Rodgers: Leak of Luck's retirement, crowd reaction was 'disgusting'
Aaron Rodgers is disappointed by the way Andrew Luck's retirement played out.
In a Monday interview with Mad Dog Sports Radio, the Green Bay Packers quarterback criticized the Indianapolis Colts crowd for booing Luck as he left the field Saturday and the manner in which the story was leaked.
"Surprise was obviously the first emotion. He's a young player. He's had a really, really good career," Rodgers said of his reaction to Luck's retirement. "But I think the second is a little disgust, maybe, at the way that it was handled. Him getting booed, the word leaking out the way that it did, I thought that was a little disgusting because here's a guy who's making a quality-of-life decision.
"And he's given a lot to the game. ... He's not a 15-year vet, but he's put himself through a ton just to get back on the field when you think (of) the injuries he's had over the last three or four years."
While Luck stood on the sidelines of Indianapolis' home preseason game Saturday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the quarterback had told the Colts he was retiring and planned to formally announce it with a press conference Sunday. Luck was then booed by the crowd as he left the field.
Luck confirmed the report postgame and described retiring as "the hardest decision of my life."
The 29-year-old spent much of the summer dealing with a lingering calf injury that had recently turned into a high-ankle issue. He said that injuries had robbed him of his love for the game, and he didn't want to continue playing if he didn't feel capable of fully committing himself.
Rodgers said Luck should be "championed and appreciated" for deciding to stand aside instead of potentially going on injured reserve and retaining his salary.
"I think what he did was actually very unselfish," Rodgers said. "Does he not start the season? He could be on IR, and then he's cashing a paycheck from the Colts without playing.
"But instead he's making the decision now so they can move forward with Jacoby (Brissett), and he's making a decision that's for his own quality of life and happiness, and I salute him for that. And I enjoyed competing against him. He's a hell of a player, and I'm happy for whatever is next with Andrew."
- With h/t to Sports Illustrated