Moving the Chains: The NFL’s Most Offensive Player

Several years ago, there was no bigger clown in the NFL than Antonio Brown. In fact, I made a comment or two about his antics in my weekly college football recaps.

A few examples to refresh your memory:

Antonio Brown, just one more reason college football is head and shoulders better than the NFL. I think of him as the human train wreck, but the truth is he’s more of a 17-car pileup. Shame on the Patriots (Surprise! Not.) for picking him up after the Raiders agreed to his ‘demand’ and released him from the team … and the $29 million he could have earned wearing the silver and black. (September 2019)

Antonio Brown’s recent escapades were laid out in a feature story in Sports Illustrated that led to his release by the New England Patriots. Class act that he is, Brown tweeted his wrath, providing even more evidence that he has absolutely no place in football. Or, on this planet. (September 2019)

This week’s nod to the NFL: ‘I can’t stand players like Antonio Brown.’ God bless Terry Bradshaw. (September 2019)

Last year’s NFL punching bag – Antonio Brown – was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I only mention it in case you needed a reason other than Tom Brady to dislike the Bucs. (October 2020)

There’s plenty more where that came from. When you have some time (and, believe me, you’ll need lots of it), google Antonio Brown along with these words:

Sexual assault

Domestic violence

Snapchat

Helmet dispute

Facebook Live

Cryotherapy (also: Frostbite)

Britney Taylor

At the time, I had no doubt in my mind that Antonio Brown would hold onto the title as the all-time undisputed Biggest Clown in NFL history.

And then Aaron Rodgers came along. He asked me to hold his beer.

Yes, Aaron Rodgers won a Super Bowl (2010, vs. Pittsburgh). Yes, Aaron Rodgers won the league’s MVP award four times (2011, 2014, 2020, 2021). Yes, Aaron Rodgers is a winner.

Or at least, was a winner. That was then.

This is now. In his last game with the Green Bay Packers, in January of 2023, Rodgers threw an interception on his final pass in a season-ending game to Detroit that prevented his team from making the playoffs. After the game, in an emotional postgame news conference, he said ‘at some point, the carousel comes to a stop and it’s time to get off, and I think you kind of know when that is.’

He was correct in the sense that we all knew it was time for him to get off. Well, with the exception of Aaron Rodgers himself … and the New York Jets, who traded for Rodgers three months later.

The expectations were high for the Jets this past season. Many predicted they would make it to the Super Bowl. The preseason hype for the team was through the roof, and reached a fever pitch in the opening game of the season that lasted all of the first three snaps Rodgers took wearing the hunter green and white # 8 jersey of the New York Jets. Then, on just his fourth snap of the 2023 season, he suffered a season-ending injury, and the Jets went on to finish in third place in the AFC East, four games behind the Buffalo Bills.

So that’s the football-specific summary of Aaron Rodgers in 2023. Here’s a highlight reel of his off-the-field antics that earned him the right to supplant Antonio Brown as the NFL’s Biggest Clown:

He implied talk show host Jimmy Kimmel was a pedophile.

He challenged Dr. Anthony Fauci to a Covid vaccine debate.

He sat alone in a total darkness ‘retreat’ for four days.

He lied about being immunized because he didn’t think anyone would follow up on him.

Now, think about this for a second: when’s the last time you saw Aaron Rodgers in a State Farm commercial? Methinks that is not a coincidence.

Rather, it’s evidence that the powers-that-be at one of the country’s largest insurance agencies know the truth:

The carousel that is Aaron Rodgers has come to a stop.