NFC Notes: Aaron Rodgers, Bears, Lions, Vikings

Aaron Rodgers

On the Pat Mcafee Show, Aaron Rodgers said that his contract status with the team is exactly where it was a year ago.

“I think we’re exactly where we were last year when I made comments after the draft and throughout the season,” Rodgers said on the show, via ESPN. “I don’t feel like any of that has changed. Even my comments directly after the last game — and we talked about it on this show — some thought or made assumptions based on what I said, but nothing’s really changed. My future is, really, a lot of it is out of my control. That’s why I’ve used the phrase like ‘beautiful mystery,’ because it is quite uncertain which direction things are going to go.”

However, Rodgers maintains that he is ok with the situation and will continue to play as well as he can regardless of his standing with the team.

“All I can do is play my best, and I feel like last year I did do that,” Rodgers said. “That may have thrown a wrench into some timelines that may have been thought about or desired, but ultimately things haven’t really changed on that front. I meant what I said last year about really being at peace with the whole thing, and that hasn’t changed. I feel good about the way I played. Feel good about the way I led. … Everything else is kind of for speculation, and I’m sure there will be plenty of it.

He also discussed how he would welcome being the permanent host of “Jeopardy!”

“If [shaving his beard and mustache] was a prereq to get the full-time gig, no problem with that at all. No problem at all.”

Bears

• The NFLPA released its calculations for the performance-based pay benefit that was eliminated in 2020 but will still be paid by teams. Each team split $8.5 million between its players and payments are deferred to 2024. 
• The top Bears player was OL Germain Ifedi ($570,571).

Lions

• The NFLPA released its calculations for the performance-based pay benefit that was eliminated in 2020 but will still be paid by teams. Each team split $8.5 million between its players and payments are deferred to 2024. 
• The top Lions player was CB Amani Oruwariye ($572,067).

Vikings

The Vikings released the following statement regarding the news that second-year CB Jeff Gladney turned himself in to the police on a felony assault charge Monday:

“We are aware of Jeff’s arrest and are gathering additional information. We take this matter very seriously, as the reported allegations are extremely disturbing. At this time we will have no further comment.”