Rodgers praises new HC LaFleur: 'I feel great about the communication'

After an apparently rocky relationship with former head coach Mike McCarthy, Aaron Rodgers is encouraged by new boss Matt LaFleur's communication skills.

The Green Bay Packers quarterback admitted their on-field connection will require time to develop but appeared pleased with LaFleur's ability to both listen to and lead his team.

"What I can say is that him and I are friends," Rodgers said after practice Thursday, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "I think that's the first part of the relationship. The on-the-field relationship is one that grows over time. He hasn't called a play in to me in a game situation yet, so there's a process of feeling comfortable with the way the play comes in and him trusting me and me trusting him.

"But I feel great about the communication. He's in every meeting. We spend time one-on-one talking about stuff. He's the main voice in the offensive room but he really appreciates open conversation and ideas and creativity. It's been a great relationship, a great start to it, and I look forward to that growing and getting into that rhythm with him as a play-caller."

LaFleur replaced McCarthy after the latter spent 13 seasons in charge in Green Bay, and the former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator isn't taking his relationship with his star quarterback lightly.

"The one thing I'll say to that is with the quarterback position, you're talking about - in my opinion - it's the toughest position in all of sports," the 39-year-old said. "And the last thing that we ever want to do is send a quarterback out there who is uncomfortable with what we're doing.

"Like I said, we're making this the Packers' offense. So, you know, it is a little bit of a work in progress as we go through and try to find out what exactly our guys do well and make sure we showcase that."

After eight straight trips to the postseason, Green Bay has finished third in the NFC North and missed the playoffs in each of the last two campaigns.