When it comes to making personnel moves, organizations have been known to consult the face of their franchise.
That hasn’t been the case with the Green Bay Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers this offseason, though. That lack of communication is reportedly causing tension.
In recent months, the team cut ties with longtime receiver Jordy Nelson and quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt. They did so without discussing matters with Rodgers, which has left the signal-caller frustrated and emotional, according to Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson.
The team may have felt like it was time for a change, having not won the Super Bowl in seven seasons. Last year marked the first time since Rodgers’ first full campaign as a starter (2008) that the Packers missed the playoffs, and it took his injury to keep them out this time.
Other than New England Patriots star Tom Brady, perhaps no other player in the NFL has earned the right to have a say in personnel decisions more than Rodgers. But as he told Milwaukee’s 102.9 The Hog (h/t Robinson), It’s pretty clear that players play and coaches coach and personnel people make their decisions. That’s the way they want it.
Green Bay has to do what it believes is best for the organization. If they continue to keep Rodgers in the dark, though, the Packers risk angering one of the league’s best players—and that could prove costly.
The restrictions are based on the results of a test of 34 helmet models completed in a joint effort by the NFL and NFLPA, per an official release.
Although players had previously been able to choose any helmet that passed National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) certification standards, the league is now restricting their options.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network provided a full breakdown of the results of the test, including the 17 helmets that were considered top performers:
The top two picks on the list were created by Vicis, a relatively new competitor in the market.
Per Pelissero, this is the first time helmet models have been restricted, and the phase-out of those prohibited should be complete by 2019.