Green Bay Packers

Troy Aikman just went off on a reporter accusing him of being "cliche" for defending Mike McCarthy ... clapping back at the guy and saying, "Is that cliche enough for ya?!"

The legendary QB stood up for the ex-Packers head man after he was canned following a loss to the lowly Cardinals on Sunday, saying, "Mike McCarthy deserves better."

Enter Gerry Callahan -- one half of the famous WEEI Mut & Callahan show ... who hated Aikman's take so much, he scorched him on social media.

"Troy Aikman, cliche machine, says Mike McCarthy deserved better," Callahan wrote.

"McCarthy was head coach in Green Bay for 13 years. He won one Super Bowl. How long did he deserve, Troy? Fourteen years? Twenty?"

Didn't take long for Troy to respond ...

"Two losing seasons in 12 years (one of those last year without Rodgers for 9 games); took the Packers to the playoffs in 9 of the last 11 seasons; 4 NFC Championship Games, 1 Super Bowl title."

"Yes Gerry, he deserved better than to be fired mid-season. Is that cliche enough for ya"

Aaron Rodgers was some 2,000 miles away from California Sunday ... but he made sure to let wildfire victims know he was behind them, rockin' a Santa Monica Fire Dept. hat and saying his heart goes out to those affected.

Fires have torn through both Northern and Southern California since late last week ... and the Packers superstar has felt the effects all the way in Wisconsin.

Rodgers grew up in Chico, Calif., played ball at Butte C.C. and Cal, and calls Southern California his "adopted home" ... so the hat choice only felt right for the star QB.

"I was thinking at my house today, this was the only kind of paraphernalia that I have that could represent my support for those folks who are fighting the fires."

"Hearing the stories of people running down the highways to avoid the fire. Knowing that people burned alive in their cars, it's heartbreaking for sure. And then, you have a fire in my adopted home of Southern California. So it's been a tough week for sure."

Meanwhile ... the L.A. Rams are auctioning off game-used jerseys to help support victims of the fire -- and across the league teams held moments of silence for victims.

Julian Edelman doesn't play for Pittsburgh ... but he's got the city's back regardless -- wearing a Jewish star hat Sunday, and saying last month's synagogue shootings were "uncalled for."

After the Patriots beat the Packers last night, the WR -- who is of Jewish heritage -- wore a Team Israel hat from the World Baseball Classic.

He told reporters he wanted to show the people affected by the anti-Semitic shootings inside the Tree of Life synagogue that they're in his thoughts.

"Just letting the people out in Pittsburgh know I'm thinking about them," Edelman said ... "I'm sending vibes and they're in our prayers. It was a big hit to the community, and it's uncalled for."

"So, I just let them know, 'Hey, I'm behind you and I'm supporting.'"

The Pittsburgh Steelers -- who played in Baltimore on Sunday -- held a moment of a silence for the victims before their win over the Ravens ... while star QB Ben Roethlisberger wore "Stronger Than Hate" cleats.

Members of the team also attended funeral services last week for two brothers, Cecil and David Rosenthal, killed in the tragedy.

Aaron Rodgers dropping L-bombs!!

The Green Bay Packers QB opened up on his relationship with Danica Patrick -- telling Michele Tafoya he already feels comfortable saying he loves her.

"We're just two people who enjoy being around each other and love each other," Rodgers said in the interview for Artful Living.

"We're really into each other ... We're really attracted to each other."

Aaron and Danica went public with their relationship back in January -- and things have gotten pretty serious ever since.

"We really enjoy traveling. She went on the trip to India and Africa [back in the spring], and we had a blast. And we’ve taken some trips domestically that have been fun."

He added, "She’s a good travel partner because she’s so laid-back and low-maintenance. And she’s a hell of a cook, so we love just staying in, too. She eats really healthy. She’s inspired me in that way."

The only real issue in their relationship -- Danica's family cheers for the Chicago Bears.

Aaron joked to Tafoya, "They can’t come to the games if they’re doing that."

Brett Favre frickin' LOVES Conor McGregor ... and says he's super pumped for the Khabib Nurmagomedov mega-fight.

Oh yeah ... and he told us who's gonna win too.

TMZ Sports recently spoke to Favre -- who just took a family vacay to Ireland -- about his UFC obsession ... particularly the Notorious.

"I like watching the guy fight. Love watching the guy fight. I think he's a hell of a fighter."

Favre says he's pumped for what some -- including Mark Wahlberg -- say is gonna be the biggest MMA fight ever ... and is pretty sure McGregor will have his hand raised.

