Sammy Watkins: Packers Celebration an Ode to Aaron Rodgers amid Ayahuasca Controversy
Sep 19, 2022
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 18: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers warms up before the game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on September 18, 2022 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Aaron Rodgers' ayahuasca adventure made its way to national television Sunday night, as the Green Bay Packers celebrated an Allen Lazard touchdown reception by pouring each other tea in the end zone during their 27-10 win over the Chicago Bears.
Packers wide receivers spilled the tea on their touchdown tea party, with Sammy Watkins saying it was an "ode" to their quarterback's journey with the hallucinogenic beverage. Randall Cobb played it coy, saying the team was "just drinking some tea," while Rodgers himself (poorly) tried to deflect.
Aaron Rodgers smiled when asked about the ayahuasca celebration.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Said he wasn’t part of the planning of that celebration.
The reigning NFL MVP made headlines this offseason when he credited his use of ayahuasca during a three-day trip to Peru in 2020 with a return to superstar form.
"I don't think it's a coincidence," Rodgers said on the Aubrey MarcusPodcast. "I really don't. I don't really believe in coincidences at this point. It's the universe bringing things to happen when they're supposed to happen.
"There's signs and synchronicities all around us at all times if we're awake enough to see them and to take them in and to listen to our intuition when it's speaking to us or pounding us in the head saying, 'Hey dummy, this is what you're supposed to be doing.'"
Rodgers said his experience with the beverage, which produces a psychedelic reaction, helped him on a journey of "self-love" that made him a better teammate and player. Since first experimenting with ayahuasca in 2020, Rodgers became the fifth player in NFL history to win MVPs in consecutive seasons and found a late-career renaissance after seemingly starting to decline in 2018 and 2019.
The NFL said Rodgers' experimentation did not violate any drug policies, and there's no expectation of any fine coming from the celebration—even though the league office likely isn't pleased it put psychedelic drug use back in the national conversation.
Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Jones, Packers Offense Put on 'Clinic' in SNF Win vs. Bears
Sep 19, 2022
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 18: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers warms up before the game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on September 18, 2022 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers famously declared last year that he "owns" the Chicago Bears, and he backed that up Sunday night by spearheading a 27-10 victory at Lambeau Field.
After a lackluster performance in the season opener last week, Rodgers was nearly pristine against the Bears. He went 19-of-25 for 234 yards and two touchdowns, but he also coughed up a fumble for the second straight game.
The turnover notwithstanding, Rodgers helped propel the Packers to their first win of the season. He had a string of 14 straight completions at one point, which tied a career high.
Green Bay running back Aaron Jones also had an outstanding game, carrying the ball 15 times for 132 yards and a touchdown and adding three catches for 38 yards and another score.
The Packers used a 21-point second quarter to put the game out of reach. The team scored just three points in the second half, but that was all it needed.
Much of the social media commentary featured praise for Rodgers, Jones and Green Bay's stellar first-half performance:
This is the exact offense you expected from the Packers. Big in the run game and using the short, quick passing game to creat run after catch opportunities. Going to have to do more to protect 12 to create some explosive plays at some point.
Vintage Aaron Rodgers there. Moving up in the pocket, hits Randall Cobb with a perfect ball for 20 yards. So subtle how quickly he sets to pass on the move, but few do it like him.
Sunday night's game was a cakewalk for Green Bay, which might explain the quiet second half after the fireworks in the second quarter. The Packers were on cruise control against a Bears team that was clearly overmatched.
However, Green Bay will have to play a complete game next Sunday when the team travels to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Packers surely are hoping to carry the momentum from Sunday night's victory into next week's matchup.
Justin Fields, Bears Get 'Reality Check' in SNF Loss to Aaron Rodgers, Packers
Sep 19, 2022
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 18: Aaron Jones #33 of the Green Bay Packers scores a touchdown during the second quarter in the game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on September 18, 2022 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears were widely expected to be among the league's worst teams this season but stunned the San Francisco 49ers, a presumed contender, in Week 1.
All it took was a familiar foe to quickly end their early momentum.
