Aaron Rodgers has made it known that he wants to play for the New York Jets this season. All that is left is for the Green Bay Packers and Jets to work out a trade of the four-time MVP. Rodgers’ announcement on The Pat McAfee Show last week sent shockwaves through the NFL community and Packers’ fandom. The same can be said of at least one former teammate of Rodgers: wide receiver James Jones.
James Jones Talks Aaron Rodgers on the “Up and Adams” Podcast
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In an appearance on the “Up and Adams” podcast on Monday, Jones discussed his feelings about Rodgers leaving Green Bay and made the bold that he himself talked Rodgers out of retirement this offseason:
“I’m not surprised, but I’m hurt.”
James Jones on Aaron Rodgers intending to play for the Jets.
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— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) March 20, 2023
“I’m not surprised [that Aaron Rodgers is leaving Green Bay], but I’m hurt. You know, when I talked to him in the offseason, you know, like I said, it was all Green Bay talk. Because I was telling him ‘Hey man, go ahead and get you one more chance to swing at this championship. Because, I feel like Green Bay has everything it needs to take a swing at another championship.
“Obviously, they’re going to need to add some pieces in free agency and the draft, but I feel like they’re built the right way. And he was just sitting there talking to me, and he said, ‘Man, to be honest with you, I don’t know if that is their plan. I don’t know if they want me to come back.’
“So, when he said that, you know, I was like, ‘Oh shoot. We probably are exiting out of that building and going somewhere else.’ But I just told him ‘You’re not done. Period.’ You know all this talk of you thinking about retiring and all that, and I changed his mind. But I said, ‘No, you’re not done yet. You have a lot of football left in you. We want to see you throw this thing all over the yard.’ The NFL is better when Aaron Rodgers is in a uniform and playing quarterback.
Breaking Down What James Jones Said
From what we heard James Jones say, two things are clear: he loves the Green Bay Packers and he loves Aaron Rodgers. It was was very interesting to hear him say that he believes the Packers are built the right way and have everything they need to compete for a championship. Very interesting, indeed, especially after an 8-9 season.
As far as changing Rodgers’ mind about retirement, I am not so sure that I buy that. Rodgers is driven by one thing, and one thing only: his own ego. While I am sure he loved hearing all the nice things Jones was saying to him, Rodgers isn’t playing in 2023 as a personal favor to him. Rodgers is playing because he has convinced himself that it is what he wants to do.
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