This Sunday, after sitting out last week’s matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs following a COVID-19 diagnosis, Aaron Rodgers is expected to be back under centre as the Green Bay Packers host the Seattle Seahawks.
But if you’re struggling to switch the discourse around Rodgers back to football ahead of his return, you’re not alone.
A lot has happened over the course of the past two weeks. We went from watching him orchestrate a thrilling victory in Arizona to watching him deliver a lengthy diatribe in which he spread harmful misinformation about COVID-19 and the efficacy of vaccines while drudging up long-disproven narratives and tired, over-used tropes in his own self-interest.
This all begs the question: Will this change the way we view Rodgers and his legacy in the league?
This situation is so difficult to navigate in part because it isn’t really about his decision not to get vaccinated, nor is it about agreeing or disagreeing with his political leanings.
(An important note: Yes, vaccines are our way out of this pandemic – and in that regard, the NFL as a whole has done an impressive job: the league’s latest vaccine rate among players is 94.1 per cent while 100 per cent of team and league staff are vaccinated. But the fact remains that Rodgers is allowed to choose not to get the jab, whether for allergy concerns or otherwise.)
This is about Rodgers’ words and his platform, and how he chooses to wield his influence in a divided society that’s often quick to ignore science and facts and embrace opinion as truth regardless of its source.
Surely, he must understand the power that comes with being one of the most prominent faces and voices of the NFL – it’s the very reason countless companies have handed him sponsorship deals in exchange for his endorsements. The fact that Rodgers spoke of consulting “new friend” Joe Rogan about COVID treatments (including, yes, popular horse de-wormer Ivermectin) indicates he himself understands that people readily turn to unconventional sources for “knowledge” on topics best left to actual scientists and medical experts… right?
In the wake of his months-long lie about his vaccination status in the public eye, Rodgers and the Packers have not gone completely unpunished. Earlier this week, the NFL fined the Packers $300,000 for breaking protocols. The league also issued Rodgers individually a $14,650 fine for attending a Halloween party unmasked – pocket change for a quarterback whose 2021 signing bonus alone was worth $14 million.
Even Pat McAfee poked fun at Rodgers’ reference to Rogan during a follow-up appearance on his show on Tuesday – proof that perhaps Rodgers’ irresponsible and unfounded claims won’t go unchecked among his NFL peers.
As an athlete, we will continue to measure Rodgers’s role and legacy by his passing yards and touchdown tallies and game-winning drives. But as a human with a strong platform, his power is in his words.
Editor’s note: With overwhelming consistency, research has shown vaccinations against COVID-19 are safe and effective. Residents of Canada who are looking to learn more about vaccines, or the country’s pandemic response, can find up-to-date information on Canada’s public health website.
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Wilson returns in search of success(ion)
As we know, Rodgers isn’t the only big name expected to make his return in this Packers-Seahawks matchup. On the other side of the ball, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson is back in the lineup after missing three games while recovering from finger surgery.
He even made his own hype video to up the drama, Succession-style:
Wilson was injured during Seattle’s Week 5 loss to the Rams and underwent surgery the next day. At the time, his expected recovery period was expected to keep him sidelined about six weeks. As Wilson said this week, he feels “great.”
“I’m not 100 percent yet but I’m pretty dang close,” he told reporters. “I don’t need to wear a glove. The hand feels strong.”
His earlier-than-expected return couldn’t have come at a better time for the 3-5 Seahawks, whose hope at contending is hanging on by a thread right now — especially considering the strength of their division, with the 8-1 Cardinals leading the NFC West and the 7-2 Rams in second.
In three games without Wilson (Seattle had a well-timed Week 9 bye) the club went 1-2 with backup Geno Smith under centre. In both losses, just three points separated the Seahawks from their opponents (at Pittsburgh in OT, versus New Orleans).
Welcome to L.A., OBJ
It’s been quite a week for Odell Beckham Jr., who started the week on waivers from the Cleveland Browns, spent a few days in the spotlight as the league’s hottest mid-season free agent, and now closes it out by landing in sunny Los Angeles after signing with the Rams.
RT to welcome @obj to LA! pic.twitter.com/lx2aOTPcAU
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) November 12, 2021
Over the course of his two-day stint on the open market, it felt like he could’ve landed in Kansas City or New Orleans, Seattle or Green Bay, perhaps even New England. But as soon as news broke of his new pact with the Rams, it suddenly became crystal clear that it was truly the destination that makes the most sense — and not just because they reportedly presented the most lucrative offer.
With the Rams, Beckham joins an offensive juggernaut with Super Bowl-sized expectations and a coach-quarterback duo that believes victory is obtained through the air. Between top wide receiver Cooper Kupp, versatile WR2 Robert Woods, and the steady presence of tight end Tyler Higbee, Matthew Stafford already had a wealth of offensive weapons to work with. Just think of the single-coverage opportunities!
An interesting development: Saturday’s news of Woods suffering a season-ending ACL tear on Friday all of a sudden just thrust Beckham into the spotlight even more.
So, what can we expect from this partnership?
“We’re gonna get him in the building, we’re gonna see how quickly we can get him up to speed with some stuff,” Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters Friday. “We felt like he makes us a better football team, and it was a really unique situation being able to acquire a player of his calibre under these types of circumstances. I don’t know if there’s ever been a scenario like this that’s kind of been presented. I think a lot of our guys and players who are very important to me were excited about trying to be able to get Odell on board with us, but it’s gonna be a process.”
Now, the question we’re all wondering ahead of Monday’s NFC matchup against the San Francisco 49ers: Will he play?
“As far as his status for this weekend, on Monday night, we’ll see,” McVay said. “We’re gonna take it a day at a time, but if we feel like he can help us go compete against the 49ers then we’ll have him ready to go and those will be conversations that’ll take part between myself and Odell and the rest of the people that are involved.”
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