Aaron Rodgers wasn’t interested in turning a sideline flare-up into a bigger story.
After the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Oct. 1 loss to the Cleveland Browns, the quarterback addressed the tense exchange with head coach Mike McCarthy and made it clear he saw the moment as part of the game’s natural heat. Rodgers called the emotional back-and-forth a good sign, not a problem.
"I think it is a positive," Rodgers said, according to ESPN. "Player-led teams are the best teams. I think anytime you're seeing the fire and the passion from all those guys, it's a good thing."
The exchange between Rodgers and McCarthy was visible during the "Thursday Night Football" broadcast, with a hot mic catching Rodgers and McCarthy in a heated moment during the first quarter. There were plenty of tense scenes on the Steelers’ sideline that night, but Rodgers didn’t sound bothered by any of it.
Asked directly whether things had been smoothed over with McCarthy, Rodgers didn’t leave much room for doubt.
"It's always ironed out."
That answer fits the reality of a relationship that stretches back to their days together in Green Bay, where they won a championship. McCarthy also addressed the moment earlier, saying it wasn’t typical but emphasizing the history between the two.
"I think the reality of it is, you know, it's a 20-year relationship. I think the fact that we were able to sit and talk numerous times, you know, over the weekend, about that and a number of things."
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