The Green Bay Packers, like all other NFL teams, are in the mandatory mini camp phase of their offseason programs. While earlier organized team activities (OTA’s) were voluntary, these practices are required in order for players to collect workout bonuses. Missing these practices can also result in teams leveling fines against their players.
Unlike past offseason, the Packers’ have had nearly 100% attendance at their yearly programs. This, of course, includes the attendance of key team leaders like Jordan Love, Kenny Clark, Jaire Alexander, and newcomers Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs.
There Are NFL Stars Absent from Their Team’s Mandatory Minicamp
While the Packers have all of their players in attendance, other NFL teams do not. There are plenty of stars that are currently holding out while they negotiate new deals with their current teams.
First Team All-Pro wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and Brandon Aiyuk are holding out from Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers mandatory minicamps, respectively. Today, news broke that Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper is also absent from his team’s minicamp.
For players like Lamb and Aiyuk, the reason they do not attend offseason workouts while in contract negotiations is because they want to put pressure on their team to get a deal done. There is also the notion that they risk injury by showing up and could hurt their negotiation team’s chances of getting them the best deal.
There are other players, though, that do not show up for different reasons all together.
Aaron Rodgers Skipped the Green Bay Packers Offseason Programs During His Final Seasons with Team
Gpg Training Camp 08082022 0012
For most of his time as the starting quarterback of the Packers, Rodgers was a regular attendee at all of their offseason workouts. That all changed, though, in 2020. That was the year, of course, that Green Bay traded up in the first round to draft Jordan Love.
Following the Love pick, Rodgers made offseasons incredibly dramatic for Green Bay’s fans and the front office. After winning the NFL MVP Award in 2020, news broke on the first day of the 2021 NFL Draft that Rodgers was not planning on coming back to the Packers at all.
Of course, that situation passed, but not without some significant changes to the roster. Randall Cobb was brought back via trade to appease the angered MVP. The one thing that did not happen, though, that Rodgers wanted to happen was the firing of general manager Brian Gutekunst.
Aaron Rodgers Is Now Absent for New York Jets Mandatory Minicamp
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8), center, waves to fans after practice.
Earlier today, Jets head coach Robert Saleh revealed that his four-time NFL MVP quarterback, who missed all of last season (except for four snaps) with a torn Achilles is not at mandatory minicamp. He had been present for the Jets’ voluntary OTA’s however:
Ok, so here’s the full explanation from Jets coach Robert Saleh on Aaron Rodgers missing minicamp. He says he and Rodgers have been in communication, and Rodgers is missing it for an “event that was very important to him”. pic.twitter.com/yaC9Lmu1pX
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) June 11, 2024
As Saleh notes, Rodgers let the team know beforehand that he would not be at practice, but would instead be attending an unspecified event that was very important to him.
While one should not pass too harsh of judgment without knowing what the event is, it does bear mentioning that, earlier this offseason, Rodgers had stated that he was frustrated by his team not focusing on football. Of course, Rodgers himself has plenty of extracurricular interests and activities that he pursues even during the season, so why should the offseason be any different for him?
Meanwhile, as mentioned, Jordan Love is busy at work in Green Bay (despite not having a new contract yet).
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