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Aaron Rodgers has again come under fire, including from a former teammate, for his lucrative appearances on The Pat McAfee Present as the Jets' woes continue on the field.
The quarterback appears on the ESPN show every Tuesday and previously sparked controversy with his comments, most notably when he appeared to suggest that Jimmy Kimmel was implicated in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Now Rodgers, who reportedly makes more than $1 million from McAfee, has come under attack for “making extra money” by offering his opinion on the Jets' problems, even as his own performances are under the microscope.
The Jets are 2-5 this season after four straight losses. Rodgers has been guilty of throwing costly interceptions in recent weeks and now the quarterback has been accused of talking but not walking.
His former Packers teammate Jeff Saturday also questioned why Rodgers is using McAfee to send messages to the Jets locker room.
Aaron Rodgers has been criticized again for his appearances on The Pat McAfee Present
With Rodgers at quarterback, the New York Jets have had a depressing start to the season
'That's the problem, brother. That's the problem, what you're saying: do your actions match your words? On Saturday he said in 'Get up'.
“Let's not listen to the media. Let's not pay attention to them. But I'm going to continue for an hour per clip, earning additional money.” Go do what? You're talking to your team through (this): they don't watch McAfee, bro.'
Meanwhile, former NFL cornerback Domonique Foxworth said Rodgers needs to worry about his own performances before lecturing his teammates.
The four-time MVP has thrown for 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season and Foxworth said, “Throw some touchdowns, man… I get it, it's a leadership thing and maybe that will work for them in the locker room.”
Former NFL star Domonique Foxworth said Rodgers should worry about his own performance
“But I guess they're in the locker room saying, 'Man, don't throw it to guys in other colored jerseys and don't throw some touchdowns.' “I don’t want to hear this.”
Following the Jets' loss to the Steelers last week, Rodgers said, “Personally and as a team, we're playing with too much anger, not enough enjoyment.”
He added: “It's fun to win, of course, but I think there are ways to relieve some of the pressure.” And it has to start with me this week: with my energy and my focus. “We have to respond a little better to adversity and I have to lead the way on that.”
But former Bengals and Browns receiver Andrew Hawkins criticized Rodgers for saying that now, instead of before the season.
'All these things he's saying, yeah, that's what you should be doing, not now. That should have happened in April. That should have happened at minicamp,” Hawkins said.
'If you're developing your fight strategy after the fight has started, it's over, bro. Get into the fetal position and breathe through your nose. Because you lost. That's as easy as it is.