By Chris Havel Special to EVENT USA GREEN BAY, Wis. – Aaron Rodgers really might be a genius. After all, he made me look smart following last Monday’s column in which I noted the QB’s self-indulgent, diva approach to this offseason. On Tuesday, Rodgers confirmed on The Pat McAfee Show that he doesn’t intend to play for a team that’s in rebuild mode. He added that bringing back select veterans such as Marcedes Lewis and Randall Cobb would signal to him that Green Bay isn’t in rebuild mode. “If there’s a rebuild going on, I won’t be a part of that,” he said. “A guy like Marcedes Lewis, he’s an important cog in the wheel of the locker room and the momentum of the team. That’s a guy I want to finish my career with. If I’m playing, I want that guy next to me. I want the Randall Cobbs of the world – if he wants to keep playing – in my locker room. (I want) guys you can win it (with).” Rodgers added that he would be open to a trade. What planet is he living on? Of course, Rodgers would love to swap huddles with Brock Purdy so he could lead the 49ers into the NFC Championship against Philadelphia. But would he be willing to swap paychecks with Purdy? Doubtful. Rodgers’ self-view doesn’t line up with the reality that Father Time, disguised as every NFL pass rusher, is perpetually gaining on him. When Rodgers signed his three-year, $150 million contract last spring, which included a cap-busting $50 million guaranteed, the purpose was presumably to have him commit to the team for three years. Now, Rodgers isn’t sure he wants to play for the Packers in 2023. Does that mean he is hinting at retirement? Not likely that will happen considering he’d be leaving about $60 million guaranteed on the table. Is he suggesting that he wants to be traded? The Packers’ salary cap is about $20 million in the hole. Trading Rodgers would increase it by another $8.7 million. But the good news is, if that is what he really wants, it would mean more draft picks this spring, although a high first-round pick seems unlikely. It also means passing the baton to Jordan Love, who just wants to play, rebuild be damned. Here’s the difference between Rodgers and Love: Rodgers wants to play “in the right situation”, although there is no crystal clarity as to what that would be. Love wants to play in the NFL in order to “make that situation right” and then deal with whatever comes his way. Rodgers told McAfee that it’s possible the Packers would prefer to go with Love instead of him. He called it “just a feeling.” “If they want to go younger and think Jordan (Love) is ready to go, then that might be the way they want to go,” he said. “I think to assume it’s a foregone conclusion (his return) would be probably slightly egotistical, so I’m going to be a realist here and understand that there’s a lot of different parts to this. Like I’ve said, I was aware of the possibility of them going young if we had gotten to the point where we were out of it,” he continued. “I’m aware of that possibility as well. It wouldn’t be the best reality but I know that it’s a possibility.” It’s likely the Packers also had a hunch Rodgers would vacillate at the end of the season. As mentioned in my last column, they do have some experience with that situation with Mr. Favre’s years ago. When the Packers drafted Love, a majority of fans viewed it as a disaster. The fact is it could be their salvation. Anybody notice how the younger quarterbacks in the NFL are doing these days? Case in point: Joe Burrow. Is Love another Burrow? That would be amazing. Not likely, but who knows? Maybe it’s time to find out. Rodgers helped the Packers reach back-to-back NFC Championship games with Love as his backup. But Green Bay lost both games to drop Rodgers’ win-loss record in NFC Championships to 1-4. Here is Rodgers’ combined stat line in those games: On average, he completed 25 of 39 passes (65%) for 276 yards, 1.8 TDs and 1.6 INTs with 12 sacks for an 83.7 passer rating. That is scarcely average. The teams’ recent postseason record has been disappointing at best and many of the heartbreaking losses have occurred in the so-called friendly confines of Lambeau field, in the cold, and to warm-weather and/or dome teams. Something seems quite wrong with that. No, that’s not all on Aaron Rodgers, but the record speaks for itself. His performance has not been outstanding in those games. I don’t subscribe to the theory that Aaron Rodgers put the team on his shoulder pads and carried it to the NFC Championship five times, but lost four times because the supporting cast wasn’t strong enough. There are those that say that the greatest quarterbacks elevate their teams’ level of play against the best teams and in the most important games. Aaron Rodgers is a sure fire, first ballot, NFL Hall of Famer. His career statistics are otherworldly but, in terms of leading the Packers to championships, there’s just that one magical season of 2010. And that was a long, long time ago. If Aaron truly wants out of Green Bay, and that means some sort of a trade, I think he should be accommodated, and the Packers move on.
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"Kudos to Amy for making sure that the tickets to the tailgate party were waiting for me at the reception desk! Your personal phone call and text messages went above and beyond customer satisfaction! I can't wait for the 2024 season, rest assured that my go-to Packer's game supplier will be Event USA for a long time.
-Jean-Pierre Mallette, Montréal, Canada
"Thank you so much Cathy, greatly appreciate your help.
As always, EventUSA has been awesome to deal with in booking the Lodge Kohler package for the Tampa Bay Game,
particularly for me traveling from Sydney, Australia, it takes the stress out of the booking process. "
-Kayle
"Good Morning, Nicole - Everything you did turned out great. The seats were great. Access to the air conditioned club lounge was great. Lots of Packers fans in the club lounge and overall at the stadium. The tailgate party at the fancy restaurant in the hotel was fabulous. The servers just kept on bringing out different sliders and desserts. Good thing that I got in a 30-minute run along the river in the morning. So, thank you! You may be speaking with me in November if I can work out getting up to Green Bay for a game. It's been too long since my last time.
