Green Bay Packers

Breathe easy, Green Bay ... Aaron Rodgers has clarified his comments -- and the superstar QB is now saying he believes he'll still be a Packer next year.

"I don't think that there's any reason why I wouldn't be back," Rodgers said Tuesday.

Aaron made the statement on "The Pat McAfee Show" ... explaining he was surprised by the way his postgame comments Sunday made so many people believe he wanted out of Wisconsin.

If you missed it, Rodgers -- just minutes after losing in the NFC title game to Tom Brady in heartbreaking fashion -- told reporters he was "uncertain" of his future in Green Bay.

Because of the way the team had just lost, and given how it had drafted quarterback Jordan Love in the 1st round in the offseason ... a lot of folks took that as a goodbye from Rodgers.

But, Aaron told McAfee and A.J. Hawk on Tuesday that he wasn't implying anything with his comments ... and an uncertain future is just part of the game in the NFL.

"There's not many absolutes -- as you guys know -- in this business," Rodgers said. "So, to make an absolute statement about something that is not an absolute, I didn't do it. I guess that's why it kind of, went kind of nuts."

Rodgers explained he's always wanted to remain a Packer for life -- similar to Kobe Bryant with the Lakers and Derek Jeter with the Yankees.

"Naturally, you dream about that," Rodgers said.

FYI -- Packers brass is clearly on the same page as Rodgers ... team president Mark Murphy said Tuesday, "We're not idiots. Aaron Rodgers will be back, he's our leader."

Ex-Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson -- who made some of the most important moves in franchise history -- has died.

He was only 68.

Thompson (a former linebacker) spent 10 years in the NFL as a player -- signing with the Houston Oilers as an undrafted free agent in 1975 --  before getting into the operational side of the business.

He started with the Packers in 1992 as a scout -- and worked his way up to GM in 2005 ... and that's when he really got cookin'.

Ted's first draft pick as GM? Aaron Rodgers. Yeah. Not bad.

Followed by ... future Pro Bowlers like Nick Collins, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, Clay Matthews, Eddie Lacy, Randall Cobb, Mason Crosby, David Bakhtiari, Davante Adams and many, many, many more.

In 2008, Thompson also famously traded away the team's most famous and beloved player of all time -- Brett Favre, which ended up working out great for GB.

There's so much more ... he also landed top free agents over the years including Charles Woodson in 2006 and Julius Peppers in 2016.

Thompson was a low-level staffer when the Packers won Super Bowl 31 in 1997 -- but was the acting GM when the Pack won Super Bowl 45 in 2011.

He stepped down as GM in early 2018 after he was diagnosed with an autonomic disorder. He was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 2019.

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur just spoke about Thompson's death Thursday -- saying, "Our condolences go out to his family. He's a guy that's held in the highest regard in this building and around the league."

"His impact is still felt to this day when you look at our roster."

Current Packers GM Brian Gutekunst also released a statement ... saying, "Ted was a man of great character and integrity who cared deeply for his family and friends."

"He was honest and hard-working. He valued his scouts and always did what he felt was right for the Packers organization."

Mark Murphy, Packers CEO, added ... "What really stands out to me is the consistency."

"Everything is designed to make it difficult to win that way, but you look at what Ted accomplished, it's remarkable."

Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalist LeRoy Butler says there's a very good reason he belongs in Canton ... Deion Sanders and Rod Woodson are enshrined.

Prime, SA, and Woodson are members of the NFL's '90s All-Decade team -- along with Bruce Smith, Reggie White, Cortez Kennedy, John Randle, Junior Seau, Derrick Thomas, and Kevin Greene -- ALL who are members of the Hall.

Butler is the only guy on the All-Decade squad who isn't in Canton ... and he tells TMZ Sports that's a helluva reason to put him in.

"I really would love to be in the Hall of Fame this particular year, 2021. And, plus, it's a little embarrassing to be the only All-Decade member, 1st team, not in the Hall of Fame."

Butler says some of the other players have bigger names ... but when it comes to the football field, he contributed as much as the other HOF'ers.

"It's like 'generic' and 'brand.' You get Woodson, brand, put him in! Manning, brand. Generic, LeRoy Butler. But, I do the same thing as them. I'm just cheaper. I think they should put me in to say we close out the '90s to the 2000s. Done, start the new decade! So, I just pray."

BTW, there's a reason LeRoy made the All-Decade team ... he had a great, 12 season career in Green Bay. He made 1st team All-Pro 4 times, 4 Pro Bowls, and won a Super Bowl with Brett Favre and the Packers in 1997.

Butler also breaks down his foray into the liquor biz ... 'cause he just launched a new vodka, aptly named Leap Spirits.

