Why Jets QB boasts ESPN talent

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has developed many beefs in recent years, but his most recent is with ESPN analyst and former NFL safety Ryan Clark.

The dispute between the two began when Rodgers denounced ESPN and sports media companies during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. Clark responded to Rodgers’ opinion and the two have exchanged blows in various media appearances since then.

Here’s what you should know about the origins of the feud and what each personality said about the other.

Timeline of the Aaron Rodgers and Ryan Clark feud

Rodgers praises ESPN personalities during appearances on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’

Rodgers’ feud with Clark began after the Jets quarterback made his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday, December 10.

NFL STATISTICS CENTER: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

During that appearance, Rodgers lamented the current state of sports media, particularly ESPN’s long-running hit show “SportsCenter.”

“The ‘SportsCenter’ of my youth, those guys were so much fun doing the highlights and they showed it,” Rodgers said. “Now it’s just talk shows and people whose opinions are so important now and who think they’re the celebrities now.”

Rodgers didn’t specifically mention Clark in his criticism of ESPN, but noted that there are “former players” on the show whose main goal isn’t necessarily to destroy the NFL.

“There are a lot of people talking about the game now, both former players and former players trying to stay relevant in terms of fame,” Rodgers said. “I think the views and criticism are very different than they used to be, perhaps in the mid-2000s.”

NFL PICKS FOR WEEK 16:Lots online for Ravens, Steelers

Rodgers clarified that he was not talking about host Pat McAfee. Apart from that, he did not directly mention any personalities by name.

Instead, Rodgers spoke generally about the state of the network, lamenting the “unfounded” and “stupid” views of some personalities.

“I’m talking about those pundits on TV who no one remembers what they did in their career,” Rodgers said. “To stay relevant, they need to make comments that keep them in the conversation. That didn’t exist in 2008 and 2009, it didn’t exist.

“Now it’s just talk shows and people whose opinions are so important now and who think they’re the celebrities now. They are the stars because they can simply talk about sports or make an opinion about sports, many of which are unfounded or stupid, as we all know.

Naturally, Rodgers’ interview became a soundbite, reviewed by many shows on ESPN, including First Take. That prompted Clark to respond to Rodgers’ perception that NFL IQ across the network — and in sports in general — is declining.

Clark Calls Rodgers ‘Deaf’ and ‘Fraud’ in ‘First Take’

Clark appeared on ESPN’s “First Take” on Friday, December 13 and was asked about Rodgers’ comments. He didn’t hold back in his assessment of the quarterback.

“I find it extremely funny that he would say that on a show with a man who, as great as he was as a punter, is far more famous as a pundit in Pat McAfee,” Clark said. “AJ Hawk, who I thought was a good player, is now on TV and he can express his opinion too.”

Clark exposed the hypocrisy of Rodgers’ statements, emphasizing that the quarterback was doing exactly what he accused other NFL analysts and former players of doing. Clark pointed out that Rodgers’ opinion was expressed during his weekly paid appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”

“My problem with him is that you do the exact same thing,” Clark said. “And the reason you get this opportunity to say these stupid things is because someone is paying you to be the exact same thing you are now speaking out against.”

That prompted Clark to call Rodgers a “cheat” while hurling a few other insults at the Jets quarterback.

“This guy is deaf again,” Clark continued. “This guy is once again oblivious. Once again, this guy is so arrogant it’s almost disgusting because he says these things and talks tough and acts his way, but that’s not who he is.”

“This guy is a fraud. He was a fraud. He can throw a football and it stops there. As soon as this talent ends… so does he. And sitting up there, man, and just being blatantly hypocritical is funny and disgusting at the same time.”

NFL POWER RANKINGS WEEK 16:Who will move up to No. 1 after the Lions’ loss?

Rodgers fires back at Clark, provoking comments on vaccination status

Rodgers made his usual appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday, December 17, and spent an hour discussing the Jets’ win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the College Football Playoff and drones in New Jersey, among other topics .

Just as McAfee prepared to end their segment together, Rodgers declared that he wasn’t finished yet.

“Say whatever you want about me, I don’t care, but before you do it, just state your (vaccination) status, whether you say your name, your awards, pronouns or whatever you say say it will be put into perspective afterwards,” he said. “Just get it out there.”

