If we were in the clickbait business, we could write something like “Aaron Rodgers buries hatchet, gives peace offering new to coach Matt LaFleur.”
Instead, we could also say that Rodgers provided a thoughtful item of memorabilia, but also something more important — a promise to improve.
.After kneeling out the clock on last night’s win over the Bears, Rodgers held onto the ball and presented it to his rookie coach, as a token of their budding relationship.
“It’s a big deal winning your first NFL game as a head coach, and I’m happy for him,” Rodgers said, via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. “Obviously, it’s a lot of fun working with him. And I told him, ‘I’m going to be a lot better moving forward.’”
There’s clearly room for improvement, though the Bears’ defense certainly had a hand in that, sacking Rodgers five times.
After the first quarter, the Packers had minus-12 yards, breaking into their normal Fahrenheit digits to represent how cold their offense was to start (three straight three-and-outs).
“It can’t get any worse,” Rodgers said.
They clicked shortly thereafter, with a 47-yard deep ball to Marquez Valdes-Scantling setting up a touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham. That was all the offense they’d need, and Rodgers finished 18-of-30 passing for 203 yards.
“That’s a really good defense, and they’re going to give a lot of people fits,” Rodgers said. “But I think from my standpoint, I can do a better job getting us out of the huddle, and obviously, I missed a couple throws.”
LaFleur also cited improvements he could make, but as time passes, a road win at Chicago under any conditions may look like a masterpiece.
Plus, his quarterback got him a nice souvenir to remember it which means they’re friends and stuff.