"I gotta go with my guy, McGregor. I'm looking forward to it."

We say pretty sure 'cause, even though #4 is confident Conor will get it done, he's still leaving a little room for the bear-wrestling mauler to score what Favre thinks would be an upset.

"In the UFC, you never know. You never know."

Ex-NFL DB Nick Collins -- Aaron Rodgers' AND Brett Favre's former teammate in Green Bay -- says with one more ring ... Rodgers will be the best Packer QB to ever live.

"If he wins the Super Bowl this year, you would have to say he's the greatest," the three-time Pro Bowl safety tells TMZ Sports.

It's high praise ... considering both Bart Starr and Favre are already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame -- but that's how high Nick is on Aaron -- especially after his comeback win over the Bears on Sunday.

"To come back out there and just dominate the second half ... on one leg?!" Collins says. "Come on now, you have to put that up there."

By the way, Collins was drafted in the same class as Rodgers -- and has already been inducted into the Packers' Hall of Fame.

Collins compared Rodgers' performance to Michael Jordan's flu game ... saying other than Rodgers' lone Super Bowl win, it was the best night of the quarterback's career.

Brett Favre tells TMZ Sports if there's one player in the NFL who deserves the biggest deal in league history -- it's Aaron Rodgers ... 'cause Favre says he's already one of the greatest to ever play!!

"I think when it's all said and done, he's a top 5 player, all time -- regardless of position," Favre says. "Quite frankly, he could be there right now."

And, get this -- remember all those reports of tension between Brett and Aaron back in the day? Favre tells us the two are actually FRIENDS, and Rodgers even came to visit him in Mississippi this summer.

"We were actually talking about how much of this contract he was going to give to me," Favre joked.

In reality, Rodgers was there to pick Favre's brain for a "Life of Aaron Rodgers" project he was doing ... and that's when Brett shoveled some serious compliments on the Packer QB.

"He made a comment while he was here, 'Hey, I'm just trying to fill your shoes,'" Favre says.

"I said, 'I appreciate that, but you've kind of paved your own way and continue to pave it.'"

As for Brett ... he's still traveling the world and getting recognized by fans -- EVEN IN IRELAND!!

Brett Hundley wasn't sad at all about being traded from Green Bay ... in fact, dude was jacked up about the move to the Seahawks -- his dad tells TMZ Sports.

"He was just at a point where he was ready to start anew somewhere else," Brett Hundley Sr. says.

"I mean he was very, very excited."

Don't get it twisted ... Brett -- who was traded Wednesday -- says the QB loved his time with the Packers and learned a lot from Aaron Rodgers -- but he tells us playing behind Russell Wilson will be awesome.

"I'm sure Russell's going to welcome him with open arms," Brett Sr. says.

"And Brett's going in with the mindset that, 'Hey, I'm just going to be here, compete and do everything that I can to help this organization and franchise.'"

Less than 2 months after taking a softball to the FACE -- and undergoing surgery -- Clay Matthews is back in front of the camera ... looking as beautiful as ever!

Remember, the NFL star caught a comebacker to the grill while playing in a charity game on June 2. He ran off the field while dripping blood and had surgery right after the incident.

But on Thursday, the 32-year-old Green Bay Packers linebacker surfaced in California to shoot a commercial for Walmart without any noticeable scarring.

Props to the surgeon ... like Michelangelo with a scalpel!

As for the softball injury, Clay was pitching to offensive lineman Lucas Patrick -- who connected a little TOO well.

After the incident, Clay tweeted ... "Thank you for all the concern and well-wishes. I busted my nose pretty good and will have surgery once the swelling subsides. Thankful as it could have been much more serious."

Anthony Barr -- the Vikings star who put the hit on Aaron Rodgers that broke his collarbone in 2017 -- doesn't believe he'll have a target on his back when he faces Green Bay in Week 2.

In fact, Barr tells TMZ Sports ... it's "just another game."

Yeah, right.

As we previously reported, Barr received violent hate mail after the hit -- with one Packers fan warning him, "Your payback in coming. Piece of s***."

So, when we saw the linebacker at LAX, we asked if he was worried Packers players would REALLY try to get that "payback."

"I'm not too worried about it," Barr told us ... "It's football man. It's another game."

Barr told the NFL Network he didn't try to hurt Rodgers on the play -- saying, "It's unfortunate that it happened."

