Aaron Rodgers takes final Deflategate shot at Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Prior to the NFL’s Divisional Round of the playoffs this week, Aaron Rodgers did an interview with Sportsnet and played “Drone Jeopardy.” When he picked up the football to play it, he took a jab at the New England Patriots and the Deflategate scandal.
For “Drone Jeopardy,” Rodgers had to throw a football at drones and answer questions. He had to warm up first — and that’s when he took the shot at Tom Brady and the Patriots.
“This is too firm for the Patriots,” he said.
Talk about a low blow.
The Deflategate scandal happened during the 2014 AFC Championship game between the Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts. New England won the game 45-7, but Brady allegedly called for deflation of the footballs. It resulted in a four-game suspension for Brady and a $1 million fine and lost draft picks for the Patriots.
Rodgers’ comments come ahead of an NFC Divisional Round matchup with the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday. The winner gets a date with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Los Angeles Rams — meaning Brady and Rodgers could square off in the NFC Championship.
Green Bay Packers release Thursday’s playoff injury report
One week off has done a lot for the Packers on the injury front, according to their Thursday injury report.
Questionable: LT David Bakhtiari (knee), CB Jaire Alexander (shoulder)
Doubtful: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (back)
Full Participant/Expected to Play: G/T Billy Turner (knee), LB De’Vondre Campbell (elbow), RB Aaron Jones (knee)
Bakhtiari, one of the most vital players included in the Packers’ latest injury report practiced in pads on Thursday, according to Packers.com, perhaps pointing in the right direction ahead of Saturday. The five-time All-Pro left tackle plans to take another “load management” day on Friday, and he will not practice — but his absence won’t affect his status for Saturday.
“I think Dave’s in really good shape. Obviously, he puts a lot of time in,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said of Bakhtiari. “You don’t have to be necessarily in great shape by going play after play out there on the field. I definitely think there is a difference to it in terms of some of the movements you make as a player as opposed to in a controlled environment, but he’s working his tail off and we’ll see where he’s at.”
Alexander — the other questionable player on the injury report — has practiced all week, albeit in a limited capacity, so his status remains unclear. If Alexander plays on Sunday, it will be his first in-game action since suffering his shoulder injury on Oct. 3 against the Steelers.
In addition, the Packers may or may not receive an extra boost ahead of the playoff game, according to the team website: linebackers Za’Darius Smith and Whitney Mercilus, both of whom were previously on injured reserve, can be activated on Friday. Should either be available to play on Saturday, they must first be activated on Friday.