Rodgers Reached Out to Love Before Training Camp

Following the first practice of training camp on Wednesday, Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love said he got some advice from Aaron Rodgers.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Jul 26, 2023 3:30 PM EDT

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Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Green Bay Packers quarterback got a text from an old friend on Tuesday night.

Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers, taking a moment from New York Jets training camp, reached out to Love on the eve of the first practice of Packers camp.

“It was pretty nice to see him,” Love said after practice.

Having replaced Brett Favre in 2008, Rodgers knows a little something about what’s ahead for Love.

“Those are things we’ve talked about during the time we were both here together,” Love said. “We talked about how it was for him, obviously Brett leaving and things like that, his transition. Obviously, he said it was hard, as well. it’s never easy. But he just kind of put his head down and worked. Made his own name for himself. That’s kind of the same thing I’m trying to do right now for myself.”

Now, minus the controversy and drama that surrounded the start of training camp in 2008, it’s Love’s turn to make a name for himself after watching and learning behind the four-time MVP for three seasons. Rodgers didn’t try to play and act like Favre, and Love can’t try to play and act like Love.

It’s a small thing but Favre spoke to reporters in the media auditorium, Rodgers spoke at his locker and Love is speaking about 15 feet from his locker.

Unlike Rodgers during his 15 seasons as the team’s starting quarterback, Love rode a bike to practice on Wednesday.

“He said just be yourself, have fun, enjoy it,” Love said. “It’s obviously my time now and he just said be yourself. And I mean, that’s all you can do. That’s kind of been the message from everybody, just be yourself – don’t try to be anybody else, don’t try to be Aaron. Just be yourself. And that’s kind of what I’m trying to do.”

Love and the Packers jogged onto the practice field to loud applause from the fans filling the Ray Nitschke Field bleachers. That’s how the day ended, too, with Love diving head-first into what might be the biggest pressure-cooker in the NFL.

“Obviously, there’s a lot of responsibility that comes with the position, the eyes being on you,” Love said. “That’s something I’m working on right now, just trying to block out, just have my focus be what I’m working on that day, what I’m focusing on that day, so I can have all my focus on that and block out any distractions.”

This being a fourth season, and the abundant lessons learned from the new Jets’ quarterback, are helpful.

“Oh, yeah, 100 percent,” he said. “First year, you’re running out there, your eyes are kind of big, see everybody out there for the first time in practice. It’s always fun. Just being here, being through it a couple times. I know my routine and I know what I’ve got to lock in and focus on.”