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Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Rodgers backpedals on remark about Packers fans

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers plays with a football in between plays during mini-camp Tuesday June 17, 2008 at the Don Hutson Center in Green Bay, Wis.(AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

By JASON WILDE | Lee Newspapers

GREEN BAY — Since assuming the job as the Green Bay Packers’ starting quarterback following the retirement of Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers had done everything right.

He had perfect attendance in the team’s quarterback school, organized team activity practices and mandatory minicamp workouts. He’d invited teammates over to his house once a week and gotten 30 or so of them to show up for catered dinners. He’d said all the right things in the media.

Until now.

In a story about quarterbacks following legends in this week’s edition of Sports Illustrated, set to reach subscribers today and hit newsstands Thursday, Rodgers is quoted by author Chris Ballard saying something that likely won’t play well among fans who are already unsure about Rodgers replacing Favre.

“I don’t feel I need to sell myself to the fans,” Rodgers is quoted as saying in the story. “They need to get on board now or keep their mouths shut.”

As a result, Rodgers spent Tuesday in the center of controversy, with the remark dominating the talk-radio airwaves, Internet blogs and comment sections and several local TV sportscasts after Sports Illustrated released an advance copy of the story to the media. By day’s end, his voicemail was full and could no longer accept new messages.

“I love playing in Green Bay. I love the city of Green Bay. I love playing in a city that expects greatness, expects its players to play at a high level. I love my interaction with the fans, I love being in the community and spending time with them. That’s my only regret with this story breaking, that anyone would take offense to what I said,” Rodgers said Tuesday night. “Anything that makes it look like I don’t care about what the fans think about me is off base. That’s the biggest disappointment.”

Rodgers wouldn’t say whether he was misquoted or if the quote was taken out of context.

“The hardest thing today — and I’ve been pretty bummed out, to be honest — is that I honestly care about the fans. I do. They make the team go,” Rodgers said. “Hopefully our fans know how I really feel about them. Hopefully they think about the interactions I’ve had with them. I can’t think of a single time where I’ve had a negative experience with a fan. That’s my biggest fear — that people look at (the quote) and say, ’The guy’s arrogant, he hasn’t done anything yet.’ I realize that I haven’t done anything yet. I’ve played one good game in the NFL in three years, and otherwise I’ve been a backup. I don’t expect anyone to give me anything. I just don’t want this quote to come off arrogant or as negative towards our fans.

“I’m going to let each individual search their own heart and let them decide what they think the question was or what questions were asked (to lead to the quote). To break down the quote as best as I can, the message I wanted to get out was, ’Let’s move past myself, because it’s not about me. Let’s get on board with the Green Bay Packers of 2008.’ I know the fans will cheer me or boo me depending on how I play. But let’s not make it (only) about me, even though I’m at the most scrutinized position on field.”

Told of Rodgers’ comment on his weekly radio appearance on WTLX 100.5 FM, Packers right tackle Mark Tauscher, one of Rodgers’ closest friends on the team, was surprised by it.

“With Aaron, obviously this is a unique situation. No question about it. Whenever you replace a guy like Brett, there’s a lot of (pressure) on you, and I’m sure you get sick of answering questions,” Tauscher said. “I don’t know the context or how (the interview) played out. I haven’t read the article, and I don’t plan to. It’s a non-issue. What it’s going to come down to is how the guy goes out and plays. If I was him, I probably would not have said that. ... That quote is something I’m sure some people will take offense to.”