Why isn’t Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love attending the training camp?
There was a glaring absence at the Packers’ training camp on Monday, with the team’s quarterback declining to participate. It’s a delicate time in Wisconsin.
With the NFL’s teams now truly in the middle of preparation for the coming season, it’s a time of renewal, restructuring, and of course rejection. That’s to say not everybody gets the deal they are looking for and with that, there are are always some sad goodbyes. Of course, some players take a tough stance when it comes to negotiation and the Packers’ signal-caller seems to be one of them.
Jordan Love is playing hardball with the Packers
When the Green Bay Packers took to the field for the first day of training camp on Monday, they did so without starting quarterback, Jordan Love. According to comments from franchise general manager, Brian Gutekunst on Monday, Love will not be training with the team until he has a new contract signed. It is understood that Love’s representatives informed the Packers of the player’s stance on Saturday.
“This is something that we’re all working on,” said Gutekunst. “We certainly understand where he’s coming from. We’d like him to be out there. It’s important for him to be out there. Obviously, you guys know how important practice is and working with his teammates. As of now, until we get that resolved, he will not be practicing. He reported last week and is taking part in everything else.”
Now, as always, context is key. Do recall, that after former quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ shocking departure from Green Bay before the start of last season, the franchise signed Love to a one-year contract extension worth up to $22.5 million for the 2024 season instead of giving him the fifth-year option. In light of that, the 25-year-old now finds himself in a situation where he is only under contract for the coming season with a base salary of $10.5 million, which if you didn’t now, is a fraction of what a starting quarterback typically earns in the NFL today. When asked about whether a new deal would be forthcoming, Gutekunst was shall we say, moderately positive.
“I think so,” Gutekunst said. “Again, you never know. We’re working really hard to get that done. I think it’s really important for us. At the same time, the thing that I have confidence in is that we both want the same thing. We want Jordan here for a long time, give that stability for him and it gives us some stability for our group as well. ... I’m optimistic. These are big deals that take time. They are not as easy as some people may think.” Indeed. It’s worth noting that ESPN previously reported that a new deal was not close, something that is hard to understand when considering that Love was solid in his first season as a full-time starter. From his 9-8 record during the season in which he notched more than four thousand yards and 32 touchdowns, to his performance in the Super Wild Card Weekend win over the Dallas Cowboys - he threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns - Love had an impressive campaign. Now, it’s a question of whether he will be recognized for that fact going forward.