Remember, Butler was the 1st player to Lambeau Leap back in 1993.

State of the nation got ya down? Here's a video that'll help pick you back up ...

A Green Bay Packers fan finished his last round of cancer treatments ... and to celebrate, he rang a ceremonial bell -- AND THEN SHOTGUNNED A BEER!!!

The amazing footage was posted on Twitter on Wednesday ... showing a guy in an Aaron Rodgers jersey attacking a Busch Light like a true champ after achieving the incredible feat!

"Ever shotgun a beer in a hospital?" Twitter user @blomdotcomm captioned the video. "Done with chemo. Done with cancer!"

He later added, "Had to celebrate the milestone in an epic fashion."

The clip was so awesome, it caught the attention of former NFL punter Pat McAfee -- who wrote of the vid, "Feel like the world needs some feel good right now... this feels good. Congrats BOSS."

Christmas came early in Green Bay ... 'cause Davante Adams just hooked up his Packers teammates with a fresh pair of Air Jordans -- and the dudes lost their minds over the gifts!!

Adams' squadmates posted about the presents on social media on Friday ... and they were all STOKED -- with guys praising and thanking Adams repeatedly.

"You know what it is man," Adams said in a video shot by wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling. "I love ya'll boys, man!"

The kicks are all super clean ... Adams gifted pairs of Mocha AJ1s and also Dark Concord 12s -- which both go for about $300 a pop on StockX.

Of course, Adams is a Jordan athlete AND he's in the middle of a 4-year, $58 MILLION contract ... but still, it's the thought that counts, right?!

"Appreciate you, Tae!" defensive back Kevin King said. "Shout out the GOAT. Yessir!"

Added pass rusher Preston Smith, "Shout out to the big bro, Tae! The boy got the team Jordans! Yessir! You already know what the f*ck going on!"

Green Bay receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling's costly fumble helped seal a loss for the Packers on Sunday ... and now, the dude says he's getting death threats over it all.

The untimely giveaway happened in overtime against the Colts in a 31-31 game ... when Valdes-Scantling caught a little bubble screen pass and then coughed up the football.

Indianapolis players were able to recover ... and just four snaps later, the Colts kicked the game-winning field goal to give the Pack its 3rd loss of the season.

Afterward, Valdes-Scantling says upset fans took things WAY TOO FAR ... writing on his social media page that some have actually threatened to kill him over the turnover.

"Death threats over a football game? Jesus you people need help," MVS wrote Sunday night. "It’s actually sick."

The good news? Valdes-Scantling says his teammates and coaches racing to his defense after the fumble (star QB Aaron Rodgers and head coach Matt LaFleur both said after they've still got plenty of confidence in the wideout) helped.

"I’m good," Valdes-Scantling said. "My team got my back."

The receiver also added earlier in the night, "Thank You God. Without failure there is no growth."

The San Francisco 49ers are the latest team to shut down their facility due to COVID-19 ... just one day before they're supposed to take the field for "Thursday Night Football."

The news broke minutes ago ... with ESPN's Adam Schefter saying Niners wide receiver Kendrick Bourne tested positive for coronavirus one day before their game against the Green Bay Packers.

The decision to shut down the team's facility was made as a "precaution," per the report ... and the organization will now go through the process of contact tracing to prevent further spread.

The report comes on the heels of the Pack's own COVID-19 nightmare -- running back AJ Dillon tested positive earlier this week ... and linebacker Kamal Martin and running back Jamaal Williams were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list after being deemed close contacts.

The NFL has yet to comment on the status of 'TNF' ... but it's not looking great.

Green Bay Packers tight end Robert Tonyan tells TMZ Sports his breakout game was no one-hit wonder ... and he's warning fantasy owners to keep him in their lineups -- OR ELSE!!!

The 26-year-old exploded during the Pack's "Monday Night Football" win over the Atlanta Falcons last week ... catching 6 passes for 98 yards and THREE touchdowns.

Afterward, fantasy football nerds were wonderin' if the guy could keep up the unexpected production for the rest of this season ... and he told us hell yes he can!

"That's going to continue to grow and get better so I'm excited about that," Tonyan said. "If you're a believer, keep believing, if not, see ya!"

Tonyan also raved about his quarterback ... telling us Aaron Rodgers wasn't wrong for saying his bad years are some guys' career ones.

"I mean, the numbers don't lie," Tonyan said, "and, on top of it, he's been doing it for a long time."

Mike Holmgren is going to war with Donald Trump ... blaming the president for the Packers' new fan ban -- and claiming POTUS is single-handedly responsible for "devastating" Green Bay's economy.

