Alex Smith: Aaron Rodgers Deserves 'Certain Level of Respect' from Packers

Retired NFL quarterback Alex Smith backed fellow 2005 NFL draft class member Aaron Rodgers in his rift with the Green Bay Packers on Friday.

Speaking to Jori Epstein of USA Today, Smith said: "Clearly it's not an ideal situation and not what it should be. I think he's due a certain level of communication and certain level of respect beyond the average player. And I don't think that’s asking a whole lot just to communicate. Clearly that didn't happen over the last couple years."

Rodgers has spent his entire 16-year NFL career with the Packers, but ESPN's Adam Schefter reported in April that Rodgers told some within the organization that he no longer wanted to play in Green Bay.

The three-time NFL MVP subsequently didn't report to mandatory minicamp, and it is unclear if he will be present for training camp.

Rodgers has never given a specific reason publicly for why he is disenchanted with the Packers, but he did address the situation last month during an appearance on SportsCenter.

According to ESPN's Rob Demovsky, Rodgers dismissed the idea that Green Bay taking quarterback Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft is the reason for his unhappiness, saying:

"With my situation, look it's never been about the draft pick, picking Jordan. I love Jordan; he's a great kid. [We've had] a lot of fun to work together. Love the coaching staff, love my teammates, love the fanbase in Green Bay. An incredible 16 years. It's just kind of about a philosophy and maybe forgetting that it is about the people that make the thing go. It's about character, it's about culture, it's about doing things the right way."

As Smith suggested, Rodgers' answer made it sound like a lack of communication played a role in the issues between the two sides.

In his interview with USA Today, Smith expressed hope that Rodgers and the Packers can get on the same page: "The way people have been treated, he's come out and said as much. So I think that's important in any business—not just football, but in any business and especially team sport, it's important how you treat people. Really, I think it hasn't been ideal there. Hopefully they can get it figured out."

Rodgers has enjoyed a great deal of success during his time in Green Bay, carving out a Hall of Fame career that consists of nine Pro Bowl nods, three First-Team All-Pro selections, three NFL MVP awards, one Super Bowl win and one Super Bowl MVP award.

Last season, the 37-year-old enjoyed one of his best statistical campaigns to date, completing 70.7 percent of his passes for 4,299 yards, 48 touchdowns and just five interceptions en route to being named MVP.

Rodgers has led the Packers to a 13-3 record and the NFC Championship Game in each of the past two seasons as well, and losing him would perhaps take them from the precipice of the Super Bowl to struggling to make the playoffs.

Smith and Rodgers have a special connection, as the San Francisco 49ers took Smith with the No. 1 overall pick in 2005, leading to Rodgers experiencing a precipitous fall that didn't end until the Packers took him 24th overall.

Rodgers has seemingly had a chip on his shoulder throughout his career because of how far he dropped in the draft, and he had to overcome plenty once making it to the NFL, including waiting his turn for three years behind Hall of Famer Brett Favre.

There is no question that Rodgers has shown great resiliency in getting to this point of his career, and Smith clearly believes he deserves better treatment than what the Packers have provided him with lately.