Columnist: Pat McAfee an 'accomplice' to controversial Aaron Rodgers vaccine stance

In his latest column for the Indianapolis Star, Gregg Doyel took aim at polarizing ESPN personality Pat McAfee, calling him an "accomplice" to Aaron Rodgers in the New York Jets QB's role in spreading "dangerous misinformation" regarding COVID-19 vaccines.

Rodgers, whose anti-vax stance is well-known, is a handsomely paid guest on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Tuesdays — an arrangement that rightfully makes some squeamish.

Doyel wrote he has reconciled that people with Rodgers' point of view will continue to speak ill of vaccinations. McAfee — a former punter with the Indianapolis Colts — troubles him far more.

Wrote Doyel:

"… once a week, for a few minutes every Tuesday, McAfree lets Aaron Rodgers come onto his show and say the absolute stupidest stuff.

"Like, 'If the vaccine is so great, then how come people are still getting Covid?'

Like, calling Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who has recorded PSA spots urging people to get vaccinated, 'Mr. Pfizer.'"

Doyel wrote McAfee himself doesn't share Rodgers' beliefs on vaccines, though he didn't get direct confirmation of that from the media maven. McAfee refused to talk with the columnist.

"Good luck with your article," he texted Doyel. "Hope all is well. Cheers."

In 2021, ESPN tangled with former "SportsCenter" anchor Sage Steele, who blasted the company for its stance on the coronavirus vaccine. ESPN suspended Steele for her comments. She later sued, and the parties reached an out-of-court settlement. Steele is no longer with the company.

Doyel questioned how the same media company takes one approach with Steele, who believed that the network infringed on her First Amendment rights, while not addressing Rodgers for the same anti-vax beliefs.

After New York Post media writer Andrew Marchand revealed McAfee's payments to Rodgers in early October, it was fair to wonder if somehow this would become a pain point for both McAfee and ESPN.

Doyel's words may have underscored where the problem lies. It's less about the actual arrangement and much more about the belief that the payments could signal some sort of endorsement for controversial points of view.

Steele's problems with ESPN were far bigger than the vaccine mandate Disney enacted in 2020, but she still performed the primary duties of her job despite expressing contrarian views on social media. Rodgers, however, is paid to speak about any and everything that's on his mind, and his association with "The Pat McAfee Show" helped the host's rise in sports media.