Nearly precisely 16 years in the past — beginning in late November of 2008 — Brett Favre’s one-year shotgun marriage to the New York Jets went into the tank. On the time, the Jets had been 8-3, squarely within the AFC playoff image, and coming off a 34-13 win over the Tennessee Titans. However there was additionally an issue.
Favre’s throwing shoulder was in ache.
Although the franchise wouldn’t realize it definitively till an MRI in late December, Favre had taken successful towards the Titans and tore the biceps tendon in his throwing shoulder. It was an damage that will take a season of Favre-mania in New York and switch it inside out — scuttled by a 1-4 end which noticed the Jets quarterback (and presumptive starter the following season) throw two touchdowns towards 9 interceptions. The Jets missed the postseason, with Favre wanting and sounding like he was bodily and mentally cooked. Not surprisingly, he instructed the Jets he was retiring just some weeks after the conclusion of the season.
And that was that.
After all, it wasn’t.
Favre’s legendary flip-flopping along with his retirement standing had yet one more flip left, and following his launch by the Jets in late April of that yr, he was drawn again into the NFL fold by the Minnesota Vikings in mid-August. On the time, it was pure to ask what Favre might have left. His season with the Jets, regardless of incomes a Professional Bowl nod, was a curler coaster in the midst of a circus. It ended badly and injured. Then the Vikings got here calling.
One yr later, Favre put collectively probably the greatest seasons of his profession, ending 2009 with 33 touchdowns and 7 interceptions whereas main the Vikings to the NFC title recreation, the place they narrowly misplaced to the eventual Tremendous Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.
This can be a related chapter of NFL historical past proper now. As a result of we’re gazing a fading Aaron Rodgers with the Jets — clearly nonetheless not himself after final yr’s Achilles restore — and questioning what’s left within the tank for a star who, like Favre earlier than him, is wanting bodily and mentally cooked in a Jets uniform.
Given the clear sweep firings of the pinnacle coach and basic supervisor who courted Rodgers so feverishly to the Jets — and the workforce proprietor who reportedly verbalized the concept of benching him early within the season — it’s truthful to anticipate that the top is close to for the soon-to-be 41-year-old veteran. Or on the very least, the top with the Jets is close to.
However with Rodgers already stating that he needs to play in 2025 — and sources near him telling Yahoo Sports activities that he doesn’t need his legacy to be this Jets implosion — it’s price taking a gander at potential touchdown spots for Rodgers this offseason. As a lot as we’re gazing him and sure that he doesn’t have a lot left to supply, we will’t account for each NFL basic supervisor or head coach who may suppose in any other case.
With that in thoughts, right here’s what the panorama seems like, with a rationale for and towards Rodgers’ subsequent potential touchdown spot.
Beginning with the …
San Francisco 49ers
Why it might occur: Head coach Kyle Shanahan made a name to see if Rodgers was out there through commerce previous to the 2021 NFL Draft. Shanahan has spoken glowingly about Rodgers on many events and has the arrogance (conceitedness?) to imagine he might get one final squeeze out of the long run Corridor of Famer. Plus, this 49ers workforce, if totally wholesome in 2025, would characterize the type of proficient touchdown spot that turned Favre round for one beautiful post-Jets season. Rodgers additionally needs to be on a workforce that may win now. He’s not sticking round to get creamed on a nasty workforce.
Why it received’t occur: Brock Purdy’s extension remains to be the first plan for the 49ers proper now. And whereas he’s had some ups and downs this season, he nonetheless represents a decade or extra of quarterback stability in San Francisco. Until Purdy falls aside, there’s no cause to danger that on an getting older and restricted Rodgers — even when Rodgers agreed to play for subsequent to nothing to assist the 49ers with their wage cap.
Los Angeles Rams
Why it might occur: Like Shanahan and the 49ers, Sean McVay and the Rams had their very own curiosity in Rodgers in 2021, previous to dealing for Matthew Stafford. There’s some query about whether or not or not Stafford shall be within the fold subsequent season, and the Rams don’t have a clearly logical long-term possibility on the place. The general roster isn’t the identical high quality as San Francisco, however Rodgers has a private affinity for Los Angeles and there may be sufficient offensive expertise to not less than have a pleasant one-season bridge alternative for each quarterback and workforce.
Why it received’t occur: The Rams have salary-cap points, so Rodgers must are available for nothing, and the workforce has proven little curiosity in rebuilding with something however youthful gamers. Including Rodgers would merely be a one-season patch to attempt to win the Tremendous Bowl within the 2025 season, and the Rams don’t appear to be they’re geared up for that with or with out him. So what can be the purpose?