Ex-NFL running back Ahman Green has plead guilty to disorderly conduct in his child abuse case ... stemming from a June 2017 incident in which he allegedly punched his 15-year-old daughter in the face.

As we previously reported, the 41-year-old former Green Bay Packers star was arrested in Wisconsin and initially charged with felony child abuse and disorderly conduct.

Green had acknowledged getting physical with his child (admitting he pushed her) but said he was only disciplining her for refusing to do the dishes -- and did not cross the line into child abuse.

Still, prosecutors pushed forward with the case ... and ultimately struck a plea deal with Green in which he agreed to enter an Alford Plea to two lesser misdemeanor charges (disorderly conduct and criminal damages).

FYI, an Alford Plea is a form of a guilty plea in which the accused denies wrongdoing but admits there is enough evidence to get a conviction.

In exchange prosecutors recommended NO jail time. Instead, he'll likely get 18 months probation, fines, anger management and will have to write a letter of apology to his daughter.

Green appeared in court Thursday for the hearing.

Green has issued a statement insisting his "name has been cleared of the terrible crime of child abuse."

"I have never and would never abuse anyone, including my daughter whom I love, dearly."

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Trevor Davis was arrested at LAX on Sunday morning after cops say he joked about smuggling a bomb into the airport ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Yeah, they DON'T PLAY about that at LAX!!!

Law enforcement sources tell us the 24-year-old -- a 5th round draft pick out of Cal in 2016 -- was at the Hawaiian Airlines ticket counter with a female companion to check into a flight when the attendant asked the usual security questions about their luggage.

Instead of playing it straight -- we're told Davis turned to the other woman and said, "Did you remember to pack the explosives?"

She apparently said, "No" and tried to get him to stop. He then said, "Just kidding" -- but it was too late.

We're told cops were called and Davis was immediately taken into custody for misdemeanor criminal threats. He was booked -- mug shot and all -- and then released.

According to his booking sheet, Davis is listed at 6'2", 195 lbs.

File Under: "Trouble In Paradise"

Ex-Green Bay Packers lineman Letroy Guion is a wanted man in Hawaii -- after a judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest stemming from a very boozy birthday party.

As we previously reported, the 30-year-old NFL player was arrested for DUI in Waikiki on June 21 ... which happens to be his birthday.

Problem is ... Guion was ordered to appear in court on March 5 -- but didn't show. Oops.

The judge didn't appreciate getting the cold shoulder -- and immediately revoked the guy's bond and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

The DUI arrest has been a nightmare for Guion -- he was cut by the Packers right after the arrest and hasn't been picked up by a new team.

Danica Patrick went into her final NASCAR race ever with a good luck smooch from Aaron Rodgers ... and while the event might be her personal finale, this pic might be a debut.

TMZ Sports has obtained a photo of the new couple giving each other a kiss ahead of Danica's last NASCAR race of her career -- the 2018 Daytona 500. After this, she's retiring.

Eyewitnesses tell us Aaron and Danica puckered up right after the National Anthem ended, before she got into her car at the starting line.

As we reported ... Danica and Aaron went public with their relationship after we posted photos of them out to dinner with some friends in Arizona. They were also recently seen at their first coupley event a couple weeks ago in Cali. Now, this appears to be their first public kiss caught on camera.

Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick seem to be rounding out the first lap of their rumored romance -- 'cause now they're dining together out in the open ... as seen here.

The Packers QB and NASCAR driver were spotted grabbing a bite Saturday night at The Mission Mexican restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona, accompanied by a small group of people.

Eyewitnesses tell TMZ Aaron and Danica sat next to each other, but didn't show off any kind of PDA while there. We're also told other patrons recognized them, but left them alone.

Rumors have been swirling about the reported couple, who apparently got together shortly after the holidays. Word around town is ... things are moving fast with Aaron after Danica split from her BF of 5 years, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., late last year.

Looks like they have plenty of time on their hands to cozy up -- Aaron's season is over after the Packers didn't make the playoffs, and Danica's set to retire soon. Kismet!

Imagine being a Packers fan in Wisconsin and having to bust one of the players for weed ... sucks, right!?

That's exactly what happened to a cop in Appleton, WI on Sept. 2 when she pulled over tight end Lance Kendricks, who was on the way home from a Wisconsin Badgers football game.

After Kendricks' car was stopped for going 81 in a 70, the officer immediately noticed the smell of weed and reports back to her partner ... saying, "You're not gonna wanna do this ... he's a Packers player."