New York Jets general manager Darren Mougey told reporters on Tuesday that there was never an ultimatum or rules of engagement given to former team quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Rumors were abound that under a new general manager and head coach, Aaron Glenn, that the Jets wanted Rodgers to acquiesce to their desires about him no longer appearing on the Pat McAfee Show.
Rodgers and McAfee are friends, with the media personality giving the former Jet a frequent spot on his show, which is broadcast on ESPN every week day for three hours.
It was on the sports network’s airwaves where Rodgers first expressed his desire to be a Jet, then mouthed off conspiracy theories about the coronavirus pandemic, among other bizarre rants.
Mougey addressed that and more Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine.
‘Just want to address the Aaron Rodgers stuff, get ahead of that. I’m not going to discuss any private discussions with Aaron throughout this process,’ Mougey said. ‘I’m not here to confirm or deny any rumors that happened during that process.’
Jets GM Darren Mougey told reporters on Tuesday that there was never a Rodgers ultimatum
New York ultimately decided to go in a different direction than Rodgers under center anyway
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‘I will say this – there was never an ultimatum or rules of engagement for Aaron to join the Jets again. That never happened. AG and I had a lot of dialogue, a lot of conversations, a lot of good thoughts, and just felt at the end of the day, it was the best thing for the Jets moving forward just go in a different direction at the quarterback position. Lots of respect for Aaron Rodgers as a player and person.’
Mougey did not give true indication as to where the team wants to go at quarterback, saying they will ‘exhaust all options’.
At the combine, the Jets will likely see several quarterbacks who could be on their roster next season. New York sits at pick No 7 in the first round, after the highly rated duo of Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders will be taken.
The Jets could also look to free agency for their next quarterback, with a new head coach like Glenn being attractive to outsiders.
For Rodgers, his options as a 41-year-old quarterback will be slim, with an ideal fit on a ready-to-win team like Tom Brady’s move to the Buccaneers in 2020 not on the board.
Many projections see Rodgers needing to go to a team with a need at quarterback who miss on the bigger names in the draft and free agency. Likely options include the Colts and Raiders.
