Packers Daily Links: Aaron Rodgers Clarifies Attention-Getting Comments
In a weekly local radio appearance, the Packers quarterback responded to some of his recent headline-grabbing commentary. That and more in today's Daily Links...
In his weekly appearance on ESPN Radio in Milwaukee, quarterback Aaron Rodgers responded to how he reacted following the Saints game referencing the lack of offseason workouts the Packers had compared to other NFL teams, particularly the Saints. "You can say it was inappropriate," Rodgers is quoted as saying by Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. "Was it delivered 'PC' or how you're supposed to deliver it? But you can't attack the actual nature of the things I said. You can't attack the fact that I thought that everybody was slamming us about the offseason workouts. A lot of people did it. A lot of people took shots. You can't deny that."
Aaron Rodgers also took time to clarify his comments in reference to Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez appearing in a photo shoot for GQ magazine, calling it "embarrassing." “It’s incredible how a story like that can get turned around to make it sound like I was saying the complete opposite of what I was saying. I was saying that I don’t do stuff like that because I would be embarrassed to do a shoot like that,” Rodgers is quoted as saying by Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com, the emcee of his radio appearances. “It would just be out of my comfort zone." It would have been much easier on Rodgers had he qualified his statement a week ago when he made the initial commentary regarding Sanchez.
Finally, Aaron Rodgers also addressed the situation in which wide receiver James Jones didn't have many catches in Week 1. “I have the privilege of throwing to a number of talented guys. I hope it doesn’t turn into a media frenzy on whoever isn’t getting the ball that week,” Rodgers said. “At the same time, I hope we’re unselfish enough to realize it’s a 16-week season.” He has a good point. It shouldn't be an issue after one week of football.
Rookie wide receiver Randall Cobb is one of three Packers nominated for weekly awards by the NFL. Cobb falls into the NFL Rookie of the Week category. "Cobb had two catches for 35 yards and one touchdown, one punt return for five yards and two kickoff returns for 135 yards and a touchdown," according to Packer Report. "His kickoff return score went for an NFL record-tying 108-yards and gave the Packers a 15 point third quarter lead en route to a 42-34 victory over the New Orleans Saints." To go along with Cobb, Aaron Rodgers is nominated for the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week and Clay Matthews is in the running for the GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Week. Information on all of them appears at Packer Report.
More on Randall Cobb and his impact on kick returns appears at ESPN.com, ESPNMilwaukee.com and Packer Report (subscription required).
The Packers' upcoming matchup with Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton is the focus of an article by Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "This week, he’ll face a seasoned and successful defensive coordinator in Dom Capers, whose players have been working in his system going on three years and finished 2010 ranked No. 2 in the NFL in scoring defense and No. 5 in fewest yards allowed," writes Dougherty. "Last week, Newton faced Ray Horton, a former Pittsburgh Steelers assistant who runs the same scheme as Capers but is in his first year with the Cardinals and first year as a coordinator." Dougherty interviews Chad Pennington, who was the color commentator for Fox in Newton's Week 1 game.
A scouting report on the Panthers also comes from Pete Dougherty.
A column on the strength of the NFC North division comes from Mike Vandermause of the Press-Gazette.
Campbell's Soup presented the Packers the all-time Click for Cans trophy to the Packers, which safety Nick Collins accepted.
Head coach Mike McCarthy answers questions at the Packers official website.
Former Packers fullback Korey Hall is the subject of an article in the Packers Insider section at JSOnline (sub required).
A point, counterpoint column on the impact of no offseason program and no two-a-day practices appears at Packers.com.
Safety Morgan Burnett was the guest on Clubhouse Live, video here.
Video: The "Ladies of Lambeau" event for Stop Hunger Now is covered by WBAY-TV, the ABC affiliate in Green Bay...
Brian Carriveau is the editor of the Maple Street Press Packers Annual. To contact Brian, email [email protected].
Comments (12)
September 14, 2011 at 08:42 am
Re James Jones:
Flashback to AJ Hawk’s situation in the 1st game last year when he didn't play. Some thought he was expendable to the point he was mentioned as the trade bait for Marshawn Lynch.
Kinda deja vu w/ JJ this year. Some fans are already saying trade him and bring up Gurley/West. One game does not a pattern make, even two games. Since the league is about matchups JJ will have opps where he can excel.
Remember what the great philosopher (Me) said: Those that don't have patience become patients.
September 14, 2011 at 09:30 am
Exactly. And people always want to mention his drops, but the dude is usually wide open when he drops it! Drops can be overcome, but it's hard to find receivers with a penchant for creating space.
September 14, 2011 at 11:59 am
Creating space from the defender is great but,if you can't fill the space between your hands with IDK...the ball.
PackerAaron
September 14, 2011 at 12:07 pm
You mean like he did in the endzone against both the Eagles and the Falcons in the playoffs?
September 14, 2011 at 01:23 pm
No one denies those catches.It's the over-all consistant inconsistancy which makes or more aptly breaks him.
He didn't make it easy for us to get there and catching a TD in those games simply cannot erase the lack of previous play and the iffy projection of what may lie ahead from him.
September 14, 2011 at 10:11 am
Are you saying that TT shouldn't trade if there is a good offer? I'm not saying the Packers should look to trade JJ. They got him on the cheap, so I'd keep him and remember that you might have to face the Eagles three talented corners at some point. But when you look at all of the receiving TE/WR talent (proven and potential) on this team, I think the Packers are way deeper here than they appeared at ILB last year. This group could lose anyone but Greg Jennings and I wouldn't worry much.
September 14, 2011 at 10:22 am
TT thinks big picture. It's possible that next season, Jordy, DD, and Finley are gone. Now you're looking at only a trio of Jennings/Jones/Cobb, with the possibility of West/Gourley rounding out the WR core. When you think of it like that, it becomes pretty obvious he's not going anywhere.
September 14, 2011 at 01:24 pm
Very good point about the long-term. But if you're TT and IF you've signed Nelson to an extension (big IF), do you think to yourself: (1) IF Finley goes I can replace Finley's production with some combination of Quarless and/or Williams, and (2) As much as I like DD & JJ in my WR group, I like what Cobb and what X brings to the team more, X being - pick one (Gurley/West/player in trade for JJ/draft pick for JJ)? I'm not saying he should or he will, but I'm not sure how much TT really wanted JJ back, so I just wouldn't rule it out.
September 15, 2011 at 09:32 am
Nelson ain't going anywhere.
September 14, 2011 at 10:45 am
Jordy will be here next season but i understand where you are coming from. I wish everyone would stop hating on James Jones tha kid can play and he will prove doubters wrong this season
September 15, 2011 at 09:35 am
I pull for James Jones too, but I don't like these comments. It's one game, no need to say anything. To Jones' credit, he did say the most important thing was that the Packers won, but still, players have to know the media by now. stfu.
September 14, 2011 at 11:09 am
Jones was the FOX friend. His big drops would have put each game out of reach. As it turned out the Packers ended up winning all of those games. Much to our relief and the advertisers on FOX.
Win Win