Packers star Kenny Clark says Green Bay is embracing the disrespect

The Green Bay Packers were boosted and bolstered by Aaron Rodgers for 18 seasons. A four-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion, Rodgers was undoubtedly the reason most gave the Packers a chance to be contenders year after year.

That's all gone now that the Packers traded Rodgers to the New York Jets and the usual optimism surrounding Green Bay every offseason has gone off to New York with him. New quarterback Jordan Love could be great. Statistically speaking, though, the chances Green Bay trots out back-to-back-to-back Hall of Fame quarterbacks (Brett Favre to Rodgers to Love) is low.

That's the main reason people seem to be "down" on the Packers heading into 2023, but it sounds like that's not a big problem for the team. In fact, star defensive tackle Kenny Clark recently said on the Zach Gelb show that the Packers are embracing the disrespect they're facing sans, Rodgers.

"One hundred percent, but that's cool," Clark said (h/t CBS Sports). "I like it that way. This has been one of the first offseasons where we ain't really been getting the credit, getting the love. Everybody says Aaron determines whether we win or lose, so we love it. We're going to embrace it. When it comes to Week 1, when the season gets here, we'll see how everything stacks up. We're excited about it."

It's worth noting that the Packers still do have a talented team. The defense has been pumped full of first-round picks over the past few seasons and the offense has some potential young stars in wide receivers Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. That's not to mention rookie tight end Luke Musgrave, who apparently looks like the real deal, or veteran offensive stars in running back Aaron Jones and offensive tackles David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins.

The Packers existed and thrived before Rodgers and if history is any indication, they'll be just fine after him as well.