I come to you today with terrible news. Just terrible, awful, no-good news.
Sometimes life just isn't fair. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. And sometimes the world can seem awfully cruel for no reason at all.
RELATED: ESPN's Mel Kiper changes his mind on Bears' pick in latest 2025 NFL mock draft
None of that applies to this. Today's a day for celebration – or, at the very least, a moderately-sized victory lap. That's because Aaron Rodgers got rejected. He put his heart on the line for the Minnesota Vikings, in a truly earnest attempt to ruin yet another NFL franchise for the next three years, and was turned down. According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Vikings have made it to clear to other teams that JJ McCarthy's going to be QB1 next season. But they still want to be friends!
It sure sounds like the Vikings turned down Aaron Rodgers for JJ McCarthy
"I am told the Vikings have rejected multiple trade calls involving their young quarterback, JJ McCarthy," he said. "Telling teams they are moving forward with McCarthy as their quarterback. Minnesota's still interested in adding a veteran, whether through free agency or a trade. But I am told they are not pursuing Aaron Rodgers. JJ McCarthy now enters the offseason as QB1. Now for Aaron Rodgers, his opportunities now center on the Steelers and the Giants."
Wooof. A tough look for Aaron. Turns out when you're 41 and kinda washed and playing on one good leg and also a huge headache, you can't just force your way onto any team you'd like? The NFL ain't what it used to be. Now Rodgers is stuck between the Steelers and the Giants, which kinda seems like a super obvious answer? I guess his ability to disassociate and be at peace in the darkest of pits would uniquely prepare him for the Giants, so you can't rule it out.
Sad. I really liked the idea of seeing Rodgers eye-roll his way through the first six weeks on the Vikings' bench, finally get a few starts, put up some meh stats, and sink the Vikings into an eight win season that tore the locker room apart. We were owed that. It's just not the same when it's happening on some east coast city, far away from the NFC North. The dream is dead. Hopefully this doesn't drag on for another few weeks and include several more personally embarrassing anecdotes. What a shame that'd be.