The Packers coaching legend spelled out his issues with DT in a scathing statement Tuesday ... just hours after the team announced fans would NOT be allowed at Lambeau Field for the foreseeable future due to rising COVID cases in the area.

"Today's announcement makes one thing very clear -- President Trump's failure to mount a forceful response to the coronavirus pandemic has had profound consequences for Green Bay's economy," Holmgren said.

"Small businesses in the community are paying dearly. We are now months into this crisis, cases are surging across Wisconsin, and President Trump still doesn't have a plan to get the virus under control."

Holmgren added, "It didn't have to be this bad."

Mike says the Packers pulling the plug on fans this season will have a HUGE negative impact on the city's economy -- claiming it could cost locals roughly $160 MILLION.

"As a result of Trump's failure to respond to the coronavirus pandemic," Holmgren said, "the scaled-down Packers season is devastating to many Green Bay-area businesses."

Holmgren is adamant about booting Trump from office this election cycle ... saying he believes Joe Biden's plan for coronavirus would mean better news for Green Bay.

"He's a man of integrity," Holmgren said of Biden. "And, now more than ever, we need him in the White House."

"I sometimes laugh when people talk about down years for me because down years for me are career years for most quarterbacks."

AARON RODGERS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!

The Green Bay Packers QB just dropped one of the least humble brags of all time Tuesday on the "Pat McAfee Show" ... and it was awesome!!

McAfee was asking the 36-year-old QB if he paid attention to any of the negative media criticism over the past year -- including claims that he was washed up at the end of 2019.

But, Rodgers (in his 16th season in the NFL) has been KILLING IT in 2020 -- with 13 TDs and ZERO interceptions while leading the Packers to a 4-0 start.

Some are saying he's already the frontrunner for the 2020 MVP.

So, when Aaron had the opportunity to clap back at his critics -- HE DELIVERED!!

McAfee's reaction is also incredible -- he lost this damn mind!!

When Pat finally calmed down, Rodgers smirked and said, "Hey, it's just the facts, bro."

Davante Adams clearly ain't happy over being ruled out for the Packers' "Monday Night Football" game ... saying, "I guess I don’t know my body as well as others."

The Green Bay superstar has been battling a hamstring injury since Week 2 ... and it was so bad, it forced him to miss his team's win over the Saints last weekend.

But, Adams had planned on returning for the Packers' game against the Falcons on Monday ... though it now seems team docs have other ideas.

Adams tweeted (and later deleted) early Monday morning that he's been ruled OUT for the matchup -- despite clearly believing he's ready to go.

"Sorry fans and friends I wont be on the field tonight," Adams said. "I’ve done everything I need to do and proved Im ready but I guess I don’t know my body as well as others."

"Good luck out there my boys."

It's obviously a big blow for Green Bay ... Dude is a 3-time Pro Bowler who's racked up for more than 5,000 receiving yards in 88 career games.

As for fantasy football purposes ... it's a REALLY tough blow if ya had gambled on the wideout playing.

Aaron Rodgers says he turned to booze to help him get through the shock of Green Bay's shocking 1st-round draft pick last April ... pouring "four fingers" of tequila after the Jordan Love selection!

Oh, Rodgers also says he sees the writing on the wall -- admitting it's highly unlikely he retires as a Packer.

The NFL star made the revelation on Kyle Brandt's "10 Questions" podcast ... saying once Green Bay chose the Utah State QB with the 26th overall pick -- he turned to the liquor cabinet.

"I love scotch but I've been drinking some, sippin' tequila lately as well," Rodgers said. "And, once I got that text, I went to the pantry, I poured myself about four fingers, and I knew it was going to be one of those nights."

Rodgers says he hoped Green Bay would draft a top-flight WR with its first-round pick --  eyeing LSU's Justin Jefferson, Arizona State's Brandon Aiyuk and Clemson's Tee Higgins

So, when the team went with a QB instead, Aaron admits he "wasn't elated."

In fact, 36-year-old Rodgers says he believes the draft pick will likely mean he won't wrap up his NFL career in Green Bay.

"Just look at the facts," Rodgers said of his future with Green Bay. "They traded up. They drafted him. I would say they like him. They want to play him."

As for the comparison between when Rodgers was surprisingly picked toward the end of Brett Favre's career in the 1st round and now ... A-Rodge says they're two completely different scenarios.

Rodgers says Favre had been hinting at retirement for years before the Packers took Rodgers ... while Aaron has consistently said he wants to play into his 40s.

Rodgers also said he fell into the Packers' lap during the 2005 NFL Draft ... while he notes the Packers TRADED UP from #30 to #26 overall to pick Love.

