Even though Aaron Rodgers appeared on The Pat McAfee Show twice last week, he still took time to do his regularly schedule appearance this week. Today, the Packers’ quarterback took some time to clarify, “apologize,” and expand upon the things that he said after testing positive for COVID-19 last week. In addition, Rodgers offered some criticism of the Packers’ special teams in the team’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon.
On His Controversial Vaccine Comments
Before the season even started, Aaron Rodgers was asked if he was vaccinated. In response, the defending MVP said, “Yes, I have been immunized.” Following his positive COVID test, Rodgers told Pat McAfee that he was allergic to two of the vaccines and had concerns about the third. As a result, he did his own research to protect himself against the virus. In a hearing with the NFL, however, an independent doctor rendered the opinion that Rodgers’ measure were not good enough to consider him vaccinated.
Regarding these comments, Aaron Rodgers had the following to say:
#Packers QB Aaron Rodgers on with @PatMcAfeeShow: "I acknowledge am a role model to a lot of people. I made some comments that people might have felt were misleading. To anybody who felt misled by those comments, I take full responsibility."
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) November 9, 2021
Aaron Rodgers Is Not Backing Down
Despite misleading many people, Aaron Rodgers stated that he shared a controversial opinion and is not backing down from what he said.
Aaron Rodgers: "I shared an opinion that is polarizing, I get it. I misled some people about my status which I take full responsibility of those comments, but in the end I have to stay true to who I am and what I'm about. I stand behind the things that i said."
— Lily Zhao (@LilySZhao) November 9, 2021
Clearly, Aaron Rodgers has come very strong convictions. The criticism he received over the past few days is not going to force him to waiver in those beliefs. Neither will the possibility of losing sponsors. Prevea Health cut ties with Rodgers a day after his anti-vaxx comments. State Farm, however, tweeted that they support Rodgers’ right to his own opinion. They did state, though, that the company does not fully agree with him.
Not Winning MVP Again
Postseason awards are not supposed to be political. However, players can miss out on well-deserved awards due to their off-field comments and actions. When Pat McAfee told Rodgers that his comments may have cost him another MVP Award, Rodgers said, “That is a legitimate statement.”
Aaron Rodgers said that's a "legitimate statement" when @PatMcAfeeShow said he may never win an MVP ever again.
— Lily Zhao (@LilySZhao) November 9, 2021
In his interview last week, which was mocked on SNL, Rodgers said that he was going to be attacked by “cancel culture” and the “woke mob” for his comments. His belief that he will never win another MVP Award certainly echoes that sentiment.
Aaron Rodgers Criticizes Packers Special Teams
Everyone who has watched the Packers over the past 25 years knows that special teams is definitely not their strong suit. In fact, it could be argued that they cost Green Bay the game against Kansas City. On the special teams play against the Chiefs, Rodgers said:
Aaron Rodgers on #Packers loss to Chiefs: "Obviously the special teams were not special."
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) November 9, 2021
On the bright side, Rodgers was very complimentary of Jordan Love. In an earlier press conference, Matt LaFleur had stated that Rodgers had been texting Love prior to the game to offer encouragement. In LaFleur’s words, the two have developed a legitimate friendship.
Love Will Get Us Through the Pandemic
On getting through the ongoing pandemic, Rodgers said the following:
Aaron Rodgers on @PatMcAfeeShow said that he knows there are some polarizing opinions about him circulating around right now, and he respects those opinions. “Hate is not going to bring us out of this pandemic — it’s going to be connecting and love,” he says.
— Zachary Jacobson (@itszachariahj) November 9, 2021
In his previous interview, Rodgers said that he wants what he said to be a conversation, not a controversy. This was quite the statement given the massive divide it created among Packers fans. However, Rodgers reiterated the need for people to be respectful of each other.
One has to wonder if he will take that same approach with the Packers’ front office this offseason.
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