Brett Favre spoke up and broke the internet on Wednesday.
“I think he will play somewhere else,” the Hall of Fame quarterback said of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during an appearance with The Rich Eisen Show on Wednesday:
“I guarantee you (the Love pick) got the gears going in Aaron’s mind. All (Rodgers) needed was a reason (to play elsewhere).”
The Packers traded up from the 30th overall pick to the 26th overall pick in order to select former Utah State quarterback Jordan Love during the first round of the 2020 NFL draft last Thursday night. Green Bay had not taken a skill position player in the first round since Rodgers (15 years), who became Favre’s backup and eventually succeeded him.
“I was very surprised,” Favre told Eisen. “I thought they’d go in the direction of an offensive weapon. … Nothing against Jordan Love. But you trade up to get more of a project. He can’t help you get to the Super Bowl immediately.”
Favre continued:
“They don’t draft any weapons that can help immediately, to my knowledge. That sends a disrespect message to Aaron Rodgers. He has every right to be disappointed, if he is.”
“I think they burned a bridge that will be hard to overcome. At some point, it will rear its ugly head.”
Once the Packers drafted Rodgers in 2005, Favre remained their starting quarterback for three more seasons before he moved on to the New York Jets (2008) and Minnesota Vikings (2009-10). Favre contemplated retirement several times during that decade, and actually did retire multiple times before coming back for stints with the Jets and Vikings. However, Aaron has not expressed any interest in retirement, stating that he wanted to play until he was 40 and “see where it goes from there”.
Rodgers recently signed an extension with the Packers and is under contract through 2023. Despite having a two-time league MVP under center, Green Bay has not made it to the Super Bowl since winning it in 2010—the franchise’s second championship during Favre and Rodgers’ tenures. Green Bay is repeatedly scrutinized for not hoisting enough Lombardi trophies during back-to-back play of Hall of Fame quarterbacks.
The 2020 wide receiver draft class was talked up for months as one of the deepest in draft history, further disappointing Packers fans for not surrounding Rodgers with more talent. Green Bay selected Boston College running back AJ Dillon in the second round (No. 62 overall) and Cincinnati tight end Josiah Deguara in the third round (No. 94) after snagging Love in the first.
All the drama surrounding the Packers has actually dropped their win total and odds to win the NFC North. Right now, they are currently slated to win 9.5 games this season (down from 10.5 just a few months ago).
You can currently bet on the Packers to win the NFC North at +175 odds.
