The heat surrounding Aaron Rodgers is of the self-inflicted variety. (Photo credit The Guardian / The Weekly Opine)

In need of an audible

Aaron Rodgers’ reputation has come undone like a flimsy bird’s nest on a windy autumn day. The legendary Green Bay Packers quarterback – still destined for pro football’s Hall of Fame – is flailing as he backpedals from the crush of his deliberately disingenuous words.

Rodgers’ smug, smartest guy in the room façade is slowly giving way to the realization that his image is soiled, no matter how hard he and his fiancé, Shailene Woodley, attempt to blame it on “woke” culture. In the aftermath of Rodgers’ playing cutesy with the King’s English, we have another example of the unvaccinated plaguing the rest of us with ridiculous excuses to explain why they won’t get vaccinated.

As sports fans know by now, last August, Rodgers was asked if he’d been injected with the coronavirus vaccine. Slipping the question like he avoids 300-pound defensive tackles, Rodgers offered up a deceptive answer, leaving the impression he was vaccinated. Choosing his words artfully, Rodgers said “I’ve been immunized.”

Art-wise, his deceit was successful (until he tested positive for COVID-19). Science-wise, it was a sham.

As a matter of science, Rodgers relying on alternative treatment(s) to stave off the coronavirus is not considered to be immunization, according to the Centers for Disease Control’s definition of immunization. Rodgers learned this fact when he appealed to the NFL to officially declare his treatment the same as having been vaccinated. The NFL said no way.

A week ago, fervently defending his words from last August, Rodgers blamed reporters for not asking follow-up questions about what type of immunization he acquired. Going all-in on the 21st Century phenomenon of shirking accountability, Rodgers says he would have gladly explained what he meant, if only the lazy media had pressed him.

Really? Smartest guy in the room Aaron Rodgers did not know the media would assume his “immunization” answer meant he’d gotten the vaccine shot? This week Rodgers begrudgingly admitted his words may have “misled.” Ya think?

Why in the world a smart guy like Aaron Rodgers won’t get vaccinated is beyond reason. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Crybaby cry

Full disclosure; even as a Chicago Bears fan I used to admire the Green Bay Packers QB. But the luster began eroding as we watched Rodgers turn into a crybaby the past several years.

For example, when Matt LaFleur became the Packers head coach in 2019, Rodgers questioned his strategy and openly disrespected his new coach (and still does today). The then 36-year-old Rodgers complained loudly when the Packers, dutifully planning for their future as any team should, drafted a QB with their 2020 first-round draft pick. Last season, Rodgers complained the Packers should have drafted an offensive lineman or acquired better wide receivers.

Yet, by the end of the 2020 season, Rodgers led the league in touchdown passes (48) and his QB passer rating of 121.5 was tops in the NFL. The Packers offensive line gave up the 2nd fewest number of sacks in the NFL (21). Overall, the Packers offense was rated 9th in the passing game. In other words, Rodgers’ complaints proved empty. Hand the man a pacifier.

Timber!

As his fiasco unfolded, Prevea Health, like a blitzing linebacker sacking a hapless quarterback, dropped Rodgers as their endorser. Prevea put out a statement saying they “remain deeply committed to protecting patients, staff, providers and communities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes encouraging and helping all eligible populations become vaccinated against COVID-19." Can’t argue with that.

State Farm, mostly saying the right things, not coincidently reduced Rodgers’ presence in their TV ads. According to Apex Marketing’s tracking of national TV ads, the insurance giant, omnipresent during weekend football broadcasts, ran nearly 400 TV ads last Sunday. Rodgers appeared in less than 2-percent, this after previous Sundays when State Farm TV ads featuring Rodgers received about 25-percent of the rotation.

Rodgers’ dream of being named the host of Jeopardy, sometime after his football career ends, is likely extinguished. Any aspirations of becoming an entertainment star may be kaput, too.

Now, where is the NFL Players Association? Like police unions, the NFLPA unabashedly aims to protect its members. They fought against adding a 17th game to what had been a 16-game regular season, correctly citing player safety concerns. Prior to this season the NFLPA agreed to coronavirus protocols ignored by Rodgers and the Packers. What say the player’s union about Rodgers putting his comrades at risk? We’re listening…

Someone needs to go upside Aaron Rodgers’ head with a physician reflex hammer. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Did Packers management know Rodgers was not vaccinated? It seems unbelievable that management did not know. If Packers brass knew Rodgers’ vax status, then management wholly participated in the Big Lie by allowing Rodgers to break protocol. Had Rodgers worn a mask to media sessions - as unvaxxed players are required to do - then everyone would’ve known he was not vaccinated.

It’s anyone’s guess what the rest of the season portends. One does wonder if the Packers locker room is a happy place, after Rodgers’ dishonesty placed the health of his teammates, and the health of Packers’ staff, at risk.

Judgment day

Last Sunday was not a good day for Green Bay or Rodgers. The Packers, without their star QB, lost to Kansas City 13-7, a game the Packers likely win if Rodgers played. Losing that winnable game could be the difference between Green Bay earning post-season home-field advantage.

Over at Fox’s NFL studio show the fellas destroyed Rodgers. Analyst Terry Bradshaw, a Hall-of-Fame QB and tell-it-like-it-is man if there ever was one, told it like it is, saying Rodgers “lied to everyone.”

It’s a measure of Rodgers’ lack of integrity that he hid the truth instead of owning it, in contrast to fellow NFL QBs Carson Wentz and Kirk Cousins, both of whom readily admitted before the season they are unvaccinated.

The NFL, finding themselves “on the clock,” meted out Charmin-soft punishment. Fining the Packers organization $300,000 is lame. Fining Rodgers $15,000 is a shame. Instead, the NFL should have severely disciplined Rodgers and the Packers. Green Bay should suffer a significant financial penalty, to the tune of at least $3 million. Also, the Packers should not be eligible for the playoffs this season. Finally, Green Bay should be shut out of the annual NFL Draft next spring.

The next time he needs medical advice, Aaron Rodgers should consult someone who earned their stethoscope after graduating from an accredited med school. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

As for Aaron Rodgers, he should be suspended, without pay, for the remainder of this season.

Remember Pete Rose? Charlie Hustle was kicked out of baseball – for life – because he placed bets on baseball games. Whereas Rose’s actions did not risk the lives of his teammates, Rodgers’ lying placed numerous people at risk. (However, do not lose sleep waiting for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to do the right thing, even with the parasite Jay-Z advising him.)

And to think Colin Kaepernick was forced out of the NFL over his dignified, take-a-knee-protest against police brutality.

Each time he opens his mouth, (“I’m not some anti-vax, flat-earther”), Rodgers sounds more and more like a right-wing, conspiracy-believing kook. Many conservative anti-vaxxers rallied when Rodgers said he believes in “body autonomy and the ability to make choices for your own body.” (OK, conservatives, that’s what pro-choice women believe, too.)

A self-proclaimed “critical thinker,” Rodgers relied on a right-wing goofball, podcast comedian Joe Rogan, for medical advice. Rodgers admits he has taken the horse deworming drug ivermectin. Is ingesting bleach far behind?

Aaron Rodgers seems to have forgotten that his celebrity platform influences kids. Today, parents should use his dilemma as a teaching moment, about the pitfalls of lying and how it erodes credibility and trust.

MR. RODGERS CATCHES HEAT