Minnesota Vikings
Why it might occur: As a result of the universe is bizarre and the Vikings did resurrect Favre so why wager towards the planets aligning and historical past repeating itself? Additionally, starter Sam Darnold is leaving in free company for a starter contract elsewhere, and rookie J.J. McCarthy is coming off two offseason knee surgical procedures and remains to be studying the playbook and place. In the meantime, the Vikings’ roster would give Rodgers precisely the type of weapons to recapture a season of greatness, whereas additionally sticking it within the eye of the Packers only for enjoyable. So, principally, what Favre did.
Why it received’t occur: There’s little logic in letting go of Darnold in free company in an effort to get shifting with the McCarthy plan, then changing that plan with a Rodgers interruption. The Vikings can be asking for issues and drama.
Seattle Seahawks
Why it might occur: Geno Smith hits a wall this season and the Seahawks fizzle down the stretch, and sooner or later the workforce sees that Sam Howell isn’t a viable starter. And a few bizarre type of desperation.
Why it received’t occur: Rodgers isn’t a greater possibility than holding onto Smith for not less than yet one more season and persevering with to work with Howell.
Cleveland Browns
Why it might occur: Insanity.
Why it received’t occur: Sanity. And the wage cap. And Deshaun Watson hangover. And sanity (sure, I stated it twice).
Tennessee Titans
Why it might occur: Desperation from a entrance workplace and training workers that feels prefer it principally has 2025 to place a successful season collectively, and the hope that possibly Will Levis might get one thing constructive by sitting behind Rodgers for a season and rebooting.
Why it received’t occur: Levis is not less than taking part in properly sufficient in losses and exhibiting indicators of life, incomes yet one more yr of endurance and improvement. Additionally, Rodgers doesn’t wish to be part of a in-progress construct.
Indianapolis Colts
Why it might occur: Identical factor I stated in regards to the Titans, however plug in Anthony Richardson for Levis.
Why it received’t occur: Identical factor I stated in regards to the Titans, however plug in Anthony Richardson for Levis.
Las Vegas Raiders
Why it might occur: Mark Davis is a nasty workforce proprietor who likes shiny issues and shall be determined if the Raiders aren’t positioned to draft a quarterback. And possibly minority proprietor Tom Brady thinks Rodgers has one thing left.
Why it received’t occur: This can be a rebuild and Rodgers isn’t placing his final gasp right into a rebuild. Additionally, Davante Adams has instructed Rodgers every little thing he must know in regards to the Raiders and their very own dangerous possession scenario with Davis.
Miami Dolphins
Why it might occur: Tua Tagovailoa suffers one other concussion that adjustments the course of his profession and he has to sit down out the 2025 season — however can also be eligible to return in 2026, well being allowing. The Dolphins want a one-season repair and have the expertise to be engaging to Rodgers.
Why it received’t occur: Tagovailoa received’t get one other concussion this season and there’s no want for a beginning quarterback subsequent yr.
Carolina Panthers
Why it might occur: Bryce Younger falls aside down the stretch and the Panthers discover themselves in a scenario the place they will’t lure or draft one other starter.
Why it received’t occur: Rodgers is within the class of gamers who couldn’t be lured to Carolina. It’s a rebuild of rebuilds.
New York Giants
Why it might occur: The Giants’ teaching workers and entrance workplace has to win in 2025 or get swept out, and Rodgers is a greater possibility than the opposite retreads or rookies out there. Pure desperation.
Why it received’t occur: The Giants’ possession, teaching workers and entrance workplace has had a front-row seat for Rodgers’ stint with the Jets. They know what this seems like. Rodgers received’t have an interest within the rebuild. And the Giants shall be positioned to draft a quarterback.
New Orleans Saints
Why it might occur: See the Cleveland Browns entry.
Why it received’t occur: See the Cleveland Browns entry and substitute Watson’s title with Derek Carr.
Retirement
Why it might occur: It’s most likely the most effective and most lifelike possibility left on the desk.
Why it received’t occur: Rodgers can’t exit like this, and can play virtually anyplace to ensure the Jets debacle isn’t the final picture he leaves within the NFL.
For now, that’s the horizon Rodgers is heading into. Now getting into Week 12 of the QB Room …
• Most of this week’s odds and ends goes to be eaten up by three quarterback contract conditions to look at within the second half of the season. So buckle up. These three instances are drawing extra curiosity throughout the league with every passing week, from a monetary and expertise views. And all of them are seemingly getting extra sophisticated as we head into the house stretch of the common season. In no specific order, it’s time to speak about …
Brock Purdy’s extension with the San Francisco 49ers:
As we talked about within the Rodgers multiverse lead, there stays a risk that this example takes a left flip. A part of it’s rooted in how head coach Kyle Shanahan’s opinion of Jimmy Garoppolo started to erode following the Tremendous Bowl LIV loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in 2020. The next season, you started to listen to from a few of Shanahan’s confidants that he had some frustrations with Garoppolo’s choice making and skill to deal with moments on the massive stage. Then got here the drumbeat that Shanahan nonetheless pined for Kirk Cousins, which appeared stunning on the time.