The Green Bay Packers won the latest edition of the league's oldest rivalry with a 27-10 victory on Sunday at Lambeau Field. It was more of the same in this matchup, as Green Bay has now won seven in a row and 12 of the last 13 against the Bears.
Social media realized it was the same old story for Chicago:
Reality check game here. As so many of these trips up here seem to be.
It seemed like things were finally changing for the Bears in this rivalry when Justin Fields capped off a seven-play, 71-yard drive with a touchdown run on their opening possession. The running game looked strong with David Montgomery leading the way, and the visitors suddenly had some early momentum.
Yet Aaron Rodgers did what he almost always does to Chicago and threw touchdown passes to Aaron Jones and Allen Lazard in a second quarter that also saw Jones run for a score. The Packers put 21 points on the board in that quarter and never looked back in the win.
To Chicago's credit, it battled back some and had an opportunity to pull within one score from 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line in the final quarter. Yet it decided to put Fields in shotgun and run quarterback power, and replay review determined the Packers stopped him even though it appeared he reached the plane.
It was the Bears' final realistic chance, and Rodgers all but ended it with a deep ball to Sammy Watkins to set up a field goal on the ensuing possession.
The good news for Chicago is the next two games are potentially winnable against the Houston Texans and New York Giants, but Sunday marked yet another loss to its bitter rivals.
Justin Jefferson Says He's Happier Playing for Vikings Than He Would Be with Eagles
Sep 16, 2022
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 11: Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) runs to the end zone for a 36-yard touchdown reception during the second quarter of an NFL game between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers on September 11, 2022 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
For Philadelphia Eagles fans, missing out on Justin Jefferson is one of the great "what ifs" in recent seasons. As for Jefferson, he's glad he ended up with the Minnesota Vikings.
"I'm definitely way more happy to be here than there," Jefferson told reporters Friday.
Both teams were targeting a receiver in the first round of the 2020 draft, but the Eagles instead took Jalen Reagor with the No. 21 overall pick. The Vikings took Jefferson at No. 22 after plenty of excitement in the draft room.
Jefferson has emerged as one of the game's best players since then, totaling 196 catches for 3,016 yards and 17 touchdowns in his first two seasons. He then exploded in Week 1 for a league-best 184 receiving yards with two touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers.
Reagor had just 64 catches across two years with the Eagles before being traded to Minnesota ahead of this season.
Though Jefferson likely would have excelled anywhere based on his talent, he has thrived since arriving in Minnesota. The numbers might not have been quite as impressive with Philadelphia, which finished last season dead last in pass attempts.
The Eagles will get a chance to see Jefferson up close for the first time in Monday's game against the Vikings.
Seth Rollins Says Bears Star Roquan Smith Would Make a Great WWE Superstar
Sep 15, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: WWE Superstar Seth Rollins attends the WWE Superstars For Hope Reception on April 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Brian Ach/Getty Images for WWE)
WWE Superstar Seth Rollins is well known for being a huge fan of the Chicago Bears, and he revealed Wednesday that he would like to see a member of his favorite NFL team make the leap to pro wrestling.
"I think as far as Chicago Bears that would make great WWE superstars, let me think here. Who's got the personality, man? To me, I love Roquan just because he's so smart and I think he's super intense and he brings the physicality every single time. So, if I had to pick one he'd probably be the guy because I think he can make an immediate impact. I think he can just be tossing dudes left and right, you know?"
The 25-year-old Smith is in the midst of his fifth NFL season after breaking into the league as the No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft out of Georgia.
Smith has cemented himself as one of the top linebackers in the NFL already, posting 100 or more tackles in each of his first four seasons. He also has 14.5 sacks and five interceptions during his young career.
In Week 1 of the 2022 campaign, Smith played a significant role in the Bears upsetting the San Francisco 49ers, as he racked up nine tackles, a half-sack, a quarterback hit and a pass breakup.
At 6'1" and 232 pounds, there is little doubt that Smith has the physical makeup needed to dominate as a pro wrestler, although there is much more to the equation than that.
