Stu’s Notes: Aaron Rodgers Was in Egypt, Not Doing Drugs

Ok, so he might have been doing a little bit of drugs.

But it wasn’t an ayahuasca retreat!

Connor Hughes, a Jets insider and possibly informal spokesperson, reported this week that Aaron Rodgers missed minicamp not because he was experiencing a transformative psychedelic trip in the jungles of Peru, but because he’d always wanted to go to Egypt, and he scheduled the trip before minicamp dates were determined, and he and the Jets agreed it would be fine if he went. From Hughes’s report:

Rodgers originally pieced this trip together during his recovery from his Achilles injury. It gave him something to look forward to during one of the lowest points of his career. He’s long admired Egyptian culture and scheduled the visit for what was believed to be after the offseason programs.

This is the kind of agenda-less reporting we need more of in our media. Also, wow, Jets fans aren’t kidding when they say the local press really holds quarterbacks to account.

At the risk of getting sidetracked by Hughes, more from Hughes:

As one source put it: Rodgers’ absence during the two-day minicamp will not impact the Jets season whatsoever.

Multiple players SNY touched base with had zero issue with Rodgers missing minicamp, all pointing towards his attendance during the voluntary portion. Those same players were surprised that those outside One Jets Drive felt differently.

Hysteria over Rodgers’ whereabouts emerged largely because of the way the absence was announced. From the Jets perspective: They did not want to set a precedent for players missing mandatory workouts for pre-planned trips (pass rusher Haason Reddick was the only other Jets player not in attendance – he wants a new contract). While they were aware of Rodgers’ trip, and understanding of why it was important to him, their public stance on the matter gave the impression they were not and discounted Rodgers’ near perfect attendance throughout the voluntary portion of the offseason program.

Mandatory minicamp, while mandatory, is simply two practices structured identically to the OTAs Rodgers did attend.

They were basically more OTAs, guys. And Allen Lazard had no problem with him going. And the man tore his Achilles last season, for Christ’s sake. On 9/11, no less! A day he takes way more seriously than the rest of you sheep!

Anyway, I love this new insight that Aaron Rodgers loves Egypt. I suppose we could have put this together before. He’s probably mentioned it, and we probably glossed over it, waiting for more bombshells the same way we gloss over how he likes chess. Of course Aaron Rodgers loves Egypt. So much history there, you know? Lot of books about it.

He was looking for evidence of aliens building the pyramids, though, right? That’s why he’s interested in Egypt? If Aaron Rodgers didn’t spend at least twenty minutes in Giza doing math in his head on how long it would take him to build a pyramid, then call me a New York shock jock.

Etc.

• I missed this in this week’s BFN, but evidently there was a small crowd crush at Texas’s hybrid SEC entry celebration–Pitbull concert. It sent three people to the hospital. I’m sure the SEC will co-opt this with the “just means more” line, but guys. It’s Pitbull. Pitbull is what means more.
• In correspondence with Joe Kelly’s rehab appearance last night in Rancho Cucamonga, I’ve become reacquainted with the Minor League Baseball app, and whoa, boy, is it the Minor League Baseball app. Two stars in the app store. Nothing for the Arizona Complex League. Clicking some buttons on the menu takes you out to your web browser, as though the app is giving up. I hope I’m not giving the impression I’m complaining. It’s perfect. I adore it so much, and I look forward to using it for two or three more rehab outings. This might even lead me to rediscover my dream of becoming the Round Rock Express’s biggest fan!