Aaron Rodgers defends Egyptian excursion that earned him $50K Jets fine

Aaron Rodgers spoke on Wednesday about the controversial trip he took to Egypt in June and the trip he is planning to New Orleans next February.

The Jets quarterback was on the field Wednesday for the team’s first training camp practice.

A year after coming to the Jets and generating so much excitement before the disappointment of his Week 1 injury, Rodgers looked like himself throwing the football and then stepped behind the microphone for a State of Aaron session.

It was the first time Rodgers spoke to local reporters since missing the team’s mandatory minicamp in June for his Egyptian vacation. Rodgers defended his decision.

“I made it a point to be at every OTA,” Rodgers said. “I was at the physical day, as a part of the minicamp. Missed the two practices. Had talks with all my teammates about it. I think they understood it was more of an issue outside of the building than it was inside the building.

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“[Coach] Robert [Saleh] and I are great — we had great conversations throughout the offseason. Had a fun one last night in his office until later on. It is what it is. I’m an adult, I knew what I was getting into, I knew the fine that was coming and also knew how much I wanted to be in Egypt. I wish there hadn’t been a conflict scheduling-wise, but it was what it was.”

Rodgers said he has been interested in Egypt for three decades. He described riding a camel while on the excursion with friends.

The 40-year-old quarterback confirmed he was fined by the Jets for missing the practices.

The collective bargaining agreement states the Jets could fine him $50,861.

Rodgers said when he planned the trip, he used last year’s offseason schedule as his guide.

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But the Jets did not have a minicamp last year because they were playing in the Hall of Fame Game, meaning an early report date to training camp.

“I looked at the previous year’s schedule and felt like I was going to be safe,” Rodgers said.

Saleh said the absences were unexcused and he drew some heat at the time for how he handled it publicly. Both Saleh and Rodgers said they are good.

“I’ve had dialogue with Aaron throughout the summer,” Saleh said. “I got some cool pictures from him. [We] had our normal conversations. Nothing has been broken, but the minicamp stuff, we talked beforehand, so we are on the same page with everything that has happened.”

As for his surgically repaired Achilles, Rodgers said he feels good but still needs training camp reps to feel fully back.

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“I think it’s going to take a little time,” Rodgers said. “I feel great. The numbers — we track all the numbers out west where I work out and have for a decade — my movement stuff is tracking the exact same as last year. Actually, a little bit stronger with some of the squatting stuff that we did. I just need the reps. The last 5 percent of being 100 percent is just the mental part.”

Rodgers said he believes the roster is better this year than last, particularly along the offensive line.

With Egypt behind him, Rodgers is now dreaming of a different kind of trip.

“The goal is New Orleans,” Rodgers said of this year’s Super Bowl site. “That’s got to be the focus.”

Is that realistic for the 2024 Jets?

“It has to be the goal,” Rodgers said. “The beauty is, every single year there’s eight to 12 teams, maybe — probably less — but eight to 12 teams that can actually do it, and we’re one of those eight to 12.”

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