Aaron Rodgers’ criticism of ESPN has not gone unnoticed by those working for The Worldwide Leader in Sports – with one analyst in particular clapping back.
To say that Rodgers’ time with the New York Jets has been unimpressive has been an understatement. But the most consistent thing about him has arguably been his appearances on The Pat McAfee Show throughout that time.
Rodgers routinely goes on the show – which airs on ESPN – and it was on that program that he criticized the very network whose platform he was using.
‘I’m talking about these experts on TV who nobody remembers what they did in their career,’ Rodgers said on the show this week. ‘So in order for them to stay relevant, they have to make comments that keep them in the conversation. That wasn’t going on in 2008, 2009. The ‘SportsCenter’ of my youth, those guys made highlights so much fun. And that’s what they showed on ‘SportsCenter.’
‘Now it’s all talk shows and people whose opinions are so important now and they believe they’re the celebrities now, they’re the stars for just being able to talk about sports or give a take about sports, many of which are unfounded or asinine, as we all know. But that’s the environment we’re in now.’
On Friday, former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ryan Clark called Rodgers out for his hypocrisy.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers slammed ESPN and its personalities this week
Former Steeler and current ESPN analyst Ryan Clark called Rodgers a hypocrite and a fraud
‘I find it extremely funny that he’s saying this on a show with a man who, as great as he was as a punter, is far more famous as a pundit: Pat McAfee. AJ Hawk, who I felt like was a good player, is now on TV, and he gets to give his thoughts as well,’ Clark said on First Take next to Cam Newton and Stephen A. Smith.
‘Actually, Aaron Rodgers, you’re being paid to be on that show to give your thoughts and opinions as a personality. Don’t get me wrong, he is not just, to me a first ballot Hall of Famer. He is one of the best and most talented quarterbacks to ever play this game, and he ain’t no more.
‘His problem is that people are willing to say it. Are people not supposed to be able to do their jobs and do their jobs in an unbiased way and be honest about who you are as a player because you feel like you had a better career than them? I don’t agree to that.
‘For you to sit up there and say that there are these people who feel like they have now become the celebrity or they have now become the superstar or the ‘SportsCenter’ of old is gone. Yeah, bro, because times change.
‘The reason that they’re paying you a million dollars or whatever it is to be on Pat McAfee is because you had a great career and people are going to listen to your opinions. People listen to my opinion, people listen to Cam Newton’s opinion, people listen to Stephen A’s opinion because those opinions are informed.
‘My biggest problem with Aaron Rodgers, because to me, I’m actually not upset about what he’s saying because I ain’t no hit dog, and you know a hit dog will holler. My issue with him is you’re doing the exact same thing. The reason that you’re getting this opportunity to say these asinine things is because someone is paying you who is exactly the same thing that you are now speaking out against.
‘This dude is once again tone deaf. This dude is once again unaware. This dude is once again arrogant to a point that’s almost sickening because he says these things and he talks tough and he behaves in this way, but he ain’t.
‘He has all of this cachet because he’s a good player. But there ain’t people around here that come around and talk about what type of leader you are. There ain’t people that come around here and talk about wanting to follow you because of the type of man you have been.
Under Rodgers in his first fully healthy season with the team, the Jets are only 3-10
‘This dude is a fraud. He’s been a fraud, and he could throw a football, and that’s where it stops. Once that talent ends, so does him, and so does he. And so to sit up there, man, and to be just blatantly hypocritical is funny and sickening at the same time.’
Clark has criticized Rodgers in the past as well. Back in October, he questioned the Jets signal caller’s leadership.
‘Rodgers has all the talent in the world, but he’s devoid of the great leadership ability that elevates a locker room,’ Clark said at the time.
Under Rodgers this season – his first with the team while fully healthy – the Jets have only managed to go 3-10 despite him having his preferred targets like Davante Adams and Allen Lazard.
The Jets play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
