Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
LaFleur respected Rodgers’ process
Indianapolis — Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur kicked off his time at the NFL combine March 2 talking with the media and preparing for a week of meetings.
And during an offseason that has been dominated by discussion of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his future, it took 12 questions at the podium before the coach was asked to address his quarterback.
“You always want to be respectful because I know it’s a lot to take on,” LaFleur said when asked whether he had stayed in touch with Rodgers, before news reports emerged this week that his quarterback would stay with the Packers on a four-year deal that would make him the NFL’s highest-paid player.
“I know he has a lot to think about. Certainly I’m making sure that I consistently communicate with him. But also I want to be respectful of his time and the process he has to go through.”
While LaFleur was being respectful of his back-to-back MVP, and the decision Rodgers was facing, the Coach of the Year finalist admitted it was hard not trying to influence Rodgers.
“You can only control what you can control,” he said. “So you just try to make the best of it and try to have consistent communication. I told him I don’t want to be overbearing and tell him every day how much we love him and how much we want him back.
“So you just wanna be respectful of his space and allow him to think through everything clearly without being annoying I guess.”
NFL free agency begins March 16, and general manager Brian Gutekunst expected to have a decision from Rodgers by that date. Gutekunst also addressed the situation at the combine before the news of Rodgers’ return.
“He’s got a very tough process that he goes through to get himself ready to play every season. It’s a big commitment,” Gutekunst said. “And he’s done that for a long time and it certainly shows with the results. I think he feels he needs to do that, to play the way at the level he
plays at. And so I know that that weighs on him, but I think he’s going through that now.”
Combine meetings key to draft process
Gutekunst mentioned how much the Packers’ draft process relies on LaFleur and staff being in Indianapolis. LaFleur expanded, saying he is “very involved” while other teams are electing to leave their coach at home.
“Just sitting through the interview process, I think that’s as big a part of it as any, is just trying to find what these guys are all about, what makes them tick. And what type of people they are, how competitive they are, how much do they love football? Because I do think there’s a commonality amongst the guys that you can get the most out of and that really reach their potential, whatever level that is, is that they all love ball and they love to compete.”
LaFleur not part of cap conversations
The Packers have one of the worst salary-cap situations in the league, around $30 million over the cap. LaFleur, though, is leaving the numbers to Gutekunst and director of football operations Russ Ball, with only one directive.
“Just bring as many guys back as we can,” LaFleur said. “I think Russ Ball does an outstanding job with that. Obviously I’m a part of the conversations, but that’s really not my expertise in terms of the finer details of how it all fits together. But those are conversations that we have, and I’m learning it, but probably not to the level you guys would want to see.”
Jenkins rehabbing in Green Bay
Elgton Jenkins tore his ACL in Week 11 versus the Minnesota Vikings. The versatile offensive lineman had been a starter for eight weeks at that point, in place of the injured David Bakhtiari. Since suffering the season-ending tear, Jenkins has focused on returning. And according to LaFleur, the Mississippi native is doing so in Green Bay.
“Elgton’s doing a great job,” he said. “He’s attacking it the way you’d expect him to.”
What Hackett learned from Rodgers
Coach Nathaniel Hackett and the Denver Broncos expect to be active in the quarterback market. The former Packers offensive coordinator was at his first NFL combine as a head coach, with an eye on a quarterback class that is notoriously weak.
The club still has Drew Lock under contract, but the Broncos are looking for their next franchise quarterback. Rodgers floated the idea of a possible trade request this offseason, and the prospect of reuniting with his former coordinator makes Denver a popular speculative landing spot. While the Packers waited to hear Rodgers’ decision, Hackett was careful to avoid speculation in public. Asked if he was pushing the Broncos to pursue a trade with Rodgers, the quarterback’s former coordinator let out a big laugh.
“I’m just happy to be a Denver Bronco right now and we’ll evaluate everything as we go,” Hackett said.
There are things Hackett looks for in prospects.
“They have to be tough, mental and physical. The stresses they go through just being able to stand in front of so many different people. And then you look just at the physical aspect, to be able to take hits. ‘Cause even if it’s perfect, you’re gonna be hit and it’s a long season,” Hackett said.
“Then the intelligence. The ability to be able to call a play. We have long play calls. And then be able to understand the different defenses, (what) you’re gonna do to get yourself in a perfect play. Then accuracy. Those are kind of the three top ones. And if you’re lucky, you get an athletic guy too.”