After a week-long vacation with the hottest topic in sports, AJ Hawk shared his predictions regarding Aaron Rodgers’s football future.
The former Packers linebacker spent seven days golfing, boating, and tossing a football around in Montana with the reigning MVP. Naturally, fans and media pundits alike all had the same big question upon his return. Did Rodgers confide in Hawk – his good friend and ex-teammate – about his much-anticipated plans for the season ahead?
It appears the answer is no. Or, perhaps the two did discuss Rodgers’s situation and Hawk doesn’t feel it’s his place to divulge those private details. Either way, we still have no definitive answer.
However, Hawk’s close relationship with Rodgers makes his perspective on the situation more significant than those of other NFL stars. Although he didn’t divulge an exclusive inside scoop, Hawk did share these insightful predictions about Rodgers’s return.
AJ Hawk Weighs In
Following his vacation’s end, Hawk returned to work at The Pat McAfee Show. Rodgers himself appears on this podcast for a regular Tuesday segment during football season.
The days Hawk spent with Rodgers in Montana clearly did not change his outlook.
“What have I said from the start? I said, ‘I don’t see him playing anywhere else.’ That’s what I said, right? I don’t see Green Bay trading him, I don’t see that happening. I don’t know how it has to work, but yeah, I still feel like he’s going to be in Green Bay.”
This is certainly comforting for Packers fans to hear. However, of course, we have to take his words with a grain of salt because Hawk isn’t 100% certain.
“I was there for a week [with Rodgers] and I still don’t know. I don’t know if anyone has any answers. I don’t know how either side feels. I don’t know if they’re making progress, but either way, they have to make progress one way or the other before camp starts. I have no idea about time frames, but it’s like anything else, there has to be a deadline,” Hawk told McAfee.
The Deadline Is Looming
That deadline is quickly approaching; training camp begins on July 28th, a mere 10 days away. After he skipped OTAs, the question on the minds of the Packers’ organization and fans is, will Rodgers show up?
Despite not taking part in official Packers practices, Hawk assures that Rodgers remains in good shape. “I think Aaron [physically] looks great. He seems mentally in a good spot. He can still sling the ball.”
Rodgers put that last part on full display during a recent golf outing, shown in this viral Twitter video.
.@AaronRodgers12 tossing balls out to the boats in Lake Tahoe on the 17th tee. pic.twitter.com/FD9g6N3SBQ
— Carter Eckl (@CarterEckl) July 9, 2021
Looking Ahead
Two-and-a-half months since the first bombshell report was made, the Packers-Rodgers situation remains nothing more than a guessing game. It seems that no one really knows what Aaron Rodgers plans to do except Aaron Rodgers himself.
As the 2021 season looms near, the already implausible chance of Green Bay trading Rodgers becomes even less likely. But just because he’s still wearing green-and-gold come kickoff doesn’t mean the situation is resolved. There’s still a possibility Rodgers could sit out and refuse to play, or even retire.
Hawk, however, doesn’t think that will happen.
“You saw The Match,” he said, referencing the QB’s recent participation in the star-studded charity golf tournament. Rodgers and his partner, Bryson DeChambeau, defeated Tom Brady and Phil Mickelson.
Hawk went on to add, “He wanted to win. You can see when somebody wants to win. I think he was very happy he won. He likes to compete. Does that look like a guy who’s going to sit out and retire to you?”
Only time will tell.
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