(The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Vikings LB Anthony Barr fires back at Packers' Aaron Rodgers about Oct. 15 hit
The linebacker acknowledged firing back at Rodgers, but he said the quarterback was the one who started the exchange.
October 28, 2017 at 7:32PM
LONDON — The Vikings will play their second game on Sunday since Anthony Barr's hit that broke Aaron Rodgers' right collarbone, while the Packers take their bye week on Sunday. The feud between the Vikings linebacker and the Packers quarterback, though, doesn't seem to be going away.
During an appearance on Conan O'Brien this week, Rodgers said his irate response after the hit (which was captured during Fox's broadcast of the game) was in response to Barr giving him the middle finger and making a lewd gesture toward the quarterback. On Saturday night, Barr posted a message on Twitter disputing Rodgers' account somewhat. He acknowledged firing back at Rodgers, but said the quarterback was the one who started the exchange.
"Smh this guy got y'all fooled man," Barr wrote. "After the play, I go back to the huddle, don't even look or say a word to him. Once he gets up, I'm waiting for the play call, and hear someone shouting all kinds of profanities. I look over and it's y'all mans calling me all kinds of names, F you this, F you that as he's walking off the field. So naturally, I responded. I don't care if you Aaron Rodgers or Mr. Rodgers, if you say something like that you're gonna get a response from me. I could go on a talk show every weekend and complain about the "disrespectful" things players say or do. If he takes the lick and keeps it pushing we aren't STILL talking about this. Get over it. #13dayslater"
TV cameras only showed Rodgers' response, obviously without sound of the exchange, so it seems we're destined to go around matching one account of the story against another. It remains to be seen if Rodgers can return this season, after having screws put in his collarbone during an operation following the hit, but ESPN's Adam Schefter reported earlier this month the Packers are holding out hope Rodgers can be back by Week 15.
That timetable would mean Rodgers' first game at Lambeau Field would be against the Vikings in Week 16. If he's somehow back on the field by then, the Rodgers-Barr storyline figures to be mentioned once or twice.
Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.
