MintBaconDrivel
11 years ago

GREEN BAY — Another of Aaron Rodgers' former wide receivers has voiced his opinion on the Green Bay Packers quarterback.

And like Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, the franchise's all-time leading receiver, wasn't exactly complimentary of Rodgers.

Appearing on ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike on Thursday morning, Driver was asked about what Jennings, now with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason, meant when he said Rodgers wasn't holding himself accountable.

"We've always said that the quarterback is the one that needs to take the pressure off everyone else. If a guy runs the wrong route, it's easy for the quarterback to say, 'Hey, I told him to run that route' than for the guy to be like, 'Well, I ran the wrong route,'" Driver said. "Sometimes you ask Aaron to take the pressure off the guys so we won't look bad, but he didn't want to do that. He felt like if you did something bad, you do it. But I think that's the difference. You want that leadership, and I think sometimes you may not feel like you got it. You have to earn that respect at the end of the day, and I think that's what Greg was probably referring to."

As for Jennings' relationship with Rodgers, Driver said: "No one knows exactly what happened between those two. I didn't see anything during the season; I didn't see anything after the season. But you just never know, you never know what types of things happen between them."

Driver, who retired after the 2012 season in which he caught just eight passes for 77 yards and played only 153 snaps, also said that he has no plans of playing again.

Driver was also asked if Rodgers is a nice guy.

"He's a nice guy. I think that's what you have to respect," Driver replied. "I played with him five years so I was able to experience everything he went through. I saw when he first got drafted, he came in with a chip on his shoulder in that draft, and it shouldn't have been Alex Smith [taken No. 1 overall]. That's the way the guy is. I've always told Aaron, 'Don't forget where you come from because the people are the ones who put you on that pedestal. You didn't put yourself there.' I think that's what we learning now. I'm not saying he's a bad guy, I think Aaron's a great guy. I'm friends with Aaron."

Roughly around the same time Driver was speaking on ESPN Radio, Sports Illustrated's Peter King posted an interview with Rodgers on his new website theMMQB.com . The initial lead quote was this: "I've gotten to learn what's important in life and what's not important, and what to spend energy on and what not to. I don't have a family like some of my teammates, but I have a lot of things pulling at me that I have to put my energy into. I love my charity work. I love my privacy. I love my offseason. I don't have time to really worry or think about things that are just negatively based and negatively energized. They're draining. It's just not what I want to do. So, instead I try to focus on things that are uplifting and give me energy and give me life."

Asked about Jennings specifically by King, Rodgers said: "People taking shots at me who aren't relevant to this team and to this locker room doesn't mean a whole lot to me. Those comments do wash over with me without a reaction, because they don't matter."

Jason Wilde  wrote:


Pack93z
11 years ago
Genuinely, I have a dislike for those that play the QB position; call it a prejudice if you will. It was born in the summer camps, the countless number of practices I attended over the years.. the attitude towards and presented by those that played the position.

So I honestly want to jump on Rodgers.. his this or that.

But this leadership talk.. even what Driver is talking about here.. is just words. Talk. And personally I think Driver is missing the type of leadership I think Rodgers presents.. based on these comments, his actions that we can see.. even the words that Jennings utters.

Rodgers works hard at his craft.. probably is a perfectionist and a professional. Based on other articles and interviews over the past couple years.. Rodgers works endlessly to improve his game.

And more than likely, he expects the same amount of dedication from his teammates... and if they are not picking up their share, why should he fall upon the sword for them?

This is me speculating.... What I think maybe Rodgers is missing is the perspective of the amount of time that is consumed by family.. especially a wife and kids at home. Rodgers laments about the spotlight, the pressures of being a Packer, etc.. and "wanting to disappear" at times. Well now take those feelings and compound it with the added pressures of a family to the picture. Some might not be able to put in the same time to their craft. If there is a real disconnect, and it appears that there might be, this might be the source of that disconnect.