Again, Rodgers did not specifically mention Clark or ESPN. However, he continued to lament those who received the COVID-19 vaccine, saying various members of the sports media landscape were being “trapped” by multimillion-dollar propaganda.

“Then when you say things about me, people can at least say, ‘Oh, you’re caught up in the multimillion-dollar Skyhawk propaganda and you’re still upset about it,'” Rodgers said. “Just so everyone knows where you’re coming from, everyone knows, ‘Okay, cool, you’ve been vaccinated twice (with) Moderna and you’ve had three boosters,’ and then say whatever you want to say, whatever.”

Rodgers indicated that he did not care whether his comments would further increase tensions between the show and ESPN when asked about it by McAfee and Hawk.

“I’m just saying a PSA, please help anyone who’s wondering, ‘Where did this come from?’ Myself included… do a little research and then you’ll know where it all comes from,” Rodgers said. “You’re trapped, you’re vaccinated, and then you say whatever the fuck you want to say about me (because) I couldn’t give it two (expletives).”

Although Rodgers didn’t mention Clark by name, he made it clear that he saw the former NFL safety’s comments on “First Take.”

Clark wore a gold lapel with his initials “RC” when he appeared on “First Take.” Rodgers, in his second criticism of sports media and the vaccinated, said that “you don’t just need a brooch with your initials” when you’re on TV; Instead, he asked media representatives to publish their vaccination status instead of their biographies.

GHOSTS OF THE QBS PAST:Jayden Daniels thrives where so many others have failed for Commander

Clark posts about Rodgers’ appearance on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’

Clark quickly responded to Rodgers’ comments at the end of the McAfee show. He was disappointed that McAfee had to let Rodgers go after his rant at the end of the segment because Clark saw the quarterback “almost naming” the people he was talking about.

Clark made it clear in a later tweet that he had “no issues” with McAfee and was not jealous of the show’s success.

“I just want to talk to (McAfee) because I have said nothing negative about him and have spoken without any ill intent,” Clark wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “So it’s confusing that he’s interfering on Aaron’s behalf when he calls me jealous or thinks I’m attacking his business model.”

Clark said he is proud of the success of his podcast, the Pivot Podcast, which is nominated for a 2024 Sports Emmy in the Outstanding Hosted Edited Series category.

Clark denounces Rodgers’ “Vax Smoke Screen” in a social media video

On Dec. 18, just one day after Rodgers appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Clark posted a nearly five-minute-long video to his X account, formerly Twitter.

In the video, Clark continued to explain Rodgers’ hypocrisy, noting that McAfee’s show fit the description of the forums that Rodgers had complained about in his initial criticism of the sports media.

Clark also called Rodgers’ bluff. The ESPN analyst revealed that he is vaccinated in part because he had to have his spleen and gallbladder removed after suffering an injury while playing against the Denver Broncos in 2007.

Clark expressed that he didn’t think Rodgers really cared. Instead, the ESPN analyst believes the Jets quarterback is trying to use his own vaccination status to distract from his poor play in 2024.

“As far as your vaccination status so you can stop trying to fool people into thinking we want to talk about it beyond the stench of your movie, I never heard that again after your incident,” Clark said. “And the only reason we talked about it at the time was to use your vaccination status to determine how long you would be out.”

The incident Clark is referring to is the only game Rodgers missed during the 2021 NFL season after testing positive for COVID-19. Many assumed at the time that he was vaccinated, as he told reporters when asked that he was “vaccinated” before the season. He wasn’t.

Clark insists that Rodgers’ handling of his status was the reason people were upset with him, not just the fact that he was unvaccinated.

“And besides, people didn’t care that you weren’t vaccinated,” Clark said. “It was important to them that you were slimy. They cared that you were cheating. And it was important to them that you were so arrogant when you answered the questions about it. And you were kind of the only one who talked about it since.”

Clark then broke down some of Rodgers’ stats and records, noting that he ranks 21st in the league in QBR and has led the Jets to a 4-10 record in Week 15.

He also warned Rodgers that he would not stop criticizing the quarterback if it fell within his purview.

“If you continue to be arrogant, smug or hypocritical and it affects my job, I will do it,” Clark said.

Breaking News

Dellupodisabato

Why Jets QB boasts ESPN talent

Leave a Reply Cancel reply