In this game, you are an alien trying to escape the clutches of a mad scientist. Your goal is not just to survive but also free yourself and your fellow captives from their prison cells across the planet before they turn on each other.
The “held hostage” is a situation where the victim is taken captive and forced to do something against their will. This may happen in a variety of ways, but usually involves physical force or threats.
During his illustrious career, Aaron Rodgers has won back-to-back NFL MVP awards and has been named MVP four times. On the surface, the Green Bay Packers’ willingness to move off of him seemed outrageous.
FS1’s resident hot-take artist Skip Bayless, on the other hand, doesn’t appear to think so. What’s more, you know what? He’s genuinely reasonable.
Aaron Rodgers, according to Skip Bayless, is keeping the Green Bay Packers prisoner.
Bayless is renowned for exaggerating at times, so it’s worth noting that when discussing Rodgers’ present predicament with the Packers, he’s being a little hyperbolic.
“Packer Nation, you’ve been kidnapped. Yes, this back-to-back MVP has imprisoned you, and he’ll win again because I feel he’s going nowhere,” Bayless said on Undisputed (transcribed by sportskeeda).
Rodgers has said that he will have to make a choice this summer, and Bayless is referring to that decision. He just won his second MVP award in a row, and at 38 years old, he doesn’t seem to be slowing down much. Rodgers, on the other hand, has said that he is pondering retirement. Demanding a trade out of Green Bay is also an option, though the quarterback’s relationship with the franchise seems to have improved recently.
“I think he’ll be your Packers quarterback for the next three years or until he retires.” “He won’t leave town until he chooses to retire from football,” Bayless stated.
Rodgers, according to Bayless, is attempting to create a diversion.
Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers reacts during the NFC Divisional Playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers | Stacy Revere/Getty Images
On the surface, having Rodgers back for the next several seasons seems like a nice thing, doesn’t it? After all, we’re talking about one of the all-time great quarterbacks, not just in the NFL.
What makes you think Green Bay wouldn’t want Rodgers back? In fact, it’s been claimed that the front office’s main objective for 2022 and beyond is bringing him back into the fold.
Bayless, for one, believes Rodgers’ hedging and hawing is all part of a deception, and he may not be wrong.
“It’s all about recreating compassion,” says the narrator. It’s about diverting attention away from what didn’t happen in the fourth quarter of yet another home playoff game in which you were the NFC’s top seed after going 13-4 during the regular season, and he won MVP,” Bayless said. “You got lost at home because of the weather. It’s going to be a cooler day. The temperature is chilly. “Weather with less wind chill.”
When the Packers needed some offense in the fourth quarter, Bayless pointed out that Rodgers and the Packers went 3-and-out under the shadow of their own goalpost, setting for a blocked punt that the San Francisco 49ers recovered for a score. Rodgers led a three-play drive that went backward six yards on Green Bay’s following possession.
“Your back-to-back MVP went 1-of-4 for a grand total of four yards in your final two plays of a home, No. 1 seed playoff game,” Bayless remarked. “It’ll have to suffice.” It’s been his way of doing things for a long time.”
Rodgers has a track record of losing in the playoffs.
Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers reacts during the first half at Lambeau Field against the Seattle Seahawks | Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
If the quarterback receives all of the credit when the team wins, it’s only fair that he bears the most of the blame when the team loses, particularly in the playoffs. That hasn’t always been the case in Green Bay, where Rodgers has mostly avoided criticism despite the fact that the Packers’ defense has consistently failed him down.
That doesn’t alter the fact that since winning the Super Bowl, Rodgers is 0-4 in NFC Championship Games. This time, he also doesn’t have the built-in excuse of a bad defense to hide behind. Green Bay’s defense was one of the finest in the league last season, allowing just six points to San Francisco’s offense.
The Packers fell to the 49ers due to a special teams breakdown, but that’s just one more excuse after another.
“Since his Super Bowl run 11 years ago in a galaxy far, far away,” Bayless remarked, “he’s now 7-9.”
That’s a harsh reality check.
Green Bay is apparently prepared to put its future on the line to retain Rodgers, but the Packers would be smart to consider Bayless’ argument.
Rodgers is a four-time MVP, but the Packers have just one Super Bowl victory to their name. Isn’t it true that MVP quarterbacks are meant to get their teams over the hump in the playoffs?
Although Rodgers isn’t holding the Packers hostage, as Bayless phrased it, Green Bay should consider a trade situation for him. For better or worse, they have a young quarterback in Jordan Love waiting in the wings, and they’re facing a salary-cap constraint that may destroy them if they don’t play their cards well. Going into the 2022 league year, Green Bay is $51.2 million above the salary cap. Rodgers presently has $46.4 million in cap space.
The Packers would be able to clear salary space while also gaining important assets if they traded Rodgers.
Trading away a back-to-back MVP quarterback is a dangerous move, but doesn’t the notion of “buy cheap, sell high” apply here? Rodgers’ value as a trade chip will never be higher, and he’ll almost certainly never be this good again.
Bayless is true; the issue in Green Bay has been that this excellent hasn’t been enough.
ESPN and Pro Football Reference provided the statistics. Spotrac provides contract information.
Shawne Merriman, a former All-Pro linebacker, believes John Elway or Peyton Manning might entice Aaron Rodgers to join the Denver Broncos.
