Leave it to the Internet to start salacious rumors, but this is the world we live in. According to a Giants fan site, called 366 Sports, disgruntled Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has put the Giants on his list of preferred destinations, joining the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders on such a list.
Rodgers has stated that he is unhappy in Green Bay, and there is a belief he wants to be traded. If the Packers do not meet his demands, he has even threatened retirement. In fact, during the draft there was a call placed by the San Francisco 49ers to Green Bay about Rodgers services, a call that quickly ended. The Packers have stressed they are committed to Rodgers.
Rodgers feels differently of course.
When asked about the Rodgers situation, Giants General Manager David Gettelman said it was "none of my business," according to a Tweet from Giants beat writer Art Stapleton. The Giants were not one of the teams that inquired about Rodgers, and they are committed to Daniel Jones -- who is entering a make or break year his third season. The Giants need to know whether Jones is the answer as they -- much like the Jets this year with their decision to trade Sam Darnold -- are facing the dreaded fifth year option at the end of the deal.
If the Giants were to suddenly about-face and decide to jump into the Rodgers mix, they would be making a similar mistake the Jets made 13 seasons ago (hard to believe!!) with the last disgruntled Packers quarterback, Brett Favre.
The Jets were coming off a 4-12 year in 2007, and Chad Pennington had been battling injuries for years. The Jets had a team that was close to contending -- (a roster that would eventually get to back to back AFC title games in 2009 and 2010) -- decided in the summer of 2008 to acquire Favre after his bizarre un-retirement from the NFL.
Ironically, Favre was angry the Packers took Rodgers in the first round of the 2005 draft, much the way Rodgers is angry now at the Packers for taking Jordan Love in the first round of last year's draft. In 2007, Favre took the Packers to the NFC Title Game where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Giants, who would beat Tom Brady's 18-0 Patriots in the Super Bowl.
This year, ironically, Rodgers took the Packers to the NFC Title Game where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers led by ... that Tom Brady guy. Wow!
Who wouldn't get excited about a three-time MVP, Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champion at the helm of the Jets of all teams? Seriously. It was amazing. And for 12 weeks the excitement was living up to reality as Favre had the Jets at 8-3 after wins on the road at New England and at Tennessee.
Could the Jets go to the Super Bowl with Brett Favre? Remember the Giants were also playing well, en route to a 12-4 record that year in their defense of their Super Bowl title. People were actually thinking Subway Super Bowl around here in November of 2008.
Then, as we all know the wheels came off. Favre got hurt, played through it and the Jets lost four of their final five to finish the season out of the playoffs at 9-7. The team that finally knocked them out of wild card consideration? The Miami Dolphins, led by ... Chad Pennington.
So as much fun as it was to see Favre come to New York and don another shade of green, it ultimately backfired on the Jets.
And that Jets team, as I mentioned earlier, was a lot closer to contention that year than this 2021 version of the New York Giants.
The Giants are trying to build a team that can contend. While Aaron Rodgers would drive a lot of hype and sell jersey's, unless he wins a Super Bowl with a team that isn't ready to do so, it ultimately will not work.
How is Rodgers, who is a prickly guy when it comes to media coverage anyway, going to handle the media in New York if he were to be under center during a Giants loss to the Eagles? Or a loss to let's say the Cowboys and Rodgers' old coach Mike McCarthy?
If it is true that the Giants did not call Green Bay, then let it ride. Ride with Daniel Jones in 2021 and see what happens -- there is no harm in being patient and building a team the right way
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