The Green Bay Packers have given some pretty ho hum support to linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers in their current battle with the NFL. That consisted of general manager Ted Thompson saying the organization supports their players and then refusing to say anything else.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a few things to say, though. He spoke to Jim Rome on Wednesday and threw his full support behind Matthews and Peppers, while taking a few shots at the league in the process.
Matthews and Peppers have been told they’ll be suspended if they don’t cooperate with the league’s drug investigation by August 25. The investigation is based off a recanted statement from an Al Jazeera report in December.
Rodgers feels the NFL is bullying their players.
“I think it’s pretty typical of how things have been going with [the NFL] lately. It sets a bad precedent. I think that any wild accusation accredited, legitimate or unlegimate, they’re going to try and bully these guys into testifying,” Rodgers said. “First of all, we stand by them 100 percent, our guys. It looks bad for the league, especially after Peyton [Manning] got cleared and this thing has been, there’s been some holes shot at it, but I’m confident those guys have nothing to hide and they will work something out.
“I just think as far as the league goes, there’s been some negative things that have come their way and the way they’ve responded is maybe not been the best way to handle it.”
Rodgers went on to say he didn’t think either player would miss a game.
“I mean there’s no way it’s going to cost them, I don’t think, in this case,” Rodgers said.
That sounds great on the surface, but we doubt Rodgers has any inside information. We don’t it will cost Matthews or Peppers any time this season, but only because there will probably be a series of lawsuits filed if the NFL follows through with the suspension threat.
Either way, it’s nice to hear someone from the Packers offer up some legitimate support AND express some outrage over this idiotic situation.