The speculation on what directions both Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets will go following this season is multifarious, but a new spin was brought to the table on "The Herd" with Colin Cowherd on FS1.
Former Jets coach Eric Mangini said that Rodgers is doing "everything he can to get cut" by owner Woody Johnson while appearing on the show Friday.
Mangini's speculation was rooted in how Rodgers referenced Johnson's teenage son, Brick Johnson, in his statement.
"The fact that Aaron brought up the, 'I've never been cut by a teenager, I've never been released by a teenager,' that's a direct shot at the owner," Mangini said. "That's legitimizing everything that's been said in that organization. That's making fun of how dysfunctional it is.
"That's a direct shot at the owner. That's legitimizing everything that's been said in the organization."
Eric Mangini tells @ColinCowherd why Aaron Rodgers is doing everything in his power to get cut from the Jets pic.twitter.com/gEknkbwV5X
Rodgers said this earlier in the week while making his weekly appearance on ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show." The four-time MVP joked that it would "make for a great story" if Johnson's son was the one ultimately calling the shots.
"There's a first time for everything and there's been a few of those this year — first time in 20 years," Rodgers said to McAfee when prompted with a question about Johnson's sons. "I've never been released before. Being released would be a first. Being released by a teenager would also be a first."
Mangini, who served as the Jets head coach from 2006 through 2008, is reading between the lines on Rodgers' quip.
Read more: Aaron Rodgers Open to Pay Cut With Jets, Uncertain on Future With Team
"So to me, as soon as he said that, in my mind said he wants out. But he doesn't want to retire, obviously. He wants to get paid and not have to deal with any of the givebacks that come with retirement," Mangini said.
Rodgers has left his immediate future open-ended. The 41-year-old previously said he will deliberate retiring, but would also take a pay cut and mentor a young player — if the Jets should decide to bring one in — to remain with the Jets in the final season of his contract.
"Ideally, you would be able to keep [Rodgers]," Mangini said. "You'd be able to go get a young quarterback. He could compete with that young quarterback, probably start, and mentor that guy. I know that's not his MO, but if we're talking about a perfect world, that's what you'd like to see."
Rodgers previously said on "The Pat McAfee Show" that his final years with the Green Bay Packers proved he is capable of mentoring a younger player.
"I tried to help Jordan as much as possible, and if there is a situation where the new staff came in and wanted me to be there, also wanted to make a pick for the future and pick a quarterback and there was one there they really liked, of course," Rodgers said.
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