Ex-Jets HC bashes Aaron Rodgers for hypocritical comments

Everyone has an opinion on Aaron Rodgers. The NY Jets quarterback has never been one to shy away from making headlines, and that much has remained true since joining the organization last offseason.

From his potential political endeavors to his controversial comments, Rodgers knows how to stay in the limelight for better or worse. That was the case this spring following Rodgers' "unexcused" absence from mandatory minicamp.

While the Jets coaches and players have insisted that Rodgers' absence was no big deal, that hasn't stopped media members and analysts from taking the time to bash the four-time MVP for his decision.

Add former Jets head coach Eric Mangini to the list of Rodgers' detractors. In a recent appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Mangini criticized Rodgers for missing Jets minicamp while pointing out the supposed hypocrisy in his comments made earlier in the year.

"What’s disappointing about that situation is [Aaron Rodgers] was the one who talked about the importance of limiting distraction. He was the one who would talk about the importance of focusing on only football. And all the things that he preaches in the press conference. And then you get in this situation where he misses the mandatory minicamp, and I get that he was at the voluntary part and I think that’s great. But it’s not a secret when mandatory minicamp is."

- Eric Mangini

Eric Mangini is not happy about Aaron Rodgers missing NY Jets minicamp

Mangini insisted that he was still a fan of Rodgers as a quarterback, pointing out that he predicted the Jets to win the AFC East last season before Rodgers' injury. He later said that he believes Rodgers "still has the ability to win" in 2024.

However, Mangini clearly believes Rodgers missing minicamp is an unnecessary distraction for the Jets organization. The ex-NFL coach referenced Rodgers' comments from earlier in the year in which he pleaded with the Jets to keep distractions out of the building.

"Anything in this building that we're doing that has nothing to do with winning needs to be assessed. Everything that we do has to have a purpose ... the (expletive) that has nothing to do with winning has to get out of the building."

- Aaron Rodgers

While it's easy to see where Mangini is coming from, Rodgers missing two days of padless practices in the middle of June obviously shouldn't have been as big of a story as it became. But that's what happens when you're dealing with Rodgers, the Jets, and the dead period in the NFL's news cycle.

By all accounts, the Jets don't seem to be upset about Rodgers missing two days of practice, especially when he gave the team months of advance. His own teammates have issued statements of support as well.

Despite this, everyone from Mike Tannenbaum to Eric Mangini to seemingly every NFL analyst on TV believes that Rodgers' absence is not only a distraction but that it could have a tangible impact on the Jets' upcoming 2024 season.

Would the Jets have preferred Rodgers to be in attendance for minicamp? Of course. But will it have any impact on the Jets' success (or lack thereof) in 2024? Of course not. Training camp can't arrive soon enough.