Wanting again, the takeaway from the scenario had been that Shanahan might undoubtedly run cold and warm with beginning quarterbacks. Even guys who had been confirmed and had some success. Garoppolo’s accidents in the end undercut him the following few seasons with the 49ers, however there’s benefit to the assumption that the expertise left a long-lasting impression on how lengthy Shanahan sticks with guys as soon as he has even a sliver of reservation.
Making use of that to the Purdy scenario, there’s no query there have been peaks and valleys this season in his play. Not dramatic swings, thoughts you, however sufficient to make the rest of the season necessary with regards to the urgency of his contract extension.
The 49ers shut out their remaining seven video games with appreciable competitors, together with two concrete Tremendous Bowl contenders (the Buffalo Payments and Detroit Lions), a Inexperienced Bay Packers workforce that’s within the thick of playoff seeding and two NFC West groups which are clawing to win the division (the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals). And of the 2 “simple” groups left on the schedule, there are the Miami Dolphins, who can problem the 49ers defensively and are getting higher with Tua Tagovailoa’s return, and the Chicago Bears, who made a change at offensive coordinator that created encouraging indicators.
That’s not a cakewalk for the 5-5 Niners down the stretch. How Purdy performs in that expanse will matter, significantly because it pertains to this newest concern about his throwing shoulder — which reportedly interfered along with his follow on Thursday — and whether or not he can elevate the wholesome elements of San Francisco’s roster down the stretch.
The plan remains to be to increase Purdy this offseason. But when that is an uneven journey or Purdy has well being points via the remainder of the season, it’s extra doubtless the workforce presses pause on extension talks and evaluates the way it strikes ahead. If that occurs, I believe the 49ers will play out the ultimate yr of Purdy’s deal in 2025, understanding they will both prolong him after that season or apply the franchise tag
The underside line: There is likely to be yet one more prove-it yr in play for Purdy if he can’t catch a heater from this level on. And there is this whisper … former 49ers backup Sam Darnold seems fairly good working the Shanahan offense in Minnesota and shall be a free agent this offseason.
Russell Wilson’s potential new cope with the Pittsburgh Steelers:
It’s definitely not time to recover from our skis with regards to Wilson’s contractual future, however his 4-1 begin and match inside the Steelers’ scheme and beliefs has been ok to start out laying monitor for an extended marriage. Once I frolicked with the Steelers in the summertime, I used to be flat-out instructed by members of the workforce’s braintrust that the 2025 quarterback was completely on the 2024 roster. The one query was whether or not it will be Wilson or Justin Fields.
Proper now, Wilson is making the most effective case to be the selection. That stated, he turns 36 subsequent week and the offense hasn’t been a juggernaut, which was evident in Sunday’s touchdown-less win towards the Ravens and Thursday night time’s 24-19 defeat to the 3-8 Browns. So there must be some thought into how the workforce can be constructed round Wilson with an extension.
Even below the most effective circumstances, Wilson’s extension would doubtless be a four-year pact with a window of assured cash in 2025 and 2026, making it a short-term gamble — with the potential to renegotiate and create some assured cash in 2027 if Wilson can play at a excessive degree in 2025 and the Steelers make some playoff strides.
A query that’s buzzing throughout the league proper now could be what Wilson’s wage would appear to be, given his age and this being his late-stage reboot in his profession. A follow-up to that query is whether or not Wilson would take a team-friendly deal that will permit Pittsburgh to inject extra capital to create a three-year Tremendous Bowl window from 2025 to 2027. I requested round with just a few basic managers who’ve performed their justifiable share of mid-to-high degree quarterback offers, and the sense that I bought was that Pittsburgh might search the type of contract Aaron Rodgers did with the New York Jets, with a slight adjustment to align with the wage cap increasing quickly.
The outcome: one thing within the neighborhood of 4 years for $160 million, with $80 million assured at signing — and a entice door after the 2026 season that will permit the Steelers to maneuver on with out a lot cap ache if Wilson’s play goes off a cliff.
Thoughts you, that is all based mostly on Wilson ending out 2024 with a powerful run. That is still to be seen. If it occurs, anticipate the Steelers to maneuver shortly following the season to lace one thing up with Wilson, but in addition reserve the proper to franchise tag him within the $42 million vary if one thing can’t be put collectively earlier than free company.
