Aaron Rodgers Backs Jay Cutler Amid Aaron Kromer Controversy
(CBS) Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has expressed support for Bears quarterback Jay Cutler after the drama of last week in which Chicago offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer was revealed to be the source of a report by the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport that was highly critical of Cutler.
Rodgers was "baffled" by Kromer's comments, he told NFL.com reporter Michael Silver.
"I would have a major problem if somebody said something like that," Rodgers said, according to NFL.com. "I think anybody that plays the position, you can't help but empathize with Jay for that situation. You talk all the time about being connected, being a unit, believing in each other. But if you have unnamed sources, people out there cutting you down, and then you find out it's the person calling the plays -- that would be really hard to deal with, to look at him the same way."
The original report said the Bears have "buyer's remorse" about giving Cutler a $126 million contract last January that included $54 million guaranteed. While Kromer denied using that quote, he apologized to the Bears offense early last week for telling Rapoport that he was frustrated with Cutler's play and his inability to check out of bad plays at the line of scrimmage.
His behind-the-back words are viewed as a major breach of trust and highlight the dysfunction of the 5-9 Bears.
After hearing all this, Rodgers sympathized with his rival.
"I felt for Jay that he was having to deal with that," Rodgers said, according to NFL.com. "And I was surprised that the coach came out and admitted that it was him. I think, in general, unnamed sources are pretty gutless. But then he comes out and admits it was him. I don't think he deserves any credit for that, but it was interesting that he did.
"The great thing about our team is that we've always had really open lines of communication. You know, we've had a couple of guys over the years be those unnamed sources, but thankfully Mike (McCarthy) and Ted (Thompson) have weeded those guys out. So we're not worried about these guys ripping on people and going out and doing things. Because if something happens like that, we address it directly.
"But yeah, I was baffled by that. And (if a coach did that to me), we'd have some problems."