Rollins is the perfect example, as he is firing on all cylinders from his in-ring work to his look, presentation and promo ability.
If Smith does decide to explore the world of pro wrestling one day, he could be the perfect tag team partner for Rollins, or he could perhaps opt to lock horns with the Superstar who cheers him on every Sunday.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).
Lions Favored for 1st Time in 24 Games in Week 2 vs. Commanders
Sep 14, 2022
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 11: D'Andre Swift #32 of the Detroit Lions runs with the ball during the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Ford Field on September 11, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
For the first time in the past 24 regular-season games, the Detroit Lions are favored to win in Week 2 of the 2022 NFL season.
According to ESPN's Eric Woodyard, the Lions are 2.5-point home favorites over the Washington Commanders, marking the first time they have been favored since a Nov. 22, 2020, road game against the Carolina Panthers.
Detroit lost that game 20-0, setting the stage for 24 consecutive contests as an underdog, which had been the longest active streak in the NFL until now.
The Lions nearly pulled off a major upset in Week 1, falling 38-35 to a Philadelphia Eagles team that is favored to win the NFC East.
Detroit was down 38-21 in the fourth quarter, but it whittled the deficit down to three before Philly managed to close the game out.
Running back D'Andre Swift was the undisputed star for the Lions, rushing for 144 yards and a touchdown, while also catching three passes for 31 yards.
Meanwhile, the Commanders got their season off to a strong start with a come-from-behind, 28-22 home win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Washington was down 22-14 in the fourth quarter, but a 49-yard touchdown pass from Carson Wentz to Terry McLaurin cut the lead to two, and Wentz later put the Commanders ahead for good with a 24-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Jahan Dotson inside two minutes.
In his first game as Washington's starting quarterback, Wentz made some mistakes—he threw two interceptions—but the good far outweighed the bad to the tune of 313 yards and four touchdowns.
The Commanders will likely need another big game from Wentz in order to knock off a Lions team that is quickly improving under head coach Dan Campbell.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 11: Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) chat after an NFL game between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers on September 11, 2022 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
On Sunday, Aaron Rodgers told Justin Jefferson he was the "best player in the game today" after the Minnesota Vikings wideout torched the Green Bay Packers for nine catches, 184 receiving yards and two scores in his team's 23-7 win.
On Tuesday, he continued to praise Jefferson during his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show:
I said he was the best player on the field, and I meant it. I didn't say that tongue in cheek. I've been a fan of his since I watched him in college. He's a dynamic player who is an excellent route-runner. I'm sure as any good player should do and would do, he's probably watched the best at his position over the last couple years. And that would be probably Davante Adams, because a lot of his release stuff looks pretty similar to 17. And, you know, he was the difference-maker, I think, for the entire game.
Jefferson appreciated Rodgers' on-field compliment.
"It means a lot coming from him, just being the type of player that he is," Jefferson told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. "He's one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, so to hear that from him definitely is a little confidence-booster."
The 23-year-old has continued to ascend up the wideout rankings in his young career, becoming one of the most dynamic playmakers in the NFL. Even his divisional rivals have to acknowledge as much at this point.
Aaron Rodgers: Packers Have to 'Clean Up' Mental Mistakes After Vikings Loss
Sep 13, 2022
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 11: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers on the field against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 11, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Packers 23-7. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
The Green Bay Packers fell to the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in Sunday's season opener at U.S. Bank Stadium, and reigning MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers knows his team needs to clean things up entering Week 2.
"Drops are going to happen," Rodgers said during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. "They suck more when it would've been a walk-in touchdown, but the ones that are most frustrating are the mental mistakes, and we made way too many of those on Sunday, and that's what we got to clean up."
Rodgers added:
"We can't have a bunch of robotic things going on out there. We need guys who are able to react in real time and to make adjustments on the fly and some of that is experience, for sure, and some of that is just in the preparation. It's not just understanding what you need to do, but why you need to do what you're doing and then what to expect, which will change what is drawn on the paper to what actually needs to show up in live time in the game.
