Alex Smith, who retired this offseason, sides with Aaron Rodgers in his battle with the Green Bay ... [+]
If Aaron Rodgers needed an ally in his battle with the Green Bay Packers, he found one.
Alex Smith, who was taken No. 1 in the 2005 NFL Draft — the same year Rodgers fell to No. 24 — calls the Packers’ handling of the Rodgers’ situation “inexcusable.”
Rodgers has let it be known he wants to be traded from Green Bay. A major reason is the Packers didn't communicate to Rodgers their plans to select Jordan Love — his potential replacement — in the first round of the 2020 draft.
“It’s inexcusable, I think,” Smith said on ‘The Herd With Colin Cowherd’ Wednesday. “How they ever got to this point. I mean, Aaron’s been there 16 years, what he’s given to that organization and been there.
“I don’t think it’s the fact they drafted Jordan Love in the first round. I think … how do you have a guy like Aaron and you don’t go make sure beforehand you aren’t going out of your way to make sure that he knows that he’s loved, that they want him there. That, ‘We may be taking a quarterback in the first round. We want to make sure you’re OK with it. This is maybe what we’re doing.’ How you haven’t treated him the right way leading up to that and the fact, from my understanding, it was a bit of an unknown and a bit blindsided.”
Smith knows a thing or two about seeing his replacement drafted.
When Smith was in San Francisco, the 49ers selected Colin Kaepernick, which eventually led to Smith being traded to Kansas City.
The same thing happened in Kansas City, where the Chiefs traded up and used the 10th pick of the 2017 draft on Patrick Mahomes. Smith said the difference, though, is the Chiefs told him throughout the draft process they might be looking for another quarterback.
“Yes, without a doubt. 100%,” Smith said. “That’s something that was talked about throughout the draft process, not just by Coach (Andy) Reid, everybody involved in the personnel department. Yeah, and I’m talking multiple times. There were no surprises. It was absolutely laid out for me and I think that only helps. When that stuff’s communicated it does make a difference how you treat people.”
Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst has said he should have communicated better with Rodgers prior to the 2020 draft.
The Packers insist they won’t trade Rodgers and the disgruntled quarterback doesn’t want to return. So the stalemate could continue for several weeks.
Smith, for one, is siding with Team Rodgers.
“You’re thinking you’re a move away from the Super Bowl and then you’re blindsided with the pick,” Smith said, referring to the fact the Packers were in the 2019 NFC Championship Game. “I just don’t understand how the organization … how you haven’t addressed that beforehand when you make a move like that and really make sure that everything is tightened up and everybody’s feeling good about that. Because if it’s not, you’re not doing it, in my opinion. You’re just not.
“It’s just not the way you run a business. It’s not the way you treat people. Sixteen years this guy has been there and you were on the doorstep of the Super Bowl and you don’t go out of your way to communicate that, to show that, ‘Hey, you’re wanted.’ You don't make sure that everybody’s on the same page and feeling good about that? You know, that’s not just football. It’s any business or team.”
