FOR PACKERS RECEIVERS, TRUST LEADS TO SUCCESS Bill Huber
For Aaron Rodgers and his receivers, it’s always been about trust. “Like we’ve always said with young receivers, you’ve got to put yourself in position to get reps with me, and you do that by being very sound on your assignment and making some plays,” Rodgers said during training camp in 2018. “That’s how you get a chance to get out there and make some plays [with me].” Some guys have that trust. Through years of on-the-field reps and a close off-the-field bond, Jordy Nelson had it. Eventually, Davante Adams earned that trust in succeeding Nelson as the team’s No. 1 receiver. That trust showed up in a 2017 victory at Dallas. After just missing Adams in the waning moments of the game, Rodgers went right back to him for the winning touchdown.
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“Anytime you can gain the trust of somebody of that stature and what he’s done in this league, for him to speak of me like that, it just shows that my attention to detail, my want to just to get better every day, it’s paying off,” Adams said. “It’s just really gratifying when you put so much effort into something, and a guy like Aaron sees it and takes note of it—and not just takes note of it and tells you, ‘Hey, I’m proud of you for doing that,’ but he actually will throw you a ball in a situation like that. Because that’s when the trust shows.” Allen Lazard gained that trust in training camp last summer. While he didn’t make the opening roster, he went from the practice squad to the team’s second-best receiver in short order.
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