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    NFL Rumors: Packers 'Upset' 49ers, Broncos, More May Have Tampered with Aaron Rodgers

    Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerFeatured Columnist IV

    CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 03: Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws the football in action during a game between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers on January 03, 2021 at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
    Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

    The Green Bay Packers are "upset" other NFL teams may have tampered with disgruntled star Aaron Rodgers, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky.

    Demovsky reported the Packers haven't formally filed a tampering allegation with the NFL "because they know it's nearly impossible to prove." However, the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos "are believed" to be two of the teams that reached out to Rodgers to see his level of interest in playing for them.

    The 49ers and Broncos were both linked to Rodgers prior to Demovsky's report.

    Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith reported San Francisco was willing to include the No. 3 overall pick in a trade package for the 37-year-old, though ESPN's Adam Schefter reported at the time no team had made a formal offer to Green Bay.

    Dianna Russini of ESPN reported Tuesday on First Take the Broncos "continue to be the team I hear that are going to be the most interested."

    Get Up @GetUpESPN

    "The Denver Broncos continue to be the team I hear that are going to be the most interested [in Aaron Rodgers], and are going to put the most in front of the Green Bay Packers to try to make this trade go down."<br><br>—@diannaESPN 😶 pic.twitter.com/7FmUDtXkLn

    At least the Packers probably don't have to worry about a prolonged pursuit by San Francisco. The Niners selected North Dakota State star Trey Lance, so it's doubtful they'd now give up a lot of assets for a veteran quarterback.

    NFL Rumors: Packers 'Upset' 49ers, Broncos, More May Have Tampered with Aaron Rodgers
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    On the eve of the 2021 NFL draft, Schefter reported Rodgers "is so disgruntled with the Green Bay Packers that he has told some within the organization that he does not want to return to the team."

    According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the reigning MVP turned down a contract restructure with the team, and negotiations over an extension were unsuccessful. That doesn't appear to be his only source of frustration, either.

    Jay Glazer @JayGlazer

    Aaron told Packers he doesn’t want to return as @AdamSchefter said and I think it’s more than a contract deal, I think he’s pretty strongly convicted that he doesn’t want to go back to Packers.

    ProFootballTalk @ProFootballTalk

    As @JayGlazer said, the contract is part of the reason for Rodgers’ discontent. I’m told he “doesn’t like anyone in the front office for a variety of reasons.”

    According to The Athletic's Bob McGinn on Wednesday, Rodgers has "mocked" general manager Brian Gutekunst in chats with teammates and compared him to former Chicago Bulls general manager Jerry Krause. That may not be burn Rodgers thinks it is considering Krause helped build a roster that won six championships over eight years, but Krause was famously unpopular with Bulls star Michael Jordan.

    Regardless, things are only getting uglier. Rather than coming together, the respective parties could grow more entrenched as the offseason unfolds.