No matter what occurs with Aaron Rodgers’ profession as a New York Jet, he might nonetheless be in line to gather $75 million over the following two seasons.
Rodgers, the 39-year-old future hall-of-famer who joined the Jets in ballyhooed vogue in the course of the offseason after a 17-year profession with the Inexperienced Bay Packers, was taken off the sector in his first sport as a Jet on Monday evening.
By Tuesday morning, it was confirmed that Rodgers had torn his Achilles tendon, primarily based on an MRI, and can be out for the remainder of the season, in response to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Community and NFL.com.
In an Instagram submit, Rodgers mentioned Wednesday evening that he was “heartbroken” in regards to the state of affairs.
“I’m fully heartbroken and transferring by way of all the feelings, however deeply touched and humbled by the help and love,” Rodgers wrote. “Please preserve me in your ideas and prayers as I start the therapeutic course of as we speak.”
A torn Achilles is certainly no small matter. The typical size of restoration is within the 10- to 12-month vary, the Professional Soccer Community website reported.
However others have famous {that a} torn Achilles may be a career-ender for Rodgers. A “extreme damage … would elevate questions on his future,” ABC Information mentioned.
Additionally learn: Too quickly? Chicago hot-dog slinger and New York headline author amongst these swift to make mild of the Aaron Rodgers damage.
Information experiences have indicated that Rodgers’ two-year $75 million contract with the Jets is “assured.” That would imply the group owes him that cash even when he by no means performs one other sport.
Nonetheless, the NFL states on its web site that some contracts aren’t assured in full. So, if Rodgers’ contract didn’t cowl him for damage, the Jets might be off the hook if he doesn’t recuperate and return.
“Media retailers usually announce and discuss in regards to the ‘assured cash’ in a participant’s contract. Nonetheless, a lot of the cash is barely partially assured,” the NFL has mentioned.
However ESPN has reported that Rodgers’ $75 million contract is “absolutely assured,” as produce other retailers.
One other chance: Both the Jets or Rodgers might have taken out an insurance coverage coverage to cowl the $75 million contract. So both the group or Rodgers might recuperate any misplaced cash in a worst-case state of affairs, ought to that materialize.
Darren Heitner, a sports activities legal professional primarily based in Florida, mentioned it’s definitely potential that the Jets have insurance coverage, particularly given Rodgers’ age and the dimensions of the contract. “It’s inherently a hedge on danger,” Heitner mentioned.
However Heitner added it’s much less probably that Rodgers had any want for insurance coverage because the assure is successfully a type of insurance coverage itself.
Heitner did be aware that there are potential loopholes even in a totally assured contract. For instance, if a participant engages in a dangerous exercise, reminiscent of skydiving, that ends in an damage, which may null the assure.
Technically, Rodgers’ contract is price $112.5 million over three years, with a potential extension for 2 extra years, in response to the Professional Soccer Community website. The assured portion — $75 million — covers the quarterback’s first two seasons as a Jet.
Rodgers took a pay reduce to come back to the Jets. If he had remained a Packer, he would have been in line to earn almost $110 million by way of the rest of his contract, earlier than being traded by Inexperienced Bay in alternate for draft picks.
Totally assured contracts aren’t essentially the norm within the NFL exactly as a result of gamers are liable to damage, Heitner famous. However given Rodgers’ stature and the actual fact many groups would have probably signed him if the Jets didn’t, that put him and his representatives in a greater place to push for such a assure.
“The secret is leverage,” Heitner mentioned.
The New York Jets didn’t reply instantly to a MarketWatch request for remark about Rodgers’ medical state of affairs and contract phrases. However the group did concern a press release on social media about Rodgers, saying, “Not the way in which any of us needed it to go, however we all know the dedication you’ve made to this group will proceed to impression us transferring ahead. Get nicely quickly, @AaronRodgers12.”
