Aaron Rodgers talks about Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Davante Adams on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’
Aaron Rodgers isn’t trending Tuesday for his takes on football, but the Jets quarterback did eventually get to some NFL-relevant topics during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
Rodgers, who was on the sidelines for the Jets’ season-ending 17-3 win over the New England Patriots, spoke with Bill Belichick before and after the game.
The game, which broke Gang Green’s 15-game losing streak in the rivalry, also likely ended Belichick’s legendary 24-run with the Patriots.
New England finished the 2023 season with a 4-13 record after Belichick suffered his first loss to the Jets since 2015. On Monday, Belichick told reporters he would meet with Patriots owner Robert Kraft but did not share when that would occur. It has been widely speculated the two sides will part ways after more than two decades and six Super Bowl victories.
“I was bummed out not to be playing and bummed out this could be the last time he’s in New England,” Rodgers said, adding the two first met one another in 2010. “I love his knowledge of the game, I have a ton of respect for him. I don’t think he’s done. I don’t know if he’s going to move on or his time is done in New England.
“I’m thankful for all the moments I got to share with Bill over the years and I just told him how much I respect him and believe what great impact he has made on the game.”
Rodgers talked about Belichick after he first dealt with the aftermath of last week’s appearance with McAfee — the former NFL punter turned media personality — when he tossed late night host Jimmy Kimmel (and frequent Rodgers critic) and Jeffrey Epstein in the same sentence.
“There’s a lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, really hoping that [list] doesn’t come out,” Rodgers told McAfee.
Rodgers was referring to the release of court documents relating to known pedophile Jeffrey Epstein that would make public the names of people associated with the man who committed suicide in 2019 as he awaited trial.
The four-time NFL MVP whose first season in New York ended with a torn Achilles just four plays into the season, denied linking Kimmel — the host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC” — to any Epstein list, saying his words were simply misunderstood.
“I’m not stupid enough to accuse you of that with absolutely zero evidence,” Rodgers said as part of another long rant about COVID-19 vaccines as he went after the “woke establishment.”
Rodgers’ latest “McAfee” segment comes a day after he spoke with the Jets media while his teammates were cleaning out their lockers and told reporters the team needs to eliminate the unnecessary distractions that have nothing to do with football.
“If you want to be a winning organization and to put yourself in position to win championships and be competitive, everything you do matters and the bulls–t that has nothing to do with winning needs to get out of the building,” Rodgers said. “That will be the focus moving forward. That’s the focus of these conversations.
“It’s important when you’re having exit meetings to create an environment where there’s no judgment. It’s a free conversation. Guys shoot out their differences, and we know there will be a percentage of that that’s just bitching for no reason. That’s part of it.
“I think there’s some things in every organization, and we did this for 18 years in Green Bay, the exit meetings are important to just get everything on the table that’s happened, flush the bulls–t that you need to move forward away from, and then refine your focus moving forward.”
Rodgers also said Tuesday that the subject of a reunion with his former Green Bay Packers buddy Davante Adams hasn’t been discussed.
“There’s a lot of time,” Rodgers said of the speculation. “The first part is to let the emotion get out of it and get away, everyone involved. From Woody [Johnson] to Christopher [Johnson], to Joe [Douglas], to Robert [Saleh], to all the players. Let the emotion out of it and get away from it.
“Devante is a fantasic player. He also plays for the Raiders, so there’s not a lot I can say other than he’s a dear, dear friend and homie.”
According to sources, the Jets did inquire about trading for Adams at the trade deadline before the Raiders rejected their offer.
To add intrigue to the offseason, star wide receiver Garrett Wilson announced he will switch his number from No. 17 to No. 5 next season. No. 5 is the number he wore at Ohio State. Adams, the three-time All-Pro, has won No. 17 for all ten of his seasons in the NFL.
