Aaron Rodgers has blasted ‘tight’ NFL owners for not caring about player welfare or fully buying into the league’s international ambitions as he lifted the lid on talks over playing a full week of games overseas.
The veteran quarterback and his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates were the latest team to play overseas on Sunday when they beat the New Orleans Saints in Paris in what was the NFL’s first-ever game in France.
The slate of international games continue to increase each season and this year a record nine games are being played outside of America. Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro and London have hosted games with Madrid, Munich and Mexico City to come.
But the outspoken Rodgers alluded to an NFL plan that was once discussed between league officials and the NFL Players Association to play a full week of games across the globe.
‘There was talk about doing a week – an international week – where you had games in 16 different places and you just added an extra bye week,’ Rodgers said after Sunday’s win.
‘So you play 16 regular-season [weeks], you have two bye weeks – one of those weeks would’ve been an international week.’
Aaron Rodgers blasted ‘tight’ NFL owners as he addressed the league’s international efforts
Rodgers and the Steelers beat the Saints in Paris on Sunday in the NFL’s first game in France
He continued: ‘I think it would’ve been phenomenal for the game. Now, the owners wanted to push for 17 games for the extra revenue and because they care so much about player safety, but it would’ve been nice.’
As well as the traditional overseas markets targeted by the NFL in recent years, such as the UK, Germany and Brazil, Rodgers suggested other potential locations including the United Arab Emirates and another South American country.
‘I think there’s great opportunities for expansion and those things,’ he continued. ‘It’d be awesome to see them have an international week, because I think it’s great for the game and the expansion of the game.’
But the four-time NFL MVP couldn’t resist a dig at owners around the league, adding it would involve more resources to make it work.
‘I wish there was a mandate, though, from the league,’ Rodgers said. ‘They would have to open up their pocketbooks, too, which – you know, maybe they’re a little tight on money and stuff.
‘I think they should mandate every team coming over Sunday or Monday to really enjoy the culture of the place you’re going. You can do events in those cities and outreach stuff and community work, but they won’t because they’re a little tight.’
It comes after the Steelers and Saints played in Paris on Sunday, even as violence and chaos continued in protests across the country.
Roger Goodell and his fellow NFL execs had been urged to cancel or move the game but they opted to plow on with the league’s first ever game on French soil.
Rodgers hinted there has been talks over the potential of playing a full week of overseas games
Rodgers showed off his speed with a fourth-quarter scramble to seal victory for Pittsburgh
In a statement released earlier in the week, the league said: ‘We continue to work closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters. We are also providing the two clubs with regular updates. There’s been no disruption or impact at league sites.’
In the wake of that decision to ignore the violence and continue on, more clashes erupted across France at the weekend, with more than 400,000 people attending rallies over school funding and soaring living costs.
The government confirmed on Saturday night that nearly 1,000 people had been arrested across the country, with wild images showing fires raging on the streets and police spraying water cannons at protestors.
On the field, Rodgers rolled back the years as he scrambled on a key fourth-quarter play to seal victory over the Saints.
The 42-year-old left the pocket on third-and-6 and picked up eight yards before being tackled just before the two-minute warning to help Pittsburgh seal a 16-10 victory.
‘Sometimes you’ve got to suck it up and make a play for your guys,’ Rodgers said. ‘I think because I am so much less athletic than I used to be, it actually fires up the guys even more.’
Rodgers threw a touchdown pass – the 540th of his career, moving past Peyton Manning for third in NFL history – and Chris Boswell kicked three field goals at Stade de France.
Jaylen Warren rushed for 101 yards on 18 carries and Rodgers completed 19 of 30 passes for 212 yards as the Steelers won their third straight game and moved to 5-2.
