New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been one of the most talked about players in the NFL this offseason. Unfortunately, not all of this talk has been centered around football, nor has it been for quite some time. After he tore his Achilles in Week One of the Jets’ 2023 regular season, he made waves for his controversial remarks during a series of podcast appearances.
Related: New York Jets Quarterback Aaron Rodgers Makes an Incredible Gesture for Wildfire Victims
These polarizing podcast guest spots continued into the offseason and put Rodgers in the limelight. Notably, he was recently considered by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be his Vice-Presidential running mate.
When Rodgers showed up for OTA’s, as he did last offseason in his first season with New York, focus shifted back to football. The talk then was whether or not a 40-year-old quarterback would be able to come back from such a brutal injury and still play at a high level. To be sure, if anyone could do it, it would be Rodgers.
But then head coach Robert Saleh made an announcement to the media that took the focus back off of football.
Aaron Rodgers Skipped New York Jets Mandatory Minicamp
At the beginning of mandatory minicamp, Jets head coach Robert Saleh announced that Rodgers was not present, and that his absence was unexcused. This sent fans and media into a frenzy, wondering where he was and why he decided that minicamp was not as important as whatever Rodgers was doing wherever he was.
For days, people wondered where Rodgers was. While he himself has not made any comment on where he was or why he missed camp, reports state that Rodgers took a trip to Egypt that was planned before the dates for minicamp were announced.
Saleh also clarified that there were no issues between him and his quarterback. He did state, however, that Rodgers did not necessarily communicate his plans in a timely manner, which was why the Jets had to consider his absence unexcused.
Still, there have been plenty of fans and media personalities who have continued to call Rodgers and his decision to skip minicamp as a distraction.
Aaron Rodgers’ Former Green Bay Packers Teammate James Jones Claps Back at Critics
James Jones, who played with Rodgers on the Green Bay Packers from 2007-2013 (and again in 2015) is now an NFL analyst on FS1. He recently used his platform to clap back at the people who have had anything negative to say about Rodgers missing mandatory minicamp:
“If I’m Aaron Rodgers, a 4-time MVP, and I’ve been at everything with the Jets for the last two years, there’s nothing wrong with missing two days.”
.@89JonesNTAF: If I’m Aaron Rodgers, a 4-time MVP, and I’ve been at everything with the Jets for the last 2 years, there’s nothing wrong with missing 2 days. pic.twitter.com/ldbTxwM0oh
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) July 3, 2024
Jones argues that, since he arrived in New York, Rodgers has been the ultimate teammate. Furthermore, because he has done so much for the organization in terms of helping them shift their culture, he deserved to take two days for himself.
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