It’s hard not to feel bad for Matt LaFleur, the somewhat forgotten third figure in the Aaron Rodgers-vs.-Packers-front-office staredown. The third-year head coach faces the daunting task of running Green Bay’s offseason program and steering the ship forward despite the obvious dark cloud hanging over the organization.
When asked about the team’s mandatory minicamp, which begins next week, LaFleur tried to appear optimistic about Rodgers’ situation, but it’s easy to see through the sad facade of his words.
“It’s important that we have all our guys and certainly we’d love him to be here and hopefully we’ll see him Tuesday,” LaFleur said, according to Packers News.
Anyone who has been following the Packers’ offseason saga knows that the chances of Rodgers showing up lie somewhere between slim and none. The star quarterback skipped the team’s OTAs last week to vacation in Hawaii with fiancee Shailene Woodley and actor Miles Teller.
Reports have said Rodgers is unlikely to return to the team anytime soon, and his absence could extend into training camp and beyond if he is not traded – which general manager Brian Gutekunst has insisted he will not do. The Packers can fine him nearly $100,000 for missing the minicamp, but it’s unlikely to matter much to the reigning MVP.
LaFleur will instead go into minicamp with Jordan Love at quarterback, who according to Packers reporter Andy Herman has been hesitant to push the ball down the field in OTAs thus far.