INDIANAPOLIS – Brian Gutekunst walked non-stop through the halls of the Indiana Convention Center on Tuesday, and the general manager of Green Bay Packers said it was the same when he faced GM from other teams at the NFL Scout Factory.
He claims that his phone also does not ring constantly, as teams call to ask about the availability of quarterback Aaron Rodgers through trade.
“Not at all,” said Gutekunst. – Not at all. Not a single person.
Maybe they’re just waiting for Rodgers to inform Packers of his decision – whether he wants to play in 2022 or retire – and then submit the trade offers they’ve no doubt formulated in case Rodgers tells Gutekunst he wants to continue his career elsewhere.
Rodgers has not informed Packers of his intentions, but Gutekunst believes the Packers will know before the free agency opens on March 16.
“I hope so,” Gutekunst said. “This is obviously the beginning of a new year in the league. There are a lot of decisions that need to be made before that. So that would be useful. I think we will know something before that.”
Meanwhile, the Packers are planning a number of scenarios.
“It’s really no different than every year, because as you enter this time, there are just a lot of unknowns,” Gutekunst said. “You always have free agents that you try to get back. You do not know how this will happen. You need to have a plan B, a plan B and stuff. It really is no different. [It] attracts a lot of attention because of the player and his status, but it’s not really different. “
The Packers started out of season with nearly $ 50 million above the salary cap and this does not include the contracts of successor Davante Adams, midfielder De’Vondre Campbell and cornerback Rasul Douglas.
Thanks to the main renegotiation with left-back David Bahtiari, defensive match Kenny Clark and back Aaron Jones, they are now $ 27.5 million above the limit, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Packers will almost certainly use the Adams franchise label if the long-term deal is not concluded by March 8. They want to keep Adams, whether Rodgers returns or not.
“They are two different players and two different situations, both of which are great in their own right,” Gutekunst said. “We were lucky to have them and we hope we can both move forward. But they are separate.”
Whatever Rodgers decides, it will create extra space for hats. If Rodgers does not play in Green Bay, the Packers will receive between $ 19.3 million and $ 26.9 million in salary savings, depending on the timing of the decision. He has one year left on the deal and will count $ 46.1 million against the limit, a number that will no doubt be reduced by an extension if he decides to return.
To that end, Packers’ vice president of football operations, Russ Ball, has been involved in negotiating contracts with Rodgers agent David Dunn.
“It’s part of the process [of Rodgers’ decision-making]Said Gutekunst. “You know, Russ, he’s obviously doing a good job and he’s prepared for any road we can take.”