Davante Adams says he proved his greatness without Aaron Rodgers

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Davant Adams He earned his third consecutive All-Pro team nod last season, but the star Las Vegas Raiders The wide receiver recently revealed that this latest award meant more to him than any other — because he received it without precedent Green Bay Packers colleague Aaron Rodgers.

“For this [last] The season means a lot. Adams told The Ringer In a newly published interview. “Even if I go and play like dogs next year, they can’t say that. Because now I’ve already proven it over the course of the season, and I’ve played every game. … You can just write: I didn’t need Aaron Rodgers.”

Adams made it clear that while he still respects Rodgers, much of his motivation in 2022 — after he was traded from Green Bay to Las Vegas earlier — was to dispel the narrative that the only reason he became a wide star with the Packers was because he played alongside Along with a future Hall of Fame quarterback.

According to Ringer, Adams never felt he got the respect he deserved in the shadow of Rodgers, who won the NFL MVP award in 2020 and 2021 — the same years Adams earned his first of two first-team All-Pro honors.

In early 2022, Adams requested a trade from the Packers and was dealt to the Raiders, reuniting with his college teammate and old friend. Derek Carr. While Adams remained a star at the position—100 receptions, 1,516 receiving yards and a league-leading 14 touchdowns—the Raiders stumbled to a 6-11 record and controversially sent Carr home before the end of the season.

Ironically, the Raiders’ struggles only served to further prove Adams, as he proved he could excel away from a team without the stable quarterback status, let alone the generational talent for the position.

Now people can’t say that [I can’t succeed without Rodgers],” Adams told Ringer. It will never be this novel again. Quarterback doesn’t make me. … I make me. And I can do it consistently at that level.”

The invaders depend on it. The team eventually released Carr, who went on to sign with New Orleans SaintsAnd I signed Jimmy Garoppolo As his replacement, the former reunite Patriot With Coach Josh McDaniels, New England’s longtime offensive coordinator. Las Vegas also traded a tight end to the Stars Darren Waller to New York Giantsis supposed to increase the burden that Adams will bear in the team’s offense next season.

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