Aaron Rodgers Aggressively Defends His Unexcused Absence At Jets Minicamp

Everything that New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers does these days is looked at under a microscope, which is why the four-time NFL MVP decided to set the record straight about why him no-showing Jets minicamp to take a trip to Egypt really is a non-story.

During a recent interview on the “Pardon My Take” podcast, Rodgers simultaneously explained his side of the story while also lowkey putting those who can’t help but keep dragging his name through the mud in their place.

“The thing I think that people don't understand was that when I was in the NFC North years ago, there used to be a real thing called minicamp,” Rodgers said . “It was five practices in three days — Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Two practices on Friday, two on Saturday and one on Sunday. Now, it's not minicamp.

“…They can arbitrarily put a tag on whatever week of OTAs they want and say ‘This is the minicamp week,’ which makes it somehow more mandatory than the other weeks, but it was an OTA schedule. That's how words can be a little deceiving from time to time. They can make a story about how I missed a minicamp when it was really two OTA days. I came to the first 10.”

Rodgers maintains that the team — specifically head coach Robert Saleh — knew about his trip to Egypt, which was already on the books before the official dates for minicamp were set.

And while his absences were technically unexcused and he was fined, Rodgers says it’s no big deal because he essentially missed two days of what he deems “an extension of OTAs” and he gave the team plenty of notice in hopes of avoiding the media circus that followed once reporters saw he wasn’t at minicamp.

The Jets officially report to training camp on Tuesday and Rodgers is expected to be in attendance.

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