Jets' Aaron Rodgers expands on controversial comments about distractions

While speaking with SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio host Adam Schein on Thursday, quarterback Aaron Rodgers expanded on why he doesn't think it's hypocritical to want members of the New York Jets to avoid so-called distractions, considering his numerous off-the-field interests. 

"You know, the comments that I made were intentionally meant to be vague because as opposed to some of the stuff that actually went on last year, I’m not a leak," Rodgers explained, as shared by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "I’m not somebody who is going to put a ton of our business out there ... I believe you should handle things in house. That’s what I was referring to when being a distraction. I think there’s a way of doing things."

In December, Rodgers complained that certain unnamed individuals within the Jets were responsible for "a bunch of leaks" after it was reported that then-New York quarterback Zach Wilson was "reluctant to step back into the starting role" at that time. In his end-of-season comments, Rodgers insisted that the Jets needed to eliminate "the bull---- that has nothing to do with winning." 

Since then, Rodgers has continued to share conspiracy theories during podcast interviews. While he admitted earlier this week that he considered serving as a running mate for independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. this year, the future Hall of Famer also said such potential distractions "are offseason things" that won't impact him being "all about football" from now through New York's final game of the upcoming season. 

During his chat with Schein, Rodgers defended his many podcast appearances and also indicated he will continue his weekly in-season spots on "The Pat McAfee Show." Individuals within the Jets seem fine with letting Rodgers be himself as long as the 40-year-old is able to take more than four meaningful snaps later this year. 

"I mean, nobody has talked to me about any of these things being distractions," Rodgers added during his comments. "... There’s great conversations in the locker room, and nobody is worried about any distractions. Nobody even said anything about the whole V.P. stuff during the entire thing. It wasn’t even a topic of conversation. No worries, no nothing."