“Veterans Are Bothered”: Aaron Rodgers’ Vacation Tests NY Jets Harmony as Robert Saleh Takes Heat for Jets QB

Aaron Rodgers’ “unexcused” absence from the Jets training camp has shifted all the blame to Robert Saleh for some reason. Maybe that’s because the 4x NFL MVP is not there to handle the media and answer those questions on his account. Also, this is not the first time that Rodgers missed the mandatory training camp. The last time he bailed on training was during his tenure with the Packers.

According to rumors on the NFL streets, Rodgers is on an overseas vacation and the Jets head coach had to put on a smiley face to address the debacle. It might be disappointing for the fans, but not as disappointing as the new roster the New York Jets have built up, a roster that relies on the Super Bowl champion for his expertise. The hosts of First Things First were not happy with what’s going on in the Jets organization.

Besides the obvious things like the Jets players not being happy about Rodgers’ absence, the QBs other shenanigans have the Jets running around in confusion after the 4x MVP declared that he left his VP candidacy to play football. “The Jets had to make contingencies in the real time of ‘what are we going to do if our quarterback runs for Vice President?’ The Jets are not allowed to pick their own offensive coordinator because of this guy,” said Nick Wright.

Chris Broussard of the show poured more fuel to the fire when he added, “We had Ephraim Salaam who played 15 years in the league as an offensive lineman on our show The Odd Couple last night, right, and he said that if he were a veteran playing, he said, he believes that the veterans are bothered by this.”

“But the veterans are like, ‘Look, I had to come here and work for these two days, you’re going to be on a vacation?’” pointed out the analyst. But no matter what happens, all of this would be wiped away if Aaron Rodgers lands the Jets in a respectable position this year. If anyone believes in A-Rod the most, it’s James Jones, who gave his take on the “mandatory” training camp.

Aaron Rodgers missing the mandatory training camp is not a big deal

Missing the first day of training will set Rodgers back about $17k, the next day it’s about $34k and the fine for missing 3 day will be about $51 million and just like that, Rodgers lost $101,716, to be precise. But if money and training are not a problem, then what is? Per James Jones, nothing substantial happens in the mandatory training.

“First day, you got out there you have a little practice, no veterans take any reps. The second day, team bonding activity, paintballing, ice hockey, whatever you want to do,” said James Jones and stated, “The third day, you go home. So, I know everybody is really jumping on this ‘mandatory’ word, but it is not that serious with mandatory.”

But the thing is, the majority of the Jets’ roster is unfamiliar with Aaron Rodgers, at least on the field. He made a bold claim of bringing a trophy home last season and unfortunately suffered an injury. He expressed in January that things “that has nothing to do with winning needs to get out of the building. So, that’ll be the focus moving forward,” and it’s really hard to point out what’s relevant at this point.

There are always two sides to a coin. In this case, one side is that mandatory training camp doesn’t matter all that much, and the other side might be Rodgers displaying frivolity time and over, repeatedly. Announcing the need for a Super Bowl win, saying that he’s running for VP, saying that the team needs to be serious, and reportedly vanishing in the sunset, it’s hard for football fans and the media to take him seriously.