Sam Darnold’s impending free company:
There are some fascinating break up opinions on what will occur with Darnold. There are fairly just a few executives who suppose Darnold has labored himself squarely into the monitor that Baker Mayfield took in 2023, when Mayfield signed a one-year prove-it cope with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023 (incomes $6.85 million) whereas parlaying himself right into a wholesome contract extension. That deal ended up being a three-year, $100 million contract with $40 million assured at signing from the Buccaneers. It seems like Tampa Bay landed a strong cut price. However Mayfield can also be more likely to press for extension talks following the 2026 season and a brand new deal that might pay him significantly extra, given his present degree of success. Adjusted for Darnold, a Mayfield-type of contract might be within the neighborhood of three years for $120 million, with $50-60 million assured at signing.
Now comes the break up opinion. A pair executives are nonetheless Darnold as a participant who’s extra more likely to regress when he isn’t throwing to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, or being coached up by Kevin O’Connell. They really feel like he’s most beneficial to the Vikings workforce that he’s presently beginning for, and that his finest profession route can be discovering a path to sticking in Minnesota and constructing on what he’s completed this season. After all, that’s not the Vikings’ plan. With the cash the workforce has already doled out to Jefferson, the design is to make use of the pliability supplied by having a rookie wage within the beginning quarterback spot — which is why the Vikings used the tenth total draft choose on J.J. McCarthy. Blowing up that plan and signing Darnold to even a mid-level quarterback extension would create a necessity for changes.
I’ll shut this out with a comparability from an NFC government: “[Darnold] is having his Case Keenum second, like Keenum placing it collectively for a season with the Vikings [in 2017]. Then he went to Denver on a free-agent contract and wasn’t throwing to [Adam] Thielen in his prime — which was really actually good — and Stefon Diggs, and getting protected by a Vikings protection that was actually good that yr. He went some place else and we noticed how a lot of his progress was in regards to the expertise and workforce round him. To me, that’s what Darnold is correct now. If he can stick in Minnesota, that’s his finest shot. Anyplace else, he’s not going to be taking part in at this degree.”
It’s meals for thought. For all three of those gamers and the offers that they’re chasing.
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• I’m not going to waste extra time on the Shedeur Sanders-to-Dallas fever dream that the speak reveals are having, however I’ve to relay a degree that an AFC basic supervisor made once we had been chatting earlier this week: Even when Dallas was silly sufficient to go the rookie quarterback route, then bought over hurdle No. 1 by drafting Sanders, then cleared hurdle No. 2 by getting Dak Prescott to waive his no-trade clause …they’d nonetheless journey horrendously on hurdle No. 3, which is the fact that no workforce within the NFL needs to tackle Prescott’s new contract — particularly after he simply suffered a second decrease physique damage that required surgical procedure and will render him even much less cell than he already is following the first main decrease physique damage of his profession requiring surgical procedure in 2020.
Prescott isn’t seen as an amazing well being or wage danger for anybody proper now. Meaning if Dallas had been to draft Sanders, the Cowboys would doubtless have to chop Prescott and tackle a $90 million lifeless cap hit that renders the pliability of Sanders’ rookie wage utterly nullified. May Dallas go this route? Completely. Would it not be wildly silly and danger bottoming out the whole group within the subsequent couple of seasons? Sure. For sure. And everybody within the league is aware of it.
• One of many fascinating issues that I’ve seen with the success of the rookie quarterbacks this season — and it’s one thing that was accentuated with Bears QB Caleb Williams’ first recreation below new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown — is that groups are loosening up with regards to athletic QBs being allowed to entry their scrambling capacity despite the inherent dangers of it. We’ve seen it with Jayden Daniels in Washington, the place a part of the offense was contracted to maneuver the pocket, but in addition opened additional with a willingness to let Daniels cook dinner along with his working capacity. The identical has gone for Bo Nix in Denver and Drake Maye in New England. Speaking with a supply from the Broncos earlier this week about Nix, he made an amazing level about why rookie QBs are being allowed to run extra usually this season.
“It’s two issues,” he stated. “There are extra gamers on this rookie class who can do it very well, which is clearly an important factor, nevertheless it additionally offers them loads of confidence. Then that confidence will get injected into different issues they’re doing. It’s much like scripting some simple [pass completions] on the primary drive. You’re getting the juices flowing. [Running] isn’t one thing you wish to do perpetually, but when you are able to do it well and it helps a younger man alter, allow them to have interaction that a part of their expertise.”
On condition that vantage, possibly it was no shock that when Brown took over for the fired Shane Waldron, one of many elements that bought accentuated for Williams was that he might go to his scrambling capacity extra readily if he wasn’t seeing a transparent choice shortly in his progressions. Not solely was Williams getting the ball out sooner, however if you watch movie, you would see him taking the working possibility very intentionally when a throw wasn’t out there, resulting in his season excessive of 70 dashing yards on 9 carries. I don’t suppose that was an emphasis for Williams below Waldron, and I anticipate we’ll see Williams making extra performs taking the working lanes out there to him the remainder of the season.