Earlier this week, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers called NFL award voter Hub Arkush "a bum, after the sportswriter recently said that he won't support Rodgers' candidacy for MVP, based on his character and off-field drama.
Rodgers also argued that Arkush's biggest issue with him is his stance on the COVID-19 vaccines, and voters shouldn't have their minds made up for awards before the season begins. Arkush later apologized for his comments, saying that he made a "big mistake" since voters aren't supposed to disclose plans.
"Should the media be the sole decision makers when it comes down to MVP? I think the answer is no," JR said during the JR SportBrief show on Thursday. "We've heard, had enough instances over the years where a media member says something ridiculous like what Hub said. Last time I checked, if Rodgers wasn't on the Packers -- if we swapped him out with Baker Mayfield -- they'd probably be a whole lot of nothing right now...
"I believe that these leagues need to allow players to vote as well. If you want to do half-and-half, weigh it 75-25, whatever you want to do, I believe players should have a say-so. The players should have a vote as well. And I think you take that percentage and give out the award. I think you might have changes, a legitimate space... I don't believe players will get a vote, but they should..."
Rodgers, the reigning league MVP, has performed at a high level this season. Through 16 games, the 38-year-old owns a 68.6 completion percentage with 3,977 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, and four interceptions, and his passer rating (111.1) ranks first among qualifying quarterbacks. In addition, he hasn't committed a single turnover since Week 10.
Green Bay (13-3), which has clinched the NFC's first-round bye, will visit the Detroit Lions in a Week 18 matchup on Sunday. According to FiveThirtyEight, the Packers currently have a 27-percent chance to win Super Bowl 56, and Rodgers is the consensus favorite to repeat as MVP. The last player to take home the hardware in consecutive years was Peyton Manning (2008-09).
JR's complete thoughts on Rodgers and award voting can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the JR SportBrief show on Twitter @JRSportBrief and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.