Respecting Our Elders
Aaron Rodgers shared a light-hearted message with his teammate Broderick Jones last week after the 311-pound offensive lineman tackled him a bit too hard following a touchdown pass. “I told him, ‘I appreciate your energy, but I’m 41 years old—no need to tackle me like that,'” Rodgers joked on Wednesday. He added, “We laughed about it, but I did warn him I’ll be ready next time. He should keep an eye out.”
In a surprising moment during the Steelers’ loss to the Bengals, Rodgers’ teammates decided to poke some fun at him. Just after Rodgers executed a spirited fist-bump celebration for a 68-yard touchdown pass to tight end Pat Freiermuth, Jones followed him up, grabbing him around the neck.
The unexpected force caused both of them to hit the ground, but Rodgers seemed unbothered by it. He got up and playfully shoved Jones while mumbling something that wasn’t clear. “The only one I tackled last night was Broderick,” he mentioned, noting he hadn’t been sacked during that game. “Aside from that, I’m feeling great.”
Rodgers acknowledged that Jones’ excitement was understandable. “Rod’s always the first to check on me after a play,” he explained. “Right after I threw the pass, he was there, shaking me up.” It’s nice to have that kind of camaraderie, even if it means roughhousing sometimes.
Jones later admitted that although Rodgers vented his frustrations, they had moved past it. “We joke around about it,” he said. “He was a bit upset, but that’s part of football. The energy we both bring is essential. He told me to keep my intensity, and I said the same. If he throws another touchdown on Sunday, who knows? I might tackle him again.”
Looking ahead to Sunday, Rodgers likely hopes that Jones is the only one to make a move on him, especially with Packers rookie Micah Parsons gunning for him. It could be quite a significant game, considering it’s Rodgers’ first possible matchup against Green Bay since hinting at retirement over the summer.
Rodgers had a stellar career in Green Bay from 2005 to 2022, leading the Packers to their last Super Bowl win in the 2010 season before a challenging two years with the Jets. “I hold a lot of affection for this organization,” he reflected. “Playing at Lambeau would definitely feel a bit different.”
