The day before Aaron Rodgers and Bryson DeChambeau’s match against Tom Brady and Phil Mickelson in the Fourth Edition of “The Match,” Rodgers took the time to talk about mental health, his take on mental health and his impact on its offseason.

In Recording published by ESPN from the conversation, that was the full quote on the topic:

“This offseason, I spent a lot of time working on myself. I think for a long time mental health was just an “okay topic” to bring up if you are talking about episodes of depression, suicide, as important topics related to mental health. There has been a strange stigma about it. I think there have been athletes who have talked about these things and got the support they deserve, but there isn’t a lot of talk around the idea of ​​having a very bad mental health condition. positive. I think there are a lot of things – which I have learned – that I have focused on the offseason on how to take care of myself. The total package, not just my physical self, the workouts, but my spiritual self with my own mindfulness practices. My sanity too. What’s the best way to deal with it? And that’s what I did this offseason. This is why I took the time that I took and did the right things or not the things that I did and I am very grateful for that time.

Ben Baby, who typically covers the Cincinnati Bengals for ESPN, noted another quote on the topic that was not included in the ESPN released recording of the interaction:

“I haven’t dealt with episodes of depression or anything, which I think for some reason it’s okay to talk about if you’re talking about mental health. I just really tried to think about what puts me in the best frame of mind. What habits can I adopt to feel the most in my body, the most present, the happiest? And that’s what I did.

How it all fits against the backdrop of Rodgers’ active resistance in Green Bay and wearing an “I’m offended” shirt at another press conference for The Match is as good as anyone guesses, but Rodgers wants the world to know he is working on himself as everyone wonders which NFL team he will quarterback in 2021, if he plays football this season.

If you or someone you know has a mental health problem, you can call the Addiction and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-622-AIDE (4357). SAMHSA is defined as a free and confidential guidance and information service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental disorders and / or related to substance use.