Well, that’s one way to shut down the rumor mill! Green Bay Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst just flat-out denied any conversations with the Arizona Cardinals about trading for linebacker Josh Sweat, making it crystal clear that all that offseason chatter was nothing but hot air. “No one from our organization has had a conversation about Josh Sweat from anyone at Arizona,” Gutekunst declared, according to Ryan Wood of USA Today. “That’s coming out of thin air, someone is making stuff up, because that never happened.” Talk about an emphatic denial right there!
The Rumor That Just Wouldn’t Die
For months, this rumor about Sweat possibly heading to Green Bay was buzzing around, especially during the offseason. It apparently all started with reports that the Cardinals were fielding calls for Sweat, and naturally, folks connected the dots to the Packers. And honestly, on the surface, it kind of made sense, didn’t it? Sweat previously played under Jonathan Gannon when Gannon was the Eagles’ offensive coordinator. After Gannon took the head coach gig with the Cardinals, he then moved on to become the defensive coordinator for the Packers. The whole “reunion” angle felt like a perfectly logical connection for anyone speculating on a deal.
Why Everyone Thought It Made Sense (Until Now)
You can see why the whispers started, right? This wasn’t just some random player. Josh Sweat is the real deal. He just wrapped up his first season of a four-year, $76 million contract with the Cardinals, and he showed up big time. Last season, in 17 starts, the man racked up a massive 12.0 sacks. That’s game-wrecker production, the kind of talent any team would be thrilled to add to their defensive lineup. Plus, with the LaFleur brothers coaching both teams, it probably felt like a no-brainer that Matt could easily chat with Mike to see if a deal was even in the realm of possibility. It seemed like such an easy connection, and that’s precisely why Gutekunst’s blunt statement cuts through all the noise.
So What Now? The Truth Is Out
So, there you have it, folks. All those intricate connections, the “logical” dots that were being strung together, the talk of Sweat’s potential impact on a new defense,it was all for naught. According to Gutekunst, the entire thing was fabricated, never even reaching the conversation stage. This means Josh Sweat is firmly staying put in Arizona, at least for now, continuing his four-year, $76 million deal. For the Cardinals, they hold onto a player coming off a 12-sack season. For the Packers, they’re clearly looking elsewhere or are confident in their current defensive setup. The speculation can finally die.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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