Is Aaron Rodgers too Arrogant?
There’s a fine line between confidence and cockiness when it comes to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Many will see his celebrations and things he says in press conferences as arrogant.
Is this type of treatment deserved for one of the NFL’s best players? The ESPN writers who cover the NFC North answered this very question and their answers should also reflect just about anyone you’d ask if Rodgers is too cocky.
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“I believe plenty of players consider Rodgers arrogant,” Chicago Bears reporter Jeff Dickerson wrote. “A respected veteran said to me years ago, “You know Rodgers and Jay Cutler are actually pretty similar people off the field. The difference is that on the field, Rodgers is great. The other guy [Cutler], he’s just OK.”
“So I doubt Rodgers wins many popularity contests around the league, but who cares?” Dickerson continued. “He is insanely talented. He’s in the category of players you hate, until they quarterback your team. I’m sure Packers players love him, or at least pretend they do. “
Minnesota Vikings reporter Ben Goessling had similar thoughts about Rodgers.
“Some of the stuff Rodgers does on and off the field — the belt gesture, the little smirks, the veiled shots in press conferences — might irk some of his opponents, but when you’ve been as dominant as he’s been for the better part of a decade, it’s hard not to believe you’re in full control of everything going on around you,”
“I’ve never heard anyone with the Vikings talk about Rodgers with anything other than respect — and that’s not just because of how successful he’s been. Veterans like Brian Robison, Chad Greenway and Captain Munnerlyn seem to genuinely enjoy their battles with Rodgers, as does Mike Zimmer. As much success as Rodgers has enjoyed against the Vikings over the years, he’s got their respect.
And finally, the Lions’ reporter Michael Rothstein shared pretty close to what I think about Rodgers and how he acts on the field.
“A thing you heard a lot of people around the Lions say last season when the franchise was losing game after game was that when you win, you can say what you want,” he wrote. “And Rodgers wins, wins, wins and then he goes and wins some more. So I think the thought process around the league is he can say that which he pleases until you beat him. Then, he’s likely not going to say that anymore. I’ve found most players in the division respect Rodgers because of his level of success. Can’t question that.”
I firmly believe that when you reach a certain level of success, you can pretty much behave the way you want on the field. Rodgers has done it all in the NFL in a very rapid pace. Rodgers is not only regarded as just the best players in his position, but the entire league.
When Michael Jordan was knocking down game-winning shots and winning championships, he could do no wrong. No matter how much trash he talked, no matter how arrogant he was on the court it didn’t matter because he was the best at what he did. The same goes for Rodgers and he has earned that right.
If the opposing defense and players have a problem with Rodgers confidence and manner of play, shut him down to shut him up. It’s that simple, but many teams can’t do it.
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