There’s some corroboration on the rumors of dysfunction between Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and recently fired coach Mike McCarthy.
Packers tight end Marcedes Lewis detailed some of what he saw in his first season in Green Bay on Yahoo Sports’ “Mostly Football” on Thursday, saying he was in the huddle when Rodgers ignored his then-coach’s play call.
“I guess McCarthy called in a play, and Aaron was kind of like, ‘Nah,’” Lewis said. “He gave a direction and a protection to the line, and went. It was a four-minute offense, he threw a 40-yard bomb for a completion. I’m like, ‘What’s really going on?’ I’ve never seen anything like that before in my life.”
Whispers of a disconnect between the star quarterback and the 13-year coach grew in the midst of a disappointing season, leading to McCarthy getting fired after a Week 13 loss to the Cardinals at home that saw Green Bay fall to 4-7-1. The Packers, a consistent Super Bowl threat with Rodgers helming the offense, missed the playoffs for a second straight season and finished at 6-9-1.
“I think all of that stuff that happened towards the end in Green Bay all came from the top,” Lewis said. “I feel like Aaron had his own set of things that he wanted to do, then obviously McCarthy had his things that he wanted to do. I just think there was a little dysfunction.”
Green Bay is one of eight teams searching for a new head coach this offseason, while McCarthy has become a popular name for several other openings and is expected to meet with the Jets at some point.