GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Aaron Rodgers agrees with the idea that NFL players should speak out on social issues more often. But the Green Bay Packers quarterback believes the NFLs culture discourages its players from being more vocal.Speaking in an interview on ESPN Wisconsins Wilde & Tausch last week, Rodgers said he read a story in which Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett said NFL players need to speak out more often. Bennett also mentioned Rodgers by name in similar comments when he arrived at training camp.Rodgers was in the crowd at the ESPYS last month and praised NBA stars LeBron James, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade for opening the evening by calling on athletes to promote social change.Its got to be natural, its got to be authentic, and I think those guys did a really good job. It was a great message, Rodgers said. The thing Ill say in reference to speaking your mind, [I read] a piece on the Bennetts recently -- Michael and Martellus. And I turned to a friend and I said, Why do we have to say that its refreshing when someone speaks their mind? Or is honest now? I think thats kind of a societal issue that we have.We need more guys like that who feel comfortable speaking their mind.The interview with Rodgers was conducted before riots broke out in Milwaukee on Saturday night in the aftermath of a police-involved shooting. Six businesses on the citys north side were set on fire, four officers were injured and 17 people were arrested, according to the Milwaukee Police Department. More unrest followed Sunday night.Asked after Mondays practice about what had gone on in Milwaukee, which is less than two hours south of Green Bay, Rodgers replied, I dont know the specifics about it, but I do know that our heart goes out to those affected down there. This is a connected world. Anytime theres a disconnect like that, its disappointing to see. Our thoughts and our prayers go with all of those affected, and we hope that the violence doesnt continue down there.Speaking to reporters as the Seahawks arrived at training camp July 31, Bennett called on players to step forward on social issues.You dont see a lot of great players talking about things socially, whether its Peyton Manning or Aaron Rodgers. All of these guys, theyre white. They dont have to deal with the things that we deal with as black players, so its not as many, Bennett said.In the NBA, everybody is standing up for it, so the greatest players are in the forefront of the movement. Here in the NFL, the greatest players arent in the forefront of the movement. Whether its the [collective bargaining agreement], whether its things going on with trying to change the way -- concussions. The greatest players arent involved like LeBron James, Chris Paul and all these guys [in the NBA]. Our great players are sitting back just taking the dollars, whether its Cam Newton, all these guys. Theyre not really on the forefront of trying to change whats going on.Asked in the ESPN Wisconsin interview whether he believes the NBA culture allows players to speak their minds more readily than the NFL, Rodgers replied, One-hundred percent. And I think it starts with leadership. I think [NBA commissioner Adam Silver] has done a good job promoting that type of environment. And I think some guys in the NFL are probably worried about repercussions on speaking their mind from the league.Rodgers acknowledged that he has not been particularly outspoken.Those guys are doing it and they feel comfortable doing it, Rodgers said. I think if more guys maybe did in our league, it would create a domino effect possibly. Bobby Okereke Colts Jersey . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. 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Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. LOS ANGELES -- Coach Luke Walton claimed his Los Angeles Lakers never really got into an offensive flow, even if the 125 points they dropped on the Brooklyn Nets suggested otherwise.Imagine what might happen if Waltons surprising young squad actually finds its groove.DAngelo Russell scored 32 points and Julius Randle added 17 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists for his second career triple-double in Los Angeles 125-118 victory Tuesday night.Timofey Mozgov had 20 points and six rebounds for the Lakers, who maintained a steady lead down the stretch of their fourth win in five games at Staples Center this season. With six wins in eight games overall, the Lakers (7-5) are two games above .500 for just the second time since April 2013.We all love to play this game together, even on nights when it isnt all clicking, said forward Tarik Black, who had 12 points and nine rebounds in just 13 minutes. We didnt care what people were saying about this team before the season started. Its about this locker room. We knew what we had.Russell hit seven 3-pointers and had eight rebounds for the Lakers, who didnt win seven games until New Years Day last season, the worst in the 16-time NBA champion franchises history.Russell had the highest-scoring individual performance by any player this season for the Lakers, whose 10-deep player rotations and balanced production have made them particularly tough to play. Russell lit up Brooklyn again after scoring a career-high 39 on the Nets last year, including eight 3-pointers that prompted his now-famous Ice in My Veins celebration of big shots.While Mozgov had his highest-scoring game for his new team, Randle added another balanced floor game in his first triple-double since March 25.He is continuing to get better and really realize what he is capable of doing, Walton said of Randle.Brook Lopez had 30 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets. Bojan Bogdanovic scored 29 points as Brooklyn rebounded solidly from a 32-point thrashing delivered by the Clippers in the same building one night earlier while Lopez sat out to rest.We bounced back from last nights tough loss, Nets coach Kennyy Atkinson said.dddddddddddd We just have to sustain it a little longer and do a little better on the defensive end.But the Lakers shot 43 free throws to the Nets 20, and Los Angeles solidly controlled the boards.Down the stretch, I dont want to comment too much on the calls, but we did foul too much and put them on the line, said Lopez, who hit four 3-pointers. That made it tough for us. We still had great looks. I want our guys to take those shots. They just didnt go down.BENCH BATTLEThe NBAs two most productive benches had big games. Led by Jordan Clarksons 13 points, the Lakers reserves outscored the Nets bench 43-40. Yogi Ferrell led the Brooklyn bench with 11 points.BLOCK PARTYLopez became the Nets franchise leader in blocked shots, passing George Johnsons 863 blocks with three against the Lakers. Johnson played for the franchise from 1977-80 and 1984-85. Lopez has blocked at least three shots in four consecutive games. He has accomplished that feat in five straight games just once, in November 2012.STEEP SCHEDULEThe Lakers just returned from a road trip that showcased their young rosters potential and limitations. They won at Sacramento and New Orleans, but were then routed by Minnesota on Sunday after their third long-distance flight in four nights.The Lakers will have to get used to learning on the court: Starting Friday, they will play 18 games in 30 days with five back-to-backs and no consecutive days off.TIP-INSNets: Former Lakers G Jeremy Lin missed his sixth straight game with a hamstring injury. ... Former Nets forward Andrei Kirilenko watched the game from courtside.Lakers: Clarkson had a career-high five steals. ... LA has beaten Brooklyn three straight times. ... The Lakers scored 120 points for the fourth time this season after managing the feat just three times in the previous two seasons combined.UP NEXTNets: The road trip ends Friday at Oklahoma City.Lakers: After their final back-to-back days off for an entire month, they host San Antonio on Friday. ' ' '