The Aaron Rodgers vs. the Green Bay Packers drama, one of the big stories of the offseason, is mostly behind us now. Rodgers is back in the fold for 2021 and everyone seems focused on one thing: winning the Super Bowl.
But that doesn’t mean everything is completely healed. Rodgers had indicated his issues were mostly with the front office, so his relationship with GM Brian Gutekunst — or lack thereof — was a major focus over the spring and early summer. With the regular season almost at hand, how is that relationship progressing?
Packers fans can breathe a small sigh of relief, because it seems to be going well.
Gutekunst having good conversations with Rodgers
During a media session on Wednesday, Gutekunst discussed how well he, Rodgers, and head coach Matt LaFleur have been communicating.
“I’ve had really good conversations throughout camp with Aaron and Matt, and I think the communication has been really, really good,” Gutekunst told the media on Wednesday via NFL.com. “As we went into this kind of decision-making period, I think everybody — all the people that are kind of involved in that — were very aware of what was going on and why we were doing what we were doing. So, I feel really good about that. And the conversations that I’ve had with Aaron have been excellent.”
Rebuilding a relationship takes time, but Gutekunst saying that there’s been “really, really good” communication and “excellent” conversations with Rodgers are great signs.
Gutekunst praises Jordan Love
Gutekunst also said many good things Rodgers’ eventual replacement, QB Jordan Love. Despite missing about a week due to a shoulder issue, Gutekunst couldn’t stop praising Love and his outstanding training camp.
“I thought he had a fantastic camp, I really did,” Gutekunst said in his press conference via ProFootballTalk. “Obviously, he had a little bit of a pause in there where he missed some time, which would’ve been nice for him to have. But I thought he did an excellent job. Really saw the growth that we needed to see. I was excited for him. Obviously, nothing’s perfect and there’s definitely some things in there that I think he’ll take from this preseason with him as he goes. But I thought it was fantastic.”
Love played in two preseason games, which were his first actual live games since he was drafted in 2020. Gutekunst was impressed by what he saw, and how Love reacted in the moment.
“I thought for his first live action since Utah State, I thought he was very calm, poised. I thought he was able to get in and out of the plays that Matt wanted him to get in and out of. And I didn’t think the rush bothered him. I thought he kept his eyes downfield. I thought he made some really good throws and, again, obviously there are some moments that he’ll look back on and grow from. But at the same time, he moved the team. We would’ve like to have finished better in that last game. But I thought it was really, really positive.”
The Packers seem happy with Love’s growth, which is more than good enough for now since Rodgers is Green Bay’s starter. Unless the Packers need a garbage time QB or Rodgers gets injured, it’s possible we don’t see Love on the field again this season.
