Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers is finally opening up about the Packers drafting his potential replacement in Jordan Love last month ... saying he wasn't happy with the selection, but adding he gets it.

"You know, obviously I'm not going to say that I was thrilled by the pick necessarily," Rodgers said in his first meeting with reporters since April's NFL draft. "But, I understand."

36-year-old Rodgers -- like just about every other Green Bay fan -- was clearly hoping for some receiver help in the first round ... but instead, the Pack went with the project QB.

The team was slammed for the selection ... with Brett Favre even saying Rodgers will now likely finish his career in another NFL city because of it.

But, Aaron said Friday he has no ill will toward Jordan ... and, in fact, says he not only spoke with the 21-year-old the day after the draft, but also several times since.

"He didn't get asked to be drafted by the Packers," Rodgers said. "He's not to blame at all. He's just coming in excited about his opportunity."

Rodgers says he'll treat Jordan the same way he's treated all of his previous backups ... guys he says he has great relationships with still to this day.

Brett Favre is wrong ... Aaron Rodgers WILL spend the rest of his career in Green Bay -- so says Pack legend LeRoy Butler, who tells TMZ Sports the QB won't be bothered by Jordan Love at all!

"Aaron Rodgers ain't going anywhere," Butler says. "And, neither do I want him to go anywhere because as long as No. 12 is getting dressed, the Green Bay Packers have a chance at going to the Super Bowl."

Green Bay shocked the NFL world last week, TRADING UP to draft Love in the first round instead of getting Rodgers some much-needed offensive weapons.

A lot of people close to the 36-year-old QB have insinuated he's upset over the move ... with Favre saying straight up he believes A-Rodge will now look to finish his career in another city.

But, when we spoke to Butler -- who played for Green Bay from 1990-2001 -- about the whole situation ... he had a different take on it all, saying Rodgers will have no problem sharing a QB room with Love!

"If it was me, if I was Aaron Rodgers, one of my favorite rappers is French Montana," Butler says. "He has a song called, 'I Ain't Worried About Nothing.' I'd just play that all day!"

"I ain't worried about nothing! There's nothing to worry about! No. 12 is still the man! He will always be the man!"

As for Rodgers' relationship with Love ... Butler doesn't expect any drama there -- saying he believes Aaron will treat the rookie better than the way Favre did when he came to the Pack in 2005.

Days before the NFL Draft, we spoke with Brett Favre about the possibility Green Bay could take a QB in the 1st round.

Favre told us he had talked with Aaron Rodgers about that -- and insists the QB didn't have a problem with it.

(Remember, Favre wasn't exactly stoked when the Packers drafted Rodgers back in 2005. They've since become friends).

Fast-forward to GB selecting Utah State QB Jordan Love with the 26th overall pick ... and our convo with Favre just got VERY interesting.

TMZ Sports: "What would you tell Aaron if it does happen, if they do draft a quarterback?"

Favre: "You gotta just keep doing what you’re doing. And, Aaron and I watched a lot of extra film together, I had no problems giving him any insight that he asked for if I could, and I think Aaron will do that too.

"Look, no one’s going to replace Aaron unless Aaron chooses to be replaced. There’s no worry for him that he’s going to be ousted. He’s too good of a player."

"It’s funny because Aaron and I were talking about it last year, how he gets how I was when he came in. Because now he’s at that age that I was when he came in, and so it’s getting about time that you start looking at drafting a guy or picking someone up in free agency."

"Not that we think Aaron is at the end of his road, I think he’s got many good years barring injury ahead of him. But, you do have to start grooming the next guy.  And, Aaron gets it."

"You know, I was never upset about it, I used to think every year when they didn’t draft a quarterback early, I thought ‘Well dodged another one.’"

"And, at 37 I realized when they drafted Aaron that that was kind of reality setting in. Not that I thought I was going to be replaced right away, but that it's slowly transitioning out with the old, and in with the new."

"I don't know if I've ever seen any college player better than he played last year."

That's Brett Favre heaping a TON of praise on Joe Burrow ... telling TMZ Sports he thinks the LSU QB's 2019 season was the greatest of all time!!!

Of course, Burrow's stats back up the claim ... the 23-year-old completed 76.3 percent of his passes for 5,671 yards and scored 65 total (rushing and passing) TDs -- but it's still shocking to hear the Packers legend make the claim nonetheless.

