While there are questions among the Green Bay Packers’ fanbase regarding how good Jordan Love will be on the field, there are no questions regarding how good of a person he is. Despite being unfairly dragged by so-called fans from the moment he was drafted, Love has not said anything negative about his situation or the criticism that came his way.
Related: Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love Is Forming Strong Connection with 1 Particular Wide Receiver
By all accounts, Love has stepped up as multiple ways this offseason. He invited several Packers’ position players to California to work with him to start building their chemistry. Not only that, he has emerged as a leader in the locker room in a way that could not make him any more different than Aaron Rodgers. Last season, the way Rodgers would scream at young players who made mistakes was well-documented. His facial expressions and general demeanor often displayed his irritation.
Love has taken a different approach. One of the players that has had the best things to say about him in this regard is Kenneth Odumegwu, who joined the Packers as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.
Kenneth Odumegwu Has High Praise for Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love
Leonard Solms of ESPN had the opportunity to chat with Odumegwu about coming to America as part of the program. For those unfamiliar, Odumegwu is from Nigeria and is new to the game of football. How new? Well, he is, quite literally, learning the game fresh right now. The Packers are giving him a chance based on his sheer athleticism.
One might think that seasoned football players, even rookies who have at least been playing the sport for most of their lives, would not be very receptive to such a player joining their professional team. However, that could not be further from the truth in the Packers locker room. Odumegwu told Solms some wonderful stories regarding Jordan Love and his other new teammates:
“Jordan Love actually gave me a lift to the training facility from the building today. He’s a very nice person – down to earth.
“The first time I spoke to him, he was like: ‘How are you doing? How are you finding it here? How’s Nigeria?’ He was curious to know more about me. He’s a very cool person.
“To be honest, every one of them [has been helpful]. On the training ground, they tell me: ‘Ok, you line up here…’ Running backs – Aaron Jones, [AJ] Dillon, and my position’s players, of course – outside linebackers – Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, JJ, LaDarius [Hamilton]. They have been very nice to me.”
If there is one thing that this team obviously lacked last season, it was chemistry. It certainly does not sound like that will be an issue this year.
As a side note: Odumegwu did not initially enter the program as a football player. He entered it as a basketball player. However, former New York Giants defensive lineman Osi Umenyiora, who started the program, encouraged him to pursue football instead. As a result of his background in basketball, Odumegwu was familiar with Milwaukee, but did not realize it was in the same state as Green Bay:
“Coming here, to be honest, I didn’t know Milwaukee was in Wisconsin. When I was told I was coming to Green Bay, I looked it up. It was in the same state Milwaukee was in. If I get a chance, I’d love to go see the Bucks games.”
Of course, Giannis Antetokounmpo (though known as the Greek Freak) has Nigerian heritage. Perhaps the two-time NBA MVP can help give Odumegwu the experience of a lifetime.
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