According to ESPN, Rodgers declined a contract extension from the Green Bay Packers that would have made him the highest-paid quarterback, and player, in football. The deal would have kept Rodgers in Green Bay for an additional five years.

The 37-year-old’s frustration with the Packers’ front office, especially general manager Brian Gutekunst, has been well-documented throughout the past year and change. Gutekunst famously traded up to select quarterback Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft – which irked Rodgers.

“I think the general reaction at first was surprise, like many people,” Rodgers previously said after the selection. “Obviously I’m not going to say that I was, you know, thrilled by the pick necessarily, but the organization is thinking not only about the present but about the future. And I respect that.”

The Packers made a number of other moves since that upset Rodgers even more, including releasing wide receiver Jake Kumerow, which ended up being a “death knell” in their relationship. Word leaked out that Rodgers compared Gutekunst to former Chicago Bulls GM Jerry Krause, who is credited with both the growth and demise of the ’90s Chicago Bulls dynasty, in group texts with teammates.

Rodgers’ status for training camp remains very much up in the air. Packers players are scheduled to report on July 28.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Evan Orris