"So, again, that's why we need to have patience. A lot of these guys have not played a ton of football and really it's not something that could have been figured out in training camp or some offseason throwing session. These are live rep things with the pressure of a regular season game, with the pressure of it counting. ... It all comes down to in the moment, can we make the right adjustment? Can we think quickly but have a slow mind? Can we play fast but be under control?
"And that's why I'm not too worried about it. There's a lot of talent on our side of the ball. We just got to execute a little bit better."
One of the plays Rodgers was referencing was when he dialed up a deep pass to rookie wide receiver Christian Watson on the first play of Green Bay's first drive of the game. The second-rounder ran a great route and left Minnesota cornerback Patrick Peterson in the dust, but he dropped the ball on what would have been a touchdown.
Watson went on to finish the game with two catches for 34 yards. A.J. Dillon, Romeo Doubs and Robert Tonyan all had more receptions than Watson, who entered Green Bay with some high expectations.
Considering the Packers traded star wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders over the offseason, the offense was expected to go through its growing pains.
Of course, the franchise would have liked to iron out the kinks in training camp, but as Rodgers said, playing in a game that actually counts with a lot more pressure is an entirely different experience.
Green Bay has some time to figure things out, but with the Vikings and Chicago Bears starting the season with wins, the franchise will need to get things under control quickly.
Green Bay Packers Failed Aaron Rodgers and It's Coming Back to Haunt Them
Sep 12, 2022
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 11: Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) makes a throw during the second quarter an NFL game between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers on September 11, 2022 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers once famously told fans and reporters to "relax" in regard to the Packers' perceived struggles.
And to a large extent, he hasn't given Packers fans a reason to stress.
After getting shellacked by the New Orleans Saints in Week 1 last year, the Packers went on to lose just two more games the rest of the way en route to a third straight 13-win season, an NFC North title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.
Despite all that, the season culminated in a disheartening loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round. That was followed by the stunning trade that sent star wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Packers made an effort to replace Adams, but rather than with an impact veteran or first-round pick, it was with Day 2 and Day 3 draft capital and journeymen.
It was a continuation of a trend. It has been two decades since Green Bay took a wide receiver in Round 1, and while the team hit big in Round 2 with Adams in 2014, the Packers did little to add talent around him in the interim.
On Sunday in Minneapolis, that longtime philosophy blew up in Green Bay's face. Facing a Vikings pass defense that was 28th in the league last year, the Packers could generate next to nothing on offense on the way to a lopsided loss.
It's just one week, but the Packers didn't look like a Super Bowl front-runner against the Vikings, let alone the best team in their division.
The Packers looked like a deeply flawed team—one that has failed their MVP quarterback.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is sacked by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Danielle Hunter, rear, during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Green Bay's new-look receiving corps was the talk of Titletown all through training camp. Rodgers admitted a month ago that youngsters like Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs had a way to go before they would be consistent NFL contributors.
"The young guys, especially young receivers, we've got
to be way more consistent," Rodgers said to reporters. "A lot of drops, a lot of
bad route decisions, running the wrong route. We've got to get better in that
area."
Rodgers also made it clear that if those young players weren't
ready, then veterans like Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb would
have to step up.
"We're going to play our best guys when the season starts. And whoever those guys are, those guys are going to get the reps," he said.
"It's the guys I trust the most and the guys the coaches trust the most. A lot of it is just the simple responsibility in the offense. Way before body positioning and movement and throw, and all that stuff, are you in the right spot at the right time? Are you running the right route?"
Against the Vikings, it really didn't matter if it was rookies or veterans. None of the Green Bay receivers were a factor.
For the game, Rodgers completed just 22-of-34 passes for 195 yards. He threw an interception against an NFC North opponent for the first time since 2019. His passer rating for the contest was 67.7—nearly 37 points below his career average.
As the game wore on and the Packers continued to struggle, it became plainly evident that Rodgers was not a happy camper.
All you need to look at to figure out why Rodgers was displeased is look at the team's receiving stats for the game. With Lazard sitting out with an ankle injury, Green Bay's leading receiver had five catches for 46 yards.
