

Aaron Rodgers, on the jets that told him they were moving from him

When the news that he had asked for significant money or a multi -year agreement, Rodgers said he told teams to play $ 10 million a year.

“I told each of the teams I talked to, it’s not about money,” he said. “I will play $ 10 million.

Free Agent for the first time in his career, Rodgers confirmed that he had interviewed with Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers.

At the annual meeting of the Palm Beach in Florida, at the beginning of this month, the owners of the Steelers and the president of the Art Rooney II said that the team “hears it is heading towards our direction” and added that while Rodgers would not wait forever, they could expect “a little longer”.

Asked by McAfee on Thursday, whether Steelers gave him a deadline, Rodgers said he was working on his own timeline.

“I haven’t felt like I owed anyone at any time,” he said. “This is my life now. … I was with them in advance. If you need to go on, if you need to do something by all means.

“… I don’t think it’s fair to the Steelers or for anyone when I deal a lot from the field. I want to maintain open communication lines. People who need to know know.”

Giants watched Rodgers’ own council at the end of March and resigned from the race by signing OneTime Steelers Quarterback Russell Wilson to a one -year agreement to join JAMEIS WINSTON In the Quarterback room. Rodgers said he enjoyed an interview with coach Brian Dabolle and called him a “beautiful football mind”.

Although Rodgers said he had “good communication” with Vikings and coach Kevin O’Connell, he said it wasn’t accurate that he was waiting for Minnesota to offer him a place after evaluation of the first round of the first round of the first round of 2024 Jj mccarthy In the Offseason program, the former Quarterback Steelers Ben Roethlisberger designed as a possibility in the episode of Podcast with McAfee.

“Tie to the team is a big thing, whether you are the first year or a 20 -year -old veterinarian. And I had a lot of great interviews with many teams. One of them wasn’t Jets because it wasn’t a great conversation. … I had some good interviews, but I was with all of them.”

Aaron Rodgers, in his future

Rodgers also described in detail his visit on March 21st in Pittsburgh, who said he was supposed to be a secret operation. To avoid attention, Rodgers said that he did not fly to Pittsburgh International Airport and rented Chevy Malibu to get into the AZ Practical Steelers facility.

“I talked to Mike Tomlin,” Rodgers said. “It’s more than I even thought from a distance when it comes to the type of person he is. I have great respect for what he has achieved in the league. would be life in Pittsburgh. ”

Rodgers spent most of the interview and reiterated that his focus since January was spinning around the problems outside the fields concerning his personal life and inner circle, thereby relieved his attention. For this reason, it is not in a hurry to decide.

“I’m at a different stage of my life,” Rodgers said. “I am 41 years old. I am in a serious relationship. I have what is happening, it requires my attention. I have personal obligations that I did not know what my future would look like after last year that are important to me. And I have a few people in my inner, inner circle that really fights a few difficult things.

“So I have a lot of things that warn me, and I started the beginning in January, far from football. That was where I concentrated most of my attention. To commit to the team, it’s a big thing, whether you are the first year or a 20 -year -old. I had a lot of great interviews with many teams.

Rodgers, who first commented on his release from the Jets, took shots of the organization – especially the new coach Aaron Glenn. Rodgers said he felt disrespect in what he described as a short and questionable meeting of February 6 when he flew a private aircraft from California to New Jersey to meet Glenn and the new CEO Darren Mougey to discuss his future.

“I felt as if there was not enough respect at this meeting, but I think I wasn’t supposed to be surprised on some things I saw in two years,” Rodgers said.

Rodgers said he was released for less than one minute and added that Glenn went “a little dishonest” and expressed concern that his authority would be undergrown with Rodgers.

“I thought that when I flew across the ground on my own dime, there would be an interview,” Rodgers said. “And a confusing thing for me – and a strange thing – was when I went there, I meet the coach, we start talking, running out of the room. I like,” That’s a little weird. “

“Then he returns with GM and I am glad,” okay. “So we’ll sit down in the office and I think we’ll have such a long conversation. And I thought,” Yeah, I’m interested. ” And he said, “We’re going in a different direction at Quarterback.”

“I was a little shocked. I’m not shocked now because I didn’t think it was a possibility. Listen, of course, if they want to move on, it’s perfectly fine, but shocked because I just flew on the ground. You could tell me on the phone if we didn’t even talk.”

Glenn asked how Quarterback wanted information published to the media – “News”, Rodgers said. “And I said, literally:” I don’t give a — about the news. “

Rodgers then took another blow to Glenn. I asked to explain the decision to release it, and Rodgers quoted Glenn, who said, “I don’t want to be in front of the room and say something and let yourself look back” – which means Rodgers would be a distraction.

Rodgers took Umbrage.

“I said,” What does that even mean? You assume that during the team meeting I will be in the back of the room and undermine what do you say? “I said,” You don’t know me. ” And he said, “You don’t know me.” And then I said, “Exactly, that’s why I flew all over the country to have a personal meeting with you to talk about my Jets experience and hear your vision for the team.” ”

Rodgers said he came out after 15 minutes. He said he had never written about his work, as one media report suggested.

“No, damn not. I don’t want any part of it,” he said. “In some cases it was already a debacle. Listen that the whole situation was crazy.”