In his first interview since rising from an Oregon darkness retreat, Aaron Rodgers mentioned he nonetheless hasn’t determined whether or not he’ll retire or return to the NFL for the 2023 season.
On the Aubrey Marcus Podcast, the Green Bay Packers QB emphasised that he desires to make the choice “quickly,” but in addition desires to be completely certain about it so he avoids pulling a Brett Favre. That’s not only a flip of phrase — Rodgers really used Favre’s un-retirement for example of what he does not wish to do.
“It’s best for anybody who has an interest in this to make a decision sooner rather than later,” Rodgers said via Tyler Dunne. “I remember before [Brett] Favre retired, there were times in April and May, we weren’t sure if he was going to come back because he didn’t come to any of the offseason program. Then in 2008, he actually did retire in March and then said, ‘No, no, no,’ in June after OTAs, I actually want to come back and play. That’s when he was traded to the Jets. There was obviously a lot of tension that summer. For everybody involved directly and indirectly, it’s best for a decision earlier.”
Rodgers, who left the four-day darkness retreat after just two days, has already spoken to people about his forthcoming decision. And while he plans to speak with more, he’s not looking to them for advice.
“I feel really good about the conversations that are going to be had, that have been had with important people in my life. Yourself included. But I’m not looking for somebody to tell me what the answer is. All the answers are right inside me. I touched many of the feeling on both sides in the darkness. I’m thankful for that time.”
Rodgers continued, talking more about a decision he hasn’t yet made. But please don’t criticize him for discussing it, because it’s his life and he doesn’t care if people think he’s a diva!
“There’s a finality to the decision. I don’t make it lightly. I don’t want to drag anybody around. I’m answering questions about it because I got asked about it. I’m talking about it because it’s important to me. If you don’t like it and you think it’s drama, and you think I’m being a diva or whatever, then just tune it out. That’s fine. But this is my life. It’s important to me. I’lI make a decision soon enough and we’ll go down that road. I’ll be really excited about it.”
Rodgers could also be misinterpreting the criticism he is been listening to and seeing. He appears to assume individuals are upset at him for incessantly speaking a few choice he hasn’t made but, however that is only a symptom of the true drawback: Rodgers is all the time speaking. It’s straightforward for him to throw up his palms and say “do not be offended at me, I’m simply answering questions different individuals requested me,” however he is the one who put himself able to must reply questions by agreeing to interviews and weekly appearances on the Pat McAfee Show.
Rodgers’ love of speaking about himself (and his love of the sound of his personal voice) has given us a entrance row seat to his decision-making course of, or no less than how he is laid it out within the media: discuss in regards to the course of of constructing a call with out really speaking in regards to the choice that must be made, go to half of a darkness retreat, have plenty of conversations with vital individuals in your life that you just admit could have no impression in your choice, then discuss extra in regards to the course of of constructing a call.
We can hope that the subsequent step in Rodgers’ course of is definitely making the choice, however even when he does, that will not be the tip. If he decides to maintain on enjoying, there’s one other decider on the horizon: keep in Green Bay, or discover different choices just like the New York Jets or Las Vegas Raiders. But if he decides to retire at age 39 after 18 seasons, then it is over and Rodgers rides off into the sundown, presumably to begin his personal podcast.
