Rodgers: IR guys 'didn't choose to stick around'
GREEN BAY Because Aaron Rodgers is a bright guy who thinks through just about everything he says beforehand, you had to assume that the Green Bay Packers quarterback knew exactly what he was getting himself into Saturday when he addressed the topic of injured reserve players during a brief media session at his locker.
In other words, Rodgers had an opinion on the entire PhotoGate controversy and wanted it to be heard.
Responding to a fairly innocuous question about whether he felt bad that the injured players will miss Super Bowl XLV, Rodgers took the question and spun it into an opportunity for him to share his thoughts on how some of his teammates chose not to stay in Green Bay to rehabilitate their injuries.
Well, Ill say this, Rodgers said, pausing briefly before continuing. I was on IR back in 2006, and I chose to stick around and finish out the season with my guys and be here every game. Some of those guys didnt. And so, we love them, we care about them, we dont wish injury on anybody, but this is a group of guys thats really come together and has been great to work with. Its been great to work with the guys we brought in midseason, some of them, and the young guys. Some of the guys who were injured, you know, they are still part of this team, but some of them didnt choose to stick around.
Asked a follow-up question about whether their departures created a distance between the injured players and the rest of the team, Rodgers replied, Theyre part of this team, first and foremost. But some guys choose to rehab in other places.
Rodgers comments came four days after the Packers first Super Bowl XLV controversy, regarding the team photo to be taken in North Texas in the lead-up to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cowboys Stadium. Injured linebacker Nick Barnett and injured tight end Jermichael Finley complained first to the team on Monday evening, then on Tuesday via their Twitter accounts that the team photo would be taken next Tuesday at Media Day, before the injured reserve players are scheduled to arrive on Thursday.
After Rodgers and fellow captain Charles Woodson went to coach Mike McCarthy in the wake of Finley and Barnett taking their issues to Twitter, McCarthy moved the team photo to next Friday, when the team will be practicing at SMU. In explaining his decision earlier this week, McCarthy didnt mince words on what he thought of Finley and Barnetts complaints.
Calling it a total overreaction and a poor decision, McCarthy said he didn't really frankly pay much mind to it because of the individuals involved. He also said that
The 15 players on injured reserve are Barnett, Finley, safety Morgan Burnett, linebacker Brandon Chillar, running back Ryan Grant, defensive end Justin Harrell, tight end Spencer Havner, linebacker Brad Jones, safety Derrick Martin, defensive end Mike Neal, offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse, linebacker Brady Poppinga, safety Anthony Smith and right tackle Mark Tauscher.
While its unclear how many games each of those players attended, Tauscher, Grant and Neal were around the most, based on how often they were seen on the sideline at games and in the locker room. Burnett was also spotted frequently. Tauscher and Grant also attended road games, and Grant said the only reason he missed the Atlanta playoff game was because he was sick and didnt want to infect the team
Among the players who werent seen around the facility or at games very often were Poppinga, Chillar, Havner, Harrell and Barnett and Finley. Finley Tweeted openly about being in Scottsdale, Ariz., at his offseason home for most of his rehab.
After learning of Rodgers comments, presumably via Twitter, Barnett fired off a series of Tweets in reaction,
Well looks like people have something to say about where some people choose to do there rehab. Try rehabing with 16 others then 53 more Doubt you get the full attention needed.. It's easy to speak about others when you are not in their position. Talk about "union" ha.
Barnett then deleted those Tweets from his feed before saying that he was closing his Twitter account.
Goodbye twitter... It was fun while it lasted.. But we need to focus on important things.. Before I delete this page just wanted to say I was never trying to be a distration... I am packer have been one for 8 going on 9 years. I love this team this city.. All I wanted to be is included as a teammate nothing more. Looks like it has back fired on me. That was asking too much... Sorry if I offended anyone.. That was not my intention.. Never that
"JASON WILDE" wrote: