Aaron Rodgers blamed for Jets being on 'Hard Knocks'

Multiple media personalities reminded quarterback Aaron Rodgers he can look in the mirror regarding why the New York Jets were chosen to be this summer's team for the HBO "Hard Knocks" show. 

"You get Aaron Rodgers, this is what you get," Colin Cowherd said during an edition of his Fox Sports 1 program, per Jared Schwartz of the New York Post. "That’s the downside to being 'Mr. Personality.' 'Mr. Vaccine.' I don’t disagree with everything Aaron Rodgers has said about politics or vaccines. But when you become 'Mr. Polarizing,' you’re noisy in the offseason, you want to tell us where you go in the offseason, condescendingly, sort of snarky, take jabs at lots of people. This is what HBO wants." 

Cowherd was referencing controversial aspects of Rodgers' personality such as his public comments about remaining unvaccinated against COVID-19, his outspoken support of legalizing psychedelic substances and his alleged interest in conspiracy theories related to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. 

Cowherd noted the Jets are the NFL's most interesting team this summer due to landing the four-time Most Valuable Player from the Green Bay Packers. The show host also mentioned that the league doesn't care that neither Jets head coach Robert Saleh nor Rodgers wanted anything to do with "Hard Knocks" ahead of the upcoming season. 

"The downside of being a quarterback with an opinion on vaccines, an opinion on media, and wanting his own voice, being viewed as polarizing and building his brand — that’s why the Jets got it," Cowherd added. "That’s exactly why the Jets got it." 

Earlier this week, Rodgers directly said the Jets had the "Hard Knocks" assignment forced "down our throats" and against their wishes. Like Cowherd, former Jets quarterback and current "The NFL Today" analyst Boomer Esiason feels little sympathy for Rodgers. 

"The reason the Jets are on 'Hard Knocks,' Aaron Rodgers, is because you’re here," Esiason said during Friday's edition of the WFAN morning program, as shared by Ryan Chichester of Audacy. "Listen, man, you’re a star, and this is a storyline. If you’re in the TV or documentary business, you want the best storyline you could possibly have to show the audience. You just so happened to want to come to play for the Jets…you’re gonna be the guy. That’s why you guys are on 'Hard Knocks.' It’s pretty easy."

Rodgers thus far has generated zero drama across the first few months of his Jets tenure. HBO is hoping that trend ends once their cameras are around the team.