- Messages
- 5,432
- Reaction score
- 0
Aaron Rodgers: 'Everything is cool'
ESPN.com news services
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio he called linebacker Nick Barnett on Saturday to discuss his comments and Barnett's about the team photo situation.
"I initiated the conversation. We ironed things out. I didn't think there needed to be an apology on either side," Rodgers said.
Super Bowl XLV
Get all the news and commentary on the Steelers-Packers matchup at ESPN.com's Super Bowl Central.
"I reminded him I was the one who went to the third floor and lobbied to have everyone in the team photo. I realize people are going to want to talk about this at the Super Bowl, but everything is cool."
Rodgers was asked during a five-minute media availability Saturday if he feels for his teammates on injured reserve because they can't take part in the run-up to the game next Sunday.
Rodgers made a point of saying that when he spent time on injured reserve in 2006, he stayed in Green Bay to finish the season instead of returning home to California.
He never mentioned teammates by name, but said that some of Green Bay's 16 players listed on the injured reserve this season chose not to rehab locally.
"I'll say this, I was on IR back in 2006 and I chose to stick around and finish out the season with my guys and be here every game. Some of those guys didn't," Rodgers said. "We love them, we care about them, we don't wish injury on anybody, but this is a group of guys that's really come together and it's been great to work with the guys we've brought in midseason, some of them, and the young guys.
"Some of the guys who were injured, they still are part of this team, but some of them didn't choose to stick around."
Rodgers also was asked whether he'd feel closer to the injured players if they had stayed in Green Bay.
"Well, they're part of this team, first and foremost, but some guys choose to do their rehab in other places," Rodgers said.
The comments apparently irked Barnett, who posted on Twitter that he plans to delete his account, though it remained active Sunday afternoon.
"All I wanted to be is included as a teammate nothing more," Barnett tweeted. "Looks like it has backfired on me.. I guess That was asking too much... Sorry if I offended anyone."
Barnett and tight end Jermichael Finley took to Twitter this week to complain that they weren't going to be in the photo because it was scheduled to be taken Tuesday, two days before injured players are to arrive in Dallas.
Rodgers and another team captain, Charles Woodson, brought the issue to the attention of coach Mike McCarthy and they decided to reschedule the photo for Friday so that everyone could participate.
McCarthy said Thursday the players made a "poor decision" when they complained about it in public, but that it was no big deal to change the timing of the photo.
The photo flap has caught the attention of Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley, who took a shot at the Packers on Twitter.
"I can tell u this much-us @steelers would never be tweeting jabs at each other.. over a team picture issue especially
," Woodley tweeted Sunday.
ESPN.com news services
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio he called linebacker Nick Barnett on Saturday to discuss his comments and Barnett's about the team photo situation.
"I initiated the conversation. We ironed things out. I didn't think there needed to be an apology on either side," Rodgers said.
Super Bowl XLV
Get all the news and commentary on the Steelers-Packers matchup at ESPN.com's Super Bowl Central.
"I reminded him I was the one who went to the third floor and lobbied to have everyone in the team photo. I realize people are going to want to talk about this at the Super Bowl, but everything is cool."
Rodgers was asked during a five-minute media availability Saturday if he feels for his teammates on injured reserve because they can't take part in the run-up to the game next Sunday.
Rodgers made a point of saying that when he spent time on injured reserve in 2006, he stayed in Green Bay to finish the season instead of returning home to California.
He never mentioned teammates by name, but said that some of Green Bay's 16 players listed on the injured reserve this season chose not to rehab locally.
"I'll say this, I was on IR back in 2006 and I chose to stick around and finish out the season with my guys and be here every game. Some of those guys didn't," Rodgers said. "We love them, we care about them, we don't wish injury on anybody, but this is a group of guys that's really come together and it's been great to work with the guys we've brought in midseason, some of them, and the young guys.
"Some of the guys who were injured, they still are part of this team, but some of them didn't choose to stick around."
Rodgers also was asked whether he'd feel closer to the injured players if they had stayed in Green Bay.
"Well, they're part of this team, first and foremost, but some guys choose to do their rehab in other places," Rodgers said.
The comments apparently irked Barnett, who posted on Twitter that he plans to delete his account, though it remained active Sunday afternoon.
"All I wanted to be is included as a teammate nothing more," Barnett tweeted. "Looks like it has backfired on me.. I guess That was asking too much... Sorry if I offended anyone."
Barnett and tight end Jermichael Finley took to Twitter this week to complain that they weren't going to be in the photo because it was scheduled to be taken Tuesday, two days before injured players are to arrive in Dallas.
Rodgers and another team captain, Charles Woodson, brought the issue to the attention of coach Mike McCarthy and they decided to reschedule the photo for Friday so that everyone could participate.
McCarthy said Thursday the players made a "poor decision" when they complained about it in public, but that it was no big deal to change the timing of the photo.
The photo flap has caught the attention of Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley, who took a shot at the Packers on Twitter.
"I can tell u this much-us @steelers would never be tweeting jabs at each other.. over a team picture issue especially
," Woodley tweeted Sunday.