New Green Bay Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love has revealed that Aaron Rodgers texted him a torch-passing message Tuesday night before training camp opened. Rodgers, a future Hall of Fame inductee, played ahead of Love the past three campaigns but was traded to the New York Jets earlier this offseason.
"Aaron reached out to me last night," Love told reporters. "He said, 'Just be yourself, have fun, enjoy it, that it's obviously my time now and to enjoy it.'"
Rodgers' gesture to Love contrasts the cold shoulder he received from Brett Favre when he took over the Packers' starting quarterback role in 2008. Favre, a legend in his own right, infamously refused to bond with Rodgers. Their relationship was nonexistent for another half-decade after he left Green Bay.
As Love follows two icons into the Lambeau Field limelight, he faces immense pressure to perform at a high level after barely playing his first three years. Green Bay selected the 24-year-old in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, hoping he would eventually carry on the team's tradition of excellence at quarterback.
Rodgers' message to Love was not his first since the Jets acquired him. Previously, the four-time MVP told Love he was open to fielding any future questions about the youngster's NFL career.
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"He wished me the best," Love said. "I will always be grateful to be around him, and the time I had with him where I was able to learn and be behind him. I'm very grateful for it."
Favre, who won three consecutive MVPs at his peak, took a different approach. He never warmed up to the Packers bringing in Rodgers to be his replacement. According to the book "Gunslinger," Rodgers' first in-person words to Favre after getting drafted were, "Good morning, Grandpa!" Favre met the remark with complete silence.
"My contract doesn't say I have to get Aaron Rodgers ready to play," Favre once said. "Now hopefully he watches me and gets something from that."
Aaron Rodgers was a Super Bowl-winning legend with the Green Bay Packers. (SportsChrome/Getty Images)In a post-career interview, Favre added, "I don't owe him anything in my opinion except that of being a nice guy. I don't give him any insights into what I do or don't do. I think as a starter my job is hard enough to win ball games and be a leader. You're not a babysitter, by no means am I talking about Aaron."
Like Favre, Rodgers' first stop after Green Bay is the Jets, where fans in New York eagerly await a turn in fortunes for an organisation that has mostly underwhelmed in recent decades. He will not face the Packers in 2023.
Love must quickly build a rapport with an inexperienced group of receivers. Whereas Rodgers entered Green Bay's starting quarterback role with veteran Donald Driver, plus up-and-coming stars Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson, Love doesn't have seasoned downfield threats to help him acclimate to his heightened responsibilities under centre.
That said, second-year wide receivers Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are coming off promising rookie campaigns where they combined for more than 1,000 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Their contributions will be essential to Love putting forth his best Rodgers impression in 2023.
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