Remember, there are some straight-up ICONIC seasons from college football players over the years from dudes like Cam Newton, Barry Sanders, Johnny Manziel, Tim Tebow, Vince Young and Reggie Bush.

But, Favre tells us Burrow's year just tops them all.

"In fact, [Burrow's] team was incredible," Favre says. "Best college team I've ever seen. And, the best play by a college quarterback in history."

So, just how do Burrow's numbers compare with guys like Newton, Tebow, Young and Manziel?

Newton in 2010: 2,854 passing yards, 30 passing TDs, 1,473 rushing yards, 20 rushing TDs

Manziel in 2012: 3,706 passing yards, 26 passing TDs, 1,410 rushing yards, 21 rushing TDs

Tebow in 2007: 3,286 passing yards, 32 passing TDs, 895 rushing yards, 23 rushing TDs

Young in 2005: 3,036 passing yards, 26 passing TDs, 1050 rushing yards, 12 rushing TDs

Yeah, Favre might have a point here!!

As for Burrow's future in the NFL -- ya gotta hear which legendary QB Brett thinks Joe most plays like.

By the way, the Packers legend also reminisced with us about his draft day experience in 1991 ... and he even opened up about that epic draft night photo!!

Pro Football Hall of Famer and 5-time champion Willie Davis has passed away at age 85, the Hall announced Wednesday.

Davis -- who won Super Bowls I and II under legendary coach Vince Lombardi -- quickly blossomed into one of the best defensive ends in the league after the Cleveland Browns traded him to the Packers in 1960.

“It is with great sadness the entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Willie Davis," Hall CEO David Baker said in a statement.

"Willie’s extraordinary athleticism was an undeniable factor in Green Bay’s winning tradition of the 1960s under Coach Lombardi. He helped the Packers through an unprecedented championship run and to two Super Bowl victories."

Davis racked up 5 First Team All-Pro selections, made the Pro Bowl 5 times, and was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981.

"MARRY HER!!!"

Packers star pass rusher Za'Darius Smith is putting some serious heat on his OWN quarterback, telling TMZ Sports ... Aaron Rodgers needs to marry Danica Patrick ASAP!!!

"Look, 12, I know I'm on TMZ," Smith hilariously told us out at Super Bowl festivities in Miami on Wednesday ... "But, man, most definitely, you should marry that lady!"

Rodgers and Danica have been dating for over two years ... and things are definitely SERIOUS between the two.

They've publicly said "I love yous" ... she's rooted him on at Packers games, despite being a Bears fan ... and the two even just bought a $28 MILLION mansion together in Malibu.

But Rodgers has yet to bend the knee and pop the question ... and Za'Darius tells us his QB needs to change that.

"She's a lovely woman," Smith says. "I've met her."

In fact, Smith says he thinks Rodgers giving Danica a ring could elevate the QB's game ... telling us his own career really took off once he committed to his GF during his Baltimore Ravens days.

"She kept me locked in," Smith said.

The Game went home HAPPY AF Sunday night for 2 reasons --- his beloved 49ers punched their ticket to the Super Bowl ... and he won $10,000 off of a bet!!!

TMZ Sports caught up with The Game after the Niners beat the Green Bay Packers 37 to 20 in the NFC Championship ... and the dude was clearly pumped for his team.

Of course, Game is a die-hard fan (he even has a Niners tat) ... but he was extra stoked to boast about his smart move by putting money on the line via a "hood bet."

For those unaware of what a "hood bet" is, Game describes it as "a bet with a motherf***a from the hood that you know gon' pay the money when you done."

"You can trust him cause he from the hood and if they don't pay., they gotta deal with the street code."

Game even showed us his winnings ... and explains he's gonna put up even more money for the Super Bowl

That was fast!!!

The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to terms with Mike McCarthy to be their next head coach ... just roughly 15 hours after they officially canned Jason Garrett from the role.

Of course, the hire -- reported by FOX Sports' Jay Glazer -- was immediately hit with backlash ... especially considering the 'Boys only looked at McCarthy, Marvin Lewis and Jeff Fisher for the role.

