Aaron Rodgers sets record straight over unexcused absence in Jets' mandatory minicamp
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has set the record straight over missing the mandatory minicamp. Rodgers was not at the minicamp, which coach Robert Saleh said was inexcusable.
Rodgers talked about his decision to miss the minicamp speaking on the "Pardon My Take" podcast. He said the minicamp was no longer important, so he didn't attend. He did attend the beginning of OTAs, which he felt was more important.
"The thing I think people don't understand is that when I was in the NFC North and playing for that team years ago there used to be a real thing called minicamp. Where it was you had one of them usually sometimes it's right after the draft but either way it was five practices in three days. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. So, two practices on Friday, two on Saturday, one on Sunday," Aaron Rodgers said on "Pardon My Take."
"Now it's not minicamp, they can arbitrarily put a tag on whatever week of OTAs they want. So, this is the minicamp week which makes it somehow more mandatory than the other weeks. But it was an OTA schedule, that's how you know words can be a little deceiving from time by time. You can make a story out the fact that I missed a mini-camp when it was really two OTA days. I came to the first 10," Rodgers added.
Aaron Rodgers said that due to the lack of training, he decided to miss it and instead focus on his body, aiming to be 100% healthy for the start of training camp and the regular season.
There is also no bad blood between Rodgers and the team for missing it, as he feels like it wasn't needed for him.
Aaron Rodgers is one of the favorites to win MVP
Aaron Rodgers' first year with the New York Jets did not go as planned as he tore his Achilles just four snaps in and missed the entire season.
Entering his second season with the Jets, Rodgers has the eighth-best odds to win MVP at DraftKings at +1600, which implies a 5.9% chance. However, the focus for the Jets and Rodgers is to win the Super Bowl and New York has the 11th-best odds at +2000.
The Jets will open their 2024 season on the road against the San Francisco 49ers. New York will have its home opener in Week 3 against the New England Patriots.