Ex-NFL QB Alex Smith says Aaron Rodgers deserves to get what he wants from Packers

Last December, the top two quarterbacks selected in the 2005 NFL draft were leading teams to playoff berths.

Fast forward to spring, and neither attended offseason activities; Alex Smith retiring from football in April, mere days before ESPN reported that Aaron Rodgers no longer wanted to play for the Packers. Tension has since built between Rodgers and Green Bay, Rodgers dismayed with organizational decisions, including a lack of communication by general manager Brian Gutekunst.

Smith, who was shuffled among three teams in his career, wondered: Why?

“Clearly it’s not an ideal situation and not what it should be,” Smith told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday over Zoom. “I think he’s due a certain level of communication and certain level of respect beyond the average player. And I don’t think that’s asking a whole lot just to communicate.

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