Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Greg Jennings has insisted that he respects former side the Green Bay Packers despite criticising them during the summer.
Jennings spent seven seasons with the Packers before joining the Vikings on a five-year deal in March of this year, but his switch was soured by comments he made after the move as he criticised quarterback Aaron Rodgers and claimed that the organisation brainwashed players.
However, two-time Pro Bowler insists that he didn't mean his comments to be taken seriously and stressed the respect that he still has for the team.
"I probably took it a little too far. No, I was happy there. Obviously there's things that go on throughout life that you wish would be different. But it is what it is. You have to roll with the punches. Obviously, on my end of it, I feel like there were a lot of things that were kind of manipulated to appear a lot worse than what I was intending for them to be. That's just, as a player, you have to watch what you say, so you learn and you grow," Jennings is quoted as saying by ESPN.
"That's behind me, but at the same time I have the utmost respect for that organisation. I was just really razzing a little bit with Aaron, just knowing how he is and just going back and forth with some of the guys. It wasn't meant to hurt anyone's feelings.
"It was just really messing around initially, and then everyone kind of blew it a little bit out of proportion. I have the most respect for that organization. I had my most successful years there, and I still have relations with some of the guys over there and still have the respect that I had when I was playing there with them. I still have respect for them."
Jennings will come up against his former side when the Vikings face the Packers at home on Sunday.
Barney Corkhill
