As Aaron Rodgers contemplates his future in football, the NFL trade rumors surrounding him are increasing with a growing belief he could eventually be traded to the New York Jets. However, some of Rodgers’ old peers question if he is the person the Jets should pursue.
Since he started making weekly appearances on the Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers has often been very critical of the coverage he received playing for the Green Bay Packers. The 39-year-old has gone after both local and national reporters, suggesting cancel culture and social media are after him.
- Aaron Rodgers career stats: 103.6 QB rating, 59,055 pass yards, 475 passing touchdowns
All of this came as he played for one of the smallest markets in professional sports. Green Bay-Appleton ranks 69th in the top 100 media markets, but much of the spotlight since he became the Packers’ starting quarterback centered on Rodgers.
Being traded out of Wisconsin would represent a massive career change for the veteran quarterback after nearly two decades in Green Bay. It’s part of the reason why former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber suggests Rodgers might not be able to handle the media spotlight he would encounter if traded to the Jets.
During an appearance on WFAN’s Tikie and Tierney, Barber shared his belief that Rodgers couldn’t handle the New York media based on how he has reacted to things in recent years.
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“If he is that sensitive that he gets upset that people, reporters, opinion-makers, influencers, whoever, want to talk about him, he is going to struggle in New York. And I don’t know if it’s the right fit for him…. If Aaron Rodgers doesn’t want people talking about him, talking about his offseason, talking about his personal life, talking about all these things that are going on with Aaron Rodgers, he needs to stop talking.”
Tiki Barber on Aaron Rodgers possibly playing for a New York team (H/T Sports Illustrated)
Barber’s statement comes in light of recent comments Rodgers had made about reporters. Following the coverage over his upcoming four-day darkness retreat, the future Hall of Famer called out two of the NFL’s top reporters from ESPN and NFL Network.
During his latest appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, the four-time NFL MVP called out NFL reporters Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport. While he specifically references Rapoport’s reporting that his darkness retreat began Monday, his larger point focused on the insiders not knowing anything about him.
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“There’s an inner circle and in my inner circle, nobody talks to Ian Rapoport [or] Adam Schefter or to any of those people. Just stop with the fake news. I speak for myself and I will continue to do that. I have no problem with Ian Rapoport, Schefter, I think they’re really good at their jobs. When it comes to me, they don’t know (expletive). They really don’t. They don’t have people in my inner circle who are sources. I can promise you that. Anybody who would talk to them is not in my inner circle. It’s that simple.”
Aaron Rodgers on the Pat McAfee Show about NFL insiders reporting on him
Playing in a football-obsessed region like Wisconsin would certainly help Rodgers adjust to handling any pressure or criticism that the Jets’ fan base could offer. However, there is a stark contrast in the level of reporting and media resources when comparing Green Bay to New York.
Rodgers certainly won’t appreciate Barber’s criticism, but his very own comments on Schefter and Rapoport provide some validation to Barber’s statement. Then again, the 10-time Pro Bowl selection could view the comments and skepticism as motivation to make things work if he is traded to the Jets.
