AARON RODGERS IS STILL QUARTERBACK.

Some of his more vocal detractors are long gone from the Packers. “This was a smear attack by a writer looking to advanced his career talking with mostly irrelevant, bitter players who all have an agenda whether they’re advancing their own careers or just trying to stir old stuff up.”

A Milwaukee radio interview of presidential import gave the quarterback an opportunity to sound like the voice of reason.

Packer fans, remember this, especially those of you who live in Green Bay: [former coach] Mike [McCarthy] 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. Tell him thanks for the coaching job that he did. Tell him how much you appreciate him being a part of what we built here. Things change from ‘06 to ‘18. We came off of a bad season in ‘05 and we built something special and had sustained success, so instead of trashing this guy on the way out — last year was tough, no doubt about it — but let’s honor him and his legacy as the second-winningest coach in Packers history. If you see him, please, just show him the respect that he deserves. Not only does he have to live in Green Bay, he wants to. He loves it here. He’s going to be here. So, if you see him, do him that favor and show him the respect that he deserves.

The Packers recently completed their first set of organized team activities not including practice (a pox on the process-worshippers) and the transition to the new coach and the free agency and upcoming player draft activities are likely to be overshadowed, but not eclipsed, by the Milwaukee Bucks in the playoffs and the Milwaukee Brewers attempting to secure more wins in hand against division rivals.

For the Packers, the standard is still five championships in six championship games in eight seasons.