Aaron Rodgers had a good laugh over the paparazzi frenzy outside his home when the Jets visited him in Southern California last week.
During his Wednesday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” the quarterback discussed his meeting with Jets brass after revealing that he intends to play for New York in 2023.
“We had a nice visit,” Rodgers said. “They decided to leave their cars in the street which attracted paparazzi attention, which got a few of them photographed — which I thought was pretty funny.”
Jets brass — including owner Woody Johnson, vice chairman and co-owner Christopher Johnson, general manager Joe Douglas, head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett — took a private jet to California to meet with Rodgers amid their pursuit of the 39-year-old quarterback.
“We had a nice conversation and I told them, ‘Listen, I’m not ready to make a decision about anything,’” Rodgers said.
“I want to get back into my workouts and see how it feels and really hit it hard for a week… to see if the drive and the passion is still there and then I’ll see where we’re at.”
Rodgers said the meeting lasted about four hours, and described the conversation as being “relaxed and easy.”
“It was pre-daylight savings,” Rodgers said. “They walked out at about right just after sunset, which was shortly six [o’clock]. They arrived at the house at two.”
Rodgers added that there was no talk about ayahuasca — the plant-based psychedelic tea containing the hallucinogenic drug DMT the quarterback has been open about taking.
“I told them a little about the darkness,” Rodgers said, adding that Saleh was interested in hearing about the quarterback’s four days and four nights in an isolation retreat in Klamath County, Ore. at Sky Cave Retreats.
When McAfee asked if he believes the Jets are a “good match,” Rodgers said, “I think the match is important, but there is also a sanctuary of solace that surrounds my house and what happens inside it and some of the conversations need to be given the proper privacy.”
Rodgers played coy when asked if he has spoken with the Jets about participating in offseason workouts.
“One step at a time here,” Rodgers said. “Right now I’m still under contract.
“All I’ve stated today is that I do want to play. My intention would be to play for the Jets, but until the trade happens, I think we’re still at that step.”
The Jets and the Packers are in conversations over compensation and contract.
As of Tuesday afternoon, there were conflicting reports about the Packers seeking multiple first-round picks for Rodgers.
Rodgers has $110 million left on his contract extension that he signed with Green Bay last spring.
He is due $59.5 million in guaranteed money this year and another $49.25 million in 2024.
Rodgers said he has “no malice [and] no bitterness” toward the Packers.
“Since Friday, I made it clear that my intention was to play and my intention was to play for the New York Jets,” Rodgers said.
“I haven’t been holding anything up. At this point it’s been compensation that the Packers are trying to get for me. Kind of digging their heels into it.”
NFL trades will become official at the start of the new league year, which begins at 4 p.m. on March 15.