But, Mike does at least come to Dallas with a nice resume ... the former Green Bay Packers head man was 125-77-2 in his 13 years with the Pack -- including a win in Super Bowl XLV.

McCarthy, though, received plenty of criticism for his time in Green Bay ... with most down on the guy for only winning one ring with Aaron Rodgers under center.

In fact, Mike was canned by the Packers last season after he and A-Rodge reportedly rifted on and off throughout their final years together in Wisconsin.

McCarthy will become just the 8th head coach Jerry Jones has hired since he bought the team back in 1989 ... joining a list that includes Jimmie Johnson, Barry Switzer, Chan Gailey, Dave Campo, Bill Parcells, Wade Phillips and Garrett.

Aaron Rodgers is turning 36 Monday -- and his girlfriend, Danica Patrick, just hit him with a super lovey-dovey note, thanking the universe for making him.

"Happy birthday to my best friend and favorite person in the world," Danica posted on IG ... "You are the one I want to tell my best and worst days to first."

Here's where things get spiritual ... followed by an L-bomb.

"I am so grateful the universe made you!!! The star dust started it all, but you have done nothing but make it better every year of your life."

"Thank you for being the loving, generous, thoughtful, patient, fun, funny, spontaneous, talented, smart, and uber attractive man, that I get to walk through life with."

"This journey we are on.... it’s a really really good one. I love you. Happiest of birthdays yet!!!!!!"

Danica and Aaron have been dating for around 2 years and things got serious quickly -- Aaron first publicly said he loved her in an Oct. 2018 interview.

The question everybody is asking ... when are they getting married?

That's the question Jenny McCarthy asked Danica on her SiriusXM show back in November -- and while DP admitted she WANTS to get engaged, she's not trying to rush it.

Brett Favre is going to bat for his former teammate ... telling TMZ Sports Sterling Sharpe belongs in the Hall of Fame -- saying the guy's got a similar resume as Gale Sayers!

"If a guy like Gale Sayers and some other ones are in the Hall of Fame with a short career, absolutely he deserves to be in," Favre says of Sharpe.

Of course, Sterling was an absolute BEAST in the NFL for 7 seasons ... piling up 8,134 receiving yards and 65 TDs on 595 catches -- but a neck injury prematurely ended his career.

Most pundits think that's why Sharpe ain't in Canton yet ... but Favre -- who played with Sterling from 1992 through 1994 -- tells us it's a BS reason to keep the 54-year-old from getting a bust.

"I have this argument with people all the time," Favre says. "The only thing you can say about Sterling is he didn't play as long as others."

But, Brett tells us that's not a good excuse ... 'cause guys like Sayers and Terrell Davis had injury-shortened careers but still got into the hall.

"The time that he played, the numbers that he put up, absolutely, 100 percent deserves to be in the Hall of Fame," Favre says.

Green Bay Packers star Za'Darius Smith was stopped in September for allegedly speeding ... and when officers searched his car, they cuffed him for having weed.

According to court records, Smith was pulled over on Sept. 29 -- just days after the Packers' loss to the Eagles -- in Racine, Wisc. after cops say he was going 21 MPH over the speed limit.

Per police records, obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Smith was allegedly doing 81 MPH in a 60 MPH zone in his 2019 GMC Yukon at around 5:30 PM.

The records say when the officer pulled over Smith -- who's car passengers included teammates Rashan Gary and Kingsley Keke -- he smelled a strong odor of marijuana.

The records say after the officer searched the car and found three blunts and a vaping cartridge ... Smith took ownership of them, saying, "I'll put it on me."

Records show Smith was hit with citations -- NOT criminal charges -- for speeding and possessing marijuana ... and the Packers players were then allowed to leave.

Smith is due in court next week to deal with the matter.

"The Packers are aware of the matter involving Za’Darius Smith," a team spokesperson told the Sentinel on Friday. "We will refrain from making any further comment as it is a legal matter."

Smith -- who's been a superstar for Green Bay this year after signing a 4-year, $66 MILLION contract this offseason -- could now be subject to NFL discipline under the league's personal conduct policy.

... All for some weed. Ridiculous.

Move over Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu ... ex-Packers star Nick Collins says HE was the best safety of his era -- and he tells TMZ Sports he DEFINITELY belongs in Canton!!

