Green Bay Packers fans are anxiously awaiting an end to the Aaron Rodgers saga. While the four-time MVP himself has already stated his intentions to play for the New York Jets this season, the Packers have not yet agreed to a trade. There is constant debate among fans and analysts over who was the most leverage. John Kuhn, a three-time Pro Bowl fullback with the Packers who was there when the team transitioned from Brett Favre to Rodgers, used his platform on his show Nine 2 Noon with John Kuhn on 97.3 The Game to explain what he thinks the hold up is, what Rodgers will be traded for, and why.
Former Green Bay Packers Pro Bowler John Kuhn Has Great Insight on What Will Happen
As mentioned previously, Kuhn was around for the transition from Favre to Rodgers. He was there when Favre unexpectedly showed up to OTA’s after the Packers made it clear that he would not be their quarterback in 2008. He was there when the Packers traded Favre to the Jets for a fourth round pick (which they used to trade up and take Clay Matthews, by the way). Based on his experience and what he knows about the Packers organization, he had the following to say about the current situation:
“I thought that Matt Schneidman brought up the greatest point that no one is asking nationally right now. Nobody is asking this, and I thought he brought up this point last week when we had him on the show perfectly. I said, ‘Doesn’t a quarterback who has been playing for 18 years deserve a little bit of transparency on the way out?’ And Matt Schneidman said, ‘How do we know the Packers didn’t try?’
“The Packers haven’t talked about this one bit. We don’t know the details, and the Packers probably want this to stay quiet. They probably want this to stay mum and this shall pass just like all things shall pass.”
Kuhn’s co-host and former Wisconsin Badgers basketball star Brian Butch added: “That’s why whenever Mark Murphy opens his mouth, they cringe, because everybody else doesn’t talk!”
Butch is right. We’ve heard nothing from Matt LaFleur for weeks. We’ve heard a little from Brian Gutekunst during his media sessions at the combine, but nothing that would tip the Packers’ hand. However, it has been Mark Murphy who has made the Packers’ intentions and supposed attitude towards the situation the most clear.
Kuhn continued:
“This thing will eventually get consummated and Aaron Rodgers will become a New York Jet and the Packers will be moving on and we can talk about the compensation: was it enough? I have a feeling the Packers are deep in these negotiations with the Jets. And I have a feeling the Packers asked for more than just a first round pick for Aaron Rodgers. And I believe the Jets volunteered something far less than just a first round pick for Aaron Rodgers.
“And I believe what the Packers want is that first round pick. And I believe the Jets want to do potentially less than that first round pick. That right now is the over-under. If I had to make an over-under for Aaron Rodgers, I would set it at that first round pick, and believe it or not, if I had to make a pick, I would say the under is going to come through.
“I believe the Packers will end up taking something less than a first round pick just to make this whole thing kind of go away and start to move on.”
Butch agreed with him and stated that he believes the start of the NFL Draft is the real cutoff date.
John Kuhn Touches on Some Other Green Bay Packers Topics
Listen to the whole show to hear Kuhn and Butch talk about the following topics:
- The end of Marquette’s season in the NCAA Tournament
- Wisconsin in the NIT
- Allen Lazard saying the Packers did not want him back
- Why ending his career in New Orleans was one of the best things for Kuhn’s career
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