That receiving leader? Running back AJ Dillon.
The leading wide receiver for the Packers in the game was Doubs, who had four grabs for 37 yards. Watkins and Cobb combined for five grabs for 32 yards.
As for Watson, who the Pack drafted 34th overall in April out of North Dakota State?
Take out Dillon, fellow running back Aaron Jones and tight end Robert Tonyan, and every pass-catcher on Green Bay's roster combined for 151 receiving yards.
Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson had 184 yards and two scores by himself. And again, this wasn't the Buffalo Bills pass defense. Last year with Adams, Rodgers torched this same Vikings team for 673 yards and six scores without a pick.
Now, this is the point where Packers backers trying their level best not to freak out will point to the fact that Lazard wasn't out there. However, we aren't talking about a guy who was an early pick or has stacked a bunch of 1,000-yard seasons. He's an undrafted free agent who has never had more than 40 catches or 513 receiving yards in a season.
Lazard isn't scaring defensive coordinators. And even if he did, after witnessing Green Bay's offense flounder Sunday, all they would have to do is bracket him. None of Green Bay's other receivers are going to win one-on-one battles with any consistency.
Watkins and Cobb have big seasons on their professional resumes, but they are shells of the player they once were. Doubs and Watson looked very much like the raw rookies they are. Amari Rodgers is just a guy.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 11: Romeo Doubs #87 of the Green Bay Packers catches a pass during the fourth quarter in the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 11, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
It's a menagerie of meh. A basket of blah. And at this point, there probably isn't that much the Packers can do about it.
The best free agent available (Odell Beckham) tore his ACL in the Super Bowl, and by the time he's ready to make any kind of impact, the season could already be circling the drain. Adding another mediocre free agent or swinging a trade for another team's cast-off is just re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
To be fair, Green Bay's receivers weren't the team's only issue Sunday. With tackles Elgton Jenkins and David Bakhtiari both out with injuries, Minnesota's pass-rushers were in Rodgers' face in a hurry to the tune of four sacks and five QB hits. But with the line banged up, it's all the more important that the receivers help them out by getting open quickly.
Green Bay just couldn't do that against the Vikings. And if they can't do it against Minnesota, good luck doing it against Tampa in Week 3. Or at Buffalo on October 30. Or against any quality opponent.
For several reasons (including paying Rodgers $50 million a season), Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst rolled the dice that the two-time reigning MVP would be able to elevate a moribund group of pass-catchers. But if Sunday's loss was any indication, some things are beyond even Rodgers' abilities.
Those dice Gutekunst rolled appear to have come up snake-eyes. And in counting on Rodgers to spin straw into gold rather than surrounding him with weapons for one more run at the Super Bowl, the Packers have set the stage for the final chapters of Rodgers' career to be a disappointing one.
Vikings' Justin Jefferson Stuns NFL Twitter With Incredible Performance vs. Packers
Sep 11, 2022
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 11: Justin Jefferson #18 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter in the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 11, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson will be rewriting the NFL record books at this rate.
The two-time Pro Bowler is single-handedly dismantling the Green Bay Packers defense, catching nine passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns Sunday.
We all know how good Jefferson is. Through his first two seasons, he had 3,016 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns. Still, the extent to which he bullied Green Bay's secondary was something to behold.
It's not too early for the Vikings to set aside the cap space that will be required to keep Jefferson beyond the 2024 season, assuming they trigger his fifth-year option that year. If somebody hasn't done it already, then the 23-year-old will be in a great position to surpass Tyreek Hill ($30 million) as the highest-paid wideout in the league.
Speaking with ESPN's Jeremy Fowler in August, one personnel director in the NFC compared Jefferson to Cincinnati Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase.
"Ja'Marr is faster and stronger and can do more with the ball in his hands," the team official said. "Jefferson is an elite route-runner and is relentless, but he's missing that elite physical trait that Chase has. You're not scared of him taking the top off your defense, even if he's going to get 11 for 150 on you."
Based on how well the team did in slowing Jefferson down, perhaps that personnel director worked for the Packers.
