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. Air Jordan Sale . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. 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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Things finally started to unravel for Seattle starter James Paxton in the eighth inning Thursday night.The full meltdown came when Steve Cishek entered in the ninth.The Mariners veteran closer gave up a leadoff single, plunked a batter and then served up a two-run double to Salvador Perez that allowed the Kansas City Royals to rally for a 4-3 victory to open their four-game series leading into the All-Star break.Not to mention ruin what should have been Paxtons big night.I dont know if you can be much more in control of the game to being on the wrong side of things in an inning and a half, Mariners manager Scott Servais said. Tough game to lose.Paxton only needed 78 pitches to cruise through eight innings, but he started to crack when Paulo Orlando hit a two-out double off him to get Kansas within 3-2. He retired Alex Gordon to escape the inning.Cishek (2-5) came on to close, and Whit Merrifields double, the hit-by-pitch of Kendrys Morales and the timely shot from Perez ultimately sent the Mariners to their 10th consecutive road defeat.How many times have we been through it? I mean, we fight. We keep fighting, said Danny Duffy, who kept the Royals in the game with 6 1/3 strong innings. Youre never out of the game with these boys.Brooks Pounders (1-0) earned his first career win with a scoreless inning of relief.Its a great moment in my life, the big reliever said. To walk away with a win in that game is just unbelievable. It says a lot about the team we have here.The win snapped a four-game skid for Kansas City. Seattle now has lost four in a row.You lose as a team, said the Mariners Robinson Cano. We dont want to blame anybody here.The Mariners built an early 2-0 lead not with a homer -- they entered the game tied for second in the majors with 128 of them -- but with old-fashioned small ball. Dae-Ho Lee scored from second on Dan Robertsons single in the second inning, and Robertson scored after a sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly in the fifth.Nelson Cruz added a homer off Joakim Soria in the eighth.Those three runs seemedd insurmountable the way Paxton was cruising along.dddddddddddd.He induced inning-ending double plays the first two innings, then another one in the third after back-to-back singles led it off. Ketel Marte then made a nice play ranging out from third base on Alex Gordons blooper into shallow left field to leave Brett Eibner on third base and end the inning.The worst throw Paxton made before the eighth wasnt to the mound but to first base, when Kendrys Morales chopped a grounder back to him the previous inning. Paxtons throw slipped and bounced halfway to the bag.With everything else going for him, it still beat Morales easily for the out.Pax pitched a good ballgame, Servais said. I felt very good about leaving him out there in the eighth inning. He certainly didnt have many pitches. His stuff was still good. Tough game to lose.STATS AND STREAKSMorales was 0 for 3 before getting hit by a pitch in the ninth, allowing him to extend his streak of reaching safely to 21 starts. ... The Mariners lost for the fourth time when leading after eight innings. ... Cruz homered for the seventh time in his last 14 games.ROTATION REMOVALThe Royals are sending RHP Chris Young to the bullpen and will start RHP Dillon Gee or LHP Brian Flynn in Sundays series finale. Young is 2-8 with a 6.90 ERA in 15 appearances, 13 of them starts. Hes also given up a league-leading 26 home runs despite pitching many of his games at spacious Kauffman Stadium.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals RHP Kris Medlen has been shut down after straining his shoulder during a rehab outing. Medlen was 1/3 with a 7.77 ERA in six starts before going on the disabled list in May with rotator cuff inflammation. He is going to be no-throw for a couple weeks, Royals manager Ned Yost said.UP NEXTRHP Yordano Ventura returns for Kansas City on Friday night after spraining his right ankle running the bases in his last start in Philadelphia. RHP Hisashi Iwakuma will oppose him for Seattle. ' ' '