Two of Aaron Rodgers’ best wide receivers, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, were traded by the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets (though Lazard’s signing was a strong hint that the Jets were pursuing Rodgers even prior to the transaction). That left Green Bay’s wide receiver group to consist of Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Samori Toure, Bo Melton, and three picks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Stated differently, the only weapons the Packers have for first-year starting quarterback Jordan Love would be first- and second-year players. There was undoubtedly a difference between this and how things had been when Rodgers was at the center. Even when he took over for Brett Favre in 2008, Green Bay always had one or two proven veterans for the four-time NFL MVP.
Over the years, Rodgers has a history of favoring these seasoned pass catchers, frequently ignoring less skilled and younger players during games to target his preferred targets, who could or might not have been available.
Rodgers is regarded as a great teammate by many. It is evident, though, that he did not enjoy tossing to inexperienced wide receivers. Until the Packers’ 2022 obligatory training camp draft picks, Watson, Doubs, and Toure were selected, Rodgers did not participate in any offseason activities.
To be fair, he wasn’t against the young pass catchers; his issue was with the front office. Nevertheless, the chemistry between Rodgers and his rookies did not develop until the end of the regular season.
Following his trade to the Jets, Rodgers took part in every program offered over the offseason, even the optional ones. Additionally, he was frequently spotted hanging out with the team’s younger players, like Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner.
While he looks for housing of his own, Rodgers allegedly welcomed 2024 NFL Draft pick Malachi Corley to reside at his guest house in New York this year.
It seems that this gesture offended a former wide receiver for the Packers.
The Green Bay Packers’ story with Amari Rodgers is not a happy one. He was chosen as a much-needed slot receiver in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. One of Aaron’s closest friends, Cobb, was cut by the Packers following the 2018 campaign, and a suitable slot receiver had not yet been secured to replace him.
Fans may remember that Rodgers “held out” during the 2021 offseason, raising questions about whether he would force a trade after winning his third NFL MVP Award following the 2020 campaign. One transaction the Packers made to placate Rodgers was bringing Cobb back to Green Bay in a deal with the Houston Texans, even though the Rodgers trade was still two years away.
Amari was thus not given much playing time because a more experienced player was ranked ahead of him in the depth chart. Eventually, halfway through the 2022 season, the third-round pick from 2021 was made available.
The former Packers wide receiver wrote the following in a since-deleted post on X (previously Twitter) after word leaked out about Rodgers’ gesture to Corley in New York:
Amari’s allegation is flawed since he was cut loose because he was unable to hold onto the ball, not because his quarterback did not extend an invitation for him to stay at his house.
In five punt return attempts before being waived by the Packers in 2022, he mishandled the ball. 2021 saw two missteps from him. He recorded three first-down catches as a receiver and seven fumbles as a returner, to put things into perspective.
In actuality, Cobb missed 25% of Green Bay’s games following his return from the deal with Houston due to injury. Amari could have been able to get playing time if he was that talented.
But since he posed a risk while holding the football, he chose not to.
It’s unfortunate that he didn’t remove the post before it was screenshotted hundreds of times. It seems like a gamer is just making things up.
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