Bleacher Report’s fascinating look inside the dysfunctional relationship between quarterback Aaron Rodgers and former Packers coach Mike McCarthy shed light on the organization’s downturn over the past two seasons, and neither man is blameless. A source quoted in the story claims that Rodgers said McCarthy may have the lowest football IQ of any coach he’s played for. Rodgers constantly clashed with McCarthy and often disregarded or changed his play calls. In short, McCarthy’s Packers were a mess.
McCarthy has always taken the brunt of the blame for the Packers’ issues, but ESPN’s Marcus Spears argued on Friday that Rodgers is “toxic,” and that his talent is shielding him from more criticism.
“Aaron Rodgers is toxic. If it wasn’t for his talent level, we would probably have a different view and conversation about Aaron Rodgers. When former players come out and talk about a player…. When you’ve went to war with a guy, for you to come out talk of him ill and speak negatively of him, he’s done some things that you’ve seen that has created the ability for you to go out and express that.
…. You hear of what [Greg] Jennings talked about. You hear of what [Jermichael] Finley talked about, the former tight end, about Aaron Rodgers and his grasp on this team. Aaron Rodgers is toxic.”
As Spears noted, a few of Rodgers’ former teammates have criticized him in the past. Tight end Jermichael Finley called Rodgers “self-centered” in 2016, and said the quarterback “wasn’t put on this Earth to lead.” Wide receiver Greg Jennings also criticized Rodgers after leaving the Packers in 2013.
Via USA TODAY:
“Don’t get me wrong, ’12’ is a great person. But when you hear all positives, all positives, all positives all the time, it’s hard for you to sit down when one of your teammates says, ‘Man, come on, you’ve got to hold yourself accountable for this.’ It’s hard for someone to see that now because all they’ve heard is I’m doing it the right way, I’m perfect. In actuality, we all have flaws.”
