Aaron Rodgers exposure has officially reached critical mass.
The New York Jets’ starting quarterback is still the topic of many an A-block segment despite leading his team to a paltry 2-6 record, including five straight losses, good for last place in the AFC East. And even though NFL analysts are paid millions of dollars to talk about the league and its many intriguing storylines, including that of the over-the-hill quarterback, some have simply had enough.
Include CBS NFL analyst and former Houston Texans edge rusher J.J. Watt on that list. Watt, in an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, expressed his displeasure with the media’s Rodgers obsession.
“That’ll do it” 😂😂 ~ @JJWatt #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/xa3h0fgg9w
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 30, 2024
In response to reports that Rodgers has found “the fountain of youth” by mixing water with cayenne pepper, an incredulous Watt had had enough. “Is this a joke, man? Like, is this a joke? Like, come on…just go play the ball, man. Just go play the ball, try and get better, score some touchdowns.”
“That’s why he’s drinking the cayenne pepper, dude, trying to get better,” one of McAfee’s producers chimed in.
That’s when the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year couldn’t take it anymore. “Come on man. I’m so sick of all of us talking about this sh*t. Like, it’s not working. They’re 2-6. They’re 2-6,” said Watt, clearly upset with the line of questioning.
He’s not the only member of the media that wants to stop giving the Jets’ soap opera any air. Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo took to ESPN’s First Take on Wednesday to express his displeasure that the network was still talking about the 2-6 Jets.
It’s easy to see where Watt and Russo are coming from. Every segment spent on the lowly Jets is one segment not spent discussing a successful smaller market team, like the 6-2 Houston Texans.
On the other hand, the Jets are objectively one of the most interesting stories in the NFL this season. The team entered the year with sky high expectations, a Super Bowl winning quarterback returning from injury, and weapons on both sides of the ball. Less than halfway through the season, the Jets have fired their head coach and find themselves firmly outside the playoff picture.
When you combine those circumstances with the walking soundbite that is Aaron Rodgers, and his seemingly insatiable appetite for media attention, the story becomes impossible to ignore.
So is Rodgers the most fun for analysts like Watt to talk about? No. Are there teams and players that are more deserving of the spotlight? Absolutely.
But as Watt knows, that’s not how this stuff works. And while his frustration is relatable, it’s the job he signed up for.