Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers to mull 'tough decision' about future

GREEN BAY, Wis. — There's one thing that will make Aaron Rodgers' decision about whether to return to the Green Bay Packers next season much easier.

«I don't want to be part of a rebuild if I'm going to keep playing,» Rodgers said.

Absent that, the 38-year-old year believes he has a difficult decision to make about his football future.

He just didn't think he would have to start contemplating it so soon. But when the San Francisco 49ers upset the top-seeded Packers in Saturday's NFC divisional playoff round, it meant the hourglass flipped for Rodgers, who took his share of the blame for the offensive ineptitude in the 13-10 loss at Lambeau Field.

«I'm still super competitive, still know I can play at a high level, so it's going to be a tough decision,» Rodgers said during a 17-minute session with reporters after the game. «I have a lot of things to weigh in the coming weeks. But man, just so much gratitude for this city and this organization and such a long, long career here that I'm proud of and really thankful for all the men and women that work here, the men I've gotten to cross paths with, coaches and players over the years.»

The Packers made one thing clear: They're not ready to move on from Rodgers, who is the favorite to win his fourth NFL MVP and his second in a row.

«Certainly we want him back here,» said Packers coach Matt LaFleur after he failed to reach the Super Bowl with the No. 1 seeded team for the second straight year. «I think we'd be crazy not to want him back here. He's going to be the two-time MVP. This guy does so much for our football team, not only what you guys see on Sunday's or every game day, but what he does in that locker room, how he leads. I know what he puts into this thing, and certainly