Donald Driver: Aaron Rodgers didn’t like taking pressure off his receivers
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Greg Jennings has sounded like a bitter ex-girlfriend since he left the Green Bay Packers. He signed a massive contract with the Vikings, but it seems to genuinely bother him that Green Bay did not make an effort to bring him back. As a result, he has made some controversial comments about Aaron Rodgers not wanting to hold himself accountable. He also refused to mention Aaron by name at one point.
But there may be some merit to the whole accountability thing. During an appearance on ESPN Radio’s “Mike and Mike” Thursday morning, former Packers receiver Donald Driver made some interesting comments that gave Jennings’ remarks credibility.
“We’ve always said that the quarterback is the one that needs to take the pressure off everyone else,” Driver said, via ESPN.com “If a guy runs the wrong route, it’s easy for the quarterback to say, ‘Hey, I told him to run that route’ than for the guy to be like, ‘Well, I ran the wrong route.’ Sometimes you ask Aaron to take the pressure off the guys so we won’t look bad, but he didn’t want to do that. He felt like if you did something bad, you do it.
“But I think that’s the difference. You want that leadership, and I think sometimes you may not feel like you got it. You have to earn that respect at the end of the day, and I think that’s what Greg was probably referring to.”
Rodgers is a Super Bowl MVP and arguably the best quarterback in the league, but that makes two former receivers now who have questioned his leadership abilities. Jennings’ remarks sounded like sour grapes, but Driver is considered one of the classiest and most respected players in Green Bay history.
“I’ve always told Aaron, ‘Don’t forget where you come from because the people are the ones who put you on that pedestal. You didn’t put yourself there.’” Driver added. “I think that’s what (he’s) learning now. I’m not saying he’s a bad guy, I think he’s a great guy. I’m friends with Aaron.”
Nobody’s perfect. Rodgers made it clear that Jennings’ comments didn’t bother him, and that is probably the best approach to take. At age 29, he still has time to improve in all phases of the game — including leadership. Maybe that is something he needs to work on, or perhaps his former receivers are just bitter. Only Aaron knows.
UPDATE: Driver was apparently unhappy with the way he came across in the interview, so he tried to clarify his stance on Twitter:
Tweeps: Listen I can't believe people would think I'm talking about Aaron. Aaron is a great person and a good friend. He will tell you that
— Donald Driver (@Donald_Driver80) August 15, 2013
I've always told him never forget where you came from. He knows that. But the issue is between him and Greg. I love them both. Great friends
— Donald Driver (@Donald_Driver80) August 15, 2013
