Future of Rodgers-Braun business ventures uncertain

MILWAUKE (WITI) -- More than one week after the announcement of the suspension of the Milwaukee Brewers' Ryan Braun, the story is still making headlines. On the first day of the Green Bay Packers training camp on Friday, July 26th, questions directed at Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers weren't related to football.

For the first time on Friday, Rodgers reacted publicly to the news of the suspension of his friend and business partner.

"It doesn't feel great being lied to like that and I'm disappointed about the way it all went down," Rodgers said.

Major League Baseball suspended Braun for 65 games for violating the League's drug program. Braun has already lost his Kwik Trip endorsement.

Both Braun and Rodgers planned to open a new 8-twelve restaurant together in Bayshore Town Center this fall. There is already one in operation in Brookfield.

On the first day of Training Camp, Rodgers was asked what his business future with Braun will hold.

"As far as the business goes, you know, right now I'm focused on football and I have people who can help me work with those types of issues," Rodgers said.

Brian Bennett, the owner of Stir Marketing in Milwaukee, handles companies on the local and national scale. He feels the partnership between Rodgers and Braun is a marketable one - and can be used their to advantage in the long-term.

"They need to look long-term. Usually in a business arrangement short-term thinking isn't the best," Bennett said.

"I trusted (Ryan Braun), you know, and that's the thing that probably hurts the most," Rodgers said.

FOX6 reached out to Rodgers' and Braun's business partners, but both are remaining silent on the issue. Additionally, management at the new restaurant at Bayshore also declined to comment about the future of 8-twelve.

Omar Shaikh, the co-owner and president of SURG Restaurant Group -- the group that owns the Rodgers/Braun 8-twelve restaurants released the following Tweet on Twitter on Friday: