Aaron Rodgers is just like the rest of us. He just wants this whole Deflategate nonsense to be over as soon as possible.
The Green Bay Packers quarterback was at the original scene of the “crime” Thursday night at Gillette Stadium for his team’s preseason opener against the New England Patriots.
Patriots starter Tom Brady played in just two offensive series, while Rodgers lasted the entire first quarter in Green Bay’s eventual 22-11 win. The two star quarterbacks had a friendly conversation at midfield after the game, and while Rodgers wouldn’t say what he told Brady, he did give his counterpart a vote of confidence while speaking to reporters later.
“Tomâs a buddy, and heâs going through some stuff right now. Iâm sure weâll have resolution here pretty soon,” Rodgers said, via WEEI.com. “I donât know enough about it to make any comment on (Deflategate). But Tomâs a buddy, and Iâd like to see it get figured out before the season.”
Brady and the NFL Players Association still are in a standoff with the NFL over the QB’s four-game suspension, and Wednesday’s federal court hearing failed to resolve that. Rodgers wasn’t about to weigh in on which side he agrees with, but he did sympathize with missing regular-season games, should that be Brady’s fate.
“I missed eight games in 2013. Itâs tough. Itâs tough to miss it,” Rodgers said. “I missed a game from a concussion — that was a tough week. Itâs tough not to be out there.”
Rodgers became part of the Deflategate narrative this offseason when it was revealed he actually prefers his footballs over-inflated. All preferences aside, though, it appears Rodgers would rather not have any more discussions about air pressure or PSI.
Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images