Aaron Rodgers Calls Out ESPN, While on ESPN (About Russini Scandal)
Rodgers goes off on network, while appearing on The Pat McAfee Show!
Aaron Rodgers had a plan when he got to the set of The Pat McAfee Show on Monday. Rodgers immediately asked McAfee how much longer the show had before hour three where ESPN stops the broadcast, and the show only continues on the internet platforms (YouTube, ESPN Unlimited, Disney+, TikTok, and X).
“We’ve got eight minutes until the internet.” McAfee could be heard saying to Rodgers as he walked onto the stage set up on the Steelers’ outdoor practice facility.
“We got 8 minutes. We got a lot to talk about.” Rodgers said shortly after he sat down.
McAfee’s first question was about Rodgers’ decision to make this his final season.
“I’m going to plead the fifth.” Rodgers said. “Like that absolute coward, Tony Fauci. Absolute coward. Are you kidding me?”
Rodgers ranted about the coverage over his vaccine status in 2021 when he infamously lied to the media about being vaccinated, before adding “But there was another scandal this offseason too. Involving a voter for MVP, for coach of the year.”
“Where’s the camera?” Rodgers asked before looking directly into the ESPN camera and saying “How much time did your network spend on that?”
“There’s been a lot of silence.” Rodgers added a few moments later. “I feel like, you know, like 19 seconds about one subject. Oh, don’t talk about that. You know, we can talk about Rex Ryan’s foot fetish, but please don’t talk about, you know, anything else right now. Don’t talk about any scandals…”
Rodgers was clearly referring to the Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel scandal that’s been the talk of the offseason. ESPN, who is 10% owned by the NFL, has shamelessly dodged coverage of the subject. Fox Sports and CBS Sports haven’t spent much time on it either. The only major sports network that offered any real coverage of Vrussini-gate was Pro Football Talk, which is distributed by NBC Sports.
The most direct hit came toward the middle of the 28 minute interview, during the portion that was only available via YouTube, ESPN Unlimited, Disney+, TikTok and X, when Rodgers said “I don’t get to do this show as much as I would like to do, I think, from time to time. So, especially when I get a chance to get after that gutless organization you have to be connected with…I just don’t care anymore.”
ESPN can’t be happy that Rodgers called them out on their own network. McAfee is reportedly in negotiations with the network for a deal that could pay north of $60 Million a year. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of control the network expects for their money. According to McAfee, the previous agreement was strictly a licensing deal. Pat claims he still has full control over what he says and who he has on his show. For $60 Million a year, I doubt that’s still going to be the case (If it ever was). Aaron Rodgers highlights exactly why ESPN surely sees it necessary to control McAfee and his guests.
-Written by Seattle Mike