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Aaron Rodgers Speaks Out on Rumors Regarding Sexuality

Mike Chiari@mikechiariFeatured ColumnistJanuary 1, 2014

Leon Halip/Getty Images

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a lot on his plate as he prepares to face the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the NFL playoffs on Jan. 5, but the former NFL and Super Bowl MVP still took some time out to address the rumors that have been swirling regarding his sexuality.

According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com, Rodgers talked about the "crazy" and "silly" rumors that are out there on his weekly ESPN Milwaukee radio show.

When asked by host Jason Wilde if Rodgers was aware of rumors that he is gay, the All-Pro quarterback said that he had heard the gossip, but shot it down emphatically.

"Yeah, I’m just going to say I’m not gay. I really, really like women. That’s all I can say about that," Rodgers said.

Rodgers then went on to say that it's important to ignore such rumors in order to excel on the football field, per Demovsky.

Well, I mean there’s always going to be silly stuff out there in the media that you can’t worry too much about, and I don’t. We just keep on trucking, and I like the way my … I think there should be professional is professional and personal is personal, and that’s just how I’m going to keep it.

Rodgers' comments can be heard here courtesy of USA Today's Mike Foss:

With homosexuality becoming more accepted in sports, it should come as no surprise that it is such a hot-button topic. At the same time, it is ridiculous that Rodgers has to address these types of rumors on the heels of his return from a two-month injury and just days before the Packers' playoff game at Lambeau Field.

Rodgers has much more pressing issues on his mind right now. He needs to figure out how to solve a 49ers team that ousted the Packers from the playoffs last season and beat them in Week 1 in 2013. Instead, he has been forced into talking about rumors that are, by all accounts, unfounded.

Ultimately, Rodgers' sexual orientation shouldn't matter regardless of what it is. He is paid good money to perform on the field, and that is what he does better than almost anyone else.

Rodgers didn't miss a beat when he returned to action in Week 17 by leading Green Bay to a road victory over the rival Chicago Bears. He threw for 318 yards and two touchdowns as the Packers clinched the NFC North and a playoff berth.

As Ian Rapoport of NFL Network pointed out, the Packers are now a team to be reckoned with due to the fact that Rodgers is back in the fold.

Rodgers is a professional who will almost certainly be able to focus on the task at hand, but it has to be difficult with his personal life being called into question at every turn.

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