Last week, the New York Jets concluded mandatory minicamp, but the absence of quarterback Aaron Rodgers continues to dominate sports media discussions. Despite playing only four snaps in his first season with the team, Rodgers was absent, reportedly on vacation. Head coach Robert Saleh, while supportive of Rodgers’ decision, has sparked a debate on the responsibilities of a franchise quarterback.
On Monday, on The Carton Show with Craig Carton, former NFL Super Bowl-winning wide receiver Plaxico Burress shared his thoughts on New York’s franchise quarterback being away from the team facilities for their mandatory minicamp. Last week, former New York Giants offensive lineman turned media personality Geoff Schwartz called out Jets fans for making excuses for Rodgers’ absence.
Plaxico Burress: Gives Opinion on New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers
Add former New York Giants, New York Jets, and Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Plaxico Burress to the list of ex-NFL players giving an opinion on the Aaron Rodgers minicamp saga. On FoxSports’ The Carton Show, Burress and co-hosts David Jacoby and Craig Carton dove into Rodgers’ minicamp absence last week, a major storyline in the NFL heading towards training camp.
"If you're a franchise quarterback, people are going to talk about it."
— @plaxicoburress on Aaron Rodgers missing minicamp pic.twitter.com/wfSVr3MB4y
— The Carton Show (@TheCartonShow) June 17, 2024
“Just a few weeks ago, we were talking about Lamar Jackson not being at non-mandatory camp, and I even said, ‘he should be there as the franchise quarterback basically ushering in Derrick Henry into Baltimore and into that system’… Being a franchise quarterback, I believe it is your responsibility to the team and to that franchise to be there. It doesn’t matter if it is mandatory or not to be there for your team to show them that, basically, you’re all in… If you’re a franchise quarterback, when you’re not there, people are going to talk about it,” said Burress on Monday.
He continued, saying, “Being the fact that it is Aaron Rodgers, being the way the season went last year for him and this football team. They were projected to obviously win the division and get into the playoffs. They were Super Bowl contenders, and he goes down in the first four plays of the season.” Rodgers missed nearly all of last season with an Achilles tear. He enters his age 41 season in 2024.
Rodgers: Eyeing Second Super Bowl
Last season, the New York Jets traded away four draft picks to land the services of four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers. New York leaped into Super Bowl consideration, but just four snaps into the season, Rodgers tore his Achilles, effectively ending his 2023 campaign. The Jets finished the year a lackluster 7-10, marking their 13th straight season failing to make the postseason.
When healthy, Rodgers is arguably the best quarterback in NFL history. He’s led the NFL in quarterback rating four times, passing touchdowns twice, while last winning the MVP in 2021. However, he struggled to produce his usual adequate numbers in 2023, throwing for 3,695 yards, 26 touchdowns, and an uncharacteristic 12 interceptions.
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