Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers explains Instagram post, says he hasn't made decision on whether to play in 2022

GREEN BAY, Wis. — A day after Aaron Rodgers set the NFL world into a frenzied speculation about his future because of a lengthy Instagram post, the Green Bay Packers quarterback said Tuesday that he did not have any news to report or a decision made about whether he will play in 2022.

Instead, Rodgers attempted to explain on «The Pat McAfee Show» that his post — titled «Monday Night Gratitude» — came at the end of a 12-day cleanse called «Panchakarma» during which he spent time in a reflective state. «There's nothing cryptic about gratitude,» Rodgers said.

«You've got to kind of turn everything else off, so you're not working out, you're not straining or anything. It's kind of a re-centering. It not only heals you physically, but I think it takes away mental stress and then the spiritual part I think is it allows you to kind of enjoy the meditations a little more, so when I come out, my first thought is intense gratitude for the people in my life,» he said.

Among the photos that created the most stir was one of receivers Randall Cobb and Davante Adams from the Nov. 7 game at Kansas City that Rodgers missed because of COVID-19. They left a space between them where Rodgers would normally stand during the national anthem, and some internet sleuths interpreted that as a goodbye message.

«When I got that photo from Randall and Davante, it brought tears to my eyes because that's my guys standing before the game,» Rodgers said. «Randall's always on my right, Tae's on my left and I embrace with both of them after the anthem. It's a part of the pregame ritual but also a statement about friendship and love and the connection that we have collectively and individually in our own friendships.

»They held space and an open spot for me