Bradshaw criticizes Rodgers’ demands
Terry Bradshaw has no patience for the offseason saga of Aaron Rodgers and his discontent with the Green Bay Packers, which began a year ago when the team drafted his apparent successor.
The situation escalated rapidly on the first day of the NFL draft when ESPN reported that Rodgers no longer wanted to play for the Packers, then snowballed when Yahoo reported that he had threatened to retire unless General Manager Brian Gutekunst, who made the decision to draft Jordan Love in the first round in 2020, is fired. It was all too much for Bradshaw, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Hall of Famer and Fox NFL analyst.
“With him being that upset shows me how weak he is,” Bradshaw told WFAN’S “Moose and Maggie” show Monday. “Who the hell cares who you draft? I mean, he’s a three-time MVP in the league and he’s worried about this guy they drafted last year (in the first round)? . . . And for him to be upset, my God, I don’t understand that. Pittsburgh drafted Mark Malone No. 1 (26th overall in the first round in 1980), Cliff Stoudt in the third or fourth round (fifth round in 1977). I had ’em coming at me from all angles. I embraced it, because when we went to practice, I wasn’t worried about those guys, you know? They didn’t scare me a bit. So I don’t understand why he’s so upset at Green Bay.”
The Packers angered Rodgers, who said he learned that the team would take Love out of Utah State with the 26th overall pick in 2020, in a text message as the pick was made. Rodgers admitted it was a shock that he coped with by pouring himself “four fingers of tequila.”
Bradshaw, of course, played in a different era and was appalled at the Gutekunst ultimatum that Rodgers reportedly delivered.
“... If they fire the general manager he’ll come back?” Bradshaw added. “Are you kidding me? Really? Aaron, that’s where this is?”
Rodgers has offered no clarity on his feelings, declining to address the matter while attending the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. He spoke with NBC’S Mike Tirico, who was left to interpret their conversation. “I can tell you, I characterize Aaron as disappointed that news has come out of this rift with the Packers,” Tirico said. “He expressed a couple of times how much he loves Green Bay, loves the fans, loves the franchise. There is a chasm between management and the reigning NFL MVP. We’re just not sure how this is going to play out. Watch closely over the next couple of weeks to see what we hear from the Packers side and when Aaron does speak.”