Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
Rodgers concedes he misled some on vaccination status
Green Bay — Four days after setting off a firestorm with comments against COVID-19 vaccinations, Aaron Rodgers returned to “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday, Nov. 9, in a more conciliatory tone.
Rodgers acknowledged he was not forthright with his vaccination status in training camp, and that his stance on not getting vaccinated is divisive. He also said his opinion on not getting the vaccine is unchanged.
Backlash from Rodgers’ comments included the end to his partnership with Prevea Health, though State Farm issued a statement last week saying it would stand by the quarterback. And on Nov. 9, the NFL fined the Green Bay Packers $300,000 for violating COVID-19 protocols, while Rodgers and receiver Allen Lazard were fined $14,650 apiece.
“I shared an opinion that is polarizing,” Rodgers said. “I get it. And I misled some people about my status, which I take full responsibility of those comments. But in the end, I have to stay true to who I am and what I’m about. And I stand behind the things that I said, and I have a ton of empathy for people who have been going through the worst part of this pandemic, which has affected all of us in different ways, but so many people with lives that were lost, lives that were forever changed. And I have a ton of compassion and empathy for those people. I’ve tried to help out as much as I can.
“The other stuff is so outside my control, and there’s going to be people that don’t like you and hate you for things you said, or might not even understand what you said or know what you said. They might just see a headline, and that’s fine. I believe that people are entitled to their opinion, even if that’s an opinion that’s unfavorable to me.”
Rodgers played Sunday in the Packers’ 17-0 victory over the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field. Last week he said there was a “small possibility” of missing the game after being forced out Nov. 7 at the Kansas City Chiefs because of his positive COVID-19 test.
Against Seattle, Rodgers was 23-of-37 passing for 292 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. He was sacked once and finished with a quarterback rating of 75.5.
Rodgers said last week he would like to focus his energy on football, not his vaccination opinions.
“I’m an athlete. I’m not an activist,” he said. “So I’m going to get back to doing what I do best, and that’s playing ball. I shared my opinion. It wasn’t one that was come to frivolously. It involved a lot of study, and what I felt like was in my best interest for my body.
“Further comments I’m going to keep between myself and my doctors. I don’t have any further comments about any of those things after this interview.”
Rodgers said the game against the Chiefs was only
the third since joining the Packers that he has watched live on television from home without attending. The first, he said, came when the Packers traveled to the Seattle Seahawks after he had foot surgery in 2006. Rodgers also watched the Packers host the New Orleans Saints after surgery on a broken collarbone in 2017.
He did not enjoy the experience Nov. 7 as the Packers lost to the Chiefs, 13-7. Rodgers was, however, complimentary of backup Jordan Love.
“I’m proud of Jordan,” Rodgers said. “I thought he hung in there. The only thing I told him during the week is to just trust his feet. Because he is a very athletic guy, and I thought he did a nice job of avoiding sacks, getting out of the pocket, making positive plays out of potential sacks. I might’ve gotten sacked in certain situations. He was able to elusively get out of the pocket there and have positive gains.
“There were nerves going, for sure. How could there not be? In a tough environment to play in, one of the loudest outdoor stadiums in the NFL, against the reigning, two-time Super Bowl representatives from the AFC. “So I’m proud of the way he battled.” Rodgers is hoping life returns to normal soon. He referenced keeping all COVID-19 opinions private after his interview with McAfee , though there is still much he has not been asked. Rodgers had no direct response to his partnership with Prevea ending. He also was not asked about the NFL’s investigation into whether the Packers cut corners in the league’s protocol.
In time, Rodgers said he’s looking forward to focusing on football.
“I’m excited about feeling better,” Rodgers said. “I’m excited about moving forward and getting back with my team and doing what I do best, and that’s playing ball.”
More:
Green Bay — The NFL has fined the Green Bay Packers, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Allen Lazard for violations of COVID-19 protocols, the league announced Nov. 9.
ESPN first reported the fines.
The Packers have been fined $300,000, while Rodgers and Lazard were each fined $14,650. In a statement from the league office, violations were outlined as such:
“Press conferences. There’s no argument that Aaron Rodgers should have been wearing a mask at press conferences.
“The league reviewed substantial video from club facility. While the review showed a few isolated instances of Rodgers and Lazard failing to wear a mask in facility, they were substantially compliant otherwise. There was no widespread or systemic mask-wearing violations.
“The club is also fined for the Halloween party. The team didn’t sanction the party but they were aware of it after it took place and did not discipline Rodgers or Lazard and failed to report their violations to the league.”
Rodgers’ and Lazard’s fines stem from the Halloween party. The event took place Halloween weekend, after the Packers had a Thursday night win against the
Arizona Cardinals. Numerous players were seen in social media posts at an indoor venue with the attendance number exceeding the number of people unvaccinated players are allowed to be around outside of the team facility without a mask.
The club — and specifically Rodgers — came under the microscope following the quarterback’s positive COVID-19 test Nov. 3. The positive test resulted in him being put into quarantine protocols, missing the Nov. 7 game, a 13-7 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs. Rodgers started Sunday in the Packers’ 17-0 victory at home against the Seattle Seahawks.
After Rodgers test result was reported, it was revealed the reigning MVP is unvaccinated against the coronavirus. That news in and of itself would not normally be of huge concern, except in August, Rodgers had insinuated he was vaccinated.
Furthermore, while in public, Rodgers had not abided by the protocols agreed upon by the NFL and NFLPA.
Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy issued this statement:
“We respect the League’s findings and we recognize the importance of adherence to the COVID protocols to keep our team and organization safe and healthy. We will continue to educate the team regarding the importance of the protocols and remain committed to operating within the protocols.”