Once upon a time, Aaron Rodgers seemed like a normal guy. Sure, he had his personality quirks, but he came across as a dedicated football player. However, as time has gone on, the future Hall of Famer has seemed to tumble further and further down the nutjob hole. It started with him spouting off conspiracy theories, such as 9/11 being an inside job. Then it moved to him speaking out against vaccines and taking on a literal witch as his new girlfriend. He has spent his past couple of off-seasons going on retreats where he took psychedelic drugs.
People have started to wonder if he’s losing his grip on reality. To the surprise of nobody, Rodgers found himself in the headlines again when he missed mandatory minicamps with the New York Jets last month. It would be one thing if he simply didn’t want to show up, given that he’s 40 years old and wants to save his energy for training camp. Nope. It turns out Rodgers spent that time taking a vacation to Egypt. Let’s overlook the fact he chose to visit a country near one of the most volatile regions on the planet.
Somehow, it gets better because rumors indicate he went there to visit a witch doctor. Yes, really.
That is saying something, given the array of characters who have played that position over the years. Maybe he was always like this, but it feels like somewhere over the past few years, there was a significant shift in his personality. People didn’t pay much attention because he was playing at an MVP level. However, his exit from Green Bay and a false start with the Jets have made it easier to notice his baffling off-the-field actions. While it may not hurt anybody directly, it is a definite distraction.
There is a monumental amount of pressure on New York this season. Head coach Robert Saleh needs to make the playoffs after three years without a winning record. Aaron Rodgers needs to win because people are starting to question his legacy. How much of his success was him and how much was the machine in Green Bay? He believes he can excel regardless of where he plays and how he prepares. He’s about to find out that New York could be a very unforgiving place if he doesn’t come through.
