Aaron Rodgers Column

NFL week nine started off with a punch to the gut for Packer fans. Their beloved MVP quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, tested positive for COVID-19 during a routine test. The Packers shortly confirmed that backup quarterback Jordan Love would start in their game against the Chiefs on that Sunday. Many fans were outraged that their star player was forced to ride the bench, starting a conversation on vaccine requirements and protocols in the NFL. 

The NFL allows players to choose to remain unvaccinated, but not without strict protocols that prevent the spread of disease. Unvaccinated players must follow many of the same rules that were set in place in 2020. These include mandatory masks, physical distancing, and travel restrictions. Though having petitioned to qualify for an exemption, Rodgers was considered unvaccinated and was supposed to abide by these protocols. Rodgers, not surprisingly, felt he was above such restrictions and has been unmasked during indoor press interviews at Lambeau Field. His inability to follow the rules landed him a 10-day quarantine sentence. 

In August, when the media asked Rodgers if he was vaccinated, he responded by stating that he was “immunized.” What exactly does this mean? 

Immunization implies that he believed he had taken action toward protecting himself from COVID-19 without directly receiving the vaccine. Regardless of his views on vaccination, his attempt to undermine the rules and mislead the general public on the status of his vaccination posed a threat to those around him and, more importantly, their playoff chances. Despite the politically charged nature of the subject, Rodgers should not have lied in an attempt to disregard the restrictions set in place. 

Rodgers is not the only player to refuse the vaccine. Carson Wentz, quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, also decided against receiving it, as did Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins. However, Wentz was vocal about his decision and did not mislead the public and those around him. He explained that this was a decision that he and his family believed was for the better. Having been open about his personal beliefs, Wentz abided by the guidelines set in place and the Colts have had no issues since. Such moral fortitude and courage apparently were inaccessible to the Packer prima donna, who took the coward’s way of anonymity. Given his history of hiding behind anonymous sources, leaks, and the Pat McAfee Show, none of this should be surprising. Only disappointing.

By Maxwell Carlin

Oshkosh West Index Volume 118 Issue 3

November 29 2021