For now, Aaron Rodgers is the toast of New York. However, longtime reporter Tyle Dunne, who covered Rodgers for several seasons, warns that the two-time MVP won’t take the blame if things go south with the Jets.
“If the Jets are 7-1, nobody will say a thing. If they’re 1-7, and the s— hits the fan, I’m sure it will be everyone else’s fault,” Dunne told Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports. “He’s never the guilty party when things go wrong.”
The sports coverage in Green Bay is a far cry from the juggernaut in New York, but Dunne believes Rodgers will attempt to protect himself. Dunne said Rodgers is a “master media manipulator,” adding that he’ll cozy up to a reporter, who will deliver the narrative he wants.
“I would imagine he’ll curry favor with somebody [in the New York Media],” Dunne said. “Someone will be a Rodgers’ apologist.”
Rodgers delivered a sparkling first impression during his introductory press conference. He appeared likable, ready to be the Jets’ knight in shining armor. However, while the marriage is a happy one right now, it can all come crashing down instantly, especially in New York.
With Aaron Rodgers coming to the big city, many worried about how he might handle the spotlight in NYC under a tremendous microscope. But Dunne seems to hint that the scribes and media personalities who will cover Rodgers in New York are the ones who should be on their toes.
Rodgers may have already fashioned an exit strategy if things don’t go as hoped with the Jets. During his news conference, Rodgers insisted that he wouldn’t be “one and done” with the Jets but declined to commit to the team beyond 2023.
With a lot of money invested in Rodgers, getting only a year out of the future Hall of Famer might be the nightmare scenario for the Jets.
Before Rodgers’ trade to the Jets, Green Bay converted his $58.3 million option into a bonus, lowering his base salary to $1.1 million in 2023, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano. However, that number will move to $107.5 million in 2024, meaning a restructuring is on the horizon. While the two sides could agree to re-work Rodgers’ deal before the 2023 season, New York could find itself in a sticky situation financially in the not-too-distant future.
