Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ teammates say the MVP’s uncertain status won’t distract them in their offseason preparations.

Rodgers hasn’t been present for organized team activities this week following an ESPN report last month that he doesn’t want to return to Green Bay. Rodgers was noncommittal about his future in an ESPN interview Monday night.

“I don’t think it’s going to be that much of a distraction,” defensive tackle Kenny Clark said Tuesday. “We’ve got to control what we can control as a team, and we’ve just to come out, practice, handle business and play ball. You know, we’ve got to leave that situation to the organization and Aaron.”

Rodgers wasn’t the only notable Packer missing from Tuesday’s OTA session. Most of his receivers also weren’t there, including All-Pro Davante Adams.

Packers Coach Matt LaFleur said he didn’t know whether it might have been a coordinated effort by the receivers to stay away.

“I’ve had individual conversations with each guy, but never once has that come up,” LaFleur said.

The NFL Players’ Association has advised players against attending voluntary workouts while citing the risks inherent amid the pandemic.

Although Rodgers wasn’t around, he still dominated discussions as Packers players spoke to reporters Tuesday. Many of the questions focused on the issues Rodgers addressed in the interview that ESPN aired Monday night.

“Love the coaching staff, love my teammates, love the fan base in Green Bay,” Rodgers said in the interview. “An incredible 16 years. It’s just kind of about a philosophy and maybe forgetting that it is about the people that make the thing go. It’s about character, it’s about culture, it’s about doing things the right way.

“A lot of this was put in motion last year and the wrench was just kind of thrown into it when I won MVP and played the way I played last year. This is just kind of, I think, a spill-out of all that. But it is about the people, and that’s the most important thing.”

Rodgers went on to reference Curly Lambeau, Vince Lombardi, Bart Starr, Brett Favre, Reggie White and Mike Holmgren while talking about how “Green Bay has always been about the people.”

LaFleur declined to comment on the issues Rodgers addressed while reiterating his hopes to have the three-time MVP back this fall. General Manager Brian Gutekunst has said he has no plans to trade Rodgers, who has three years remaining on his contract.

“Aaron definitely knows how we feel about him, how he’s such an important part to our football team, such an important part to our organization,” LaFleur said. “We’re just going to continue to try to work through this and hopefully can get him back in the building at some point.”

FALCONS: The Atlanta Falcons began their offseason training program without longtime star receiver Julio Jones, who apparently has no intention of returning to a rebuilding team that is still struggling to get under the salary cap.

Rookie Coach Arthur Smith was tight-lipped about the Falcons’ options, but insisted that he doesn’t begrudge Jones for speaking his mind.

“We encourage our players to speak for themselves,” Smith said “That doesn’t change anything for us. We understand our plan going forward. We’ve had multiple private conversations with our players. Those conversations will remain private on my end.”

After plenty of questions about the seven-time Pro Bowler who, along with Matt Ryan, has been the face of the franchise for the past decade, Jones brought the situation to a head in a brief interview Monday with former NFL star Shannon Sharpe.

“I’m outta there,” Jones told the host of the “Undisputed” on FS1. When asked where he wants to play, the 32-year-old replied, “Right now, I wanna win.”

That seems unlikely with the Falcons, who are coming off their third straight losing season. Atlanta fired coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff after an 0-5 start to a year that ended at 4-12. Smith and new general manager Terry Fontenot have made it clear that all options are on the table as they attempt to rebuild the roster and deal with several salary cap limitations, which could be eased greatly by trading Jones.

BENGALS: Quarterback Joe Burrow said he expects to play in the Cincinnati Bengals’ season opener on Sept. 12.

Burrow, who had surgery on his injured left knee in December, said he’s brought it back to 80-85%.

Wearing a knee brace, he threw on the practice field on the first day of organized team activities in which every eligible Bengals player took part.

“Still got to be patient,” Burrow said afterward. “Can’t push too hard. At this point it’s still how it feels, there are still good days and bad days. It’s still sore some days and so you will take it a little easy, and some days it feels really good and you’ll push it really hard. But we have a good (rehab) plan.”

Burrow has been throwing for weeks as part of his rehab, but got an opportunity to throw to teammates, including fifth overall draft pick Ja’Marr Chase, his former teammate at LSU.

Coach Zac Taylor acknowledged being “overly cautious” in not allowing anyone within 10 feet of Burrow to avoid any accidental collisions.

BILLS: Quarterback Josh Allen and Buffalo Bills players are split on whether to get vaccinated at a time Coach Sean McDermott raised concerns his team could fall behind in having COVID-19 protocol restrictions loosened for the start of training camp.

In addressing what’s become a divisive issue among several high-profile Buffalo players and at least one of their spouses, McDermott focused his message on attempting to educate – rather than convince, as he put it – players to get vaccinated.

Without saying how many Bills have received the vaccine, McDermott said time is running short for Buffalo to return to a sense of normalcy in terms of holding full-team meetings and practices.

“I’m concerned about it. I’m being very upfront,” McDermott said during a half-hour video conference call held a day after the Bills opened their first week of voluntary practices.
“I think that time element comes into play a little bit right now, and I think, a little bit, it’s working maybe against us or against maybe more players getting it.”

He was referring to the minimum six-week period for those receiving a two-shot vaccine to be deemed fully vaccinated. The time frame will soon be pushing into the start of training camp in late July.

The number of vaccinated players could affect Buffalo’s proposal to resume camp at its traditional preseason site in suburban Rochester a year after all NFL teams were restricted to practicing at their own facilities.

McDermott favors holding part of camp at a remote location because it contributes to player bonding.

Allen acknowledged the issue being a “hot topic” in declining to say whether he’s been vaccinated.

The third-year starter then provided a mixed response when outlining internal discussions taking place between the team’s leadership council of players.

“What the right answer is and how to go about it, we’re not sure, and we’re trying to get to a conclusion,” Allen said. “But at the same time, we’re letting everybody make their own personal decision.”

GIANTS: The New York Giants signed fourth-round draft pick Elerson Smith, an outside linebacker.

Smith is the fourth of the team’s six draft picks to sign, joining linebacker Azeez Ojulari, running back Gary Brightwell and cornerback Rodarius Williams.

Wide receiver Kadarius Toney of Florida, the first-round pick, and cornerback Aaron Robinson of Central Florida, the third-round choice, remain unsigned.

Smith played in 38 games with 15 starts in three seasons at Northern Iowa. He had 85 tackles, 22 sacks, 32 1/2 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles, 16 quarterback hits, eight passes defensed and two blocked kicks.

Smith did not play in what would have been his final season after the Missouri Valley Conference postponed its 2020 season to early 2021.