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Greg Jennings continued his odd smear campaign against the Green Bay Packers when he appeared on KFAN radio in Minnesota on Wednesday. He claimed the Packers organization "brainwashed" him during his seven seasons in Green Bay. This follows comments by Jennings questioning Aaron Rodgers' leadership skills, and a subsequent apology in which the wideout claimed he was "just kidding".
Here is a transcript of Jennings statement on Wednesday:
When I came over here, I was kind of brainwashed. There's no ‘kind of' to it. Being over in Green Bay, you're brainwashed to think anyone in the division is tiers below. And so coming over here I meet the people within the organization and I'm like, ‘Wow, these are really great people.'
It's like everything that you know in Green Bay is like the best, the best, the best, the best, the best. And it's like total brainwashing. And I think you don't open your eyes to see what other teams have to offer unless you are in that position.
I think Jennings should have used a different word than "brainwashed" because that's what has caused such a media circus over his interview. Most of the media outlets ran with the idea that Jennings is accusing the Packers organization of literally brainwashing its players when in actuality, he was just saying that he had been trained into only thinking in a certain way because of years and years of being around the same people.
The idea that an organization would brainwash its players is beyond ridiculous. I just think Mr. Jennings is getting some bad advice on his PR moves, and may be over-selling his commitment to his new team. Regardless, Jennings has been acting less and less like a professional and more and more like a high school girl who was dumped a week before prom.
Jennings is already off on the wrong foot with his new coach Leslie Frazier, who told Jennings to stop commenting on the Packers after his Rodgers comments, but Jennings couldn't help himself when presented the subject matter. It's clear Jennings hasn't fully moved on from his time in Green Bay, and his comments to the Star Tribune recently lend some credence to that assumption.
A piece of me is still there. There is still some Greg over there. I put a lot of time in with those guys and no one can take that away, no matter what's done or what's said.
I'm not really sure what Jennings is trying to accomplish with his recent agitations of his former teammates and organization, but he is rapidly villainizing himself in the court of public opinion. It's unfortunate that things have turned sour so quickly, especially after a relatively respectful parting of ways this off-season.
Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune had this to offer about the situation on twitter yesterday:
Answer this: those sharp comments Jennings made on Rodgers, did you read the entire article in which they appeared? ... (More)
— Dan Wiederer (@StribDW) August 8, 2013
And if you're reacting to brainwashing comments Jennings made today, did you listen to entire 15 min. interview?
— Dan Wiederer (@StribDW) August 8, 2013
Fairness is an obligation. And Jennings, in my opinion, is being unfairly blasted for being open and honest. Carry on.
— Dan Wiederer (@StribDW) August 8, 2013
I agree with Wiederer, everyone deserves to be represented fairly, and without the twisting of words. However, why even put yourself in that position? Unless you're going on a radio show in Green Bay, why even talk about the Packers? Just focus on your new team.
Jennings should take notes from his former teammate James Jones on how to properly respond to such questions. James was quick to deflect a question by Scott Venci of PackerNews.com on Jennings.
"Please don't, because I'm done answering those questions," said Jones regarding Jennings, "We are still friends. I'm not worried about him, but I'm done answering questions about that one."
Jennings was one of my favorite Packers in recent years due to his (perceived) modesty, and the fact that he came out of Western Michigan University just down the road from where I live. However, his recent actions have put him on the same list as people like Jay Cutler, Golden Tate, and Ndamukong Suh. I don't know who the "Most Hated Opponent" is within the Packers fanbase, but I am personally putting Greg Jennings in my Top 10 after his off-season antics.
Greg, it's over. I know it's hard to catch bounce passes from Christian Ponder, but you did this to yourself. Please stop talking about the Packers, and focus on your new team.
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