For over a decade, it felt as if Aaron Rodgers was always competing with Brett Favre. Not the actual person (though that did happen a few times when Favre played for the Minnesota Vikings), but with the legend of Favre’s greatness as the Green Bay Packers quarterback. In many ways, Rodgers has surpassed Favre in terms of greatness. Last season, Rodgers became the Packers’ all-time leader in touchdown passes. He also won his fourth career NFL MVP Award, something Favre did three times. However, Matthew Willis of The Cold Wire believes that Aaron Rodgers has actually BECOME Brett Favre in Green Bay.
Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre Share Some Positive Comparisons
The Green Bay Packers have been fortunate to go from one Hall of Fame quarterback to another in Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. During their respective tenures in Green Bay, the Packers have won two Super Bowls. Both quarterbacks became beloved by fans of the Packers, which is where, at least according to Willis, the comparisons became less positive.
“Rodgers Did to Jordan Love What Brett Favre Did to Him”
In his column, Willis wrote,
” In 2008, Favre retired after losing to the New York Giants in the NFL playoffs. However, he would come back during training camp to reclaim his old job. But the problem was, the job was no longer his. Rodgers took over the spot and wasn’t giving it back to the former starting quarterback. This caused a huge divide with Packers fans, with some booing and cursing Rodgers. However, it ended with Favre leaving via a trade and the new quarterback staying as the starter. But fast forward to 2021 and we see that four-time MVP quarterback having a Favre like moment.”
Willis then included the infamous Adam Schefter Tweet from last offseason:
Reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers is so disgruntled with the Green Bay Packers that he has told some within the organization that he does not want to return to the team, league and team sources told ESPN on Thursday.
More on NFL Live now….
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 29, 2021
Willis went on to claim that the reason Aaron Rodgers acted the way he did was because he felt like the Packers wasted their first round pick in 2020 on Jordan Love. As a result, Packers fans were divided; some supported Rodgers while others supported Love.
Related: Jordan Love’s future with the Packers is up in the air
This Report Is Not Exactly Accurate
I do not know Matthew Willis, so I will not presume to know what research he did when he wrote his article. However, this claim that Aaron Rodgers is treating Jordan Love the way Brett Favre treated him is simply false. If there was any one person who could offer insight into this, it is Jordan Love himself. He did just that last offseason when he addressed the media.
Jordan Love on the Aaron Rodgers situation:
"Obviously me and Aaron, we've got a good relationship. I spoke to him probably a week before I got here."
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) June 9, 2021
Yes, Aaron Rodgers had issues with the front office at the time. No, he did not “love” the drafting of Jordan Love when it happened. However, the issues that Rodgers had focused more on how the Packers treated players on their way out the door. In his opinion, he wanted to have more say in team transactions.
Related: Aaron Rodgers defends Brian Gutekunst over Davante Adams trade
It was never about Jordan Love the person. In fact, Aaron Rodgers made it point (as Eli Berkovits tweeted above) to make sure that Love knew it was not about him. Furthermore, after the pick was made, Aaron Rodgers said this: “Part of your legacy is how you treat your teammates,” Rodgers said to Bleacher Report in 2020. “I want Jordan to have as great of memories as possible of me being in the QB room and having some great laughs and competing. I want kinship, not animosity. That’s what I’ve always tried to do with all my backups.”
If that were not enough, Rodgers recently criticized comments Ryan Tannehill made about not wanting to mentor his backup quarterback.
Conclusion
Listen, I’m not going to sit here and say that I love everything about the way Aaron Rodgers has handled the last two offseasons. However, to claim that Aaron Rodgers has become Brett Favre is not accurate. Rodgers signed a three-year contract this offseason to show his commitment to the team. Sure, he could always retire before the contract is up; but that would go against what he has said in the past about wanting to play into his 40s.
Admittedly, from the outside, there are similarities between the two. However, I think many people, including Jordan Love, would disagree with the statement that Aaron Rodgers has become Brett Favre.
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