Might be a protection issue,” Gruden said. “We’re just not quite in full sync right now at this time.”Things looked rather bleak for the Redskins after a 43-19 loss to the New Orleans Saints dropped Gruden’s clu

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has broken his silence. In a major way.Appearing on radio with Jason Wilde and Mark Tauscher of ESPN Milwaukee Ryquell Armstead Jersey , Rodgers decried last week’s exhaustive article from Tyler Dunne of BleacherReport.com as a “smear attack.”Here’s the full money quote, from Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com: “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.”Rodgers specifically addressed two specific aspects of Dunne’s report, including one that as of Friday afternoon was destined to be handled by Rodgers.“The two main things I think I really want to talk about and just clear up, which are really central themes to the article, the first is the [Packers CEO] Mark Murphy conversation because part of the article seems to want to say the Packers are worried about me as the leader of the football team moving forward,” Rodgers said. “And before I get into what actually happened in the conversation with Mark, I want to say two things: One, if they knew that, why would they offer me a contract last year? And two, which goes into my second central thesis point that I’m going to take down, is if I really disliked Mike [McCarthy] so much, why would I re-sign knowing that if I play and we do what we do around here — we made the playoffs eight straight years and then I got hurt and we missed the playoffs — it’s going to be me and Mike my entire career. So if I really disliked him that much, do you think I’d re-sign. Is the money that important to me? I’ll tell you it’s not. Quality of life is important.”Via Tom Pelissero of NFL Media, Rodgers said that the report that Murphy told Rodgers “don’t be the problem” is “ridiculous” and “100 percent false.”As to Rodgers’ reported rift with former Packers coach Mike McCarthy, the quarterback admitted that they “had issues,” but he said that those issues always got resolved and he denied a grudge dating back to the 2005 draft, when McCarthy and the 49ers passed on Rodgers. Rodgers also made a plea for positive treatment of McCarthy in the community.“I think we need to honor Mike and respect him the right way Gardner Minshew II Jersey ,” Rodgers said, via Demovsky. “We had a hell of a run. We had 13 years, four NFC championships, one Super Bowl, eight straight playoffs, 19 straight wins. . . . So, instead of trashing this guy on the way out, let’s remember the amazing times that we had together. Packer fans, remember this, especially those of you who live in Green Bay: Mike 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 Christian Wilkins Jersey , if you see him, do him that favor and show him the respect that he deserves.”Rodgers expressed regret for publicly complaining about the team’s offense after a lackluster win over the Bills.“I wish I hadn’t said anything after the Bills game last year,” Rodger said, via Demovsky. “I wish I had just gotten with him in person. I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful to him but I know how it came off. That’s what I told him when I met with him face to face.”Rodgers opted to address these issues not via the shotgun feeding frenzy of a press conference or locker-room scrum, but in a radio interview that was conducive to a more reasoned and deliberate conversation, with Rodgers able to address all items that he wanted to cover. While that doesn’t mean the issues won’t be rehashed if/when Rodgers meets with reporters during the first week of the team’s offense program, much of the ground already has been covered. WASHINGTON (AP) — Yes, the Washington Redskins are 5-2 for the first time in a decade.And now, forget that the when they started that well in 2008, they ended up 8-8.Yes, they’re 5-1 against the NFC for the first time since 2005.Yes, they’re leading their division on the strength of a three-game winning streak.And, looking ahead, yes, they have an enviable schedule, with only one remaining foe currently holding a record above .500. Next weekend’s opponent, Atlanta , is 3-4.There is still a long way to go Michael Deiter Jersey , though, for a team that scores very little and passes rather poorly, getting by thanks to a terrific run defense and a strong rushing offense led by 33-year-old Adrian Peterson. That formula worked yet again Sunday in a 20-13 victory against the can’t-do-anything-right New York Giants. How sustainable is that approach?“We feel good,” said Peterson, who gained 149 yards on the ground with a TD and caught a 7-yard scoring pass from Alex Smith, “but we can’t get too excited.”Coach Jay Gruden acknowledges there is a plenty of room for improvement with Smith, acquired in an offseason trade with the Kansas City Chiefs to replace Kirk Cousins and signed to a $94 million, four-year contract.Smith hasn’t thrown for more than 178 yards in any of the past three games. His completion percentage has been 60 or worse in four of the last five. His season passer rating of 91.3 ranks only 22nd among QBs with at least 100 attempts.“We’re close. We missed some opportunities, of course. But we’re going to get there. Just a matter of (what) might be a missed throw here or there. Might be a poor route, maybe. Might be a protection issue,” Gruden said. “We’re just not quite in full sync right now at this time.”Things looked rather bleak for the Redskins after a 43-19 loss to the New Orleans Saints dropped Gruden’s club to 2-2.Look where they are now.“I knew it was going to take some time, but finally we’re starting to get over that hump and starting to get over that hill,” cornerback Josh Norman said. “We’re just riding our tricycles down it.”Notes: LT Trent Williams dislocated his right thumb against the Giants and the Redskins will try to figure out a way to allow him to move the thumb with a cast on. … S Troy Apke reinjured his hamstring and was put on injured reserve. Washington signed LB Cassanova McKinzy to their active roster from their practice squad and added DB Jason Thompson to the practice squad. … Other injuries: RB Chris Thompson (rib), RB Kapri Bibbs (shoulder), LB Ryan Anderson (knee).