Rodgers calls coverage of relationship with LaFleur 'fake news'
Aaron Rodgers is tired of the media's scrutiny of his relationship with new Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur.
In an interview with former Green Bay fullback John Kuhn on Packers.com, Rodgers hit back at the reports of disconnect between the two men that have dominated the team's offseason.
"It's fake news, John," Rodgers said with a laugh. "That's the media cycle these days. Unfortunately, the media - other than, obviously, yourself - there's a lack of integrity, I think. There's a rush to put up headlines that are clickbait because the ad revenue is based on the amount of visits you get to your website."
" ... when you're in a really low news cycle like in June and July when there's not much football going on, that's the kind of stuff that comes out. We don't need to spend any time talking about it because it's complete ridiculousness."
Last week, Rodgers criticized the Packers' decision to hold joint practices with the Houston Texans, which the NFC North team hadn't taken part in since 2005.
"I wouldn't mind if they didn't do it for another 14 years," Rodgers said, per Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel.
Meanwhile, LaFleur said he "absolutely 100 percent" would want to work out with another team again.
That public disagreement followed concerns that Rodgers and LaFleur were struggling to get on the same page regarding the first-year head coach's offensive scheme due in large part to it limiting the quarterback's ability to audible at the line of scrimmage.
While Rodgers and LaFleur have consistently praised each other during the first several months of their relationship, the star quarterback said in June that it would be unwise for the Packers "to ask me to turn off 11 years (of recognizing defenses)."
Asked by Kuhn about what's most important when developing a relationship between play-caller and quarterback, Rodgers pointed to building mutual faith in each other's skills.
"I think it's just trust - trust in the call that's coming in, and him trusting my experience and any adjustments that go along with the play call," Rodgers said.
The first live-action look at Rodgers in LaFleur's scheme will come Thursday against the Baltimore Ravens, as the two-time MVP is set to play "a quarter or so" alongside the rest of the starters.
- With h/t to CBS Sports
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