Hall of Famer: Jets' Aaron Rodgers will be motivated by critics

NFL legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice believes New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers heard what some detractors had to say coming off a disappointing final season with the Green Bay Packers. 

"That might energize him a little bit more because he knows the critics," Rice said about Rodgers during a recent chat with Jenna Lemoncelli of the New York Post. "They’re going to say, 'He’s not going to be the Aaron Rodgers of old and the way he dominated in Green Bay,' — and, you know, that might just inspire him to focus a little bit harder and get it done." 

Rodgers earned a Super Bowl ring and four NFL Most Valuable Player awards during his Packers tenure that ran from the 2005 draft through last season. As shown by ESPN stats, though, the 39-year-old ended the 2022 campaign ranked 26th overall with a 41.3 adjusted QBR, and some suggested before Rodgers officially joined the Jets this past spring he was past his prime. 

Of course, it shouldn't be forgotten that Rodgers suffered a broken thumb on his throwing hand in Week 5 last October and later injured his ribs in Week 12. The future Hall of Famer is healthy for Monday's regular-season debut against the Buffalo Bills and impressed Rice last month even though Rodgers threw only eight passes in exhibition play. 

"You can just tell in preseason," Rice added about Rodgers. "I know he only got an opportunity to play in one game (against the New York Giants), but his control of the huddle, the way points work, the way the players play around him — you can tell they want to protect him and they just want to give him the opportunity to be great." 

While speaking with Rich Cimini of ESPN, Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath said he's "never seen anyone better" at the position than Rodgers. Needless to say, the expectations hovering over the 2023 Jets are sky-high. 

As of Monday afternoon, OddsChecker listed the Jets tied for fifth among the betting favorites at +1100 odds to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LVIII. Their journey toward that game begins Monday night at MetLife Stadium.