Regardless, Rodgers says he's still planning to be cordial to the rookie and help the QB through the whole process. He even called Love to talk things out the day after the draft.

"I understand it's a business," Rodgers said. "I understand the nature of the business. I'm not here advocating my spot by any means, that's not going to happen."

Danica Patrick has unfollowed Aaron Rodgers on Instagram ... and we all know what that means -- BREAK UP?!!?!?!

NOOOOOOO!!!!

Seems the couple has called it quits after two years of dating -- shocking considering they were publicly trading "I love yous" ... and had even shacked up together at a recently purchased $28 MILLION mansion in Malibu.

In fact, it was just back in December when Danica posted a super mushy birthday message for Aaron on IG -- saying, "Happy birthday to my best friend and favorite person in the world. You are the one I want to tell my best and worst days to first."

She also dropped an "L-Bomb."

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

Before that, Jenny McCarthy asked Danica on her SiriusXM show back in November about a possible wedding at some point -- and while DP admitted she WANTED to get engaged, she wasn't trying to rush it.

The Green Bay Packers superstar and ex-NASCAR driver started dating back in 2018 ... after initially meeting at the 2012 ESPYs.

We've reached out to reps from both camps -- but so far, radio silence. Seems no one's ready to talk yet.

Patrick previously dated race car driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. -- but they broke up in 2017. Danica had said she was ready to get engaged -- but Stenhouse refused to pull the trigger and that was that.

Rodgers previously dated Olivia Munn but they split in 2017.

Draft a first-round QB but have Aaron Rodgers on your roster???

Brett Favre says he's got the perfect solution for that ... telling TMZ Sports the Packers should use top-pick Jordan Love like the Saints' Swiss Army knife, Taysom Hill!

The Green Bay legend opened up to us about the Pack's QB dilemma this year ... and he thinks the team should be in no rush to take Rodgers off the field for Love, despite spending the No. 26 pick on the Utah State star.

Instead, Favre says he's all for packages that put the two on the field together ... the same way Sean Payton uses Drew Brees and his backup QB in New Orleans.

"I think there's ways to incorporate it much like Taysom Hill with the Saints," Favre said. "Use him as a halfback, a halfback pass, but occasionally let him run it just to show that you'll do that. Something like that."

Unclear if Love is open to being a gadget player in his first year as pro ... but Favre says the rookie should have ZERO desires to play right away otherwise.

"Soak it all in and your time will come," Favre said of his advice for Jordan.

As for Rodgers' feelings on the pick now ... Brett says he believes No. 12 has no problems with Love, but is still kind of peeved the team didn't use the selection on a player who could help right away.

"My discussions with Aaron," Favre said, "I never got the sense that he was upset that they had signed a quarterback but more so didn't get immediate help. And, it just sends the wrong message."

Pretty cool emotional moment from two Green Bay Packers legends ...

Long story short, we were talking with LeRoy Butler about race issues in the NFL when he brought up Brett Favre as an example of a perfect teammate.

So, we played the video for Brett ... and man, it got misty real quick!

"He was the best teammate, in my opinion, ever and probably in all of sports because nothing bothered him -- especially not color, especially not a guy's religion or sexuality or anything like that," Butler said.

"We had a teammate, Esera Tuaolo (who is openly gay) ... we love Esera. It didn't matter what you were, we just saw one color and that was Green and Gold."

"That's pretty much Brett Favre and that's the reason why this state pretty much and all his teammates love him."

Of course, ya gotta see Brett's reaction to the whole thing -- it's clear Butler's words meant a lot.

"I love my teammates," Favre said ... "I didn't see color."

"I loved LeRoy. We had something special here. We had the chemistry and it wasn't about black and white. We laughed, we had fun together, we fought together, we cried together, we lost together. Obviously ... won a Super Bowl together."

"He's telling the truth. I would have done anything for my teammates."

Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Montravius Adams was arrested in Georgia this week after cops say they found weed in his car during a traffic stop.

LESS THAN AN OUNCE.

Yep, the 24-year-old -- a 3rd-round pick out of Auburn in 2017 -- was initially pulled over Tuesday around 6 PM when cops say he was driving around with suspended registration.

During the stop, the officer smelled weed and searched the vehicle -- turning up less than an ounce, according to the police report.

Adams was arrested and booked into the Houston County Jail for possession of marijuana, driving without insurance and driving with a suspended registration.

Adams posted $2,900 bond and was released after about 2 hours in custody.

"The Packers are aware of the matter involving Montravius Adams," the team said in a statement ... "We will refrain from making any further comment as it is an ongoing legal matter."