Mina Kimes and Aaron Rodgers (Photos via ESPN and Getty Images)
Mina Kimes called out Aaron Rodgers following the quarterback’s scorching criticism of ESPN during his appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” earlier this week.
Aaron Rodgers has made a habit of clashing with NFL media and reporters over the last three years. From telling ESPN’s Adam Schefter to “lose my number” to saying that NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport “doesn’t know s**t about” him, it’s safe to say that Rodgers won’t be meeting ESPN media for some drinks any time soon.
During his appearance on McAfee’s show this week, Rodgers criticized the current ESPN product and accused talents of trying “to stay relevant” with their analysis:
“There’s a lot of people talking about the game now. Both non-former players and former players who are trying to stay relevant fame wise. So the takes and the criticism are a lot different than they were maybe in the mid-2000s.
I’m talking about these experts on TV who nobody remembers what they did in their career. So in order for them to stay relevant, they have to make comments that keep them in the conversation. That wasn’t going on in 2008, 2009. The SportsCenter of my youth, those guys made highlights so much fun.
And that’s what they showed on SportsCenter. Now it’s all talk shows and people whose opinions are so important now and they believe they’re the celebrities now, they’re the stars for just being able to talk about sports or give a take about sports, many of which are unfounded or asinine, as we all know. But that’s the environment we’re in now.”
Mina Kimes addressed Aaron Rodgers’ comments during Thursday’s edition of ESPN’s “First Take” program. Kimes noted that Rodgers ironically made the comments on the very show (McAfee’s) that’s part of ESPN programming.
“He’s espousing that opinion on a personality-driven program that employs him as a personality during the NFL season…I think there’s some subtext that he is saying some of the criticism, perhaps, of his play this year might have been unfounded…
He is well within his rights to note that. But a lot of the criticism this year is substantiated because of his play…there is a lot of validity to this message, but it does seem like the wrong messenger at this moment.”
Aaron Rodgers has made headlines over the past two years by publicly sharing COVID-19 misinformation and other conspiracy theories. Rodgers is a close friend of well-known anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who actually wanted the four-time MVP to be his running mate in his presidential bid.
Rodgers made baseless claims such as Jimmy Kimmel being on Jeffrey Epstein’s client list (there is zero evidence of this), which led to the popular late night TV talk show host threatening legal action.
So no, don’t expect Rodgers to end his habit of starting public feuds with the media and other high-profile celebrities. Rodgers has no filter and seems to get a kick out of stirring the pot, even when it’s unnecessary.
Aaron Rodgers & Jets May Split Up In 2025
It has been reported that Jets owner Woody Johnson endorsed the idea of benching Rodgers amid a miserable 2024 season. Other reports indicate that Rodgers doesn’t want to return to the Jets in 2025, though he has publicly stated he’d like to continue playing here.