The confusing moment during Matt LaFleur's post-draft presser that no one is talking about
GREEN BAY – After the draft, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur expressed why this offseason is so important for the Packers: change. There has been a lot of change when it comes to both the coaching staff and the roster. LaFleur wisely noted during his post-draft press conference that the only way to ensure the […]
GREEN BAY – After the draft, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur expressed why this offseason is so important for the Packers: change.
There has been a lot of change when it comes to both the coaching staff and the roster. LaFleur wisely noted during his post-draft press conference that the only way to ensure the Packers overcome the recent turnover is by getting together in person and working through the motions.
“Just like I mentioned, there’s a lot of new faces so, the more that these guys can get around one another [the better],” LaFleur said Saturday. “That’s one of the challenges, I think, each and every year is how do you recreate that team chemistry, that camaraderie?
“And the only way you can do that is if you’re around one another. Certainly, not only the chemistry on the field, but off the field, is so important.”
That's why the early-April report stating Aaron Rodgers is planning on skipping voluntary offseason workouts is so troubling.
But there was a moment during LaFleur's press conference where a reporter states that Rodgers said himself he was planning on coming to May's minicamp for a couple of days.
You can listen to the question below at around the 7:50 mark:
So, Rodgers is planning to attend minicamp?
I searched everywhere and in-between for some kind of report backing up the reporter's comment/question and I couldn't even find a clickbait headline leading to Rodgers' supposed comment. I've asked friends who have been fans of the team for years and even people who cover the Packers for a living -you know, people who know the team inside and out- and they said they haven't heard Rodgers say anything like that, at all.
So, why would the reporter preface their question with that?
The only thing I could find that would make anyone say that was when Rodgers hopped on to the Pat McAfee Show during the first round of the draft.
Rodgers said the following at one point:
“We got a lot to play for, a lot of exciting things,” Rodgers said. “… Whoever we bring in tomorrow and the rest of this draft, I’m going to put in the time to make it work with those guys. And we’re going to find a way in Matt [LaFleur’s] offense to be successful like we always have. And it’s not going to be any different this year.”
There's a possibility the reporter took Rodgers' comment of "I'm going to put in the time to make it work" as he's going to show up in May. That's obviously speculation on my end, but if it is indeed true, that's an awfully big jump to make. Rodgers may have a completely different definition of what that statement means.
It's a confusing moment and so far, no one has provided any clarity on the situation. Maybe I'm just a caveman-like idiot that doesn't know how to work the internet or maybe I've completely missed the boat on this one and don't realize it. Maybe I should start using Yahoo! or something when it comes to my search engines.
Regardless, it's a confusing moment that's flown completely under-the-radar over the last couple of days.
Featured image via Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
