Are People Wrong About Jets' Aaron Rodgers?

There's a common conception surrounding Aaron Rodgers when he steps on a football field. No one denies the talent. Four NFL MVP awards, a Super Bowl ring and MVP to go along with those accolades, and plenty of memorable moments.

It's his antics and comments off the field that have drawn the opinion of many on the starting quarterback of the New York Jets.

And it might not be the most accurate.

As New York begins training camp, the image of Rodgers off the field to the public isn't one that his teammates share in the locker room. As the players begin to make their way to 1 Jets Drive over the next day, it's clear that Rodgers' public perception isn't how people closest to him see.

"He's been the same person every day. Last year, going into this year, he was in every day during OTAs and grinding," Quinnen Williams said Tuesday during New York's arrival to training camp. "He's a very hardworking person on the field and off the field. He does the things necessary to be a great person, an MVP, Hall-of-Fame caliber quarterback that he is...He sets the standard."

Williams is just one of several players who has commended Rodgers for his leadership abilities and his persona as he enters the second year of his time with the Jets.

Not everything has gone right for Rodgers during that span, though. Four plays into his debut, the future Hall-of-Famer suffered a torn Achilles that cost him the entire season.

Without their desired signal-caller, the Jets fumbled to a 7-10 record and a 13th straight year without a playoff berth.

During his recovery, Rodgers made consistent appearances on the Pat McAfee show and kept himself in the public spotlight at times. Through it all, criticism flew down on the quarterback for past comments on vaccinations and his overall perception of some of the world's biggest conspiracy theories.

It all came to ahead during the offseason. Rodgers not only considered a Vice Presidential run with RFK Jr. but took mandatory minicamp off to go on a vacation trip to Egypt - a decision that head coach Robert Saleh called "unexcused" and "subject to a fine."

The distractions, something Rodgers himself said must end inside the halls of 1 Jets Drive, seemed to follow him due to his decision-making and public comments.

As he prepares for his 20th season in the NFL, though, the misconception doesn't seem to be in the Jets locker room, but with people outside of it. Jets tight end Tyler Conklin stated Tuesday that he was unbothered by Rodgers' minicamp absence, agreeing with other teammates who have spoken out to defend the quarterback.

"It was a fun media story," Conklin said.

Through all the distractions, Rodgers has continued to prepare for his second season with the Jets. One that, he hopes, will last far longer and go deeper than any of the recent years Gang Green has dealt with.

And those closest to the field can see there's still a fire to be great, both on and off the field.

"A guy like that (Aaron) is great. As competitors, as athletes, we want to match that," Garrett Wilson said. "Just the way he is, he's the guy who makes you think in practice. Knowing what he demands...the standard has been set, but a guy like that demands greatness."

Wilson has worked as close to Rodgers as anyone as New York's leading receiver over the last two years. If the Jets are truly to contend for a Super Bowl, they'll need Rodgers and him to be able to hit the ground running immediately once the season starts.

Distractions are aplenty in "The City That Never Sleeps," and Rodgers is no stranger to that.

But if people closest to him believe he isn't the person other people think he is, perhaps it's time to realize people outside of the Jets may be wrong about the Hall-of-Fame quarterback.