Aaron Rodgers was the guy everyone wanted, and he’s the guy they got, and it meant Zach Wilson becoming QB2 while A-Rod completed his redemption arc.
But four plays into the season, Rodgers tore his Achilles and in came Wilson to be the savior – but it’s been nothing but pain since, between tough losses, Wilson’s inconsistency, and, oh yeah, Rodgers grandstanding about a comeback.
And Keith McPherson is done with it.
“He gives me this vibe that it’s all about him, like he wants all the attention and focus, and it’s like, bro, there should have been another quarterback in here, and I think you might have stopped that,” Keith said. “You might have been a voice to say, ‘no, I wanna repair my image, I'm gonna come to New York and show that maybe I didn't tutor Jordan Love, but I'm gonna put my arm around Zach Wilson and I'm gonna make him a better quarterback.”
So, unlike other teams that had functional veteran backups, it was Rodgers and Wilson, just like it was Rodgers and Love in Green Bay, and there was no need for anyone else.
“There’s no need for any of these journeymen that could have been QB2, let’s have Zach as QB2 and he's gonna learn under me,” Keith said, mimicking Rodgers’ internal monologue. “He’s gonna watch my game film and in two or three years, he’s gonna be the quarterback of the Jets, and this is gonna be a great story and I'll be the one to thank for that.”
Instead, here we are, with Rodgers the focal point even when he’s not on the field.
“This guy has the platform on Pat McAfee to talk, and he’s all about himself – and now that I guess he feels like he's been in New York long enough for him to throw out that the Giants suck?” Keith asked. “The Giants are tanking, and you have not done anything to help the Jets! I guess wearing a headset and being around Zach Wilson breathing on him, but they still can’t score a touchdown, bro!”
So, K-Mac has some advice for A-Rod:
“Disappear! Go on another darkness retreat and heal all the way up,” he said. “You’re not getting cleared to play this year, and by the time you do, what is that gonna be for? To face the Patriots and then re-aggravate that injury and then set yourself back for next year? This guy is now souring the thought of next year. What is next year gonna be? It's not a guarantee.”