Jets' Aaron Rodgers rails against 'ridiculous offseason storylines' on Pat McAfee Show
Aaron Rodgers of the Jets takes the field for a game against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium on Thursday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
No one is talking about Aaron Rodgers’ Egyptian vacation anymore.
Rodgers received plenty of criticism for missing the Jets’ mandatory minicamp in June due to a pre-arranged trip to the desert. Some speculated that it would affect the Jets’ offense. It hasn’t.
The Jets are 2-1 for the first time since 2015. The offense has scored three touchdowns in three straight games for first time in five years. Rodgers loves that he’s quieted his critics.
“I think you realize how ridiculous some of these offseason storylines can be,” Rodgers said Tuesday on "The Pat McAfee Show." “Is anybody talking about minicamp anymore? Does anybody feel like that’s an important contributor in the season? The answer is no. It shouldn’t because it’s not.”
Rodgers was responding after McAfee read a tweet from a story in The Athletic in the summer. Citing Rodgers skipping minicamp, the report claimed the Jets were in “complete disarray,” that they couldn’t “convert him into a team player” and the “vibe inside the building is terrible.” The anonymous sources were player agents.
As quickly as Rodgers gets rid of the football, he dismissed the premise and joked that Haason Reddick’s agent was the source. Reddick is holding out for a new contract and requested a trade from the Jets.
“I would say the culture is about the opposite of what that article said,” Rodgers said. “I didn’t read the article but just reading that headline there, it sounds like it was written by Haason Reddick’s agent the way that they’re trying to disparage our great organization.”
Rodgers had nothing but positive things to say about the Jets’ culture, praising coach Robert Saleh for what he’s helped create. Rodgers said they’re a close group and likes the direction the team is headed.
“We got a good thing going,” Rodgers said. “There’s a lot of belief right now. It’s fun.”
Rodgers also credited the offensive line, and particularly newcomers John Simpson, Morgan Moses and Tyron Smith for helping build a bond up front that carries through the entire team.
McAfee aired clips of Simpson coming to Breece Hall’s defense after he was thrown down by New England’s Jahlani Tavai during Thursday’s 24-3 win. Rodgers said Simpson “has added an element” that the Jets didn’t have last year.
Rodgers added the offensive line has “become the bodyguards, the police of the team.” The four-time MVP called it “really, really important” and said “the best teams I’ve been on, the line polices the squad.”
The Jets will go for their third straight win Sunday at home against the Denver Broncos. Rodgers, 40, said it was good to have a long weekend and recover after playing three games in 11 days. He was encouraged by his performance Thursday, though.
Rodgers completed 27 of 35 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns, scrambled for two first downs and made some off-schedule throws on the move.
“There were a couple ‘still-got it’ moments,” Rodgers said. “I ran for a couple first downs. I extended a few plays and hit (Tyler Conklin) on a couple of scrambles. You need those moments.”
Making it more impressive, Rodgers is returning from a torn left Achilles tendon. Thus far, he looks like he’s turned back the clock.
Jets center Joe Tippmann said it’s great seeing Rodgers “playing his type of ball again” and “move like he’s 38.”
“Just to be able to see him bring that confidence back within his game, it brings a whole new confidence to our whole offense,” Tippmann said.
Rodgers said he’s getting stronger with each game and is feeling like his old self more and more.
“The more comfortable I feel on the field, the more I’m able to do some of the stuff I was doing when I was a younger player because my body is in a good spot,” Rodgers said. “The work that I’ve put in the offseason put me in a position (where) I feel like once my confidence came around with my Achilles that I could so some of the things I was used to doing in the mid-2010s.”
Two-minute drill
The Jets signed former Eagles and Patriots defensive back Jalen Mills and ex-Panthers and Eagles linebacker Brandon Smith to their practice squad. Safety Jaylen Key, this year’s ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ for being the last pick in the draft, was released from the practice team.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
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