GREEN BAY, Wis. (NBC 26) — The Green Bay Packers brass is adamant that Aaron Rodgers will be the team's quarterback for "years to come."
Speaking Monday for the first time since the NFC Championship loss to the Buccaneers, both head coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst expressed confidence in Rodgers and his relationship with the organization, while Gutekunst shot down rumors that theLos Angeles Rams "made a run" at Rodgers before eventually trading for longtime Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford.
"There's no truth to that whatsoever," Gutekunst said.
"We're really excited not only for next year but the years to come," the Packers GM added. "He's playing at such a high level... This year was a special year. It didn't finish how we wanted to it finish but I think everybody is purely motivated to get back.
"I don't think there's anything that we have to do (to reassure him that he's our quarterback)," Gutekunst said. "He's our quarterback and our leader."
Is there any scenario in which the Packers would consider trading Rodgers this offseason?
"Absolutely not," he said. "He's such an important part of what we're doing. He's the leader of our football team and that's not part of our plan."
Rodgers laments Pack’s uncertain future: ‘Myself included’
Matt LaFleur, meanwhile, maintained that his relationship with Rodgers is strong despite a disagreement on the head coach's decision to kick a field goal down eight points at the end of the NFC Championship, rather than go for the tie with a touchdown and two-point conversion.
"That's not an issue," LaFleur said. "As a matter of fact we talked about it."
"I totally understand where he's coming from," LaFleur added. "I wouldn't want a quarterback that didn't want another crack at it. That's the competitor in him and that's what you love about him."
Regarding that controversial fourth-down decision, LaFleur said he would do the same again if he had another chance at it. Though he did say he might have gone for it had the Packers gotten closer than the eight-yard line.
Matt LaFleur says if he had to do fourth and goal from the 8 again, he’d still kick the field goal. Fourth and goal from the 5? That might be a different story.
— Brandon Kinnard (@brandonkinnard) February 1, 2021
That’s probably what the situation would be if Rodgers tucked it and ran on that third down play.
