For the first time since head coach Mike McCarthy was relieved of his duties, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers addressed the media. With reports over the past few years of friction between Rodgers and McCarthy, many couldn’t wait to hear what Rodgers had to say. Take a look at what the future Hall of Famer had to say below:
“Right now, I’m just focused on these next four games and the direction that we’re going with Joe [Philbin],” Rodgers said. “I think we all share in the responsibility [of McCarthy’s firing]. That’s the toughest part. The players are the ones that are playing and obviously coaches have responsibilities to prepare, and teach and demand, but the players are on the field performing, and obviously our performance level wasn’t such that we could keep Mike in his place.”
For a guy who has subtly thrown shade at his former head coach over the years, it was interesting to hear Rodgers say that his performance, along with the teams, wasn’t good enough to keep ​McCarthy in town.
A real leader accepts responsibility and the consequences of actions, and that’s what ​Rodgers did with his comments.
Aaron Rodgers' body language made this pretty clear to me. pic.twitter.com/QgJudKZ5D6
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) December 3, 2018
It’s clear that some weren’t buying it, however. With reports saying that Rodgers would constantly change the plays on McCarthy at the line and that he quit on him, people believe he was the biggest reason why McCarthy got fired.
When it comes down to it, you can’t fire the team, which is why the Packers will move on as a unit while McCarthy will have to find work elsewhere.