GREEN BAY, Wis. — When Aaron Rogers Entering training camp almost exactly a year ago, he aired many of his grievances with the Green Bay Packers during a 32-minute news conference.
The mood of the reigning two-time MVP was quite different Wednesday after the first practice of this year’s camp.
Rodgers made fun of his former teammate davante adamshe joked that without the star receiver the Packers are now a defensive team, said he plays for “love” and shared an anecdote that illustrates how much things have changed in the organization.
Adams, who was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in March at his request, recently spoke about his transition from Rodgers to quarterback. Derek Carrtelling CBS Sports, “Any time you change your quarterback from Hall of Famer to Hall of Famer … there’s going to be a little adjustment.”
So when Rodgers was asked about allen lazard Possibly replacing Adams as the Packers’ No. 1 receiver, he mirrored Adams’ recent comments.
“Yeah, I mean it’s always tough going from Hall of Famer to Hall of Famer,” Rodgers said, before pausing to wait for the laughter to die down. “From Davante to Allen, it’s going to be a transition, but he’s capable of so much.”
Rodgers also joked that “we’re a defensive team now” without Adams, but made sure to clarify that his comment was ironic.
“I sure like our defense on paper,” Rodgers said, referring to a unit that finished ninth last season and with both of the team’s first-round picks being used on defensive players. Devon Wyatt Y dock walker. “But the offense still wins games, and we’re going to have to be efficient offensively.”
Rodgers was quick to point out how effective the offense was Wednesday during the 90-minute practice without protection. He completed several passes to Lazard in team periods, including one that closely resembled Antonio Freeman’s “Monday Night Miracle” catch in 2000.
“I felt like coming into camp, to be honest, we were going to get our asses kicked most days because our defense is talented, deep and athletic,” Rodgers said. “It’s one of the best defenses on paper we’ve ever had, but I told those chumps, ‘1-0 offense.'”
Rodgers, who practiced only twice during the entire offseason schedule, looked as smart as ever. He’s not expected to play in any preseason games, so practice reps from him are all he’ll have to prepare for the season while he makes sure he doesn’t hurt his arm.
“I think that’s something we always monitor with all the quarterbacks, just in terms of the number of throws they throw,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “We certainly did last year, and we will follow a similar protocol that we have had in the past.”
Rodgers returned for his 18th NFL season (15th as a starter) armed with the three-year, $150 million contract extension he signed in March and four MVPs under his belt, including each of the past two seasons. When asked why he still plays, he said, “Love, probably.”
“Just tapping into the love for this game, the love for my teammates,” he added. “That’s what makes me get up in the morning, come here and love what I do, and have this gratitude for this opportunity. Because at some point, the journey will end. So I enjoy every step of the way.”
“Obviously we want to win a Super Bowl, and individual accolades are great. But I think being in the moment is really important, especially for an older player, because every moment is a little bit more special.”
Rodgers also said that he has seen significant changes in the organizations in the last year since he expressed his displeasure. She said there has been a more personal touch from the top down and gave an example of how it used to be.
“There are funny stories, not really funny ones, about kenny clark coming up on cut day and somebody thinking he was a different guy who was going to be cut, and they said, ‘Get your playbook and go upstairs,'” Rodgers said. “And Kenny’s like, ‘What? I was a first round pick. Am I cutting myself? It’s my third year.
“You know, things like that just can’t happen in a well-functioning organization because relationships are the most important thing in this game. That’s what fuels chemistry, chemistry fuels a team’s cohesiveness, and that makes a difference in those crucial moments when the game is on the line. And it starts at the top.”