Aaron Rodgers has again come under fire – including from a former teammate – for his lucrative appearances on The Pat McAfee Show while the Jets’ woes continue on the field.
The quarterback appears on the ESPN show every Tuesday and has previously sparked controversy with his comments, most notably when he appeared to suggest Jimmy Kimmel was implicated in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Now Rodgers, who reportedly makes more than $1m from McAfee, has been attacked for ‘making extra cash’ by offering his thoughts on the Jets’ struggles, even as his own performances come under the microscope.
The Jets are 2-5 this season after four straight defeats. Rodgers has been guilty of throwing costly interceptions in recent weeks and now the quarterback has been accused of talking the talk but not walking the walk.
His former Packers teammate Jeff Saturday also questioned why Rodgers is using McAfee to send messages to the Jets locker room.
‘That’s the problem, bro. That’s the problem is what you’re saying — do your actions meet your words?’ Saturday said on ‘Get Up’.
‘”Let’s not listen to the media. Let’s not pay attention to them. But I’m going to go on for an hour a clip, making extra cash.” To go do what? You’re talking to your team through (this) — they don’t watch McAfee, bro.’
Former NFL cornerback Domonique Foxworth, meanwhile, said Rodgers needs to worry about his own performances before preaching to teammates.
The four-time MVP has thrown for 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season and Foxworth said: ‘Throw some touchdowns, man… I get it, it’s a leadership thing and maybe that works for them in the locker room.
‘But my guess is they’re in the locker room like, “Man, don’t throw it to the guys in the other colored jerseys and throw some touchdowns. I don’t want to hear this.”‘
Following the Jets’ defeat by the Steelers last week, Rodgers claimed: ‘Personally, and as a team, we’re playing with too much anger, not enough enjoyment.’
He added: ‘It’s fun when you win, of course, but I think there are ways of taking some of the pressure off. And it has to start with me this week — with my energy and my approach. We have to respond to adversity a little bit better, and I have to lead the way with that.’
But ex-Bengals and Browns receiver Andrew Hawkins slammed Rodgers for saying that now, rather than before the season.
‘All this stuff that he’s saying, yes, that is what you should be doing — not now. That should’ve happened in April. That should’ve happened in minicamp,’ Hawkins said.
‘If you’re developing your fight strategy after the fight has started, it’s over, bro. Get in the fetal position and breathe through your nose. Because you lost. That’s as simple as it is.’
