Hub Arkush, a sportswriter and one of 50 Associated Press voters for the NFL MVP award, had some harsh words for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers earlier this week. Arkush called Rodgers a “bad guy” and said he couldn’t be the MVP. Rodgers fired back, calling Arkush an “absolute bum” and said his vaccination status is the reason Arkush has a problem with him.
“I just think that the way he’s carried himself is inappropriate,” Arkush said. “I think he’s a bad guy, and I don’t think a bad guy can be the most valuable guy at the same time.”
Aaron Rodgers fires back at Hub Arkush, who said yesterday he won't vote Rodgers for MVP: I think he’s a bum. An absolute bum. … His problem is I’m not vaccinated…. Maybe just for this season make it the Most Vaccinated Player."pic.twitter.com/Y3oh6PKz1n
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 5, 2022
Arkush has since apologized for some of the “childish things” he said about Rodgers.
“Our marching orders are to cast our votes as reasoned and thoughtfully as possible for those we believe to be the most deserving in our own considered judgment. All that is asked of us is not to discuss our votes publicly until after the awards have been announced.
On Tuesday, at 670 The Score in Chicago, where I am regularly employed as an analyst and host, for reasons that I am still trying to come to grips with but were completely my responsibility, I allowed myself to be walked into a conversation about an MVP candidate I knew I would not be voting for. I said some things that while not unreasonable in the context they were said, I voiced them in totally inappropriate ways.”
Ok, let’s get some stuff out of the way. Rodgers is the overwhelming betting favorite to claim his fourth league MVP award. He is -400 according to Las Vegas oddsmakers. He is more than deserving.
Rodgers has led the Packers to the league’s best record and he ranks first in quarterback DVOA and QBR. His 35 touchdown passes and only four interceptions is an 8.75 to 1 TD to INT ratio. The man is excellent and an all-time great.
Rodgers is also an anti-vaxxer who has been playing the victim all season, ever since his vaccination status and beliefs became public.
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During training camp in August 2021, Rodgers was specifically asked iF he was vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. He responded, “yeah, I’ve been immunized.”
Here’s the video on August 26th when Aaron Rodgers was directly asked if he had been vaccinated pic.twitter.com/kskQDRpWi8
— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) November 3, 2021
Why does that matter?
The NFL has different policies in place for unvaccinated and vaccinated players, including as to how they are supposed to operate and maneuver throughout their respective facilities. So while he was unvaccinated, Rodgers was operating all season long under the vaccinated player guidelines. He later contracted COVID-19 and jeopardized the health of his teammates, team personnel and media members.
When confronted about lying, Rodgers used his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” to play the victim, chide “cancel culture” and the “woke mob,” spout pseudoscience and anti-vaxx rhetoric. Every week he appears on the show if he is asked to address any issue or criticism lobbed at him, he whines that it’s because of his vaccination status.
Now if Arkush is using Rodgers’ vaccination status as a reason not to vote him MVP, that’s wrong. If Arkush believes that Rodgers had a moral right to be honest about his vaccination status, he’s free to believe that.
But Rodgers doesn’t get let off the hook here. His continuous whining and crying victim is tiresome.
You chose not to get vaccinated and lie about it. Nobody forced you to do that. If you believe so vehemently in your “own research,” why not say that when you were asked back in August? Have the courage of conviction to stand in your “truth.”
Don’t blame a fictitious “woke mob” or “cancel culture.” You made these decisions and you’ve got to stand by them when people question you. That’s the way it goes.
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