Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Aaron Rodgers rips NFL, apologizes to fans

The NFL released a statement Tuesday with a double-discount excuse for what most people concede was an atrocious ruling at the end of Monday night's Green Bay Packers-Seattle Seahawks game.  In case you've been living under a rock, the NFL said it agreed with the decision not to overturn the touchdown on replay although it never said the initial call of a simultaneous catch was correct.  Got it.

A few hours later, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was more direct on his radio talk show on WAUK-AM Milwaukee.  Rodgers was more animated than at his press conference following his team's shocking loss.  He opened up the show by joking to host, Jason Wilde, "I'd say this is a highly anticipated show today."

Rodgers took a more angry tone after the opening crack while discussing the game-winning Hail Mary pass that gave Seattle the debatable victory.



"First of all, I've got to do something that the NFL is not going to do: I have to apologize to the fans," Rodgers said.  "Our sport is a multi-billion dollar machine, generated by people who pay good money to come watch us play.  The product on the field is not being complemented by an an appropriate set of officials.  The games are getting out of control.

"My thing is I just feel bad for the fans. They pay good money to watch this," he continued.  "The game is being tarnished by an NFL that obviously cares more about saving some money than having the integrity of the game diminished a bit."

Rodgers called the NFL's backing of the controversial call "bold" — and not in a good sense.



Rodgers went on to read the NFL statement in a harsh and sarcastic tone and noted how it was worded: "the officials determined both [Golden] Tate and [M.D.] Jennings had possession of the ball" when the players fell to the ground.

"I call bull on that because they say 'officials,'" Rodgers sniffed.  "There was zero communication between them."

The bitter quarterback went on to rip the simultaneous rule — who has the ball on their chest first.

"That's garbage, obviously," said Rodgers. "They're covering their butt here ... I mean, come on.  That's embarrassing."

Rodgers went on to rip the officials for coming into the Packers locker room to pull out players for a meaningless extra point claiming they "got kind of a rude welcome."  He also beefed about the crowd on the field after the fiasco in the end zone.

"How did all those people get on the field?  It was a mob scene over there," he said.  "It's unbelievable.  It was chaos."

Not as chaotic as it is in the NFL offices right now.

8 comments:

  1. I say the players strike! Maybe THAT will get their attention. I'm a die hard Seattle Seahawks fan and even I am embarrassed by that win. I cannot believe the NFL will not budge after seeing that game. They couldn't ignore a PLAYER walk out. The game is no longer safe!

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  2. I agree something needs to be done, but the players walking out would only cause more legal problems than the game needs. Now on the other hand I agree the game is getting dangerous because of these partially blind refs where is the players union which should be within their rights to pull the players off because of the unsafe conditions. The refs have no control of the game and someone WILL get really hurt if this continues

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  3. If the lockout is not resolved,all fans who plan on attending games this week should stay outside the stadiums until AFTER kickoff.Let the broadcast media do their pregame,and start of game with EMPTY stadiums.THAT WILL MAKE A LASTING MESSAGE TO THE SCAB LOVING OWNERS.

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    1. I think the empty stadium idea is the perfect statement !!I too am a huge hawks fan and while tthere have been many games over the years decided by crappy calls this one is a shining example of stupidity and greed by the NFL !!

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  4. The players would NEVER strike...TOO GREEDY. Take that, my union brothers!

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  5. Boo Hoo. Aaron Rogers you have been on the recieving end of enough calls that helped your team win. Quit being a whiney little punk put on your uniform and go play and earn the money you are paid! no the true fans of the NFL who have been watching long before you were ever even a thought should strike. We should strike until we get real football players back and not a bunch of little prima donnas who just want to be on tv. While you are protesting lets tell the NFL to let you all play football like the real men used to and get rid of late hits on the quarterback. As the great Tom Landry once said " If you let one bad call on the field beat you, then you were not in a real good position to win anyways!"

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  6. Nuff' said right there...

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  7. The integrity of the game is the thing. There should be a recall of the play no matter the time passed. Just get it right!

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