Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was a guest on the new Bill Simmons HBO show “Any Given Wednesday,” and Packers fans probably liked what they heard from Rodgers when he talked about loyalty and his desire to play his entire career with the Packers.
A discussion between Rodgers and Simmons on the NBA and Kevin Durant joining the Golden State Warriors turned into one on superteams and chasing championships. Though Simmons tried to get Rodgers to talk about Brett Favre continuing to play after the Packers chose to play Rodgers over Favre, Rodgers didn’t say much specifically about Favre but did say he respects “guys who go one way, stay with the same team” and said he hopes to be one of them.
“Two of my favorite players from my sports watching growing up, they recently retired,” Rodgers said. “One was Derek Jeter with the Yankees and the other was Kobe Bryant. And then Tim Duncan just retired [this week] and that’s a great example too.
“Their legacy, I think it’s made in those later years. Derek is one of the best shortstops ever and one of the best Yankees ever. Kobe is one of the greatest Lakers ever. Tim is one of the best power forwards ever and he won all those championships [in one place].
“They stayed with the same team. They stuck it out. I think there’s a lot to be said about kind of finishing your legacy with one team. I hope I’m lucky enough to be able to do that.”
While Packers fans probably like hearing that, 49ers fans probably cringe at the story Simmons brought up later in the discussion. Simmons said he was told that then-49ers coach Mike Nolan thought Rodgers was “too cocky” when the team did its homework before the 2005 draft, when the 49ers chose Alex Smith at No. 1 overall and Rodgers slid to No. 24 before being drafted by the Packers.
Rodgers said he “assumed” that was the case but didn’t know for sure.
“The story I heard, and I don’t know if it’s true or not, was that Mike Nolan said when he saw Alex open the car door for his mom, he knew that was his quarterback,” Rodgers said. “I didn’t know what to say. I was at lunch with [the 49ers]. My mom wasn’t there. My dad wasn’t there.
“I laugh at stories like that because that has nothing to do with being a quarterback.”
The Rodgers interview with Simmons was pre-recorded, and apparently before news of Tom Brady’s suspension came on Wednesday morning. Rodgers was at ESPN’s annual ESPY Awards on Wednesday.
Simmons and Rodgers did not discuss Rodgers’ brother, Jordan, who recently said on ABC’s “The Bachelorette” that he and Aaron don’t have much of a relationship.