When Aaron Rodgers stood firm with then-rival Jay Cutler against anonymous criticism - "Can't help but empathize"
Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler were once rivals when they played for the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, respectively. Off the field though, the two quarterbacks had a mutual respect for each other. That was obvious in a 2014 interview with Aaron Rodgers, when he expressed his empathy for Cutler.
Rodgers expressed his thoughts after then-Bears offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer disguised himself as an 'anonymous source' and criticized Jay Cutler's performance and talent as a quarterback.
Aaron Rodgers said that as a quarterback he could understand how Jay Cutler would feel hurt and betrayed if one of the coaches said something like that.
"I would have a major problem if somebody said something like that. I think anybody that plays the position, you can't help but empathize with Jay for that situation. You talk all the time about being connected, being a unit, believing in each other. But if you have unnamed sources, people out there cutting you down, and then you find out it's the person calling the plays -- that would be really hard to deal with, to look at him the same way, " Rodgers said in December 2014.
Rodgers' empathy for Jay Cutler's situation with the Chicago Bears coaching staff showed that it's more than just what happens on the field for some players.
Aaron Rodgers said he 'doesn't care' about the narrative around the Jets
Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets aren't exactly where they want to be in the first four weeks of the season. A disappointing loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4 now has the New York Jets at 2-2 as they look forward to a trip to London this week.
The 40-year-old quarterback isn't letting the headlines dictate the narrative around his team. On Wednesday's episode of The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers said that he could lean into the headlines or ignore them, and he has chosen the latter.
“There’s always gonna be messaging and narratives out there and you have two choices: You can ride the wave — really a rollercoaster — or you can say f– it, I don’t care. I’m the latter. I don’t get into the conversations going on outside the building around myself, the relationships I have," Rodgers said on The Pat McAfee Show.
Rodgers was critical of head coach Robert Saleh on Sunday after he suggested a change of cadence in the offensive line. The New York Jets quarterback knows where he stands with his coaches and teammates and won't listen to others opinions on the matter.