From Diva to Catfish—Aaron Rodgers hasn’t exactly been winning any popularity contests since Robert Saleh’s firing. Some are even pointing fingers at A-Rod for pulling the strings behind the scenes despite his denial. Nobody knows for sure what’s happening in the Jets’ war room, but the rumor mill is churning. And now, an ex-NFLer is taking it one step further, questioning whether Rodgers ever belonged in the same breath as Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

Ryan Clark wasn’t holding back on ESPN’s Get Up. He said: “The Aaron Rodgers that we mention in the names of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning was a catfish.” Ouch. He went on to highlight how both Brady and Manning transformed their 2nd Act teams, instantly boosting wins and respect across the board. But Rodgers? Not so much. According to Clark, the magic hasn’t quite translated to the Jets, and it’s starting to show.

Everyone always praised Rodgers as the most physically gifted quarterback. But Clark argued that he’s lacking something critical—the intangibles. Leadership, the ability to uplift a locker room, that extra gear Brady and Manning had. It’s tough to hear, but let’s be real: Rodgers’ second act isn’t living up to the hype. And, as Clark put it, “Aaron Rodgers had every physical tool to have been the greatest quarterback to have played this game,” but something’s lacking in the DNA.

Rodgers isn’t just competing with the ghosts of his MVP seasons anymore—he’s up against the legacies of Brady and Manning. When Manning went to Denver, the offense instantly improved to No. 2 in the NFL. Brady took Tampa Bay from mediocre to Super Bowl champs in a year. These weren’t just quarterback moves; they were franchise-altering decisions. And Rodgers? His output is out in the open.

Five weeks in, and the Jets still look like… the Jets. Sure, they’ve picked up a couple of wins. But the real ones know that dubs against the struggling Titans and Patriots aren’t anything to boast about. Especially when they looked flat in the loss against the Vikes across the pond in London, and the offense? Well, it’s been more amiss than hit. And Rodgers might be contributing to that while struggling by his own lofty standards.

And then there’s the off-the-field chatter. Rodgers skipping the mandatory minicamp to go on a “bucket list” trip to Egypt in June didn’t exactly scream “team-first.” It’s not like Brady and Manning, who were all about getting reps and building chemistry with their teammates in the offseason. When Brady arrived in Tampa, he was out there grinding with his guys during the height of the pandemic. Rodgers’ priorities? Maybe a little different.

So, is Aaron Rodgers the guy to turn the Jets around? Clark doesn’t seem to think so. “Both Brady and Manning had the team-first mentality, and Rodgers has Rodgers-first mentality,” one commenter on X pointed out. That sums it up, right? Rodgers has the aura, sure, but aura doesn’t win football games. If things don’t turn around fast, Gang Green could be looking at another season of unmet expectations.

Aaron Rodgers is in a ‘now or never’ situation!

Aaron Rodgers’ clock is ticking, and with the Jets sitting at 2-3, his once-shiny second act in New York is losing its luster. And we are going to just use numbers to explain why he is under so much criticism. Forget the Saleh firing. Or Nathaniel Hackett’s demotion. And everything in between. Let’s talk about all things A-Rod. Sure then, here it is.

His completion rate is a near career-low 61.0%, and the interceptions are piling up, with a rough three-pick outing in the 23-17 loss to the Vikings. Rodgers’ day? A pick-six in the first quarter, a late-game injury, and an all-too-familiar comeback attempt that fell just short. It wasn’t the kind of performance fans expect from a four-time MVP.

Rodgers didn’t sugarcoat it post-game, though. After all, “If we stick together… I’m confident we’ll get this thing straightened out,” he said. Classic Rodgers—calm, confident, and unfazed by outside noise. But, it’s about time he starts listening to those noises. Why? The Jets’ slow starts are killing them. Two early three-and-outs, a brutal pick-six, and missed chances? That’s not how you win games in the NFL.

And the thing is you expect the guy with almost 2 decades of pro football experience in the bag to know the remedy of winning games. Maybe the remedy’s gotten old or Rodgers’ age is catching up to him. In either case, it’s not a good look for Gang Green who are chasing the elusive Lombardi trophy.

The Jets face a critical week 6 MNF clash with the Bills. First one since Saleh’s out. So, a lot of eyes would be on Rodgers. The game would either start a redemption arc for the veteran or the fans would have more reasons to criticize him. What do you think it’ll be?