ESPN
During his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, one of ESPN’s most popular program, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers ripped into the state of the network, saying that it’s different than the way it was 15 years ago.
Aaron Rodgers undeniably has a point about ESPN and sports media at large, which has become far more focused on “hot takes” rather than analysis, particularly with the increasing rise of social media and its subsequent grasp on sports.
What makes Rodgers’ position untenable, however, is that he’s a direct contributor to and cog in the very machine he’s criticizing — in October 2023, Pat McAfee says that the show has paid Rodgers “over a million dollars” for his weekly apperances.
“I’m talking about these experts on TV who nobody remembers what they did in their career. So, in order for them to stay relevant, they have to make comments that keep them in the conversation. That wasn’t going on in 2008, 2009,” Rodgers said on The Pat McAfee Show, hosted by on of ESPN’s top personalities.
“The SportsCenter of my youth, those guys made highlights so much fun. And that’s what they showed on SportsCenter,” he continued. “Now it’s all talk shows and people whose opinions are so important now and they believe they’re the celebrities now, they’re the stars for just being able to talk about sports or give a take about sports, many of which are unfounded or asinine, as we all know. But that’s the environment we’re in now.”
The irony of Rodgers’ argument, as Kimes pointed out — while also acknowledging that his criticism of sports media may be valid — is that he made the comments while on a personality-driven show as a guest who is paid to also be a personality on the show.
“I’m not offended by it at all,” Kimes said. “He’s espousing that opinion on a personality-driven program that employs him as a personality during the NFL season.”
Mina Kimes on Aaron Rodgers calling out ESPN’s personality-driven programming:
“He’s espousing that opinion on a personality-driven program that employs him as a personality during the NFL season.” pic.twitter.com/vO2zesrOEo
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 12, 2024
Stephen A. Smith also had a hilariously typical SAS, claiming that Rodgers wasn’t talking about him because, well, he’s always been this way. He’s certainly got a point, although it might not be the one he thinks he’s making.
“That wasn’t about me. Primarily, his points were made toward former athletes who are now in the media. I knew he wasn’t talking about me when he said this, ‘[ESPN] wasn’t like this back in 2008.’ No, no, I’ve been this way all my life… This ain’t about somebody like me. That man said former players who are trying to keep themselves relevant,” Smith said.
Rodgers and the 3-10 Jets will suit up to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars this weekend for their fourth-to-last game of the season.