Aaron Rodgers speaks on discontent with Packers: ‘It’s about people’

Aaron Rodgers has finally spoken publicly on his reported discontent with the Green Bay Packers. What did he say? Well, not all that much.

In a pre-taped interview with ESPN’s Kenny Mayne, Rodgers said his frustration with the Packers stems from the organizational strategy, though he didn’t elaborate on exactly what parts of the strategy he disagrees with.

“It’s just kind of about a philosophy and maybe forgetting that it is about the people that make the thing go,” he said. “It’s about character, it’s about culture, it’s about doing things the right way.”

According to Rodgers, the events of this summer extend back to last year, though he did not blame the situation on Jordan Love.

“The wrench was just kind of thrown into it when I won MVP and played the way I played last year,” Rodgers said. “This is just kind of, I think, a spill-out of all that. But it is about the people, and that’s the most important thing.”

He went on to clarify that he does not put any blame on Jordan Love, the Packers’ 2020 first-round pick, the selection of whom many have blamed for the blow up between Rodgers and the Packers.

In addition, Rodgers confirmed to Mayne that he did not report to organized team activities, though he didn’t give any indication as to his future plans concerning the team’s upcoming mandatory minicamp or training camp. If he fails to report for either of those events, he faces mandatory fines — ones the Packers cannot waive even if Rodgers does eventually rejoin the team.

As is so often the case when Rodgers speaks, his interview with Mayne was noteworthy for what he didn’t say.

Though he thanked the coaching staff and fans of the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers seemed careful to avoid speaking about the team’s front office, specifically Brian Gutekunst and Mark Murphy. One report, from Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports, has indicated that Rodgers would like Gutekunst removed as a condition of his return to the team, though he did not address that specifically on Monday.

To that point, Rodgers didn’t really say what he wants from the team at all. He made repeated mention of the importance of “people,” but he shed little light, if any, on what that means in practice. He made an obtuse reference to “culture,” but beyond that, Rodgers spoke little about what he’d like to change in Green Bay.

This interview, then, may best be viewed as a return volley to the Packers. Since the news broke in late April, only the Packers have spoken publicly about the ongoing situation. Now, Rodgers has finally done the same. Even if he said very little, the ball seems to now be in the Packers’ court.