Favre Rodgers Relationship “Misunderstood”

During his 20 incredible NFL seasons, Brett Favre was no stranger to media attention. From numerous retirement announcements to his off the field scandals the future hall-of-fame quarterback never failed to dominate the headlines.

But even after Favre left the NFL for good (so far), there is still one story that eats at him. When Favre left the Green Bay Packers at the end of the 2007 season, and was set to retire, the stage was set for his successor, Aaron Rodgers to finally take the reigns. For now, the torch was being passed, and everything was right in Packer land. But the mellow-drama that seemed to follow Favre throughout his career started right back up again that offseason, when Brett decided to throw the pads on one more time, and the Packers had already moved on.

Favre had full expected to get his old job back when he decided to come out of retirement; after all he was a legend. The Packers saw things a little differently, and told Favre that they would be going forward with Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback, legend or no legend. A situation like this is bound to create at least a little animosity between Favre and Rodgers. After all, the man stole his job. It’s safe to say the media had their work cut out for them, covering the new Favre-Rodgers feud.

The problem is that there is no feud, and according to Favre, never really was. While Favre was admittedly disappointed about not being able to return to Green Bay, he says he has never been upset with Rodgers, and that the two have always been friends.

“We got along fine. I mean, really,” Favre said in an interview with Bruce Murray and Jim Miller on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “There were no problems between Aaron and I. I had no problem with him becoming the next quarterback for the Packers. It was bound to happen at some point.”

Perhaps one of the biggest reasons the media was so quick to pounce on this suspected feud was that according to past rumors, Favre and Rodgers never got along as teammates. The Packers drafted Aaron Rodgers in 2005, knowing all the while that he would replace Favre when it was his time to go. Rodgers spent three seasons as Favre’s backup in Green Bay. Sitting behind the guy who broke the NFL record for most consecutive games played, and an ageless wonder, is not an easy task for any backup quarterback; especially an heir-apparent like Rodgers. It would not be hard to imagine Rodgers harboring some animosity toward Favre. Again, Favre says this simply is not true.

During his interview with Murray and Miller, Favre was asked about why the media portrayed him and Rodgers as having a poor relationship.

“I have no idea, honestly,” Favre said. “I think Aaron, if he were on this phone right now would say the same thing.

In fact, according to Favre, the two had a healthy starter-backup relationship.

“I can remember, pretty much all the time, Aaron would say: ‘Do you mind if I watch a little film with you?’ This would be when people left, Wednesday or Thursday, 5:30 (p.m.) or something. I’d say, ‘Sure.”

In the film room, Favre was a mentor to Rodgers.

“His style of play, obviously, is a little bit different than mine,” Favre said. “But I would try to offer him things that were not so much style as things I worked at, little nuances that I worked at. The way I played the game doesn’t mean you have to play it that way.”

Favre told Murray and Miller that he wished only success for Rodgers in the coming years, and does not care how the media chose to portray their relationship.

“I have no problems with the success that he’s had, in fact, I’m proud of it,” Favre said. “And you know what? I was well aware of the media making a big deal out of it. I mean, I’m not going to sit there and fight it all the time. I knew it wasn’t true. Aaron knew it wasn’t true. Did I talk to him all the time? No. Do I talk to other guys all the time? No. So he knows how I feel about him and he knows how I feel about his career up to this point.”