Rodgers denies hostility with McCarthy, calls report a 'smear attack'

Aaron Rodgers is speaking out about a report last week of his ego causing a clash between him and former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, ultimately leading to the coach's 2018 mid-season firing.

The Packers quarterback described the Bleacher Report story as a "smear attack" from a writer and "bitter" players conjured up while attempting to advance their careers.

"I love Mike McCarthy," Rodgers said on ESPN Milwaukee radio on Monday, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "He's a great man. He's got a huge heart. He really cares about his players, and he showed that to us. ... As far as a player to a coach, it's just two Alpha males who are hyper-competitive and love winning and are both a little stubborn. But, again, we talked through so many different issues over the years and that made us a lot stronger."

The 35-year-old said he was sometimes frustrated with McCarthy, but added that it never affected the team.

"The beauty in our on-the-field relationship was that there was a ton of trust," Rodgers said. "When I read stuff like, 'I'd disrespect him by changing all these plays,' I had a lot of latitude. He knew that and I knew that. I called the two-minute, I'd call stretches of no-huddle offense. ... A lot of times, he'd send two plays in. 'Hey, do you like this or that?' That's what it grew."

The organization parted with McCarthy following a Week 13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 with the team sporting a 4-7-1 record.

The former head coach said last week the firing "stunned" him and that it "couldn't have been handled any worse."

Rodgers hopes McCarthy's legacy in Green Bay remains intact and that he's honored the "right way."

"We had a hell of a run," Rodgers said. "We had 13 years, four NFC championships, one Super Bowl, eight straight playoffs, 19 straight wins. So, instead of trashing this guy on the way out, let's remember the amazing times that we had together.

"Packer fans, remember this, especially those of you who live in Green Bay: Mike lives here. Mike has young kids here. So Mike has to be here. Think about how difficult it is for him. My favor that I would ask of you, strongly, is if you see Mike, shake his hand. Tell him thanks for the memories."