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Peyton Manning Says He ‘Can’t Fathom’ Aaron Rodgers Not Playing in NFL This Year

During a recent conversation with NFL legend Peyton Manning, the former quarterback said he’d be shocked if Aaron Rodgers didn’t play in the league this year.

There’s been plenty of uncertainty surrounding the Green Bay Packers and last season’s NFL MVP this offseason. Rodgers hasn’t shied away from voicing his displeasure with the organization’s front office publicly. Many believe the inner turmoil began in last season’s NFL Draft when the Packers selected another quarterback with their first-round pick. However, Rodgers’ issues with the team seem to be deeper than that.

With preseason training camps coming up fast, fans and football analysts alike are curious to see how the situation plays out. You can add two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning to that mix. While speaking with the MLB Network yesterday during All-Star week festivities, the former QB shared his opinion on the Rodgers-Packers situation.

“I hope he plays somewhere this year. The fact that Aaron Rodgers might not play this year, I can’t fathom it,” Manning explained. “He’s too good of a player, too fun to watch for the fans. I personally hope it’s in Green Bay. That’s what I see him as. I hope they can make amends and work it out.”

Manning went on to say that he thinks Green Bay is close to making another Super Bowl run. Last season the Packers made it to the NFC Championship, falling short of the Super Bowl by only one game. Additionally, he doesn’t see his former team, the Denver Broncos, making a move for Aaron Rodgers either.

“That is team is so close, if he were to leave there it’d be a major change, obviously, for them,” he added. “My gut is he’s not coming to Denver. My gut is Denver’s gonna have Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater be their quarterback. At this point, you’ve kind of got to know what your plan is. You can’t be having a new quarterback three weeks before the season.”

Aaron Rodgers Speaks Out on Offseason Packers Drama

In late May, Aaron Rodgers made his first definitive comments on the ongoing situation with the Green Bay Packers. The quarterback has been with the organization his entire career since they selected him in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. But many have speculated that he may force his way out of Green Bay this offseason.

Rodgers appeared on SportsCenter on May 24 where he finally opened up about the ongoing drama. Supposedly he says his issues with the team have nothing to do with the Packers selecting QB Jordan Love last year. Instead, his problems are with the front office and general manager Brian Gutekunst, and how they’ve handled the situation ever since.

“With my situation, look it’s never been about the draft pick, picking Jordan,” Aaron Rodgers said, according to the NY Post. “I love Jordan; he’s a great kid. [We’ve had] a lot of fun to work together. Love the coaching staff, love my teammates, love the fan base in Green Bay. An incredible 16 years.”

“It’s just kind of about a philosophy and maybe forgetting that it is about the people that make the thing go. It’s about character, it’s about culture, it’s about doing things the right way,” he added.