By Ben Krimmel
Aaron Rodgers and Garrett Wilson downplayed the passionate discussions the quarterback and wide receiver were seen having on the sideline at Jets training camp.
“There’s often appearance versus reality in life and on the football field and what it appears to be might not always be what the reality actually is,” Rodgers said trying to squash any potential talking head chatter that the veteran QB and the No. 1 receiver are at odds just a week into their preparation for the season.
“As far as whether or not we’re upset with each other, we’re just passionately talking about the details of a situation that might not have to do with either of us,” Rodgers said. “G and I got a great relationship, we spend time together off the field. On the field, there’s a way of doing things that we both agree on and when it doesn’t look exactly how we want it to, sometimes there’s some side conversations that happen.”
Wilson, who spoke to reporters before the quarterback, said it was just a conversation between like-minded players who are “trying to figure out a way to attack our defense.”
“Those videos they look a certain way and we’re both passionate guys on the football field,” Wilson said. “… I’m a different guy on the field than when y’all see me after the game or whenever it may be and Aaron’s kinda the same way.”
Over the weekend, a video showing Rodgers and Wilson in a conversation about an apparent miscommunication with some arm gesturing made the rounds on social media kicking up some speculation.
For a Jets offense that has lacked any semblance of consistent quarterback play during the past two years, he has put up back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons putting greater emphasis on the two forming a solid connection.
Rodgers said he “loves” the conversations that get into the details and sometimes get heated.
“It’s about the details, it’s about winning, it’s about seeing what he sees,” the QB said. “He’s got to get on my page, but I gotta get on his page, too, because he’s got a whole book that I need to understand fully of skillset and ability and feel and rhythm and all the different things that he does out there.
“So those are good conversations. They might appear to be much more heated than they are, but there’s usually a smile on our face afterwards. At least one of us.”
And for the wide receiver the conversations with a man 16 years his senior carry a great deal of value, especially when it comes to picking back up and re-fostering a relationship that lasted all of four plays last regular season.
“It’s truly enlightening for me every time we have convos like that, despite how it may look,” Wilson said. “Just because I am an emotional, passionate guy, so, when we lose, I might look a certain way, but in reality, all those conversations, those things are helping me be better for Aaron because he can make your life real easy. So, for me, it’s my job to be on my details and he’s been on me about those details.”
The wide receiver feels like they have “a different connection this year” after feeling each other out the previous summer.
“We were very complimentary of each other last year. Now it’s like, ‘You’re doing this not well, so let’s fix that so I can get you the ball even quicker, even more.’ That’s where we’re at now. It’s a good spot,” he said. “… I feel like the conversations we’re having are special and not conversations you can have with everybody. Truly not.
“But the way he sees the game, we can have them and it’s special. It’s something I don’t take for granted.”
Overall, Rodgers said the Jets offense is “trending in a better direction than maybe this time in camp last year.”