Former New England Patriots star Julian Edelman has criticized New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers for missing the team’s mandatory minicamp, noting that even Tom Brady never skipped such an event.
Rodgers, who is now 40, is preparing for a comeback after a disastrous debut for the Jets in 2023, where he ruptured his Achilles just four plays into his first game, sidelining him for the season. He aims to make a more significant impact in his second year at MetLife Stadium, but his unexpected absence from the Jets’ minicamp on June 11-13 drew attention from the NFL community.
Edelman, speaking with Colin Cowherd, expressed his disappointment in Rodgers, using Brady’s commitment as a contrasting example. Edelman remarked: “I think it’s a bad look for your leader to miss a mandatory minicamp. I was with Tom Brady in his 23rd or 25th year, and though he sometimes skipped OTAs, he never missed a mandatory minicamp. I just thought it was a bad look.
“I’m a big Aaron Rodgers fan, but if I were in that locker room and he wasn’t there for three days, especially after playing only four snaps due to injury, and considering we have new receivers and linemen, with limited practice time allowed by the CBA, I’d wonder, ‘Where’s he at?'”.
Edelman also suggested that Rodgers might have inadvertently put pressure on himself for the upcoming season. He warned: “If the New York Jets start 1-3, facing teams like the Niners, Tennessee, Patriots, and the Broncos, this could become a major distraction for the locker room.”
Despite the controversy, Jets head coach Robert Saleh downplayed the issue, stating: “Aaron and I are on the same page. There’s no problem between Aaron and his teammates. It’s more of an issue for those outside the building than it is inside.”