But back to my point.. a leader in my opinion doesn't need to fall upon another's sword of a mistake.. he leads by example, supports his teammates to learn and grow.... and owns his own mistakes. In many an interview we have seen this.. maybe not enough outside of that light.. but he has definitely owned his mistakes.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
DoddPower
11 years ago

But back to my point.. a leader in my opinion doesn't need to fall upon another's sword of a mistake.. he leads by example, supports his teammates to learn and grow.... and owns his own mistakes. In many an interview we have seen this.. maybe not enough outside of that light.. but he has definitely owned his mistakes.

Originally Posted by: Pack93z 



Yeah, I don't really get why a quarterback would have to always take the blame if others are screwing up. These players are getting paid millions of dollars to be the best at what they do and be completely prepared, regardless of any outside influences. If they screw up, I really have no idea why Rodgers should take the blame. Sometimes it's good for a leader to call players out. I agree it's not good to happen constantly, but I don't think that's the case with Rodgers, at all. Overall, I'm sure most teams would want their leader and most important player to be the most dedicated. Even if most other players can't live up to the same level of commitment, the fact that Rodgers seems to be so dedicated to his craft is very likely to make his teammates push a little harder, as well.

I also didn't really like Driver's comment about the "people got you where you are, not you." While I understand colleges and the NFL gave Rodgers the opportunity, and there are dozens of others who coached and helped him along the way, but for the most part, Rodgers is where he is today due to personal motivation and dedication. All the opportunities and coaching in the world wouldn't have mattered if he didn't have a great combination of talent, motivation, and a desire to be great. There is someone currently on the Packers roster named Vince Young that is a good example of that. Not to mention countless others. A silly comment, imo.
steveishere
11 years ago
I must be confused because it's my opinion that it's better leadership to hold someone else accountable for their own mistakes than it is to take the blame for them. Why should the QB's job to be to take pressure off the WRs? WRs have the easiest job on the field Driver has it backwards IMO.
buckeyepackfan
11 years ago
This is DD's interview from NFL network this mng.

I apologize if it is within a news article already posted.

If anyone hasn't seen it, take time to watch the 1st 4:30 minutes, it a little bit different than The ESPN report.

DD addresses Aaron's leadership role and Jennings and Rodgers relationship.

I'm not sure if there is a video of Driver on Mike & Mike, if there is probably a would be a good thing to listen to.

ESPN likes to create stories, I don't know if they did with this one, but from what I watched on The NFL Network, it just doesn't jive with what ESPN is reporting.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-am/0ap2000000230085/Happily-retired-Driver-rates-Lambeau-Leaps 
I was addicted to The Hokey Pokey, but I turned myself around!
Zero2Cool
11 years ago
Donald Driver
11 minutes ago
Out of my 15 interviews talking about Target donating $5,000,000 to education, it is interesting that only 1 or 2 random quotes become a big deal. I predicted a Super Bowl for the Packers in 10 or so interviews, and that starts with Aaron Rodgers, one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history!
UserPostedImage
nerdmann
11 years ago

This is DD's interview from NFL network this mng.

I apologize if it is within a news article already posted.

If anyone hasn't seen it, take time to watch the 1st 4:30 minutes, it a little bit different than The ESPN report.

DD addresses Aaron's leadership role and Jennings and Rodgers relationship.

I'm not sure if there is a video of Driver on Mike & Mike, if there is probably a would be a good thing to listen to.

ESPN likes to create stories, I don't know if they did with this one, but from what I watched on The NFL Network, it just doesn't jive with what ESPN is reporting.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-am/0ap2000000230085/Happily-retired-Driver-rates-Lambeau-Leaps 

Originally Posted by: buckeyepackfan 



I don't know man. It sounds to me like Driver's saying, "YOU WANT YOUR FRIENDS TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE FOR, TO TELL YOU HOW IT REALLY IS."

I do think Aaron needs to open himself up to friendly criticism a little bit. He has a tendency to take everything as a sleight and "use it for motivation." Get over yourself Arodge. Relax and just be a player.

When a friend tells you a hard truth, it's not disrespect. In fact it's the opposite of that.
“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”
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