Aaron Rodgers spoke with Jason Wilde and Mark Tauscher at ESPN Milwaukee in response to the Bleacher Report piece going around about his relation with McCarthy on and off the field during the end of McCarthy’s tenure with the Packers:
Aaron Rodgers on the @BleacherReport story: "This was a smear attack by a writer looking to advanced his career talking with mostly irrelevant, bitter players who all have an agenda whether they’re advancing their own careers or just trying to stir old stuff up."
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) April 8, 2019
On Mark Murphy telling Rodgers "don't be a problem" while informing him the #Packers were hiring Matt LaFleur, Rodgers says: "It’s ridiculous. It’s 100 percent patently false." Says it's the same two unnamed teammates always saying things in these stories.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 8, 2019
Rodgers after @jasonjwilde specifically mentions Greg Jennings and Jermichael Finley: "If it’s not an article about me, do you ever hear their names anywhere else? … You talk about me being sensitive and petty, at what point do you move on or stop telling the same stories?"
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 8, 2019
When asked if Mark Murphy called him and said "don't be the problem," Aaron Rodgers responded with…. #Packers pic.twitter.com/R8Rj4oFD7l
— Wilde & Tausch (@WildeAndTausch) April 8, 2019
A little bedtime story, told by Aaron Rodgers… #Packers #NFL pic.twitter.com/I57fdMrLbm
— Wilde & Tausch (@WildeAndTausch) April 9, 2019
"Instead of trashing this guy on the way out, lets remember the amazing times we had together….." – @AaronRodgers12 on former HC Mike McCarthy.
Listen to Part 1 of our interview with the #Packers QB tomorrow at 9:15 on @ESPNMadison / @ESPNMilwaukee pic.twitter.com/Z2KZEjmKrI
— Wilde & Tausch (@WildeAndTausch) April 9, 2019
This was a smear attack by a writer looking to advance his career talking with mostly irrelevant, bitter players who all have an agenda, whether they’re advancing their own careers or just trying to stir old stuff up. What happens is the same tired media folks picking it up and talking about it. This just emphasized their opinion about me already. So it’s … the crazy thing is there’s super-slanted opinions in that piece stated as facts, and then there’s quote-unquote facts which are just outright lies.
See? It’s just a conspiracy. That’s all.
Rodgers also insisted that he would not have resigned if McCarthy and him were dealing with those problems – going out of his way to insist the money would not be enough. The QB doth protest too much, methinks.
Let it be known, Rodgers is not a fan of Jermichael Finley or Greg Jennings’ willingness to speak about the team’s inner-workings and claims they are using him to boost their own personal brands. While Jennings seemed to hold back a bit in a recent interview with Cowherd, Rodgers was much more reluctant to . This does not surprise me at all. For better or worse, that is Aaron Rodgers’ personality. He’ll need to decide if that his a good or a bad thing.
As far as it being the “same two guys every time”, these are the two guys willing to share on record what they experienced and other media outlets want to interview them and followup with it. That’s like Bill Clinton saying it’s the same woman in the news claiming to have rubbed him off in the Oval Office. Shit, Bill, how many more are there?
As for McCarthy, ESPN isolated this quote from the radio interview in their coverage of it:
“We had a hell of a run,” Rodgers said. “We had 13 years, four NFC championships, one Super Bowl, eight straight playoffs, 19 straight wins. So, instead of trashing this guy on the way out, let’s remember the amazing times that we had together. Packer fans, remember this, especially those of you who live in Green Bay: Mike lives here. Mike has young kids here. So Mike has to be here. Think about how difficult it is for him. My favor that I would ask of you, strongly, is if you see Mike, shake his hand. Tell him thanks for the memories. Tell him thanks for the coaching job that he did. Tell him how much you appreciate him being a part of what we built here.
“Things change from ’06 to ’18. We came off of a bad season in ’05, and we built something special and had sustained success, so instead of trashing this guy on the way out — last year was tough, no doubt about it — but let’s honor him and his legacy as the second-winningest coach in Packers history. If you see him, please, just show him the respect that he deserves. Not only does he have to live in Green Bay, he wants to. He loves it here. He’s going to be here. So, if you see him, do him that favor and show him the respect that he deserves.”
This is a great quote from Rodgers on McCarthy and hopefully this is where their relationship ends: with praise and respect for each other.
Don’t Be the Problem
Both parties(per a source with Pro Football Talk) have denied that the statement “don’t be a problem” was ever said on the phone to Rodgers from Murphy. In fact, the source indicated the call had a much more positive tone.
Per Rob Demovsky, Rodgers did exhibit a rare display of humility and admitted that he was out of line with his comments following last year’s game with the Buffalo Bills
I wish I hadn’t said anything after the Bills game last year. I wish I had just gotten with him in person. I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful to him but I know how it came off. That’s what I told him when I met with him face to face.
One thing is for absolute certain, I think this recent news cycle is going to improve Rodgers’ attitude next year and make him a lot more self-aware of his own actions and behavior. That is a great thing and exactly the kind of personal development that makes a talented quarterback become the well-rounded leader that every team needs. I really wish he’d shave that cop-stach though. Every time I see that, I feel like I should be reaching for my glove box for my license and registration.