Aaron Rodgers Changed My Mind

It’s really tough to change anybody’s

One of the most frustrating psychological exercises known to adult humanity is to try to get others to change their minds.

Ask the folks that run our country and the voters who elected them.

Arron Rodgers made me change mine (about him as a person, not about vaccines).

Back in the middle of November, I wrote in an article that I felt betrayed by one of the most talented athletes in my lifetime. Rodgers purposely waffled on his COVID status in such an arrogant way in an interview with Pat McAfee, I think most who had a family or friends touched by the pandemic had 2 words to say to Rodgers.

I felt those descriptive words to the point I wrote a post about his attitude.

His intellectual condensation must have had a resonance with readers because the story rapidly gained readers and responses. Not anywhere approaching viral, mind you but — respectable.

Even my son read it and chimed in his response.

Please, be my guest; find the post below.

https://readmedium.com/why-i-currently-hate-aaron-rodgers-73ed5d42b10c?sk=09ebf81a9b5839

Then two things happened that inspired me to write this follow-up post.

Aaron seemed to have lost his combative arrogance after he had to reveal that he had tested positive for Covid and had to be quarantined for 10 days.

While remaining his bright self, he seemed more human around the end of November after he was forced to sit out what was then the showdown with the Chiefs with their own quarterback, the phenom, and young wunderkind Patrick Mahomes. Aaron couldn’t show the kid who was boss, the Chiefs won with the Packers sorely missing their arrogant intellectual who they “respected but couldn’t like.” (to quote one of his offensive lineman protectors).

How Aaron broke his toe during his COVID quarantine remains a mystery.

What is a matter of record: he reinjured it in the wild 34–31 loss to the rival Vikings in week 11.

In a subsequent interview, Rodgers claimed he had COVID toe in an unsuccessful but typical poor attempt at humor.

He then apparently regretted his “joke” and in a press conference, he whipped off his sock and bared his toe for all Americans to see whether they wanted to or not. Some thought it was funny, I guess.

Almost unbelievably he played through wins against the Rams, the Bears, and the Ravens. I say unbelievably because it appeared to me every defensive player seemed to be trying to step on Rodger’s broken toe. Many were successful. He was a hobbling hero throwing for over 300 yards in the Rams and Bears games 268 against the Ravens. He managed a combined 9 touchdowns in the 3 games. He was getting close to breaking the franchise record for touchdowns thrown by a Packer QB. Aaron accomplished all this with a targeted broken toe which was being maintained rather than given a chance to heal.

He was stoic throughout.

Then came the Browns game on Christmas Day. The game started at 4:00 pm EST.

Most Americans were finished with their gift-giving and in the process of digesting dinner when they sat back to watch Aaron Rodgers possibly break Brett Favre’s franchise record for touchdowns thrown as a Packer. The record was 442. Rodgers needed a single touchdown to break the Hall of Famer’s Packer record.

Aaron wasted no time and tossed a first-quarter touchdown pass to Allen Lazard.

Did thee feel the earth move?*

Aaron smiled.

He got down on one knee and executed a pumping motion with his right arm.

The receiver handed the ball to an obviously euphoric Rodgers.

The game stopped.

Aaron walked toward the sideline carrying, almost caressing, the ball all the while his lips curled up in a rare unmistakable grin

Dramatically the gigantic Jumbotron screen lit up. As if it was a bolt from above, the face of the God of Green Bay, Brett Favre appeared offering congratulations along with fireworks, deafening cheers from the faithful, babies being conceived and named Aaron when born- all that stuff. Rodgers was still smiling, slowly walking with a slight limp (as I would expect one to walk with a broken toe that was constantly being stepped on by 300 pound plus behemoths).

Rodgers handed the ball to, presumably, the equipment manager to hold for him until the game was over.

He then went back to work and threw 2 more touchdown passes extending his already impassable record.

The Pack beat the Browns.

After the game, Rodgers was besieged by reporters and well-wishers.

He couldn’t have been more cordial. He credited the fans, his fellow players, the Packer management, his parents, his girlfriend, the reporters, the stadium staff, Brett Favre for making the record that he just broke and his podiatrist all the while grinning teammates fist-bumping him while he was being interviewed.

Not a fan left the stadium as far as I could see. Seems like they didn’t want the moment to slip away. As Aaron went into the tunnel to the warm innards of the Vince Lombardi Stadium locker room he paused to sign autographs and pose for cell phone selfies.

He was no longer the singular condescending intellectual or even the property of the Packers, he belonged to the people of Green Bay.

He seemed comfortable with that.

I guess we both changed.

I’m comfortable with that.

*Earnest Hemmingway