One of the best aspects of this weekend was interacting with so many people from Wisconsin and learning their personal stories of things Packers. And we even met a couple from St. Petersburg, Florida (my home county) and were able to tell them about the Varsity Club tavern and Packers bar in Clearwater where Mark Murphy's mother is in attendance -- very nice lady whose retirement home is in Clearwater, which borders my little city of Dunedin. Pre-COVID, I always went to the Varsity when the Packers games weren't televised locally -- lots of Wisconsin natives there, too + they serve brats and sauerkraut during Packers games. I'm glad that you are working for Event USA.
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-- Martin Lawyer, Dunedin, Florida
"Dennis - I was blessed to join Amy and some of your customers at the Morton's tailgate as well as after the game. She does an amazing job for you. Every single customer I met praised Event USA for being able to arrange the hotel and tickets and fabulous tailgate party in such a quick time. Having been to some great tour tailgate parties in Jacksonville and Kansas City and old San Francisco, a lot can be said of the long-term benefit of having really great tailgate parties. Morton's was probably one of the best - amazing food, patio sitting on the riverfront, walk to stadium, open bar!!! It was first class fun!!!"
-Matt
"Hi Amy-
Just wanted to say thank you for making Jacksonville happen! We had a wonderful time and looking forward to more Packers games with Event USA in the future!
Even though the game was not what we expected- we are packers fans for life-lol!
Go pack go!!"
-Julie Mastrianni
"I want to thank Event USA and in particular Amy Flores for the Jacksonville trip. We have used you before and always were very pleased with the packages you have set up and your service.
My son who lives in Charleston, SC and myself who lives in Minnesota, decided we needed to do a guys trip and decided to go through your company to see the opener in New Orleans. I initially called and talked with Amy about some questions I had and booked our trip. After itinerary and info was emailed to us, it soon became apparent that the trip to New Orleans wouldn’t happen. In steps Amy, wondering if we would be interested in Dallas if the game was moved there and a package was set up. Then finally the move to Jacksonville and continued communication from Amy on our interest. It was getting late at that point and I was wondering if she would be able to pull off setting up a package in Jacksonville. She did it.
We went to Jacksonville and had a great time. The accommodations and the tail gate were fabulous. If only the Packer team we were hoping for had made the trip.
Thank you Event USA and in particular Amy Flores."
-Tom Sohrweide, White Bear Lake, MN
"Thank you for all your help. I had a great time at the Packer-Raider game opening day. I have already begun telling interested Packer fans in Sacramento about your service. The next time I come to Green Bay for a game, I’ll be sure to ask for your help. God bless you and God bless the Green Bay Packers."
-Frank Chavez, Sacramento
"I just wanted to say that I had such a great time. The whole weekend was so much fun. I enjoyed the Player Autograph Party and the tailgate party was just the best. After coming from a country that loves soccer, it was nice to mix with people who have the same interests as me. Thank you once again, Green Bay is one very special place."
-Beverley Moore, Lancaster
"My accommodations at the Best Western Midway were excellent. I was picked up at the airport and returned promptly. No problems at all. Your representative at the hotel on game day was very pleasant and helpful. The tailgate party was super, great food, great drinks and lots of fun. Obviously, Lambeau Field and the game itself was great. I will continue to use Event USA in the future, and I will definitely tell anyone who I come across to give you a call. One last thing, the hospitality I experienced in Green Bay was incredible. I have traveled to many places, and I don’t think there are more friendly people than the people of Green Bay. Thank you again and see you next year!"
-David Anastas, Worchester
"My wife and I booked the tour to Tampa. The trip was so well organized from start to finish. It started with the people in the office with their friendly help over the phone, to receiving the tickets in the mail, and meeting the tour guides with their upbeat personalities. Signs guided us in the airport and information was posted in our motel lobbies to keep us posted. Your people had everything in order. Talk about organization, you had it. Event USA made this a most memorable trip. Thanks for all involved."
-Dick Koerner, Neenah
"I wish to convey my sincere thanks and gratitude for providing my husband and I with, what he refers to as the greatest experience of my life, apart from my wedding day."
-Lara and Matt Appleton, Thornhill, Ontario
"Thanks for all your help, the great tickets and service, and the chance to help me make one of my son’s dreams come true, seeing the Packers playing at home in Lambeau Field."
-Sam Jones, Sedalia
"I just want to thank you for the wonderful job your staff did last weekend for the Packers vs. Lions game. This was our first time utilizing your program and we were not disappointed at all. In fact, we can’t wait to schedule and event for next season’s games. From my first experience with your staff placing my order until the very end at checkout of the hotel, everything was perfect. You truly out-do yourselves to please everyone. Thanks again for making our stay in Green Bay one of the best."
-Kim Ewing and Bruce DeMaine, Ann Arbor
"Thanks so much for the best weekend ever! You not only got us in all the Magazines, TV, WWW pages and even the big screen at Lambeau Field, but Disney World on the side? Nice job – You and your family are top notch – we were on the best tour for the Super Bowl! Seeing the Green Bay Packers win back the Lombardi Trophy was a life long dream of this Packer fan, and you all were so dedicated to the job of taking care of us that, like the Packers, we were a winning team! Keep me on your list."
-William D Lorge, Representative to the Wisconsin State Assembly