Followers have gotten a glimpse of Aaron Rodgers as a frontrunner this summer time in “Exhausting Knocks.”
One scene within the final episode confirmed his anger at a foul follow for the offense. Rodgers pulled no punches as he griped about errors the offense was making. For all the pieces the Jets hope Rodgers brings to the sphere this season, he has already proven them management they haven’t had in a very long time.
The 39-year-old has gravitas that no Jets quarterback has had since Brett Favre was right here in 2008. Since then, it has been younger draft picks or previous journeymen at quarterback with résumés that may’t examine to Rodgers’.
“Aaron has such a excessive normal for himself due to his skill and what he can do on this sport,” mentioned broad receiver Allen Lazard, who performed with Rodgers in Inexperienced Bay, “and he’s not going to decrease that normal simply because different guys on the sphere are there with him. He’s going to carry his guys to the identical normal and set expectations each time he’s on the sphere. He’s going to method it the identical method. In case you mess up, you mess up and he’s going to let you will have it.
“Generally, I believe particularly with the best way the world is type of going, individuals are getting somewhat softer and somewhat extra delicate. I believe that onerous, confrontational self-discipline is all that you simply want. I do know it was for me. When he was cussing me out or giving me a grimy take care of I tousled, that’s what motivated me to not try this once more as a result of I didn’t need to disappoint him.”
Lazard mentioned the message from Rodgers might be boiled right down to this: “Be in your s–t.”
When Rodgers talks about his management fashion, he typically makes use of the phrase “intentional.” In Rodgers’ soccer world, nothing occurs by accident.
“There’s sure guys I wish to test in with day by day,” Rodgers mentioned. “There’s guys you get to know. There’s instances you stroll into the cafeteria and simply type of scope it out, like who’s sitting the place, who’s by themselves and who’s on their telephone, who could be good to take a seat subsequent to and have a dialog with, who would possibly want it that day. It’s similar to a really feel factor, making an attempt to be all the time current.”
Rodgers doesn’t method each teammate the identical method.
“I’m going to be very affected person with sure guys and with sure guys we’re going to up the urgency,” he mentioned. “I believe you possibly can’t coach or lead every participant the identical method. Everyone responds in another way. I’ve been hugging Mekhi [Becton] each single day. That’s how he responds finest. Mecole [Hardman], I might be very direct with him as a result of he needs to do the best factor each time. Garrett [Wilson], there’s a number of actual high-level conversations. I really like listening to how he sees issues. [Randall Cobb] and Allen have been with me endlessly so there’s a lot unstated understanding between us. There’s endurance with the best guys and there’s somewhat extra urgency with the opposite guys that reply higher with somewhat little bit of push.”
Rodgers mentioned he tries to be taught issues about teammates to point out that he cares about them. It could be their little one’s title or birthday, an vital occasion of their life or somebody near them who Rodgers met at follow. He retains notes in his telephone to assist him bear in mind all these issues.
As a younger backup to Favre in Inexperienced Bay, Rodgers would take into consideration how he would lead the workforce when he turned the starter.
“Loads of the stuff I realized was honed through the three years as a backup as a result of I had no strain,” Rodgers mentioned, “so I bought to simply stand again and go, ‘OK, how would I do that if I used to be the man?’ and ‘What does Favre try this I like and what would I do in another way as a younger starter?’ And simply begin to determine how I wished to steer as soon as I bought the chance.”
As robust as Rodgers might be, Lazard mentioned he has seen extra endurance from the quarterback since becoming a member of the Jets. Lazard mentioned Rodgers understands many of the Jets are studying the offense and dealing with Rodgers for the primary time.
“He’s much more relaxed and never essentially letting issues slide,” Lazard mentioned, “however not being so arduous to come back down on individuals once they mess up in sure conditions.”
