Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been receiving extensive amounts of backlash for comments he made last Friday on The Pat McAfee Show regarding his decision not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The story has received substantial coverage on virtually every news outlet, late-night show and sports program across multiple platforms. After it was reported that Rodgers was stunned at the reaction to his comments, Rodgers returned to The Pat McAfee Show yesterday to clarify the situation.
“I made some comments that people might have felt were misleading… and to anybody who felt [that], I take full responsibility for those comments,” said Rodgers. “I understand that this issue, in general, is very charging to a lot of people because we are talking about public health. I totally respect that. I made a decision that was in the best interest based on consulting with my doctors… and I understand that not everybody is going to understand that necessarily. But I respect everybody’s opinion.”
On Tuesday afternoon, cast of The Michael Kay Show on 98.7 ESPN New York spoke about Rodgers’ reappearance on The Pat McAfee Show, and gave their thoughts on the 37-year-old quarterback’s shock towards the negative reaction regarding his comments.
Don La Greca touched on Rodgers’ lack of sensitivity in discussing the precarious subject of vaccination against COVID-19, ahead of a powerful moment on the show.
“Clearly, he’s clueless about the current climate in this country,” said La Greca. “[He] just didn’t realize how polarizing the subject is, and his opinion is. I guess when you surround yourself with people that are like-mind [sic], you figure, ‘Well, everyone’s going to understand what I’m saying.’ Then, he realized that over half the country thinks he’s a tool.”
Almost as if on cue, the hosts took a call from a man named Alan, who, although he is vaccinated, has been in the hospital for the last month battling COVID-19. He spoke openly about his predicament and Aaron Rodgers’ situation as a whole.
“Anybody that doesn’t get the shot — you’re crazy,” said the caller. “The doctor told me when I got here, ‘Did you get the vaccine?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘You have a good chance of walking out of here.’ If I didn’t he actually said I did not. I have a 20-year-old, 26-year-old, and a lonely wife, and I can’t imagine not ever being with them. So when I listen to the Aaron Rodgers stuff, I can’t understand him or anybody that wouldn’t take this vaccine.”
The caller then expressed his gratitude towards The Michael Kay Show during this difficult time in his life, a moment that represents the power radio still garners in today’s oversaturated media landscape.
“I’ve been here a month already, and [these] four hours every day… [help] me get through the day,” said Alan. “It’s invaluable… Even though I’m here and I’m really sick, I’m going to get out of here in a couple weeks. But I wouldn’t [be] If I didn’t have a shot. So please, all you listeners, don’t play around — it’s not a joke.”
Kay and the rest of the on-air crew sent Alan their regards, telling him that they would keep him in their thoughts and look forward to hearing from him when he was discharged from the hospital. Through it all, they will continue to be there for him, and Alan will continue to tune in — congeniality derived from calamity.
“Whether you are for [the vaccine] or against it,” said Rosenberg, “if you are in a situation where you are lonely, I love that we give you four hours a day where you know you have some friends to hang out with.”
