New York Jets reporter dismisses idea of ​​Aaron Rodgers being distracted

Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets are ready to start training camp ahead of the 2024 NFL season. The team is expected to return to the playoffs and potentially even compete for a Super Bowl appearance.

While expectations are high, the national media has focused more on Rodgers’ off-field situation than how good the Jets’ roster actually is heading into the season.

During the mandatory offseason minicamp, the 40-year-old quarterback opted to attend an event he had planned instead of camp. The absence was described as “unexcused” and immediately ignited the national media.

Despite his coach and teammates’ support for the future Hall of Famer, the media has labeled Rodgers a “distraction” to the team heading into the season.

A New York journalist, Connor Hughes of NYcounterattacked that idea.

“To me, a distraction is something that’s going to impact the team. It’s going to impact the team long-term and it’s going to impact the team next season. I don’t see this affecting the Jets and what they’re going to accomplish next year at any point,” he said. “If they’re going to go to the playoffs and maybe even get to the Super Bowl, missing two days of mandatory minicamp isn’t going to affect that at all.”

He went on to make it even clearer how little the situation means for the upcoming campaign.

“If the Jets miss the playoffs and everyone gets fired this year, it won’t be because Aaron Rodgers missed two days of mandatory minicamp. It’ll probably be because of injuries or because the offense just didn’t come together under (offensive coordinator) Nathaniel Hackett. However noteworthy this was, it was unnecessary attention that didn’t necessarily need to be a headline in mid-June.

Finally, Hughes closed with a brief, concise argument against the idea that Rodgers has been a distraction to the team.

“So, a distraction? I don’t necessarily know if that’s the word I would use. But it was certainly a newsworthy headline.”

Rodgers is likely to be back on the field to start training camp. He has been a great leader for the team since being acquired in the blockbuster trade.

Instead of trying to tear him down, the media should build him up. Without Rodgers, the Jets won’t be a very good team. With him, they have a legitimate chance to be a championship contender.

No one on or within the team is upset with Rodgers, so there shouldn’t be any further issues arising from this situation.