When ESPN’s Adam Schefter dropped the bombshell on NFL Draft Night April 29 that 37-year-old 2021 Most Valuable Player Aaron Rodgers would not return to the Green Bay Packers, it pulled the rug out from the sports entertainment community. Fixated on the Draft, the Rodgers story suddenly eclipsed Draft-night, but only to some extent because most fans and sports writers couldn’t process the implications. But that didn’t stop 72-year-old CBS NFL analyst Hall-of-Fame, four-time [1974, 1975, 1976 and 1979] Super Bowl-winning quarterback Terry Bradshaw from unloading on Rodgers. Bradshaw’s diatribe on New York’s WFAN’s radio mirrors something much more than Rodger’s decision to move on from Green Bay. “It makes him look weak,” Bradshaw told “Moose & Maggie Show May 4. If anything, it shows the opposite of weakness.
Bradshaw’s rant about Rodgers gives an free X-ray into Bradshaw in his post-football career as a CBS NFL analyst. “Him being that upset shows me how weak he is. Who the hell cares who you draft? He’s a three-time MVP in the league and he’s worried this guy [GM Gutekunst] over this guy they drafted last year at No. 1?” Bradshaw misses the point regarding Rodgers’ beef with Packer’s Coach Matt LaFleur or GM Brian Gutekunst, both of whom discussed nothing with Rodgers about their decision to draft quarterback Jordan Love as Rodgers’ understudy in 2020. Bradshaw gets it wrong that Rodgers feels threatened by Love. Rodgers is a singular NFL talent, agreed by most NFL analysts, regardless of his one Super Bowl 45 win, Feb. 6, 2011. Unlike seven-time Super Bowl-inning quarterback Tom Brady, Rodgers commands more attention from NFL fans.
Unlike any other quarterback to ever play the game, there’s something utterly unique, ballet-like about how Rodgers plays the game. Not only does he have all the arm-strength and moves to beat any defense, there’s a coolness in the line of fire that separates Rodgers from everyone else. That “it” factor unique to Aaron Rogers is exactly what bothers Bradshaw, something he didn’t have in his 14 NFL seasons. Bradshaw played for the Pittsburgh Steelers during a time when their defense, the so-called “Iron Curtain,” powered the team to its Super Bowl victories, dominating the league during the mid-1970s. Rodgers learned something valuable watching Brady say sayonara to the Patriots, despite Patriot’s soon-to-be Hall of Fame Coach Bill Belichick letting Tom walk. Brady showed Belichick what happens when you lose your MVP, winning the Super Bowl in Tampa Bay.
When Bradshaw went over the top ripping Rodgers, you knew that something else was going on. “And for him to be upset, my God, I don’t understand that. Pittsburgh drafted Mark Malone No. 1, Cliff Stoudt in the third or fourth round—I had them coming at me from all angles . . .,“ Bradshaw said, making the Rodgers thing about him back in the day. Bradshaw doesn’t get that Rodgers is today’s drawing card for the Green Bay Packers, just like Brady was for the New England Patriots. While they have their loyal fan base, a lot of Patriots’ fans are following Brady in Tampa Bay. Unlike Bradshaw at the Steelers, Rodgers is the main attraction to sports networks broadcasting Packers games. Winning MVP last season, you’d think that the Packers had more regard for Rodgers then to let LaFleur and Gutekunsk cut Aaron out of he loop, not to mention LaFleur’s coaching in the NFC Championship gamea
Rodgers reaction to the Packers front-office is all about the franchise not recognizing the fact that Jordan Love or any other quarterback would have minimal appeal to networks picking which games to televise. Some press reports suggest that Rodgers wouldn’t return to Green Bay for the 2021-2022 season unless the Packers fire Gutekunst. Bradshaw projects all his issues onto Rogers, not realizing that Rodgers, as ESPN’s No. 1 host Stephen A. Smith likes to say is “that bad man.” Smith recognizes star power when he sees it, knowing that no one in the NFL, including 25-year-old Super Bowl 54-winning Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, has Rodger charisma. When Rodgers guest-hosted on Jeopardy in April, America saw the “it” factor that makes Rodgers so unique. Bradshaw can’t fathom that Rodger’ makes everything happen for the Green Bay Packers.
Bradshaw tipped his hand revealing the extent of his vitriol toward Rodgers, that can only be explained by pure green envy. “Here’s what I would do. I wouldn’t budge. Let him gripe. Let him cry. Retire. You are [37]. Go ahead and retire. See you later. I’m really strong about stuff like that. It just makes him look weak. How dare you draft somebody?” Bradshaw ranted. Bradshaw lets his personal issues color his analysis, knowing that Rodgers is maybe the biggest TV draw in NFL history. No one at Green Bay Packers, Inc. thinks like Bradshaw. They think only about the brand, maintaining the bottom line for the franchise. “Obviously he doesn’t need the money. Probably he should just retire and go do ‘Jeopardy’ . . .Either he gives in or, or Green Bay don’t give in. Move on,” Bradshaw said. When Bradshaw referenced “Jeopardy,” he exposed for all to see his uncontrolled jealousy.
