By Chris Havel Special to EVENT USA GREEN BAY, Wis. – Early last year, Green Bay Packers President, Mark Murphy, used the word “complicated” to describe Aaron Rodgers. In the wake of recent developments, that description seems quite adept. Aaron Rodgers the “GM” seems to want input on personnel decisions. As an example, one condition of his returning to the Packers was that the Packers trade for Randall Cobb. Of course, the biggest input he had was the brilliant use of leverage to negotiate an NFL historic high contract, guaranteeing him untold millions of dollars. Rodgers the “coach” wants play-calling autonomy. He also reserves the right after games to point out when he made the proper check, and when the head coach, Matt LaFleur, selected the plays that failed. After four seasons together, LaFleur and Rodgers were still at odds over the play-calling on the final drive in the 20-16 loss to Detroit last week. If they haven’t gotten on the same page by now, is it going to happen? As a “player”, Rodgers is in decline. Still a great skill set, but not the player he used to be nor will he ever be. Father time is asserting himself. Undefeated, as they say. While the hounds of retirement snap at his heels, he tries to sidestep the inevitable. We’ve seen other great quarterbacks continue to be effective in their declining years, winning championships because they were willing to adapt, recognize their limitations, and become more “game managers”. Look at Peyton Manning, look at Tom Brady, or John Elway, the list goes on and on. Rodgers claims he hasn’t decided if he wants to play this season. That’s puzzling given his three-year “commitment” in return for guaranteed millions, almost $60 million in guarantees for 2023 for example. Now, less than a year later, he isn’t sure he wants to play in 2023? Seems curious. Fritz Shurmur, the salty coordinator of the Packers’ great defenses in the 1990s, would say, “You only get what you demand.” Perhaps the Packers haven’t been nearly demanding enough of Rodgers? That much became obvious during “Super wild-card weekend.” The 49ers’ Brock Purdy, the Seahawks’ Geno Smith, the Dolphins’ Skylar Thompson and the Ravens’ Tyler Huntley don’t reside in Rodgers’ stratosphere of greatness. Nevertheless, they were in the playoffs. Rodgers wasn’t. They also gave their teams a chance to win, and in Purdy’s case, the very real prospect of Mr. Irrelevant leading the 49ers to a Super Bowl. That would be the Sports story of the year. And it’s very very possible. Most Super Bowl participants feature a top 10 quarterback, a top 10 defense or both. Regrettably, the Packers have neither. And that is despite having one of the highest salaries for player personnel in the league. And strapping the salary cap for years to come. The Giants’ Daniel Jones was the 6th pick in the 2019 draft. It was a pleasure watching Jones carve up the Vikings’ defense by running, throwing and relying on players both great (Saquon Barkley) and unheralded (Isaiah Hodgins) to get it done. But it wasn’t a Daniel Jones victory. It was a Giants victory. The fact is the Giants are a better, more complete team than Green Bay. If you didn’t believe it after 27-22 in London, you can believe it now. The point is this: Great teams don’t kneel before any player, no matter how good that player is or is perceived to be. It’s bad business. Nevertheless, it seemed that Packers GM Brian Gutekunst played “tiptoe around the quarterback” at his season-ending news conference Friday. He said the team will give Rodgers the time and space to figure out what’s next. I’d rate Gutekunst an “A” for agility but a more dubious grade for assertiveness. “I really respect the process that he goes through after the season,” Gutekunst said. “He’s done this for a long time. What he goes through during the offseason to be prepared for a season is significant, and I understand the decision he has to make and whether he wants to go through that. So, I’ve always tried to give him that time.” Let’s hope the clock’s ticking. “We made a really big commitment to him last offseason, so I think as we did that it wasn’t certainly for just this year,” Gutekunst said. The Packers’ GM added that it was a tough season for all the players. True enough, except most other players’ response is a vow to rededicate and recommit to being better, and being a champion, in 2023. Rodgers’ response is I am not sure what I want to do. It’s pretty clear what Jordan Love would like to do. He would like to take every snap for the Packers in OTAs, minicamps, training camp, the preseason games, the regular season and the playoffs. He’d like to quarterback his team in the postseason and give it a terrific chance to win, the same as Jones, Smith, Purdy and the rest. It seems Gutekunst is inclined to believe Love can handle the job. It’s just that No. 12 is standing in the way … well sort of. “We really like the development of where Jordan is,” Gutekunst said. “I think he’s ready to play. I think that’s the next step in his development. Those guys work well together in the (QB) room.” The questions about Love won’t be answered until he plays. “We are very excited about Jordan and where he’s at, there’s no doubt about that,” Gutekunst said. “But Jordan’s never played a 16-, 17-game season and gone through all that stuff. So, it’s no different than when we moved from Brett (Favre) to Aaron, right? “When they haven’t done it, you go into that and there are some unknowns,” he continued. “They’ve got to handle a lot of different things, see a lot of different things, before they can get to a point where they can win games in this league.” Surely Gutekunst was referring to quarterbacks like Purdy, the final pick of the 2022 draft, who didn’t play meaningful snaps until a month ago? Now, with the aid of a strong supporting cast, Purdy is producing four-touchdown games and playoff victories. If Purdy can figure it out in nine months, I’ve got to believe Love could get it down in three-plus seasons. I propose that the Packers’ best option would be to trade Rodgers, get what they can get, shed as much of the salary cap problem they put them self into, name Love the starter and enable the team to rally around him. The next-best option would be Rodgers retiring and Love taking over. Retirement however is very unlikely given the the 1/20 of $1 billion that Rogers is due this year provided he agrees to play. Regardless of his performance. Frankly, it appears the third-best option – Rodgers returning – is the most likely to occur. I can’t see Rodgers walking away from the money, so I’d expect him to be back. The problem is this: How truly committed is a player if he’s unsure he wants to play again? Furthermore, the Packers have no choice but to exercise the fifth-year option on Love’s contract. To choose a 39-year-old who is less than exuberant about playing over a 24-year-old whose greatest shortcoming is a lack of experience would be unforgivable. But to keep both of them is going to create a financial hellstorm for the team, this year and into the future years. Almost $80 million is a lot to have two quarterbacks on the roster. At best, Love’s time is now. At worst, it’ll be in 2024, and hopefully with enough salary cap space after Rodgers’ exit to build a strong supporting cast. Imagine what Love could do surrounded by the 49ers’ current coach and roster? Oh, wait, you don’t have to imagine it. San Francisco is doing it. As a fan of the Green Bay Packers, is anybody else out there as jealous as I am of that?
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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