Does anyone really think the Jets will win more games in 2024 if Aaron Rodgers does not make weekly appearances on Pat McAfee’s ESPN show?
Even before Rodgers became tangled up in controversy with ABC late night host Jimmy Kimmel, there were media types who fretted over the McAfee connection and encouraged Woody Johnson to pull the plug on his quarterback’s jam sessions with the former NFL punter. They also, relying on circumstantial evidence, said Rodgers was running and ruining the Jets.
Mouths, including FAN’s Norman Julius Esiason, said coming off Gang Green’s disastrous 2023 season, Rodgers must be all about football business in ‘24. The mere perception of the quarterback being overly concerned with making headlines for McAfee’s show (Rodgers is reportedly paid an annual $1 million appearance fee), and any distractions those spots produce, is detrimental to Jets football business.
Those enrolled in this choir are now saying “we told you so” in the aftermath of the Rodgers/Kimmel fiasco. Last Tuesday during his McAfee appearance, Rodgers, prompted by show regular A. J. Hawk, kiddingly— albeit recklessly and with no evidence — linked Kimmel to lowlife, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s client list. Kimmel responded on X by threatening to take legal action against Rodgers, who he has gone back and forth with in the past.
On the air Wednesday, McAfee tried smoothing things out. He explained that unlike other offerings, his show, including Rodgers’ appearances, are not scripted or plotted prior to air. McAfee also admitted to having a short attention span. Any attention deficit disorder has not prevented him from recognizing the value of Rodgers’ appearances.
With the ESPN platform, McAfee is trying to expand his audience. Rodgers’ Tuesday appearances have become appointment viewing. They have served as an enticement for viewers, especially new ones, to watch McAfee’s show. Rodgers is one of the NFL’s most polarizing figures. He’s a condescending operator who holds a grudge.
Yet a large part of Rodgers’ appeal on ESPN is the unpredictable nature of his segments. They snugly fit with the edge-of-the-cliff ambiance of McAfee’s daily two hours on ESPN. McAfee’s show lacks the Hee-Haw charm of the ManningCast. And yet it combines heavy doses of unique football insight with a train-wreck quality.
The Bristol Faculty, and their bosses at Disney, knew the perils of licensing the rights to McAfee’s show for five years at $15 million per, and it wasn’t just the possibility of McAfee, or a member of his cast, blurting out an F-Bomb at lunchtime. The suits also were gladly paying big moolah to market dysfunction and danger. Or at least the threat of it.
McAfee’s fast-paced cutting from crewman-to-crewman limits soliloquies and leads to unexpected twists. Now they hit the motherload: Rodgers vs. Kimmel under McAfee’s Thunder Dome. Yet sanctimonious Gasbags are still calling for the Jets to void Rodgers’ contract if he crosses the line on the McAfee show — whatever that means. Their proclamations fail to realize this is now the media world they all live in.
Crossing over the line, or just the threat of it, is celebrated. And sold to the highest bidder.
WHAT CONTROVERSY?
They can’t have it both ways.
While often self-celebrating its own journalistic chops, ESPN initially ran and hid from the Jimmy Kimmel/Aaron Rodgers controversy both on TV and radio. Even Stephen A. Smith had to scurry to the friendly confines of his own YouTube show to discuss the controversy.
The exception to this apparent gag order was ESPN-98.7 afternoon-drive team of Michael Kay, Don La Greca and Peter Rosenberg.
They raised the question of why suits at Disney “who we work for” appear to be hiding under their desks. “Our bosses [at Disney] should say something about this,” Kay said on Wednesday.
Amen.
STILL NO KNICK TALK
Wow, if that press release could only answer questions.
Predictably, Knicks prez Leon (Sphinx) Rose presented his take on the ‘Bockers trade of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to Toronto for OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn through canned statements.
Unfortunately, there was no live follow-up. According to Fred Katz, The Athletic’s Knicks beat reporter, Rose declined a request to hold an on-the-record session with the local media to discuss the trade.
The Sphinx has not chatted with the “independent” media since 2021.
Maybe this is why much of the local coverage of the trade was reduced to saluting Rose, whose son is Anunoby’s agent, for making a “good” trade.
The one-sided PR push worked. A segment of Valley of the Stupid pundits reasoned the trade would vault the Knicks into the Eastern Conference Finals contention. They also “guaranteed” there would be another “big” player acquisition down the road.
Ya think Rose is actually whispering in a few select ears?
GAME BALL MYSTERY
Then there are intrepid NBA voices who will look for alternative sources to get Knicks info — like SiriusXM’s NBA Radio morning mouths Frank Isola and Brian Scalabrine.
Rose may not be talking to them but on Friday Sandra Brunson (Jalen Brunson’s mom) was. Among other things, they asked her if the family had the basketball from Jalen’s 50-point performance against Phoenix last month? Sandra Brunson wasn’t sure.
An incredulous Scalabrine said: “Whoa, whoa, whoa! Giannis (Antetokounmpo) gave his ball to his mom. Shouldn’t that ball belong to you at this point? Without you, he ain’t scoring 50!”
Mrs. Brunson: “You know what? That’s a good point!”
Word is Leon (Sphinx) knows where the ball is but he ain’t talking.
AROUND THE DIAL
Despite them getting preachy towards the end of their Friday WFAN interview with Trevor Bauer, Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata got the most they could out of the former Cy Young Award winner. Bauer, who also did an interview with Fox News on Thursday, appears to be on a media redemption tour designed to help him get back into baseball. Sexual assault allegations short-circuited Bauer’s career in 2021. … Phil Simms told the Post if CBS Sports doesn’t sign him to a new contract when his current one expires after the Super Bowl, which CBS airs on Feb. 11, he will look for another NFL media gig. His “The NFL Today” colleagues, James Brown, Bill Cowher, and N.J. Esiason are also all working under expiring contracts. The man who hired them — CBS Sports boss Sean McManus — is retiring in April. Will his successor, David Berson, blow out the incumbents (with the exception of Nate Burleson and J.J. Watt) and look to introduce a younger pregame show cast? … The NFL’s ritual of firing coaches on Monday (often referred to as Black Monday) could suck the oxygen out of the final countdown to Michigan vs. Washington in the College Football Championship. Moving forward, the impresarios running CFC might want to play the title tilt on Thursday night, which thanks to the NFL, has become a football night. … Here’s hoping ESPN does the right thing and gives Wolverine pom-pom man Desmond Howard Monday night off.
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: MATT BARRIE
For finally saying “NO.” Working the Duke’s Mayo Bowl with Dan Mullin on ESPN, Barrie and his partner were “treated” to sandwiches slathered in different flavors of the mayo. But when offered some mayo-soaked nachos, Barrie said: “No, I’m not doing it.” Wise move.
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: DAVID TEPPER
For throwing a drink in the direction of fans seated near him. Guess we now know how the multi-billionaire Carolina owner feels about NFL loyalists. He was fined $300,000. Stephen A. Smith said Tepper being forced to watch his team play is punishment enough.
DOUBLE TALK
What (Giants offensive coordinator) Mike Kafka said: “Our sole focus has just been on Philadelphia.”
What Mike Kafka meant to say: “Someone’s going to take the fall for this lousy season.”
