Aaron Rodgers has finally spoken.
The Green Bay Packers quarterback joined Kenny Mayne on “SportsCenter” on Monday night and discussed his ongoing conflict with the organization for the first time.
Rodgers dismissed the idea that his problems with the Packers revolved around a singular draft pick – see: Jordan Love – but centered the issues more around principle, philosophy and the team’s culture.
“It’s just about a philosophy and maybe forgetting that it is about the people that make the thing go. It’s about character, it’s about culture, it’s about doing things the right way, and a lot of this was put into motion last year. The wrench was kind of thrown into when I won MVP with the way I played last year. This is just the spill out of all that. It is about the people and that’s the most important thing.” Rodgers told Mayne.
Rodgers, 37, did not show up to the start of voluntary OTAs on Monday. He said he loved his coaching staff, teammates and the fan base in Green Bay but didn’t mention any of the Packers decision-makers, the likely target of his frustration.
“I think sometimes people forget what really makes an organization,” Rodgers said. “History is important. Legacy of so many people who’ve come before you. But the people, that’s the most important thing. People make an organization, people make a business and sometimes that gets forgotten. Culture is built brick by brick, the foundation of it by the people. Not by the organization, not by the building, not by the corporation. It’s built by the people. I’ve been fortunate enough to play with a number of amazing, amazing people. And got to work for some amazing people, as well. It’s those people that build that foundation of those entities. I think sometimes we forget that, you know?”
Mayne asked Rodgers directly if he wanted to be traded, but the Packers quarterback sidestepped the question.
Rodgers won his third MVP last season, leading the Packers to 13 wins and another appearance in the NFC Championship Game. He has three years left on his current deal and the Packers have maintained they won’t trade him.
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