Much was made about Aaron Rodgers’ desire to be traded from the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets earlier this offseason. Of course, we all know now that said transaction would ultimately come to fruition.
And we also know that the Jets brought in several of Rodgers’ former teammates to help him feel at home in New York. Some of the more prominent names among that group include veteran safety Adrian Amos, a long-time Rodgers favorite in receiver Randall Cobb, and Green Bay’s leading receiver from a season ago, Allen Lazard.
Allen Lazard Admits To Having Doubts About Aaron Rodgers Deal
Lazard actually signed with the Jets in March of this year, over a full month before New York and Green Bay agreed to trade terms for Rodgers. But Lazard confirmed recently that he and Rodgers very much intended on reprising their connection for a different club well before their reunion became official, per Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith.
However, several hiccups in the negotiation process gave Lazard understandable doubt that he’d wind up a target of Rodgers once more. Lazard admitted as much to reporters during a recent interview at Jets training camp.
“There was probably an eight-hour period of time where I was like, ‘What the f**k, bro?’” Lazard said. “And he was like, ‘It’s going to happen.’ I was like, ‘All right.’”
Lazard’s sentiments, frankly, echo those of many football fans who bore witness to that trade saga. Particularly those in Green Bay and, especially, New York. After all, it’s no coincidence that Lazard signed with New York on March 17, two days after Rodgers announced his desire to quarterback the Jets in 2023 (as per ESPN).
Much like closing on a house or proposing to your partner, it’s not official until it is. That can lead to a lot of anxiety. The month-plus where Lazard lived in quarterback limbo doubtlessly had him feeling, in a word, doubtful.
Especially after the two coordinated and regularly discussed their intent to partner up once more on a new team. Lazard said that had more to do with the decision-makers on both sides than it did with his QB of the past five years.
“We obviously had a very deep conversation and talked about the possibilities of where he would go, where I would go. Not to say that him going here was the only reason why I came here, or me coming here was the only reason why he didn’t want to retire or stay in Green Bay, per se. But I knew he was doing everything he could do. A lot of the hype around, ‘Why is it not happening?’ Well, he had no control. He would’ve done it way before then.”
Of course, all that matters to Rodgers and Lazard now is that it ultimately got done. Just like they’ll hope to get it done in 2023 and get the Jets back into the postseason for the first time since 2010.