Aaron Rodgers' 'uncertain' future hangs over Green Bay

Aaron Rodgers said he's t sure what his future holds in Green Bay. That was all it took to raise concerns about Packers' ability to contend in 2021 and beyond.

Green Bay earned top seed in NFC behind an All-Pro season from Rodgers, who at 37 put his team in ideal position to win its first Super Bowl since 2010 season and second of his brilliant career.

But Packers' season ended with a dispiriting 31-26 loss to Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Sunday's NFC championship game, and it didn't take long for questions about team's long-term commitment to Rodgers to resurface.

After Packers' fourth NFC title game loss in seven seasons, Rodgers said “a lot of guys’ futures are uncertain, myself included.” Rodgers has three years remaining on four-year, $118 million extension he signed in August 2018, but two-time MVP has ackwledged on multiple occasions that his hopes of finishing his career in Green Bay were complicated by Packers’ decision to select Utah State quarterback Jordan Love in 2020 draft.

“re’s a lot of unkwns going into this offseason w,” Rodgers said. “I’m going to have to take some time away for sure and clear my head and just kind of see what’s going on with everything. But it’s pretty tough right w, especially thinking about guys who may or may t be here next year. re’s always change. That’s only constant in this business.”

Assuming Rodgers returns, team around him could look quite different. Packers’ list of potential free nts includes running backs Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams, All-Pro center Corey Linsley and cornerback Kevin King.

Linsley was asked Monday about progress of contract negotiations.

“My nt hasn’t had any talks with Packers,” Linsley said. “That’s obviously t to say something couldn’t happen, but up to this point it’s kind of been complimentary but thing of substance.”

MISSING BAKHTIARI

Packers boasted one of league’s top offensive lines this season thanks in part to All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari, who suffered a season-ending knee injury on Dec. 31. Packers initially thrived without Bakhtiari, as y allowed just one sack in a win at Chicago and ne in a playoff victory over Los Angeles Rams .

Bakhtiari’s absence was much more ticeable Sunday. Bucs recorded five sacks , matching ir output from ir 38-10 regular-season victory over Packers. Green Bay allowed a total of 16 sacks in its or 16 games.

TOUGH FINISH FOR KING, JONES

If this was last game in Packers uniforms for King and Jones, it will be a tough way for m to go out.

King played through a back injury that had prevented him from practicing Friday. He was beaten on two touchdown passes — including a 39-yarder to Scotty Miller with 1 second left until halftime — and committed a pass-interference penalty that helped Bucs run out clock.

Jones, who gained more than 3,000 yards from scrimm and scored 30 touchdowns over past two seasons, fumbled early in second half to set up a Bucs touchdown. He suffered a chest injury on play that kcked him out for rest of game.

GOLD RUSH THIS TIME

Green Bay had NFL’s best red-zone offense this season, though Packers referred to it as “gold zone” due to offensive coordinator Nathanial Hackett’s love of movie “Austin Powers in Goldmember.”

That magic was missing Sunday as Packers twice settled for field goals after having first-and-goal. Rodgers was 2 of 9 with two touchdown passes in goal-to-go plays Sunday. Through first 17 games of season, he had been 41 of 59 with 31 touchdowns and interceptions in those situations.

“Everyone’s obviously just very disappointed, very hurt,” wide receiver Allen Lazard said Monday. “Everyone thinks that y probably could’ve done something better at some point in game that would’ve had a better result, but truth is we’re sitting here today. So we’ve got to be able to bottle that up and keep moving forward.”

STAFF DECISIONS

Packers coach Matt LaFleur is 26-6 in his two seasons, and despite questions about his late-game decisions against Tampa Bay, he remains one of bright young minds in NFL and isn't going anywhere.

LaFleur has had same coordinators — Hackett, Mike Pettine (defense) and Shawn Mennenga (special teams) for his first two seasons. w he must decide wher to bring m back.

NFC championship game reflected occasional inconsistency of Green Bay’s defense under Pettine. Packers intercepted three of Tom Brady's passes and allowed only three points in last 28 1/2 minutes of game, but y also gave up that long touchdown pass just before halftime.

Green Bay’s most table flaw during its seven-game streak was its occasional tendency to have a breakdown on special teams.

Im credits: AP