Aaron Rodgers could still potentially return to the Jets this season, as their playoff hopes are not completely dead just yet, and the future Hall of Famer could be cleared to play on Christmas Eve against the Commanders.
But looking ahead to next season, when Jets fans hope Rodgers will have a full offseason to get ready to accomplish what many thought he would this season, Evan and Tiki wonder if Rodgers could suddenly become a villain in New York.
Rodgers is currently beloved in the Big Apple despite playing just four snaps, as he arrived as what many considered to be the missing piece of a title contender. The Jets’ offensive woes (Sunday’s second half not withstanding) this season have only highlighted the need for Rodgers, while his comments on the organization have fans fired up about a leader holding players and coaches accountable. But, should he struggle on the field next season, Evan and Tiki would expect a shift change in how fans view the four-time MVP.
“If Aaron Rodgers fails next year, what do you think we’re gonna do? We’re gonna turn on him worse than Mets fans turned on Max Scherzer,” Evan said. “There are plenty of icons in all sports that came to this town and failed…you see how quickly we as New Yorkers turn. If Aaron Rodgers is bad next year, the fans will turn on him, and the team is gonna probably stink. Then we’re gonna blow it up and start over.”
Tiki agrees, and believes if Rodgers doesn’t come back the same at 40 years old after major surgery, Jets fans will look at him in a similar way that they look at Brett Favre.
“He will get crushed,” Tiki said. “All of the good will that he’s built - if Aaron Rodgers stinks next year, he’s gonna be hated here. Think about how the build-up came. The build-up was, ‘He’s our savior.’”