WARE, England —
Aaron Rodgers talked a little about football and a lot more about human relationships, particularly his with coach Robert Saleh and his former teammate Davante Adams, after the New York Jets landed in London on Friday.
Rodgers, four-time NFL Most Valuable Player, spoke for about 11 minutes with the British press, ahead of Sunday’s game against the undefeated Minnesota Vikings, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The star denied that he and Saleh had any personal differences. He asserted that “there is a force” outside the Jets facilities that is trying to invent this dispute.
A series of pre-play penalties last week, in a 10-9 loss to Denver, led Saleh to ask if his team was “as good or ready to handle all the cadence” that Rodgers employs to confuse players. the opposing defenders.
The coach later clarified that the Jets will “always” prefer that cadence, due to the success Rodgers has had with it.
“It’s been a weapon,” Rodgers said at the team hotel in north London. “I think he stepped in and had the opportunity on Monday to respond in some way to all of that.”
The 40-year-old quarterback insisted there is no conflict between him and Saleh.
“We are good friends,” he stressed. “We enjoy being together. Almost every day we spend some time together. I’m in your office, talking about things, the team’s energy and focus, what we need to do, how I can help you and how you can help me. So we have a great relationship.”
Another hot topic this week was the situation of the frustrated Adams, who would be available in a trade after he reportedly asked to leave the Las Vegas Raiders. The Jets have been mentioned as a potential destination, due to the relationship between Adams and Rodgers, who were teammates in Green Bay for eight seasons.
Before addressing the issue, Rodgers said he wasn’t sure how much he could say, given that the NFL prohibits schemes to discourage a player from joining its ranks. However, he made it clear what he would prefer in terms of a potential reunion.
“I still have a close relationship with him,” the quarterback said. “We spent a lot of time together in the offseason. He’s a great guy and a great player. The rest is not in my hands.”
