Full disclosure: it is 2:52 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 as I begin to write this blog entry. I am not going to be in a position to write this post on Wednesday, March 15, when it will be uploaded. This is important to note at the beginning, because there is a key factor of this piece that – while it doesn’t change the overarching point I am to make – may mitigate the extent. Also, I hate the Jets. Hate them. They are my least favorite football team.
The point: I don’t like Aaron Rodgers.
I never really have.
I never really will.
It’s hard to ignore some of the statistics, such as four NFL
MVP awards. Or the dominance over the division.
But I have never found Aaron Rodgers likeable. I will
acknowledge the statistics, a level of respect to be sure. I don’t, however,
revere him. He does not come close to the same reverie that quarterbacks such
as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Eli Manning and other quarterbacks
that have occupied the NFL during his time.
I think a lot of it is bias. I could argue about his injury
history. It hasn’t plagued him much in recent years, and the QB1 of my favorite
team is injured more than he’s healthy. I could argue he doesn’t play hurt.
Yet, that would be an abject falsehood. He literally battled through injury
last season. I could point to his admitted use of ayahuasca. That would also be
hypocritical as there are many celebrities that I idolize whom have admitted to
drug use. I have many friends who have dabbled. It doesn’t really bother me. He’s
even done commercials as so many other QBs, and athletes in general, have.
So what is it? Why do I not like Aaron Rodgers?
The easiest thing to point to is happening right now. Rodgers
may retire. He may return to the Green Bay Packers. He may agree to let the
Packers trade him to the New York Jets. The legal negotiating period for free
agents to speak with teams other than the one they played for in 2022 began at
12 p.m. on Monday, March 13. That’s now – at 3:07 p.m. – just over 27 hours
ago. He’s not a free agent, so he could have made his decision and communicated
it really at any point.
Lamar Jackson, whom we covered in the blog last week, cannot
talk to other teams until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16, when the new league year
begins. So there won’t be any word on Lamar until at least then, unless he signs
a long-term deal with Baltimore in the meantime. What is Aaron’s excuse?
What makes this unthinkable to me is that at least two
franchises are in limbo waiting for him. Even more egregious is that, according
to multiple reports, he’s told the Jets that if they want him, they should target
and preferably acquire WRs Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Odell Beckham Jr., and
TE Mercedes Lewis[1].
He’s been teammates with Lazard, Cobb and Lewis.
That narrative runs antithetical to many reports over the last
several offseasons. The narrative that Rodgers has been upset because Green Bay
didn’t target a WR with a first-round draft pick or sign a big name free agent
WR. I supposed OBJ falls into that latter category, but the Jets already have
the 2022 offensive rookie of the year in Garrett Wilson. As a rookie in 2022,
Wilson put up 1,103 yards and four touchdowns[2]
in a Jets offense that saw quarterbacks Zach Wilson (1,688 yards and six TDs in
2022[3]),
Mike White (1,192 yards and three TDs in 2022[4]),
and Joe Flacco (1,051 yards and five TDs in 2022[5]).
That’s a combined 3,931 yards and 14 touchdowns. Garrett Wilson accounted for
28.1% of all passing yards and 28.6% of all receiving touchdowns.
Maybe the fact that the Jets had to rely so heavily on one
receiver is part of why Rodgers would want more weapons, and one’s he’s
comfortable with, in New York.
Yet, we don’t know for sure Rodgers will accept a trade to
New York. If he does, that clears up a lot of space for Green Bay. Not that Green
Bay has ever been huge spenders in free agency, the fact that they can’t really
pursue players because they don’t know if they’re starting Rodgers of Jordan
Love leaves them a little hamstrung. Not to mention the Jets, who are in the
market for a veteran starting quarterback. Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo have
already both signed with new teams. If Rodgers doesn’t like what the Jets do or
don’t do and he either stays in Green Bay or retires, then the Jets may have to
turn to options such as Baker Mayfield, Ryan Tannehill, or Jacoby Brisett. Of
course, maybe, at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, they reach out to Lamar and pull off
that trade instead. The point is, both teams are in limbo waiting for Rodgers
to make his proclamation.
Lebron James got a lot of hate when he announced he was
taking his talents to South Beach. In part, the heat was for how he announced.
Yet, there’s not nearly enough outrage over Rodgers holding two franchises
hostage. I can’t help but feel like he enjoys it, too. Leave it to Aaron
Rodgers to find a way to make me pity the New York Jets.
Also, if he does come to New York, Miami has Xavien Howard,
Jalen Ramsey, and Javon Holland in our defensive backfield, so good luck.
If he doesn’t, and this pains me to say, I’m sorry to the
New York Jets. (Friendly advice, call Lamar).
(Posting at 3:32 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14).
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