"I think of my 7 years of playing I think I was the best safety in that era," Collins says. "My numbers show it."

Collins played for Green Bay from 2005 to 2011 (he was in the same draft class as Aaron Rodgers) ... and he racked up 21 INTs in 95 career games.

And, even though his career was cut short due to injury ... the Pro Football Hall of Fame still named him one of 122 finalists for 2020.

When we spoke with the 36-year-old this week, he told us he has ZERO doubts about his candidacy, telling us straight-up, "I do think I belong in Canton."

"Not knocking nothing that the guys before me or the guys gon’ be after me," Collins says, "but I just think I brought a new dynamic to the game with speed, a lot of versatility."

Nick made 3 Pro Bowls in his time in the league ... and says he would have made so many more if he didn't hurt his neck that he'd be considered one of the game's greatest ever today!!

"I think you, right now, can say I would be the number one safety in the NFL right now."

Ex-Green Bay star Nick Collins says the Lions have nobody to blame but themselves -- not even garbage refs -- for their loss to the Packers ... telling TMZ Sports Detroit just blew it!!!

"They had so many opportunities to win that game," Collins says.

If you missed it ... the refs on "Monday Night Football" were as bad as they've been all season -- throwing flags for two questionable illegal hands to the face fouls that helped lift the Packers to a win.

But, Collins -- who admits the calls were trash -- says despite those penalties the Lions still had every opportunity to take control of the NFC North ... and they just didn't.

"Those calls probably played a factor," Collins says, "but they had a chance to just blow the game out of proportion."

Collins also tells us the Lions were helped out by sloppy play from the Pack ... saying if Green Bay didn't turn over the ball THREE times -- the game would've gotten ugly!!!

Who needs a translator?!? Not Aaron Rodgers!!!

The Green Bay Packers QB flexed his Espanol during a post-game interview with ESPN Deportes on Monday night ... and it wasn't bad!!!

Of course, he wasn't exactly giving a lecture on geopolitics in Spanish ... he just used a few short phrases to praise his teammates' 23 to 22 victory over the Detroit Lions, but still -- impressive!!!

"Esto es un equipo increíble," Rodgers said ... "Te amo estos hombres."

Loose translation ... "This is an incredible team. I love those guys!"

The guy doing the interview, John Sutcliffe, was impressed -- and when Rodgers described himself as the old man on the team, Sutcliffe gave him a new Spanish nickname, "El Viejito."

By the way, Rodgers had a pretty decent game given his top WRs were all out with injuries -- completing 24 of 39 passes with 283 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT.

Wanna see the most adorable NFL smack talk ever? Great!

Here are Matt Stafford's adorable 2-year-old twin daughters expressing their utmost DISDAIN for the Green Bay Packers ... before being distracted by a shiny red truck.

C'mon, this is SUPER CUTE!!

Of course, Matt's Detroit Lions are facing Aaron Rodgers and company tonight on "Monday Night Football" in a crucial NFL North match up.

Since Matt and the Lions are on the road ... the QB's wife, Kelly Stafford, made a cute pump-up video for dad showing their support for Detroit!

It's a big game for Detroit -- they're 2-1-1 and if they don't beat the Packers, it could already spell the end for their hopes of a division title since Green Bay is 4-1 and look strong right now.

As for Matt, he's having a pretty solid season, statistically, at the moment -- with 1,122 passing yards, 9 TDs and only 2 INTs with a QB rating of 102.6. Not bad!

Will it be good enough to beat Green Bay? The gamblers don't think so ... Detroit is a 3.5 point underdog.

Ellen DeGeneres says there's a pretty good reason she was hanging with George W. Bush at the Dallas Cowboys game on Sunday ... they're friends -- and she's damn proud of it!

Cameras captured Ellen and Dubya laughing together in Jerry Jones' owner's box at AT&T Stadium ... leaving some people wondering why "a gay Hollywood liberal [is] sitting next to a conservative Republican president?"

Ellen says she took a lot of heat on social media from people who were angry over the affiliation ... so she took to her show on Monday to explain herself.

"Here's the thing. I'm friends with George Bush," Ellen said.

"In fact, I'm friends with a lot of people who don't share the same beliefs that I have. We're all different. And, I think that we've forgotten that that's okay that we're all different."