If you love the business of the NFL, Andrew Brandt is a must follow. The former Packers executive turned media member provides insight and expertise in a way few others are capable. The Aaron Rodgers saga has brought out some of Brandt’s best work. He was there when the Rodgers era started and he’s followed it through to its finish.
Appearing on his podcast Business of Sports, Brandt made no bones about who he felt came out on top of the blockbuster deal.
“So let me get this straight…heres the deal…Packers get a first-round swap this year, a high second round this year, a second next year that likely turns into a first, they get $60 million taken off their books. And if he plays two years, they get 100 million taken off their books. 100 million dollars! All for a player who in no way on God’s green earth was gonna play for the Green Bay Packers ever again. That’s a good deal.”
Brant also made a point to credit Green Bay’s unique organizational structure for their success in the negotiations.
“There were times, especially at league meetings, where it was frustrating not having an “owner” in Green Bay. But for this trade of Aaron, it seemed helpful. There was no owner to get impatient or emotional and demand a trade get done. It seems that happened with the Jets.
What I still don’t understand from a Jets perspective: The 2024 2nd converts to a 1st with 65% playtime only? No statistical conditions? No playoff conditions? Really?”
For months the national media and fan bases debated leverage. Since the beginning, Brandt has been very clear on who held it. “Because, at the end of the day. here is the bottom line on this trade.” Brandt wrote. “Can you imagine Jets GM Joe Douglas saying to his owner, coach, offensive coordinator, Lazard and fan base, Sorry, the Packers wanted too much. We’re going to pass on Rodgers. Neither can I.”
It wasn’t all trade celebrations for the former executive. Brandt did take time to reflect on the end of a Hall of Famer’s career with a historic franchise.
“Beyond the trade analysis; as a Packer fan and an Aaron fan, it is a sad day. Packer fans will now experience, for the first time in 30 years, not having a franchise QB. Aaron is a supreme talent, he made every game interesting. He will be missed. Thought that needed to be said.
Even for the best of the best, it rarely ends well. None of these players ended (or will end) with teams for which they were decade-long faces of their franchise. P. Manning, Brady, Favre, Rodgers, Montana, Rivers, McNabb, Wilson, Ryan, Stafford and more…”
