Week 4 began with Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and coach Mike McCarthy exchanging unpleasantries for all the world to see, and hear.
Rodgers looked to McCarthy while waiting for a play call. A Prime Video microphone captured Rodgers angrily yelling, “What the fuck? Call it!”
McCarthy was then seen mouthing his response: “Fucking asshole.”
After the game, McCarthy was asked about the interaction; Rodgers was not. On Monday, the situation came up multiple times again during a McCarthy press conference in advance of the Week 5 game against the Colts.
“I wouldn’t classify it as normal,” McCarthy said of the interaction, “but I think the reality of it is, you know, it’s a 20-year relationship. I think the fact that we were able to sit and talk numerous times, you know, over the weekend, about that and a number of things.
“As I stated, I’m — hopefully, not to put any pressure on my daughter — I’m getting to grandfather age. You know, I don’t want to be saying those type of words. But it’s an emotional, competitive environment. I think it’s something that we can definitely learn from.”
McCarthy also was asked whether the game broadcasts have become too intrusive.
“Your question’s about 15 years too late,” McCarthy said.
Earlier in the press conference, McCarthy said he had told the team on Thursday morning that it would be important to play the Browns with “more emotion.”
He wanted it, and he got it.
“With that comes the discipline of it,” McCarthy said. “So I think those are opportunities for growth. But I’d much rather have too much energy than not enough.”
Amen to that. It’s always easier to try to control enthusiasm than to create it when it’s not there. On Thursday night, however, it became a little too unbridled.
Come Wednesday, Rodgers will have a chance to respond. Unless he decides to call McAfee’s show on Tuesday and air any grievances he may have about the incident, how it was covered by the media, and anything else he chooses to publicly gripe about.