We know Aaron Rodgers can sling it, but it takes more than that to win in the NFL, particularly with an inexperienced receiving corps like the one he had in Green Bay this past season, showing only fleeting glimpses of chemistry with rookie wideouts Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. Rodgers was critical of his younger teammates in training camp this summer, warning that if they didn’t shape up, learning from their drops and missed assignments during practice, he’d stop throwing to them. “We’ve got to be way more consistent,” Rodgers said at the time. “You keep dropping the ball, you’re not going to be out here.”
While Rodgers was complementary of Doubs’ development throughout the season, the fourth-round rookie admits their relationship is largely limited to football, claiming the two have never interacted off the field. “I didn’t get a chance to hang out with him,” Doubs told Maggie and Perloff of CBS Sports. “Not one time. As far as being around 12, it’s always been football. In the building, on the practice field.”
That may not come as much of a surprise. After all, there is a 17-year-age gap between Rodgers (39) and Doubs (22), suggesting the two would probably run in different social circles. Though this isn’t true of all teams and players, many veterans across sports adhere to a strict pecking order, requiring younger, less established teammates to “pay their dues,” which could be a factor in Rodgers’ relatively nonexistent relationship with Doubs and other rookies.
While many dismissed the anecdote as a nonstory, an out-of-context soundbite blown way out of proportion, the fact Rodgers never made an effort to connect with one of his top receivers is disheartening, making him appear aloof and unapproachable to those seeking his mentorship. That doesn’t necessarily mean anything—for all we know, Rodgers is a consummate professional with only his teammates’ best interests in mind. But as teams weigh whether to make a run at Rodgers this offseason, determining his fit as a leader and locker-room presence, it’s at least something to consider.
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