Packers, Bears find it hard to muster hatred

Associated Press

GREEN BAY, Wis.

Even if Aaron Rodgers wanted to muster up some genuine hatred for the Chicago Bears this week, Jay Cutler has made it awfully difficult to do so.

When Rodgers’ little brother, Jordan, was thinking about going to Vanderbilt to play football, Rodgers called on Cutler for advice. Cutler, who played at Vanderbilt, was more than happy to help the younger Rodgers make his decision and then get settled on campus.

“Definitely as a big brother, you thank Jay for that and appreciate his role in helping my little brother feel comfortable out there,” Rodgers said Wednesday.

Talk of brotherly love between Bears and Packers, just days before the two franchises involved in the NFL’s most historic rivalry play for ultimate bragging rights in Sunday’s NFC championship game at Soldier Field?

To paraphrase Vince Lombardi, what the heck is going on here?

There was a time not too long ago that Bears and Packers players genuinely disliked each other. Games between the teams have been especially rough, even as recently as the 1980s.

Those feelings haven’t really faded between the two fan bases. But those fans might be disappointed to hear that today’s Bears and Packers — gasp! — genuinely seem to like and respect each other.

So when Rodgers and Cutler both advanced in the playoffs last weekend, the two quarterbacks text-messaged each other.

“He said, ‘Good game, see you in Chicago,”’ Cutler said. “I said, ‘All right. See you in a week.’ He’s playing well. He’s a good quarterback.”

In addition to appreciating the guidance Cutler gave his little brother, Rodgers works out in the offseason with Chicago cornerback Charles Tillman and has gotten to know other Bears players such as Tommie Harris, Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs at offseason events.

There probably won’t be any texting between Rodgers and his Bears buddies this week, though.

“Jay and I are buddies, but we’re not going to text this week,” Rodgers said. “Charles and I are not going to probably talk this week. But there’s a respect level, I think, when you’re on the field.”

Cutler agreed to the no-texting pact, saying “cutoff was Sunday night.”

Lovie Smith might have gone out of his way to emphasize the rivalry when he took over as Bears coach, but said he did so out of respect.

“There was never any hatred toward the Packers,” Smith said. “They were the team that seemed like they were winning most of the time back then. Seems like they have always been around. You can say the same thing about the Bears.”