Green Bay Packers cornerback Rasul Douglas responded after he and his teammates were asked why they weren’t publicly campaigning for Aaron Rodgers to stay.
Rodgers has yet to make a decision about his future in the NFL, despite hinting that “it won’t be for long” as the New York Jets seek a trade for the four-time MVP.
Jets players, particularly cornerback Willow Gardner, launched social media recruiting drives for the quarterback amid talks of Rodgers and the franchise.
However, Packers players have been remarkably quiet about it, a question asked by Spectrum News 1 host Gary Ellerson.
“Just thinking of all these Jets players asking 12 to join them in New York on social media,” Ellerson wrote Saturday on Twitter. ‘Why don’t 12 teammates ask him to stay here?’
Rasul Douglas explained why the Packers aren’t publicly fighting for Aaron Rodgers to stay
Broadcaster Gary Ellerson questioned why the Packers didn’t talk about the Rodgers trade rumors
Cornerback Douglas fired back, claiming his ‘leader’ knows how his teammates feel about him.
But Douglas, who has played with Rodgers since signing with Green Bay in October 2021, responded by stating that his “leader” knows how his teammates feel about him.
Because we have your number. In fact, we can text you instead of writing it on social media,” Douglas wrote. “As our leader, he knows how each person on the list feels about him.”
Rodgers liked Douglas’s tweet but did not issue a written response.
Last week, Defensive Rookie of the Year Gardner tweeted directly at the 39-year-old Rodgers: “I promise if you go Jet I won’t catch you in practice and burn your head off.”
Gardner made good on his promise to ditch the foam wedge hat in what was his first YouTube video, featuring teammates Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson, though Rodgers to the Jets isn’t a done deal just yet.
“We need you to come here so we can win the Super Bowl,” Gardner said after tossing the cheese head into a fire in his backyard.
In the US, Cheesehead is often a nickname for a person from Wisconsin or for a Packers fan. It can also be used as an insult and is synonymous with ‘fool’ and ‘idiot’. Gardner wore the cheese head in Green Bay after the Jets stunned the Packers 27-10 at Lambeau Field.
Meanwhile, Hall wasn’t quite as far along in his hunt for Rodgers, but he seemed excited about the potential trade nearing completion.
New York’s Willow Gardner wore a cheesehead, which means ‘idiot’ and is a nickname for Packers fans, after the Jets’ win in Green Bay last season against Rodgers and Co.
Gardner burned the cheese head on his patio with teammates Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson there
“Don’t worry about me… Just protesting @AaronRodgers,” the 21-year-old tweeted.
Gardner and Hall could be two good reasons for Rodgers to decide to play at Florham Park next season.
Gardner was a first-team All-Pro at the end of his rookie season in 2022, developing into one of the best cornerbacks in the league, while Hall put on some impressive displays early last season before picking up an injury to the right leg. ACL that ended the season in October. .
The Jets finished with a losing 7-10 overall record at the end of last season, but they have one of the most promising offenses in the league and often seemed far from competing with teams considered Super Bowl contenders.
Rodgers, who has yet to decide what his future holds in the NFL, would definitely become a quarterback who could lead the Jets back to the postseason, if he decides to join the franchise, as ‘Gang Green’ extended his season for the last time in 2010.
Last week, the Jets cleared $15.1 million in salary cap space after restructuring several contracts before trading Rodgers, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
It was announced Saturday that left guard Laken Tomlinson, cornerback DJ Reed and tight end Tyler Conklin have agreed to restructured deals to free up salary cap space.
New York reportedly cleared $15.2 million in salary cap space in anticipation of Rodgers trade
Earlier in the week, New York also restructured tight end CJ Uzomah’s deal and also released backup wide receiver and return man Braxton Berrios in salary-cap saving moves.
In total, the transactions freed up more than $21 million in cap space, according to Cimini. The Jets now have $11.6 million in cap space before the start of the new league year on March 15, according to Over The Cap.
Gardner has been in full recruiting mode this season as he launched another campaign, this time for Odell Beckham Jr.
He recently posted a FaceTime photo of himself with the three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, who is currently a free agent.