GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Aaron Rodgers used the same word to defend Mike McCarthy that his coach used last month in response to mounting criticism of the Green Bay Packers quarterback.
"I think it's ridiculous," Rodgers said Wednesday when asked about the scrutiny on McCarthy.
At 4-5 and on a three-game losing streak, McCarthy has come under criticism for his failure to get the Packers out of their tailspin in a year when many tabbed them among the Super Bowl favorites.
"I think people don't understand how difficult it is to win in this league and win consistently," Rodgers said. "The success that we've had here, it's tough to do. We've set the standard pretty high.
"But I wouldn't listen to some of those people out there. I mean, they're not in this locker room, they're not in the meeting rooms, they're not in the practice environments. They don't know what's going on, they don't know the type of work ethic that we have here and that Mike has here."
McCarthy reacted strongly on Monday, when he defended his 11-year run as the Packers coach.
McCarthy, who has a 108-60-1 record, has led the Packers to the playoffs each of the last seven seasons, including one Super Bowl title. The Patriots are the only other team that also has made the playoffs each of the last seven years.
Last month, when Rodgers came under fire for not playing like a two-time NFL MVP, McCarthy said "the scrutiny's ridiculous."
Earlier on Wednesday, Hall of Fame general manager Bill Polian said on SportsCenter that McCarthy was doing "the best he can with a very, very short deck" in terms of players.
"I don't see any problem with the coaching," Polian said.