Matt LaFleur, head coach of the NFL's Green Bay Packers, said he "can't fathom" the idea of Aaron Rodgers, the team's starting quarterback, ace and the league's reigning MVP, leaving the Packers.

"Yeah, I know, and I can't even take my brain to that spot right now," said LaFleur. "So I just want to do everything in my power to ensure that doesn't happen."

"I can't fathom [him] not being in Green Bay. That's where my mind's at. I don't only love the player, but I love the person. I love working with him on a daily basis. I think we all do – from the players in that locker room to the coaching staff. Again, I don't even want to let my mind go there."

Rodgers, 37, has been playing for the Packers since he entered the league in 2005. During that past 16 seasons, he was three-time MVP, three-time First-Team All-Pro, one-time Second-Team and nine-time Pro Bowl. He led the team to win title in Super Bowl XLV in 2011 as the Super Bowl MVP.

No QB has ever played more than 16 seasons for the Packers before, not even legends like Bart Starr or Brett Favre. Rodgers is about to break that record in the new season. However, ESPN on Thursday reported that the team icon told someone in the Packers that he does not want to return.

That almost gave the Packers' front office a heart attack. "As we've stated since the season ended, we are committed to Aaron in 2021 and beyond. Aaron has been a vital part of our success and we look forward to competing for another championship with him leading our team," said the team's general manager Brian Gutekunst.

"This is an issue that we have been working on for several months. Brian Gutekunst, Matt LaFleur and I have flown out on a number of occasions to meet with Aaron. We are very much aware of Aaron's concerns and have been working with him [and his agent, Dave Dunn] to resolve them. We remain committed to Aaron in 2021 and beyond," said team president Mark Murphy.

Judging by Murphy's words, it's clear that whatever issues there may be between Rodgers and the Packers, it has been there for a while.

Perhaps the team's decision with their first-round pick (No. 26) in last year's NFL Draft will give some hint. Back then the Packers selected a QB Jordan Love from Utah State instead of finding more help for Rodgers. More importantly, the team made that choice without informing their ace.

Now it should not be so hard to understand Rodgers' attitude.

His current contract will not come due until 2023. His salary and bonus for next season will be $14.7 million and $6.8 million, respectively. If the Packers somehow grow open for trading him, they need to watch out for timing. For example, if Rodgers is traded before June, it will only clear around $5.64 million of the team's salary space. If the trade happens after June 1, it can create as much as $22 million of space.

The Packers did not select any QB in this year's draft and they claimed it has nothing to do with Rodgers. Meanwhile, they are not giving up on Love either. "I've talked to Jordan, and I told him, you know, there's a lot of noise out there. You can't focus on that. You've got to focus on yourself. And I know you guys think it's cliche, but he's got to be the best version of him, and he's got to do everything in his power to make sure he knows the expectations, the standards which we've developed at that position. I know he's working hard," said LaFleur.

No player has ever been traded following the MVP-winning season in NFL history. The only two that did not return to their teams after receiving the honor retired directly. However, no former first-overall selections have ever been exchanged before until the Matthew Stafford-Jared Goff trade between the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams earlier this year. There is always a first time and the off season is long enough for any surprise to happen.