RODGERS RETAINS THE BELT
QB concedes he gave Adams ‘gift’ with INT but shrugs off attempt at mocking him
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has gotten used to opponents mocking his “championship belt” celebration gesture.
The latest was Seahawks safety Jamal Adams, who performed the gesture after he intercepted a pass by Rodgers in the third quarter Sunday. The problem is the Packers still shut the Seahawks out, winning 17-0.
“I didn’t see him do it, but there hasn’t been a lot of positive things that come from guys doing it over the years,” Rodgers said Tuesday on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “The boys can put together some mockups for some of those things, but there hasn’t been a lot of positives that have come away from guys mocking the belt over the years. That [interception] was a gift that I threw him late in the game, an absolute early Christmas present on that one, a bad decision. I obviously didn’t throw it anywhere near where I wanted to throw it.”
The play happened late in the quarter, with the Packers in the red zone and holding a three-point lead. Rodgers took a snap on third-and-six and avoided pressure until he was hit as he threw a desperation pass into the end zone. The ball fell right to Adams.
“Look, there have been some guys who have made some good picks over the years — a good play on the ball, or baiting me,” Rodgers said. “There hasn’t been a ton of guys, but those I really respect. And most of those guys, I tell them after the game, I say, ‘Hey, man, good play.’ I got respect for that. And I respect Jamal. He’s a hell of a player. But that wasn’t necessarily the most difficult one. I kind of threw it right to him.”
Rodgers typically does the celebration gesture after he makes big plays — especially rushes that result in touchdowns — bringing his hands to his waist and mimicking what someone might do if they were wearing a title belt in boxing or wrestling. He made the celebration mainstream when he did it in commercials for State Farm.
Rodgers returned Sunday against the Seahawks after missing the Packers’ previous game — a loss to the Chiefs — because of a positive test for the coronavirus on Nov. 3. Because he’s unvaccinated, Rodgers was forced to isolate for 10 days. Since he was asymptomatic after the completion of that period, he was able to play Sunday, despite being cleared by doctors only a day earlier.
Rodgers still appeared on the injury report with a toe issue he said he sustained during his time at home in isolation.
“Yeah, that was a COVID injury,” he said, though he declined to share exactly how it happened. “It’s a little painful, but I think I’ll be OK. I was able to run around a bit on the field on Sunday.”
Rodgers and the Packers (8-2) face the Vikings (4-5) this Sunday in a battle of NFC North rivals.