For the first time ever, the Green Bay Packers are heading to England. According to their social media department, Aaron Rodgers may or may not be there.
The NFL announced a partial lineup of this year’s annual International Series games, which include three games in London, one in Mexico City, and the league’s proper debut in Munich, Germany. Green Bay’s official Twitter account took the opportunity to post its own, cheesehead dream version of Abbey Road. Crossing the iconic street are head coach Matt LaFleur, All-Pros David Bakhtiari and Jaire Alexander, Pro Bowler Aaron Jones, and rising star Rashan Gary.
The obvious exclusion from that list? The reigning NFL MVP, Rodgers.
Green Bay ➡️ the UK! 🇬🇧#Packers will play in London in 2022 📰: https://t.co/gcUJJDh3dt#GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/33czZP2YMv
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) February 28, 2022
It’s worth nothing Davante Adams and De’Vondre Campbell, both All-Pros last season, didn’t make the cut for the image either. Unlike Rodgers, they’re both pending free agents who aren’t under contract with the team for 2022. That makes their exclusion more understandable.
Is this a statement about Rodgers’ future? A chance to highlight some of the less-heralded players on the roster? Or merely a brilliant ploy to get us talking about an early offseason social media post that ultimately means nothing?
Rodgers’ future with the Packers remains uncertain. He has only one year remaining on his deal. If he decides he’s unhappy in Wisconsin it could force the team to trade him rather than risk losing him after 2022 with nothing but a third-round compensatory draft pick in return.
Of course, no reigning MVP has never been traded before, and Green Bay reconciled with its star quarterback after a very public rift in 2021. That season ended with the NFL’s top regular season record and, as has become tradition, a disappointing early playoff exit.
The veteran signal caller will have the chance to clear this all up when he makes his weekly appearance on the Pat McAfee Show Tuesday. There are rumblings a big announcement could be on the way — though knowing Rodgers, there’s a chance he only talks about that time he ate 10 pounds of clarified butter until his body forced him into a hard reset.
Suspect McAfee show ratings will reach new high this Tues.
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) February 27, 2022
Right now, all we know is that the Packers are headed to London. Rodgers could be there. But if he announces he’s re-upped with Green Bay and cleared enough salary cap room for his team to re-sign Adams, expect a quick edit from the team’s social media producers to add one of the league’s deadliest 1-2 punches into its Beatles tribute.
