ESPN anchor Jemele Hill has been suspended by the network after tweets about President Trump’s recent call to NFL players who kneel during “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The controversy is a reminder of how difficult it can be for journalists and entertainers to predict what will cause outrage.
A lot has occurred since Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ last visit on the Pat McAfee Show. Jordan Love appeared confused after a defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs, as the internet went crazy, the media dissected his every utterance, and Pete Davidson mocked him on Saturday Night Live.
Rodgers returned to join McAfee for his regularly scheduled Tuesday guest slot now that the dust has cleared from last Friday’s disaster. The beleaguered quarterback began the segment in a different tone than last week. He did, however, offer just enough to start everyone talking.
Aaron Rodgers apologized at the start of his weekly appearance on the ‘Pat McAfee Show’?
Aaron Rodgers’ combative demeanor on Friday was replaced with a far more contrite one on Tuesday.
He began the interview with, if not an outright apology for his outburst on Friday, at the very least a mea culpa, in which he admitted that shouting about COVID-19 vaccinations on a national sports talk show may have overstepped his limits as an NFL quarterback.
Rodgers said to McAfee and his audience:
I just wanted to start the podcast by apologizing for some of my statements, which some people may have seen as deceptive. And, to anybody who was deceived by those remarks, I accept full responsibility for them. I’m looking forward to feeling better. I’m looking forward to going ahead and hopefully reuniting with my team and doing what I do best. That’s all there is to it.
On the ‘Pat McAfee Show,’ Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers maintained a much less combative tone for the remainder of the first part of the interview, indicating he hadn’t read or listened to much of what others had said about him in the previous four days.
He even clarified his meeting with “Dr. Joe Rogan,” as McAfee dubbed him, by stating he was one of a handful of COVID-19-affected acquaintances he spoke to.
A.J. Hawk, a co-host and former teammate, pressed Rodgers on if he’d spoken to anybody who wanted to “teach” him or anyone with whom he needed to “clarify” his remarks. Rodgers merely said that he stands by his Friday comments. Then he went back to talking about how excited he is to go back to football.
Rodgers was able to chat about football and Jordan Love’s performance on Sunday at some point.
Aaron Rodgers | Christian Petersen/Getty Images Aaron Rodgers .
Aaron Rodgers analysed the Packers’ 13-7 defeat to the Chiefs when Pat McAfee turned the topic to football.
Rodgers said that his understudy, second-year quarterback Jordan Love, was in a “difficult circumstance,” but he was “extremely pleased” of his backup and “the way he went about his business.”
That is unlikely to be the attitude of the ordinary Packers fan (or even a former player). The performance of the potential future quarterback was dreadful. In the face of KC defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s frequent blitzes, he only managed to go 19-of-34 for 190 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
Rodgers and the Packers will have their work cut out for them in their upcoming Week 10 clash against the Seattle Seahawks, after falling a game behind the NFC-leading Arizona Cardinals.
The NFC West team received word this week that injured starter Russell Wilson would be available for Sunday’s game against Green Bay. Wilson’s team is in a must-win position against the Packers, with a record of 3-5.
Rodgers said he’ll be participating in preparation through Zoom all week for his comeback. From a health standpoint, he also stated there’s a “possibility” he won’t be ready to travel. He informed McAfee that he still needs to overcome a “health barrier” involving his body, particularly his heart, in order to be ready for the rigors of an NFL game after COVID-19.
The quarterback has accepted that his anti-vaccine attitude means he will never win another NFL MVP Award.
McAfee returned to the Friday appearance one final time after seeming to have moved on and focused on football.
“I don’t want to go back four days,” McAfee said. “How are you going to avoid holding a grudge?” And do you realize you’re unlikely to win an MVP award again?”
Rodgers laughed at the former punter’s claim and replied, “I believe that’s a genuine statement.” He then made a last remark to bring his almost-week-long odyssey to a close:
First, I believe that if you find your identity in yourself rather than in the opinions of others, you will not require the validation and love of others. It’s something you can receive from yourself. That isn’t being self-centered. That’s all it takes to learn how to love, respect, and believe in oneself in a healthy manner. And some of the remarks I heard and witnessed put it to the test. I’m a human being. Things, after all, may certainly damage your emotions. Look, I expressed a divisive viewpoint. I understand. I deceived certain individuals about my position, for which I accept full responsibility. But, in the end, I must be loyal to who I am and what I stand for. And I stand by what I’ve stated.
The ‘Pat McAfee Show’ features Aaron Rodgers.
It remains to be seen how fans and the media will react to the quarterback once he returns to regular NFL life. However, McAfee is probably correct in claiming that Rodgers alienated enough people in the NFL with his anti-vax rant that prizes like MVP are unlikely to come his way, regardless of how well he performs.
However, it is also true that the NFL is a meritocracy. If Rodgers and the Packers play well enough in his comeback, no amount of controversy, criticism, or hostility will be able to stop them from winning a Super Bowl.
RELATED: An NFL GM Leaked Aaron Rodgers’ Secret Vaccination Status to Mike Florio a Month Ago: ‘I Heard Something Crazy That I Believe Because of Who Told Me,’ says the narrator.
