Cory's Corner: Aaron Rodgers Personifies Leadership

But this training camp, Aaron Rodgers has been introspective and has been very honest about himself and obviously others. 

I didn’t have a problem when Aaron Rodgers blasted unnamed rookie receivers for not focusing and finishing a practice on Aug. 7 with a lack of effort.

He was so upset that he went so far as to mention that the practice was “piss poor."

Rodgers addressed that post-practice rant today. “I hope we can hear comments or read comments and not get offended by things," Rodgers said. “It's a professional environment; it's not a personal environment. The things I'm saying, I don't have some vendetta against any player. I care about winning, No. 1, and I'm going to say and do the things that I feel like can advance us. It's going to be tough at some points. It's not a popularity contest all the time. Obviously, as a human, you like being liked and appreciated, but I'm trying to win games because that's my job."

The reason this is news is because Rodgers has been known as the passive-aggressive guy that gets his subtle shots in. But these are things a leader says. No sugar-coating, just straight to the point. 

And that’s the best way to handle this. Rodgers could’ve gone the other way, called out the receivers that drove him nuts as he roasted them with detailed reasons why the practice was so poor. But what good would that do? All that would do is potentially make a rift with the young receivers that he’s trying to build a relationship with and it could potentially hurt the offense down the road if the wide receiver position gets into injury trouble. 

This is a moment of growth for Rodgers. He has been so consumed with his own game that he rarely makes a point to throw shade at anyone. But this training camp, Rodgers has been introspective and has been very honest about himself and obviously others. 

Now, one has to wonder if the younger receivers had a problem with it? Because if Rodgers had to come out and justify why he said the infamous “piss poor” line from Aug. 7, then odds are pretty good that Rodgers ruffled some feathers. 

My whole thought is, if you cannot make teammates uncomfortable in preseason, when is it acceptable? I mean, if a player makes a mistake, he has to understand that he’s not going to get a high five.

Another reason why I liked what Rodgers did is because it gives a template for the youngsters to follow. Kind of like, “This is how we do things in Green Bay, figure it out.” And that’s perfectly fine. Rodgers turns 35 this season and he has felt the gorilla-sized expectations every single preseason — Super Bowl or bust. Rodgers knows that this fan base won’t be happy with anything other than another ticker tape parade and he’s trying to make the rest of the team understand that there’s a reason why people call this place Titletown. 

Rodgers can be disliked in the locker room, but if his warranted criticism leads to a sharper focus and more wins, he should be thanked. 

 

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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn

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Comments (9)

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NickPerry's picture

August 14, 2018 at 06:29 am

IF Rodgers is disliked in the locker room by some of the younger players for his remarks then that player or players probably aren't going to help Rodgers and the Packers win another SB.

Rodgers KNOWS what it takes to win a SB. He had the receiving corps from hell in 2010 through 2012. The Packers won by beating teams with their 3rd and 4th receiving options more times than not back then. These WR on this club right now fighting for a snaps on the field or even a job BETTER be listening and I really, REALLY hope none are that thin-skinned to have been butt hurt. If so they probably weren't going to be a factor anyways.

Personally I love that Rodgers said something. It's time!!

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TKWorldWide's picture

August 14, 2018 at 07:17 am

It
Is
Time!

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Handsback's picture

August 14, 2018 at 07:18 am

Rodgers is the leader of the Packers. It's one thing for coaches to chew out players, it's another for the team leader to do it. Your peers are watching and making judgment calls on whatever was done improperly. Peer pressure is a great motivator and the best reason to play as good as you can. To achieve perfection may be out of reach, but trying to achieve it should be paramount to a player's desire. Lombardi taught that to his players and was very successful in making it a team effort to achieve perfection. Today a story ran in the Dallas Morning News about wide receiver, Tavon Austin, who was traded to Dallas from the LA Rams. He talked about his lousy effort last year and trying to become more focused this year by working harder on his craft.
I think Green Bay won their last SB with that kind of team effort driven by peer pressure. Replacing so many players during the year may have brought them closer as a team that and Rodgers coming into his own made them a team of destiny.

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egbertsouse's picture

August 14, 2018 at 07:43 am

Getting in guys’ faces on the sidelines or on the practice field or in the locker room is one thing but throwing them under the bus to the media is something else. It’s not leadership, it’s just pissy.

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croatpackfan's picture

August 14, 2018 at 12:29 pm

"Getting in guys’ faces on the sidelines or on the practice field or in the locker room is one thing..."

That one thing very often they called mobbing!

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porupack's picture

August 14, 2018 at 08:08 am

Agree with Cory. My guess is that the young WRs themselves didn't have a problem with Rodgers accountability, and they didn't whine about it, or they would not cut it very long going forward in the locker room as a whiner.

They know full well that they have stiff competition since draft day with 3 picks, plus FAs and last years seedlings, (unless they're clueless).
They know they have to get on page with the QB and they have only a few chances to get in top of the pecking order or fade.

My guess is that people around the team, look for these little tidbit story lines, hoping to uncover a story. So, Rodgers, accustomed to the spotlight just ended that story saying...."its all good folks'.

And...seeing how the WRs responded with impressive preseason game #1, I think the story line was simply about pros mentoring new pros, about being prepared (and that non stories can sometimes be nipped in the bud).

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porupack's picture

August 14, 2018 at 08:06 am

And I wouldn't mind if a few vets on the D would step up and elevate the expectations on that side. MDaniels for one has earned the credibility.

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Since'61's picture

August 14, 2018 at 08:27 am

Rodgers is setting the expectations for the young players. This is fine and he should be part of their mentoring process. The young players need to know what it takes not just to play but to win in the NFL.

We'll never know what Rodgers said in the locker room but I for one am happy to see him take a more vocal approach. Thanks, Since '61

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Spock's picture

August 14, 2018 at 10:27 am

I posted this on the other Rodgers article. Hopefully, CHTV will let me post the link again:
August 14, 2018 at 09:22 am(edit)
PAP, Yes, those statements were taken seriously by the WR's. On the Packers official website MVS (I think it was him) after the Thursday night game said that the WR's had a meeting after Tuesday's practice to discuss their need to come up to Rodger's practice/game standards. He said something about when a future hall of fame QB tells you you need to practice 100% and not just for 3/4th of the practice, you'd better listen. I believe that was evidenced in the play on the field last Thursday. In other words: Rodgers message WAS received and acted upon. It might of been out of frustration by Rodgers but it was leadership that worked.

EDIT: Here's some of from the article:
"So when Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers challenged the team’s young receivers following Tuesday’s practice, the rookie fifth-round pick out of South Florida got the message loud and clear.

“You’ve got a Hall of Fame quarterback over there, and if he's telling you that you're not doing it right, you've got to change what you're doing,” Valdes-Scantling said. “We have to be pros all the time. We can't be pros for just three-fourths of practice. You've got to be it all the time.”

"The Packers’ receivers held a quick meeting following Tuesday’s practice and vowed to not have another letup in practices moving forward. The group responded the right way against the Titans on Thursday."

Here's the link:

https://www.packers.com/news/marquez-valdes-scantling-rises-to-the-occas...

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