Aaron Rodgers is doing something with the New York Jets he hasn’t done for several years–practice at OTAs. Rodgers declined to attend voluntary OTAs in his final years with the Green Bay Packers. He recently argued why it didn’t matter, but his statement shows a heavy contradiction with his action this spring in New York.
Rodgers was criticized for not showing up to OTAs after signing his expensive contract extension with the Packers last season. The Packers know they would rely heavily on rookie wide receivers Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson for the 2022 season. They needed reps with Rodgers.
Aaron Rodgers contradicts himself on the necessity of OTAs
In a recent interview published by Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, Rodgers gave an explanation as to why he didn’t feel it was necessary to show up to voluntary OTAs to help out his rookie wide receivers:
According to the source associated with the team, the Packers weren’t satisfied with Rodgers’ commitment and effort, not only during voluntary OTAs but on a day-to-day basis afterward. Rodgers takes exception to the thought that the team wanted more from him in the months after giving him the richest contract in NFL history.
“When I’m in, I’m all-in, and you wanna ride with offseason workouts?” Rodgers said. “I won MVP without doing offseason workouts. Like, was my commitment any less then? I’d say not at all. The way that I come back to work, not just physically in good shape but mentally refreshed, is the best thing for me to have the season I wanted to have during those in Green Bay.
“I think that’s just a cop-out written to try and find something to disparage me about that, honestly, when you know what offseason workouts are really about, it’s completely ridiculous.”
Why is Rodgers showing up to the Jets OTAs if offseason workouts aren’t about getting extra reps with new players who will be with you when the season starts? Rodgers knows he needs to be familiar with the team he was traded to this offseason.
There’s no excuse for Rodgers not to have been at the Packers’ OTAs, especially last season. The Packers would have been set up for earlier success if he had extra reps with Doubs and Watson.
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