Former Packers WR Greg Jennings Remains Vocal Over Difficult Connection With Aaron Rodgers
Former Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings never maintained a connection with quarterback Aaron Rodgers once he left the team in 2013. As years have gone on, Jennings admits that the two remain at odds.
Speaking with The Pioneer Press, Jennings admitted that he and Rodgers have shared a jaded relationship since their time as teammates. And when the two do cross paths by chance, Rodgers' reception has been cold — claims the receiver.
"We don't text, we don't communicate like that," Jennings noted. "We haven't had an official sit-down, like bring it all in for a hug, since I left Green Bay. … We had a great relationship … Our relationship now has been non-existent. I tried to reach out to refurbish it but haven't had any success. The acceptance from his side has just not been there."
On the field, the Jennings-Rodgers connection helped lead the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl XLV win in 2010. Jennings caught 76 passes, 1,265 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns that season.
Even in a loaded depth chart including Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Jermichael Finley and Donald Driver, Jennings appeared as Rodgers' favorite target.
After a 2011 postseason loss to the New York Giants, Jennings eventually got lost in the loaded depth, along with injuries, and segued out of Green Bay. Not helping the matter was a move to NFC North rival, the Minnesota Vikings.
Jennings never had the same luck with Leslie Fraziers' Vikings, which made the association to Green Bay often become the primary focus of the media.
When the topic arrived, Jennings hardly minced words about Rodgers.
As relayed by the New York Post, Jennings' cryptic language when talking about the Packers' organization drew tension to his relationship with Rodgers. During a radio interview in 2013, Jennings said the following:
"Don't get me wrong, '12' is a great person. But when you hear all positives, all positives, all positives all the time, it's hard for you to sit down when one of your teammates says, 'Man, come on, you've got to hold yourself accountable for this.' It's hard for someone to see that now because all they've heard is I'm doing it the right way, I'm perfect. In actuality, we all have flaws."
Rodgers is on a likely trail to his fourth NFL MVP honors this season. Should he retire at the end of the year, Rodgers will go out on the perfect narrative emblematic of the quarterback's unique success: besting his off-the-field critics by dominating on the field.
Minnesota's Greg Jennings and Rodgers met in the regular season (Nov. 24, 2013), which resulted in a 26–26 tie.
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